Her new album is coming out in two days, and I am very excited...
“We lie awake in love and in fear, in turmoil and in tears,” she wrote. “We stare at walls and drink until they speak back. We twist in our self-made cages and pray that we aren’t – right this minute – about to make some fateful life-altering mistake. This is a collection of music written in the middle of the night, a journey through terrors and sweet dreams. The floors we pace and the demons we face. For all of us who have tossed and turned and decided to keep the lanterns lit and go searching – hoping that just maybe, when the clock strikes twelve … we’ll meet ourselves. “Midnights, the stories of 13 sleepless nights scattered throughout my life, will be out October 21. Meet me at midnight.”
Maybe that's it - maybe it just sounds too perfect, which shouldn't be a fault. I do like the record enough to keep it in my library and I added Folklore.
It’s Friday night, Sarah’s out and I’m sitting here with a few cans of easy drinking pale ale, working my way thru a big bag of Kettle Chips.
Listening to Taylor Swift.
still haven't had the chance to listen, but we have long train journeys today and tomorrow (especially tomorrow from London to San Sebastian) so I really will have no excuse!
I've had three full listens and I really can't fault it for anything other than it being good music that doesn't hit me where I live. I hear grit in her poetry, but not in her voice. I don't think I'd listen to her earlier pop records based on this album, but I'll give Folklore a spin.
I will admit straight out of the gate that I come to this record a stranger to Taylor Swift. I know who she is, of course. I've never listened to her music and couldn't identify one of her hits if I heard it. I also come with some bias - which I confess is based on some dim strands of things I might have saw in a headline and my own perceptions of an artist I have never herd. Isn't she the revenge song girl? Or is that my imagining. Was she on American Idol?
On one listen, I have to admit this record sounds good. I'm not totally convinced by it, though. I suspect it has layers I've yet to peel back and probably further listening will reveal a voice and passion that match the depth of the lyrics. She's got a great voice, the songs are good, but something's either missing or there that I'm not tuned into yet. I did start to respect the record more and take her more seriously about halfway through.
We'll see, Taylor. I might just be too old for you.
I don't believe it's an age thing. You listen to many younger musicians, and it doesn't seem to be a problem. Sometimes it's just hard to pinpoint what we find is lacking or not to our liking. It's something that doesn't really require justification, although I am always glad when people are willing to debate and explain.
I still haven't listened to any of her previous records, except for these two. I will follow what she releases in the future, though. She seems to be evolving and maturing nicely, I hope she will sidestep from pop again.
@Jerseyfornia you’re definitely not too old to listen to her, I thought I was, but I was wrong. Having been pushed into listening by a fellow 60 something friend, I think both Folklore and Evermore are truly wonderful albums. My daughter doesn’t feel we’re her target audience and is amused that we’re both now confirmed Swifties.
Before the release of folklore (both albums are styled in all lowercase) in 2020, I perceived Taylor Swift 'only' as a very talented high gloss pop star with an interesting expressive voice, good looks, and excellent management.
There was a thread back on the Lake at the time of the release of folklore, and a lot of the posters (if I am not mistaken, @Jesus Was The Sheriff was one of them) were posting nothing but praises, so I gave that album a listen. I was immediately enamored with her detour from pop. The dive into atmospheric rock, dreamy indie-pop with lush layers of strings, and her poetical storytelling were incredible on folklore. She released evermore only 20 weeks later, some critics cited it as the sequel, Swift said it was the sibling album...
Choosing between the two was hard, but I love evermore just a tiny bit more. The stories are told in a more dreamy, escapist manner, with more fantasy. The truth is, both albums are fantastic and deserve your attention. If you can, please, listen to both.
evermore is an excellent collection of impressionistic vignettes about adult love and pain, stories of confusing relationships, and complicated women...
Three great collaborations on the album. The National has a feature this time around, and Bon Iver is back with another duet. The group HAIM is also on a song.
marjorie is about Swift's grandmother, who was an opera singer. They added her vocals, which is an interesting fact and made the song very special to me.
There were two bonus tracks added for the deluxe edition. I love both of them, so click on the longer version if you want to find out when it's time to go...
