Background

Taylor Swift is one of the biggest musical artists in history. Over the 17 years Swift has been releasing music, she has received hundreds of awards including; a record-breaking four-time Grammy Award winner for Album Of The Year and five-time Billboard Music Awards Top Female Artist. In her career, the singer has amassed 14 Grammys, 39 Billboard Music Awards, 40 American Music Awards, 23 MTV Awards, 46 Teen and People’s Choice Awards, 12 Country Music Awards, and 24 iHeartRadio Music Awards. Swift has made 10 studio albums as well as four re-recorded albums (Taylor’s Version)(TV). Taylor’s fans have been widely debating what album is her best. These are my reviews including my favorite song(s) from each album and my favorite lyric(s).

10. Taylor Swift (Debut)

Released October 24, 2006 – Country

Taylor Swift was her debut album, often referred to by fans as simply ‘Debut’. Despite her young age at the time, the writing is impressive. However, her voice seems not yet fully matured. As I’m not a big fan of country music, this album doesn’t particularly appeal to me. While it’s still an amazing album, it doesn’t quite reach the vocal and lyrical levels of her subsequent works.

Favorite Song(s): “Mary’s Song (Oh My My My My)”

Favorite Lyric(s): But if you only knew me we could be a beautiful miracle, unbelievable instead of just invisible like shadows in a faded light oh, we’re invisible – “Invisible”

9. Fearless (Taylors Version)

Released November 11, 2008 and Taylors Version April 9, 2021 – Country Pop

Fearless was the album that essentially established Swift as one of the best artists. Again, country music is not a style I typically listen to, so I prefer her pop and folk albums over the country ones. I believe that by Fearless, Swift had established her strength in lyric writing. Therefore, the lyrics for this album improved significantly compared to ‘Debut’. However, I still think it lacks in lyrics compared to her other albums, which she wrote at a much older age.

Favorite Song(s): “The Way I Loved You (Taylors Version)”

Favorite Lyric(s): Me and my stupid pride are sittin’ here alone goin’ through the photographs staring’ at the phone – “The Other Side Of The Door (Taylor’s Version)”

8. Red (Taylors Version)

Released April 2, 2012 and Taylors Version November 12, 2021 – Country Pop (Rock Influence)

Red was the unofficial ‘official’ switch from country to pop, as it had a mix of both genres. The album features some of the most well-known songs like “22”, “We Are Never Getting Back Together”, and “I Knew You Were Trouble”. It also include many fans’ all-time favorite, “All Too Well (Ten Minute Version)”. This song is a lyrical masterpiece and by far her best-written song, and one of the best-written songs ever. I feel like most of the other songs on the album are not as memorable, which is why it is lower on my list.

Favorite Song(s): “All Too Well (Ten Minute Version) (Taylor’s Versions) (From The Vault)”

Favorite Lyric(s): You said if we had been closer in age, maybe it would have been fine and that made me want to die the idea you had of me who was she a never-needy ever, lovely jewel who’s shine reflects on you – “All Too Well (TMV) (TV) (FTV)” and, And I was never good at telling jokes but the punchline goes ‘ill get older, but your lovers stay my age’ from when your Brooklyn broke my skin and bones i’m a solider who’s returning half her weight. – “All Too Well (TMV) (TV) (FTV)”

7. Lover

Released August 23, 2019 – Pop

Lover was a very well-written album, but it was not as hyped up as many think it should’ve been. Its first single, “ME!”, was not super well-liked and is one of Swift’s worst songs, and it came after reputation, which was one of Swift’s biggest albums. However, this album has many really good songs that are only known by fans. Lover was also the first album that Swift owned. With that, it was the first album and time period when Swift began taking a political stand. She wrote the song “You Need To Calm Down”, which in the song says, “Shade never made anybody less gay,” as well as having the music video star many famous LGBTQ+ celebrities, and the song “The Man” which talks about male and female stereotypes. This album, I think, by far, sends the best message with its lyrics, but it’s not super consistent when it comes to how good the songs are; it is very up and down.

Favorite Song(s): “Death By A Thousand Cuts” and “I Think He Knows”

Favorite Lyric(s): If I was out flashing my dollars I’d be a b***, not a baller they paint me out to be bad so it’s okay that i’m mad i’m so sick of running as fast as I can wondering if I get there quicker if I was a man* – “The Man”

6. Evermore

Released December 11, 2020 – Folk and Alternative/Indie

Evermore is, without a doubt, her best album lyrically in my opinion. The album is pure poetry, and each song’s lyrics are so well crafted, which is even more impressive considering this album was written in only a few months. One unique aspect of this album, similar to folklore, is that it is from a fictional perspective; all of the songs are stories Swift created. On another note, the reason this album is lower in my rankings is because I think the background music isn’t as well made as many of the other albums. Much of the background doesn’t blend with the vocals very well. Evermore also struggled with the same issue Lover had, coming off of a big album, folklore, which is a fan favorite.

