Taylor Swift shocked everyone with the surprise drop of the now acclaimed indie folk album”folklore” in July of 2020. But that was only the beginning because after five months, Swift released a sister album, “evermore.” Doing two studio albums in one year is no easy task, but Swift continues to mesmerize her fans with her poetic storytelling and acclaimed lyricism. The 15 tracks of “evermore” still have the same story-heavy lyricism as its sister album, but with more experimental musical themes. Swift guides the listener into the woods of escapsim and shares tales of love, loss, infidelity and murder.
The opening track “willow” welcomes you into the album with a witchy and magical sound created through a chamber. The lyrics tell the tale of wanting for someone and falling in love with them. Swift mentioned in a YouTube Q&A that the song is about the spell that becomes a person as they fall, and the style and lyrics capture the essence of that beautifully. Its semi-medieval sound featuring plucked strings and glockenspiel makes you want to dance while screaming the most memorable lines — “Begging for you to take my hand / wreck my plans / that’s my man.”
Riding the high from “willow,” listeners are met with the tale of a rejected engagement in “champagne problems.” A beautiful piano ballad tells this story from the perspective of the woman who said no and gives glimpses into their relationship before and what it becomes moving forward. The peak of this track is in the bridge where her craftsmanship shines — each line flashes an aspect of their relationship until the split with both a sense of fondness and sorrow. How they met in college, their friend group and tender cliche couple moments — him opening the door for her or giving him her jacket, all the way until he got on one knee, and she said no.
The track “gold rush” is a song that is heavily theorized to be about Harry Styles. A strong beat and faster tempo makes it more lighthearted. It is about denying affection upon a particularly attractive person. The song “‘tis the damn season” brings us back to a gloomy, nostalgic place where hooking up with your ex is acceptable. However, it has more depth — it is about leaving the person who knows you best to return to your normal life away from them.
Track 5 goes to “tolerate it,” which might be the most vulnerable song on the album. It is a ballad in 5/4 time about having a partner who does not appreciate you or your love. It is sad, soft and leaves you thinking of times where you have longed for love from another.
