Disclaimer: I know this isn’t a definitive list of the quality of Taylor Swift’s albums, and I am in no way a music critic or a musical expert. It’s simply an opinion piece based on my thoughts and feelings on her music as an avid listener and huge Taylor fan.
9. Taylor swift (also known as debut)
Okay, just because this album is at the bottom of the list doesn’t mean it isn’t a lyrical masterpiece and a work of art. However, Taylor and her music have definitely matured over the years since this album was released over a decade ago, and so have her fans, so that’s why it’s at the bottom of my list.
8. Lover
Lover definitely isn’t the best piece of work Taylor has ever put out. It has a few okay tracks, but overall, when this album came out, I was extremely underwhelmed. However, Jack Antonoff outdid himself (and redeemed Lover’s credibility) with “Cruel Summer.” From the melodic bridge to the echoing chorus, along with Taylor’s Romeo and Juliet-esque lyrics, this track is Lover’s gorgeous standout piece. It seemed like Taylor was trying to cater to her pop fanbase when she released “ME!” and “You Need to Calm Down” as the two lead singles of this album, which just didn’t feel like her.
7. reputation
The reputation era stands alone as one of Taylor’s best eras and tours of her entire career, but the album itself just doesn’t compare to any of the others that I ranked above it. The entire world’s anticipation for this album was unlike anything Taylor’s ever experienced, being partially owed to her Kanye West scandal resurfacing shortly before her announcement of the album’s lead single, “Look What You Made Me Do.” Although the production is insane for a pop album, it isn’t as cohesive as it should be; it feels a bit generic. At times, the music in the background outweighs the singing and it feels like there is too much going on at once. However, I would like to shout out another Jack Antonoff-produced track on this album (which I feel is the best one), the notorious “Getaway Car.” The prose, the storyline and the Bonnie and Clyde parallelism Taylor created through the lyrics make this track holistically perfect.
6. Fearless (taylor’s version)
The album that won Taylor her very first Grammy, as well as started her long-running chain of winning Album of the Year, Fearless is a musical masterpiece for everyone, whether you enjoy country music or not. Many people have even mentioned that this was the album that got them into Taylor Swift, so it’s safe to say that it was a turning point in Taylor’s career. Her heart-wrenching lyrics in tracks like “The Other Side of The Door” and “You’re Not Sorry” provide us with the best material to cry to after a heartbreak. In its entirety, the album cohesively flows through the process of ending a relationship: from wondering what you did, to feeling angry about the situation, to then realizing that you’ll heal and that things will change, Fearless is truly a story to listen to in order.
5. 1989
This album was Taylor’s introduction to the pop genre and our first taste of her villain era (look at “Blank Space” and its music video). The lead single, “Shake It Off,” was very on-brand for the traditional Top 40 radio music of the time, but it didn’t really stand out to me and wasn’t an accurate representation of what 1989 would truly be. The storytelling continues in her hit track “Out of the Woods,” which was (you guessed it) produced by Jack Antonoff, as well as the lesser-known track “I Know Places.” This era also brought us the iconic drop of her cinematic music video for “Bad Blood,” which featured an array of A-list celebrities and felt like an entire movie in less than five minutes.
4. speak now
Speak Now was originally higher on this list because it’s an incredibly emotional album that Taylor Swift wrote completely by herself at the ripe age of 19. However, I decided that my top three were solidified; Speak Now sadly didn’t make it. I could give you one reason why this album is ranked at number 4: “Dear John.” The combination of pain and happiness on this album, with upbeat songs like “Sparks Fly” next to devastating songs like “Back to December,” shows that an album can have variety and still sound cohesive.
3. folklore
folklore was a complete surprise from Taylor, almost like a gift to her fans for supporting her throughout her entire career, especially when she was dealing with the Scooter Braun ordeal prior to the release of folklore. It was also her very first mellow, indie-sounding album. When the album came out, she mentioned that this was the type of music she wanted to make, and it was the most “her” that her music had ever been. There are truly no bad things to say about this album. Every single song is phenomenal, from their production to their lyrical storytelling. She gave us everything and more.
2. evermore
evermore is folklore’s sister album. It was released unexpectedly shortly after folklore and is, for lack of a better word, flawless. evermore is unique from folklore in the way Taylor’s storytelling changes; folklore is more personal and intimate, while every song on evermore describes a different story about a different character, almost like a book of tales. The sing-songy melody in “ivy” and the sorrowful words in “tolerate it” allow everyone to relate to the tracks and resonate with Taylor on a closer level than ever. This album feels like a warm hug.
1. Red (taylor’s version)
This needs little to no explanation. I’ll be honest, Red had never been at the number one spot on my list until Taylor re-released her own version of it late last year. The 10-minute version of “All Too Well” as well as the “From the Vault” songs sealed the deal on this album being her best yet. The symbolism and production on this record are unmatched in her discography, which merits it the top spot on my list.
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