2020 has been the year of unexpected musical risks and amazing payoffs for Taylor Swift. After shifting to a more alternative sound with her chart-topping surprise album Folklore, the Grammy-winning singer proved that she has a few more tricks up her sleeve with its “sister record” Evermore.
Just like its predecessor, this album has been announced only a few hours before it hit the shelves. The opening track “Willow” serves as the lead single, which proved to be a smart choice thanks to its lighthearted tone that will immediately draw you in and the visual connection to Swift’s previous self-directed music video for “Cardigan”.
Some of the songs from Evermore may feel like Folklore leftovers, but that’s not necessarily a flaw since the songwriting is still as strong as it gets. Swift once again joined forces with Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff, in addition to giving songwriting credit to her boyfriend Joe Alwyn.
Evermore features collaborations with The National and Bon Iver, but its brightest point is the crime-mystery inspired tune “No Body, No Crime”, featuring Haim. Swift wrote it on her own and crafted an amazing revenge tale that will take you on a wild ride in less than four minutes.
This album is filled with many more amazing gems that already led to dozens of fan theories, including “Champagne Problems”, “Long Story Short”, and “Dorothea”. They’re more alternative and folk-leaning than her usual pop flare, but that’s what we came to expect from her after Folklore.
Free from the expectations that have been weighing her down for years, Swift managed to give us not one, but two amazing new albums this year that push boundaries and transcend genres. With Evermore, she stepped even deeper into the woods and we’re ready to follow her wherever she goes next.
Rating: 4.5/5