On December 10, I was awakened by my mother telling me Taylor Swift is releasing ANOTHER surprise album. It was 7am and I was very confused on what was happening, so I went to check my phone and see hundreds of notifications about this album. As Taylor Swift had just released her 8th studio album ‘folklore’ in July as a surprise album, its sister album ‘evermore’ was an even bigger surprise to be released.
Taylor Swift has released her new album ‘evermore’, which was announced today. It includes features with HAIM, Bon Iver, the National, and background vocals of Marucs Mumford of Mumford and Sons. It is the “sister album” to earlier release Folklore featuring collaboration once again with Jack Antonoff, Aaron Dressler, and her boyfriend Joe Alwyn under the pseudonym William Bowery.
“It feels like we were standing on the edge of the Folklorian woods and had a choice – to turn and go back or travel further into the forest of this music,” Swift writes announcing ‘evermore’. “We chose to go deeper in.”
The album includes 15 tracks, plus an additional 2 that are yet to be released on the deluxe version. The songs that stuck out to me are ‘willow’, ‘champagne problems’, ‘no body, no crime’, and ‘cowboy like me’. Willow is the single from the album, which also received a music video along with the release of the album. Even if the lyrics are a fiction writing point of view, there is a definite connection to Swift with the lyrics (take my hand/wreck my plans/that’s my man) and (but I come back stronger than a 90’s trend). This poetic soft lyric song is the perfect way to start the album.
‘Champagne problems’ is an example of Taylors phenomenal storytelling where she does not share all the details. Swift is roleplaying as a woman who ruins relationships by the talk of marriage with a guy and his family. ‘Sometimes you just don’t know the answer ‘Til someone is on their knees and ask you/She would’ve made a lovely bride’.
The next song, ‘no body, no crime’ which features the HAIM sister tells the story of a murder, which Taylor mentions she got inspiration from true crime tv shows. This song reminds me of ‘Goodbye Earl’ by The Chicks, as it is the only truly country sounding song on the album. HAIM sisters are brought in to create this dynamic and Taylor uses one of the sisters’ names, Este, as the lead character of the song. Este had confronted her cheating husband and was murdered for it. Cowboy like me’ which could be considered a country song as well, is another narrative story concept referencing a man who will want rich people and get them to fall in love with him. ‘Like it could be love/I could be the way forward/Only if they pay for it’
To be honest with you, trying to summarize each song is a challenge. The incredible lyrics really transport you into this forest world with Swift, along with the collaborators, have taken you. This is my favorite album of Taylor thus far, along with the earlier release of folklore. These albums can bring you the range of emotions and entertainment we could all use during living through a pandemic.
I would rate this album a 9/10. Her production and lyrics are so complex. I love when she works with Jack Antonoff to produce incredible music together and the addition of Aaron Dressler is amazing. The only thing I would change is getting rid of Bon Iver on evermore (song) and give HAIM more of a spotlight during no body, no crime. If you are looking for new music, even if you are not a fan of Swift, I recommend this album. The alternative pop feel of this album, along with folklore, is different from her previous work. The lyrical masterpieces and fiction storytelling really add something special.