Favorite Song(s): “tolerate it” and “bonus track – right where you left me”

Favorite Lyric(s): Fifteen years, fifteen million tears begging ’til my knees bled I gave it my all, he gave me nothin’ at all then wondered why I left now he sits on his throne in his palace of bones praying to his greed he’s got his past frozen behind glass but i’ve got me – “bonus track – it’s time to go (Deluxe Edition)”

5. 1989(Taylors Version)

Released October 27, 2014 and Taylors Version October 27, 2023 – Synth-pop

1989 is pure pop perfection. Every song on the album is exceptionally well written, making it one of her catchiest albums. The 1989 era was a significant time for Swift as she fully transitioned from country to. She also began experimenting with more ‘risky’ songs. For instance, Blank Space is a sarcastic commentary on her dating life, playing into the narrative the media had created about her. She also wrote Bad Blood, indirectly addressing her feud with fellow singing Katy Perry. While 1989 is, in my opinion, the best pop album ever made, it lacks the depth her other albums possess. Her other albums develop deeper into her emotions, while 1989 was more focused on producing hits due to her genre switch.

Favorite Song(s): “I Wish You Would (Taylor’s Version)” and “Clean (Taylors Version)”

Favorite Lyric(s): Ten months sober, I must admit just because your clean don’t mean you don’t miss it Ten months older, I won’t give in now that I’m clean I’m never gonna risk it – Clean (Taylor’s Version)

4. Reputation

Released November 10, 2017 – Electro-pop

Reputation is arguably Swifts most well-known album, with even non-fans familiar with every song. The album is a perfect blend of revenge and love songs, intended to represent the prevailing of love among chaos. It begins with the lead single, “Look What You Made Me Do,” a revenge song aimed at Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, and concludes with “New Years Day,” a love song that seamlessly transitions from the dark reputation era to the Lover era. The album’s ranking isn’t higher because it lacks the diversity found in other albums due to its focus on either revenge or love songs. However, this limited variety in reputation shows the power struggle between love and chaos and the emotions Swift experienced during her famous hiatus, during which she avoided public appearances for nearly a year and completely blacked out her Instagram in response to intense criticism.

Favorite Song(s): “Call It What You Want”

Favorite Lyric(s): Please don’t ever become a stranger whose laugh I could recognize anywhere – New Years Day

3. Speak Now (Taylor Version)

Released October 25, 2010, and Taylors Version July 7, 2023 – Country Pop

Speak Now is a very big fan favorite when it comes to albums. The album is country pop but leans more into the pop side of it. Speak Now is the album that has the largest number of good songs on just one album, it is a very diverse, so there is pretty much something for everyone. The background tracks all blend with the vocals very well and match the story being portrayed, the only reason Speak Now isn’t number one is because the other albums just have more maturity and emotion than Speak Now. Since it’s her third album, she hadn’t experienced as much at the time compared to the other ones which were 10+ years older than Speak Now.

Favorite Song(s): “Haunted (TV)”

Favorite Lyric(s): You are an expert at sorry and keeping lines blurry never impressed by me acing your test all the girls you have run dry have tired, lifeless eyes cause you burnt them out – “Dear John”, and So I’ll watch your life in pictures like I used to watch you sleep and I feel you forget me like I used to feel you breathe – “Last Kiss”

2. Midnights

Released October 21, 2022 – Bedroom-pop and Synth-pop

Midnights is defiantly her most diverse album when it comes it styles of songs, she has some songs that are very upbeat pop music like, “Bejeweled” and music that is more sad and dark like, “You’re Losing Me (From The Vault)”. The writing in Midnights is very matured, the album is meant to be about her reflecting on different moments in her life, when she stays up past midnight. One of my favorite parts of the album is how the album has a theme to it, each song makes a reference to midnight in some way shape or form.

Favorite Song(s): “You’re Losing Me (From The Vault)” and “Maroon”

Favorite Lyric(s): Fighting in only your army frontlines, don’t you ignore me I’m the best thing at this party and I wouldn’t marry me either a pathological people-pleaser who only wanted you to see her – “You’re Losing me (From The Vault)”, and, No one wanted to play with me as a little kid so I’ve been scheming like a criminal ever since to make them love me and make it seem effortless – “Mastermind”

1. Folklore

Released July 24, 2020 – Folk and Alternative/Indie

Folklore is overall Swifts best album, and arguably the best album ever. Folklore is a mix of perfect poetry, vocals and backing. Folklore is the only Swift album that there is no bad songs on, each song is created with so much intricate detail. Just like evermore, the songs on folklore tell a fictional story, the most prominent story throughout the songs is a love triangle known as ‘The Teenage Love Triangle’ between characters Betty, Augustine, and James. The intricacy and attention to detail folklore has makes it superior to all other of Swifts albums. Folklore has no flaws, period, point blank.

Favorite Song(s): “exile (feat. Bon Iver)” and “illicit affairs”

Favorite Lyric(s): You know I left a part of me back in New York you knew the hero died, so what’s the movie for? You knew it still hurts underneath my scars from when they pulled me apart you knew the password, so I left you in the door you knew you won, so what’s the point of keeping score – “hoax”, and No one likes a mad woman you made her like that And you’ll poke that break ’til her claws come out And you find something to wrap your noose around – “mad women”