When I first listened to Taylor Swift’s newest album, evermore, I knew I had to write an (entirely unsolicited) review of it to truly experience the album as a whole. Evermore is meant to be the fall/winter to folklore‘s spring/summer and the two contrast each other nicely. I listened to it twice the night it came out and at least six times through the day after, and now that it’s five days later I truly feel like I have a grasp on the album. I’m organizing this review song by song, including my favorite lyrics from each.
willow: I was pleasantly surprised by this one. The flow of the song was really strong, the continuing riff was a good upbeat opener and I really liked the music video. It’s a great first impression to the album (though I knew I’d love it already as the sister album to folklore)!
favorite lyric: like you were a trophy or a champion ring / and there was one prize I’d cheat to win
champagne problems: SO good! Another example of immaculate storytelling from Ms. Swift. This song is about two college sweethearts and one unexpectedly turning down a proposal just before Christmas. This is another classic recurring chord progression of Taylor’s too, so it’s easy to transition with other songs of hers (hello, All Too Well, Cornelia Street and Out Of The Woods).
favorite lyrics: this dorm was once a madhouse / I made a joke, “well, it’s meant for me”
gold rush: The intro instantly reminded me of mirrorball from folklore. It ended somewhat abruptly, with no fade from the lyrics, which was a little jarring. I saw a theory that this was written from Joe Alwyn (her boyfriend’s) perspective about dating Taylor, about how it’s difficult to adapt to being in the spotlight, and I like that theory!
favorite lyric: call you out on your contrarian shit
’tis the damn season: This song is about getting out of your hometown and returning for the holidays, and returning to old relationships out of familiarity as well. I couldn’t quite relate to this one personally, but I like how transparent the story is here. The guitar is really strong and I love the recurring theme throughout the album how this is part of Dorothea’s story.
favorite lyric: to leave the warmest bed I’ve ever known
tolerate it: This one is about trying to prove something and trying your hardest just for someone who doesn’t pay attention to your efforts. I really love the piano backing here, it feels like a piece by Phillip Glass. The lyrics here are some of my favorites throughout the whole album.
favorite lyric: use my best colors for your portrait
no body, no crime (feat. Haim): The storytelling in this one is incredible!! My friend Hannah summed it up perfectly as a ‘chill Goodbye Earl,’ and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Taylor was influenced by the Dixie Chicks for this track. I loved the twist at the end here about covering up the crime. My one complaint with this song – I wish it featured more vocals from Haim. It would have been really interesting to make this a two-perspective song, with verses from Taylor and verses from Este.
favorite lyric: I’ve cleaned enough houses to know how to cover up a scene
happiness: This one is one of those songs that you wish you’d been through a deep breakup just to experience Taylor’s album fully (which sounds crazy, but you’d understand as a Taylor Swift fan!). It acknowledges how two people can hurt each other but even with a rough breakup, there was still happy moments – something not often touched on in breakup songs. The crescendo through the middle here and the strings build up really nicely through simple repetition.
favorite lyric: all you want from me now is the green light of forgiveness
dorothea: No Taylor album is complete without prime storytelling! This tells the story from a different perspective, from an old lover, but I also like listening to it from the perspective of friends that have grown apart.
favorite lyric: you got shiny friends since you left town
coney island (feat. The National): Another one about a loss of a relationship, told from both perspectives as The National chimes in on this track. Her voice combines so well with Matt Berninger and the back and forth exchange here works so well, especially once they blend together. This bridge builds so nicely and while I wouldn’t classify as one of Taylor’s most iconic bridges, it shows off her true talent as a musician.
favorite lyric: did I paint your bluest skies the darkest gray
ivy: One of my top three! This is another one I can’t personally relate to (about an affair) but tells a great story and the imagery in this song is really vivid. The chorus resonates really strongly and it’s a little reminiscent of Betty for me. This stuck out to me immediately on my first listen of the album, both musically and lyrically.
favorite lyric: I don’t just sit here and wait / grieving for the living
cowboy like me: This is my least favorite song from the album (maybe even from evermore and folklore combined). It’s reminiscent of her early work, which I appreciate, but overall reads more like a slow ballad.
favorite lyric: forever is the sweetest con
long story short: This song grew on me! This one feels like it’s about her critics and the past drama that people had tried to put blame on her for, like she’s talking to her past self and saying she’ll come out stronger through it. It’s one of the more upbeat tracks and the pacing is really nice, kind of reminds me of the last great american dynasty!
favorite lyric: our nemeses will defeat themselves before they get the chance to swing
marjorie: This made me cry on the first listen – and the second, and the third. I am not a crier in general, especially with songs, (peace made me cry at a first listen with folklore, for entirely different reasons) but going in with the perspective of this being about her grandmother really made me take a second. It perfectly describes what it’s like to lose a grandparent and is written so well. ‘What died didn’t stay dead’ felt like a somewhat simplistic lyric that I originally wasn’t a huge fan of, but nothing else feels right in its place. This bridge is so well done and the crescendoes here really hit hard. Every single lyric here is so on the nose to the situation.
favorite lyric: ’cause every scrap of you would be taken from me
closure: If there’s a song I absolutely did not like on first impressions alone, it’s this. It felt jarring compared to the rest of the album and the synth sounds almost hurt my brain, and it felt as if she was singing too quickly. It seemed rushed and didn’t flow with the rest of the tracks. On second listen, I really love the lyrics and I think it’d be great as an acoustic version. It’s a strong song about how the narrator doesn’t need the closure from an ex that they’re trying to give, as if they’ve already moved on. I understand the choice behind the chaotic background track, but it makes me want to grit my teeth while listening.
favorite lyric: I know I’m just a wrinkle in your new life / staying friends would iron it out so nice
evermore: My favorite of the two Bon Iver collaborations! This song feels like redemption – from being in a dark place to slowly seeing the light and feeling hope again. Some could see it as being about a relationship, or about mental health. Once Bon Iver comes in and the piano picks up, it feels like the part in a struggle with mental health pulling yourself out of a hole, and then it clears up again, symbolizing hope again.
favorite lyric: I rewind the tape but all it does is pause
RANKINGS
- Marjorie
- Ivy
- Coney Island
- Champagne Problems
- Willow
- Long Story Short
- ’Tis The Damn Season
- No Body No Crime
- Evermore
- Happiness
- Gold Rush
- Tolerate it
- Closure
- Dorothea
- Cowboy Like Me
This was INCREDIBLY difficult to rank and it might change a bit over time. I truly can’t pick one or the other over folklore – the best way to listen to this album, in my opinion, is back and forth with folklore as they pair so well together. Overall, I’m continually impressed by Taylor’s work and think she has a song for everyone. Even if you’ve never listened intentionally to her songs before, this is 100% worth a listen.
Also worth noting: I’m sure some of this was written on her trip to Utah in September, which makes it extra special! (Only slightly painful knowing she was 20 minutes away from me at a point in time and I had no idea…)