Taylor Swift – Folklore (2xLP, Coloured Vinyl)

Folklore (2020) marks a striking shift in Taylor Swift’s sound, trading pop maximalism for quiet introspection and indie-folk textures. Written and recorded in isolation during the pandemic, it pairs her storytelling instincts with restrained production from Aaron Dessner (The National) and Jack Antonoff. The result is a warm, reflective record that unfolds like a series of intimate short stories, filled with memory, longing, and emotional nuance. Songs such as “Cardigan,” “The Last Great American Dynasty,” and “Exile” reveal a songwriter at her most nuanced, weaving character-driven narratives into understated arrangements. Folklore feels timeless in tone and structure — stripped-back yet deeply layered, melancholic but never heavy. Its soft piano, acoustic guitar, and atmospheric electronics create space for Swift’s lyrics to take centre stage, resulting in some of her most affecting work to date. The album’s critical and commercial success affirmed her evolution from pop superstar to mature, literary storyteller. Folklore stands as one of the defining albums of the 2020s, proof that stillness and subtlety can be just as powerful as spectacle.