2020 Album Review: Taylor Swift's Folklore

KATELYN COLLEY| FEB. 4, 2021 | ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

The year 2020 has been one defined by divergence from the expected. This was no different for Taylor Swift fans, who were told they would be receiving surprise indie album “Folklore” on July 24.

When nation-wide lockdowns began in the spring, Swift took the opportunity to begin working on her 16-track project. The album strays from her traditional use of a direct first-person narrative and instead takes a broader, third-person point of view. 

One story told is the love triangle between characters Betty, James, and Inez, each with a song from their perspective. The character development woven with a complex series of heartbreaking narratives is one of the most advanced levels of artistry Swift has shown.

The only song on the album with a featured artist is “exile,” a duet between Swift and Justin Vernon, founder of the folk band Bon Iver. The soulful harmonies weave Vernon’s deep, gritty undertones seamlessly with Swift’s soft, yearning falsettos.

Swift capitalizes on the repetition of slow, acoustic songs by using it to mimic the feelings of the dull routineness people have felt during this global pandemic. Overall, “Folklore” adds another layer of credence that the superstar’s career and creativity remain as strong as ever.