On Dec. 11, Taylor Swift surprised fans with her ninth studio album and second album of 2020 titled “evermore.” It is the companion to her previous surprise album “folklore,” which was released in July.
It’s easy to see why “evermore” is considered the little sibling of “folklore,” as there are similarities in tone and perspective. Longtime fans know that Swift has gone through a variety of changes in musical style over her career, coming far from the country girl fans fell in love with in 2006. She has dabbled in pop, rock, electronic pop, indie and folk, yet “folklore” and “evermore” are perhaps her truest connection to her storytelling roots.
Swift has always made narrative cohesion a priority in her albums. Every song has traditionally told a love story, often inspired by Swift’s past relationships. As recently as 2014, however, she shifted to writing music about friendships, identity, media representations, political stances and fictional character studies.
The album opens with “willow,” which continues the story from the song “cardigan.” Lyrics such as “I’m like the water when your ship rolled in that night / Rough on the surface but you cut through like a knife” highlight Swift’s vulnerability and confessional approach. Other tracks showcase Swift’s dedication to musical experimentation, such as the ethereal opening to “gold rush” and the interlacing piano chords in “dorothea.”
“evermore” is a soft, emotionally driven and charming collection. It includes collaborations with Haim, The National and Bon Iver. Some favorite songs of mine include the gentle piano ballad “champagne problems,” the tender and timeless “happiness” and the beautifully tragic “tolerate it, narrated by someone who knows that their “love should be celebrated / but you tolerate it.”
As someone who’s a fan of Swift’s “Fearless” days and less so her “Reputation” days, this album strikes a romantic balance between country and indie-pop. Granted, there are some songs that don’t come together as cleanly. The revenge tale of “no body, no crime” is an odd and disjointed country song that ends in murder. Swift’s polished vocals clash with the National’s Matt Berniger in “coney island.” Overall, though, “evermore” captures both the chaos of the pandemic and the quietude of isolation that characterizes 2020.
Fans are speculating that Swift will release a third surprise album. One of these theories relates to the word “Woodvale” hidden on the cover art of the hide-and-seek deluxe edition of “folklore.” Another theory notes that there are three color variations of Swift’s cardigan merchandise.
Regardless if we see another album this year or not, if Swift keeps up the exploration of darker characters against mellow and deliberate genres, her music is sure to provide a poetic and relaxed escape.