Agree with every word of this. Really great choice. Don’t think I’m being over dramatic when I say Folklore helped me through lockdown and Evermore is possibly even better.
Her new album is coming out in two days, and I am very excited...
“We lie awake in love and in fear, in turmoil and in tears,” she wrote. “We stare at walls and drink until they speak back. We twist in our self-made cages and pray that we aren’t – right this minute – about to make some fateful life-altering mistake. This is a collection of music written in the middle of the night, a journey through terrors and sweet dreams. The floors we pace and the demons we face. For all of us who have tossed and turned and decided to keep the lanterns lit and go searching – hoping that just maybe, when the clock strikes twelve … we’ll meet ourselves. “Midnights, the stories of 13 sleepless nights scattered throughout my life, will be out October 21. Meet me at midnight.”
I think she has a fabulous voice, the lyrics are interesting and impressive and musically it is excellent, so why don't I love it? Is it too perfect?
It’s Friday night, Sarah’s out and I’m sitting here with a few cans of easy drinking pale ale, working my way thru a big bag of Kettle Chips. Listening to Taylor Swift.
Wtf? I’m enjoying it.
How the hell has this happened?
Why did nobody tell me ‘til now?
still haven't had the chance to listen, but we have long train journeys today and tomorrow (especially tomorrow from London to San Sebastian) so I really will have no excuse!
I've had three full listens and I really can't fault it for anything other than it being good music that doesn't hit me where I live. I hear grit in her poetry, but not in her voice. I don't think I'd listen to her earlier pop records based on this album, but I'll give Folklore a spin.
Something I actually had to read about to notice. A nod to Lucinda Williams...
I'd meet you where the spirit meets the bones
@Brown Eyed Boy got me listening to Taylor Swift a year or so ago. I liked what I heard but not enough to go back to.
I will enjoy giving her another listen.
This is not on this album, but I would like to hear your opinion.
Two versions. Ten minutes of pure heartbreak. Which one do you prefer?
I will admit straight out of the gate that I come to this record a stranger to Taylor Swift. I know who she is, of course. I've never listened to her music and couldn't identify one of her hits if I heard it. I also come with some bias - which I confess is based on some dim strands of things I might have saw in a headline and my own perceptions of an artist I have never herd. Isn't she the revenge song girl? Or is that my imagining. Was she on American Idol?
On one listen, I have to admit this record sounds good. I'm not totally convinced by it, though. I suspect it has layers I've yet to peel back and probably further listening will reveal a voice and passion that match the depth of the lyrics. She's got a great voice, the songs are good, but something's either missing or there that I'm not tuned into yet. I did start to respect the record more and take her more seriously about halfway through.
We'll see, Taylor. I might just be too old for you.
Before the release of folklore (both albums are styled in all lowercase) in 2020, I perceived Taylor Swift 'only' as a very talented high gloss pop star with an interesting expressive voice, good looks, and excellent management.
There was a thread back on the Lake at the time of the release of folklore, and a lot of the posters (if I am not mistaken, @Jesus Was The Sheriff was one of them) were posting nothing but praises, so I gave that album a listen. I was immediately enamored with her detour from pop. The dive into atmospheric rock, dreamy indie-pop with lush layers of strings, and her poetical storytelling were incredible on folklore. She released evermore only 20 weeks later, some critics cited it as the sequel, Swift said it was the sibling album...
Choosing between the two was hard, but I love evermore just a tiny bit more. The stories are told in a more dreamy, escapist manner, with more fantasy. The truth is, both albums are fantastic and deserve your attention. If you can, please, listen to both.
evermore is an excellent collection of impressionistic vignettes about adult love and pain, stories of confusing relationships, and complicated women...
Three great collaborations on the album. The National has a feature this time around, and Bon Iver is back with another duet. The group HAIM is also on a song.
marjorie is about Swift's grandmother, who was an opera singer. They added her vocals, which is an interesting fact and made the song very special to me.
There were two bonus tracks added for the deluxe edition. I love both of them, so click on the longer version if you want to find out when it's time to go...