Taylor Swift, an absolute icon. In 2006, she released her first single “Tim McGraw”, a mellow country love song, reaching a spot in the top 10 of Country music that year. Her first debut album sold over five million copies. Then came more children, or in other words, her albums: “Fearless”, “Speak Now”, “Red”. Her music never disappointed and always hit the world like a pandemic, dominating charts and radio stations for months, it was all one would hear at the mall, in restaurants, during a car ride. Now, 14 years later, on December 11, 2020, Swift dropped her newest album “Evermore“, a follow-up sister album to her previous album “Folklore“.

In 2014, Swift’s music has shifted from country to modern pop with her albums “1989” which earned her a grammy. In 2017, her iconic comeback “Look What You Made Me Do”, in response to haters and the media who misrepresented and slandered her name during her feud with Kim Kardashian came with a powerful album “Reputation”. In 2019, Swift came back with a pastel, vibrant, romantic album “Lover”, a go-to comfort album during the Summer. 

Recently, Swift seems to have returned to her country roots, but this time, with 14 years of maturity, and hints of folk, indie, and alternative to it. On July 24, 2020, Swift dropped her album “Folklore”, then four months later, Swift dropped Folklore’s sister album, “Evermore”, both radiating melancholy, woody, and nostalgic vibes. 

“Evermore” is a “quiet conclusion and sort of this weird serenity” compared to “Folklore” since  Swift still had many ideas and songs unleashed. The album was written and produced virtually with producer Aaron Dessner. The album is mostly made up of songs that tell fictitious and nonfiction stories.

Starting with the lead single “Willow”, a dreamy, easy-going love song with gentle guitar picking and chamber tunes in the background. “Willow is about intrigue, desire, and the complexity that goes into wanting someone. I think it sounds like casting a spell to make someone fall in love with you”, Swift said during the music video premiere. Swift uses a willow tree as a metaphor for loving someones which details in the lyrics, “Life was a willow and it bent right to your wind”. 

“Champagne Problems”, in my opinion, is one of the best songs from her album. The song is depressing; it is almost impossible to imagine that this song was co-written by Swift and her boyfriend of four years Joe Alwyn. A champagne problem is a problem that the wealthy experience, so basically a first-world problem. “Champagne Problems” starts off with a light piano intro, detailing a story of “longtime college sweethearts [who] had very different plans for the same night, one to end it, and one who brought a ring ” from the perspective of the girl who turned down the proposal. Swift’s tone while singing,

“One for the money/ Two for the show/ I never was ready so I watch you go/ Sometimes you just don’t know the answer/ ‘Til someone’s on their knees and asks you”, perfectly capturing the emotion of heartbreak and fragility. 

“Gold Rush” is a slightly more upbeat, light-hearted song. It details being attracted to someone who is pursued by many, which can be detailed in the lyrics, “Everybody wants you/But I don’t like a gold rush” alluding to the California Gold Rush, where many immigrated to California when gold was first discovered there. The song begins and ends with Swift singing as if she was daydreaming, layered with chamber and choir vocals,  “Gleaming/ Twinkling/ Eyes like sinking ships/ On waters so inviting I almost jump in”, which was an interesting touch, it sounds like shiny gold.

The above songs were what I personally considered the highlights of her album, but below I’ve organized the rest of the songs into different categories if you wanna check out the rest of the album.  

If you are in for some crying, “Champagne Problems”, “Tolerate it”, “Happiness”,  “Evermore”, and “Coney Island”, will let all your emotions out during your crying session. 

If you are daydreaming, “Willow”, “Gold Rush”, “Cowboy like me”, and “Long Story Short”, should be in the background, especially if you are in love.

If you are not that emotional and want some light-hearted music, “Dorothea”, “Ivy”, “Gold Rush”, “No Body no Crime”, and “Closure”,  should be fitting for the mood. 

If you are feeling nostalgic about friendship, family, or love, “‘Tis the damn Season”, “Coney Island”, “Dorothea” and “Majorie”, will definitely help you rekindle old memories. 

Overall, the album felt like a nice conclusion to Swift’s Indie Cottage Core Era, the storytelling and metaphors were subtle yet genius, like always, with a lot of variety in themes and choice of instruments.  The storytelling is heartfelt and relatable to each song, definitely fitting for winter quarantine.