On Thursday, Taylor Swift dropped a bomb. Straying far from her previously Easter Egg-laden album releases, Swift casually announced that she was dropping her eighth studio album just mere hours later.
At midnight, Swift fans got to feast their ears on "Folklore," a mystical and nostalgic new Indie album from their queen. There is nothing typical "Taylor" about "Folklore."
Without any build-up or fanfare, the musical superstar tweeted, "In isolation, my imagination has run wild and this album is the result. I’ve told these stories to the best of my ability with all the love, wonder, and whimsy they deserve. Now it’s up to you to pass them down."
In isolation my imagination has run wild and this album is the result. I’ve told these stories to the best of my ability with all the love, wonder, and whimsy they deserve. Now it’s up to you to pass them down. folklore is out now: https://t.co/xdcEDfithq
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) July 24, 2020
📷: Beth Garrabrant pic.twitter.com/vSDo9Se0fp
In a prior tweet, she also said, "Before this year I probably would've overthought when to release this music at the 'perfect' time, but the times we're living in keep reminding me that nothing is guaranteed," Swift said ahead of the release. "My gut is telling me that if you make something you love, you should just put it out into the world. That's the side of uncertainty I can get on board with."
The album boasts 16 tracks full of nuance and heart. The Indie genre is a new take for Swift, an artist known for continuous growth and reinvention. Just when you think you know what she's about, she flexes a new musical muscle.
Her soul-piercing new sound perfectly reflects the months of isolation that all of us have experienced recently, and her critics and fans both seem to agree that "Folklore" has once again proven that Taylor Swift is one of the best songwriters of all time. The 30-year-old is self-aware in a way that feels like a deep breath. Her lyrics read like poetry, and some big names in Hollywood have praised Swift for the musical delight that is "Folklore."
English singer Maisie Peters wrote, "happy folklore day my favourites are this is me trying, betty and invisible string and peace is her best ever song. this is also her best ever album."
"i would die for taylor swift," was Halsey's concise take. And Australian star Alex Lahey wrote: "This @taylorswift13 record is unbelievable. Thank you for inspiring us all in such an uninspiring period of humanity."
The album release was also paired with a music video for the third tack on the album, "Cardigan." The video shows Swift getting lost in a dark adventure, climbing into her piano for safety from a swirling storm.
While COVID-19 might have canceled Swift's summer touring plans, she certainly found a way to keep busy, and fans around the world are happy to be on the receiving end of a new era of her beautiful music.