Taylor Swift - Folklore

CruelSummer

I'm a big Taylor Swift fan but I would be interested to hear, what are people's thoughts on this new album? It's a big departure for her into the alternative genre but nothing she hasn't done before crossing from Country to Pop, Synth Pop, etc.
Have given it a few listens and think it's amazing - perfect lockdown album, along with the terrible weather today. You can really hear The National's influence on the album, as well as Jack Antonoff.

Mr Velo

Agree - it's very very good.

pah

Half way through it. I like Taylor Swift and I love The National. Thumbs up from me. Hopefully get more people listening to The National, my 12 year old daughter loves them.

CruelSummer

Just realised the song Epiphany is about a comparison between her Grandfather's war stories and the Health Care Worker's front line battle during the Pandemic, courtesy of the YouTube lyric video. Gorgeous song.

Cue hundreds of thousands of new Taylor swift fans anyway.. I've taken abuse for saying she's talented off someone who's probably about to turn around and say she's amazing now..
I actually think it's probably not her best work..The national/bon iver influence is very apparent..I don't know if the songwriting is up there with some of her earlier stuff..

el Fenomeno

It's very good. Exile - the duet with Bon Iver - is a special piece of music. She's always been a fantastic songwriter to be fair.

el Fenomeno

el Fenomeno wrote: »

It's very good. Exile - the duet with Bon Iver - is a special piece of music. She's always been a fantastic songwriter to be fair.

I actually think that's one of the weaker tracks on the album..bon iver is a one trick pony..

Zardoz

Deleted User wrote: »

I actually think that's one of the weaker tracks on the album..bon iver is a one trick pony..

I think thats the best song on the album.
Vernon is only singing on the song ,he didn't write it.
Its written by Swift and a certain William Bowery ,who could be a pseudonym.

Overall the album is good ,Antonoff and Dessners influence and song writing is very obvious though,I suspect that they did alot of the heavy lifting.

CruelSummer

Zardoz wrote: »

I think thats the best song on the album.
Vernon is only singing on the song ,he didn't write it.
Its written by Swift and a certain William Bowery ,who could be a pseudonym.

Overall the album is good ,Antonoff and Dessners influence and song writing is very obvious though,I suspect that they did alot of the heavy lifting.

Has anyone heard of a William Bowery before?
Taylor is a talented songwriter so I don’t think there was heavy lifting on anyone’s part to be fair. She definitely benefited from The National for a new sound and production. I think it captures the mood very well of this current situation.
Love the Bon Iver song, is the key a bit low for him in verse 1? Can’t decide where I’d rank the album yet in relation to her others.

Zardoz

CruelSummer wrote: »

Has anyone heard of a William Bowery before?

No .
Its most likely a pseudonym.

CruelSummer

Zardoz wrote: »

No .
Its most likely a pseudonym.

Yes I think definitely a pseudonym, it’s mentioned in this interview with Aaron Dessner that he did with Pitchfork.
Thought it was an interesting interview about his involvement with the album:

https://pitchfork.com/news/the-nationals-aaron-dessner-talks-taylor-swifts-new-album-folklore/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

pah

https://twitter.com/alwynswiftt/status/1286344726388580360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1286344726388580360%7Ctwgr%5E&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-22095951163234089187.ampproject.net%2F2006180239003%2Fframe.html

Man with broke phone

Hi guys can I ask what age you are. With all the hype from this album I gave it a listen and was very disapointed. I can understand if you are all teenagers but there is no way somebody listened to this album and rushed to the internet to discuss it. Im half thinking of reporting some posts on this forum for shilling.

Hum drum music and lyrics by numbers. Try Joni Mitchel ladies of the canyon for comparison.

CruelSummer

Man with broke phone wrote: »

Hi guys can I ask what age you are. With all the hype from this album I gave it a listen and was very disapointed. I can understand if you are all teenagers but there is no way somebody listened to this album and rushed to the internet to discuss it. Im half thinking of reporting some posts on this forum for shilling.

Hum drum music and lyrics by numbers. Try Joni Mitchel ladies of the canyon for comparison.

In my opinion life is too short to pretend you don’t like Taylor Swift :-) If you don’t like this particular album, fine. It actually gets better & better with each listen.
I like all of her work, from her early country, to the country/rock & pop albums. Red, Speak Now & 1989 are probably my favourites of hers.
I really like Folklore a lot - especially for the times we are in currently. However I don’t think it’s her ‘best yet’ as some media outlets have stated, it’s equally as good as her others in my opinion - it’s just some media have decided because Aaron Dessner and Bon Iver feature, it’s cool to big it up.
I’m very familiar with Joni Mitchell, as is Swift herself & is a big fan of her too.
Unfortunately music snobbery will persist here in Ireland as we seem to think we are superior to others in this area when in actual fact nothing but over-rated mediocracy has come out of here in the last 10 years music wise. I think for example when Swift came to town in 2018 with a world class show getting rave reviews, it didn’t sell out... I was at the show & it was absolutely brilliant. However instead of selling out...people forked out the same price that summer to see Ed Sheeran on stage by himself for the most part messing with a loop machine in stadiums around the country...not my idea of value for money for a stadium concert but there you go.

JohnGreenFan

Definitely not a teenager anymore and I absolutely love it. Really think it's one of her best works - not a single bad song on the album. Especially considering how close it was released to lover, it's such a big change musically and I think it's fantastic.

Absolutely delighted to see her releasing exactly what she wants to release. You can never say her music all sounds the same anyway.

Zardoz

CruelSummer wrote: »

I’m very familiar with Joni Mitchell, as is Swift herself & is a big fan of her too.
Unfortunately music snobbery will persist here in Ireland as we seem to think we are superior to others in this area when in actual fact nothing but over-rated mediocracy has come out of here in the last 10 years music wise. I think for example when Swift came to town in 2018 with a world class show getting rave reviews, it didn’t sell out... I was at the show & it was absolutely brilliant. However instead of selling out...people forked out the same price that summer to see Ed Sheeran on stage by himself for the most part messing with a loop machine in stadiums around the country...not my idea of value for money for a stadium concert but there you go.

Its funny that Joni Mitchell was mentioned as some people think she could be William Bowery.

To say her gigs didn't sell out is a bit of an understatement ,they were a disaster sales wise .
Livenation gave away about half of the tickets for free to try and fill the place up .
The prices were crazy ,150 euro for the lower tier and pitch seats.
From what I've heard MCD only wanted to have one gig but Livenation demanded 2 ,which was insanity.
I'm not complaining anyway as I got a good few free tickets for friends .
I honestly wouldn't cross the road to see her myself.

Taylor ripped her fans off massively on that tour ,with that ill fated ultracynical Ticketmaster Verified fan malarkey in the US where people spent a fortune on merchandise to try and get access for presale tickets for the tour only to be offered crap seats at exorbitant prices .

As for Sheeran ,I've seen him a couple of times , he is terrible .

CruelSummer

Zardoz wrote: »

Its funny that Joni Mitchell was mentioned as some people think she could be William Bowery.

To say her gigs didn't sell out is a bit of an understatement ,they were a disaster sales wise .
Livenation gave away about half of the tickets for free to try and fill the place up .
The prices were crazy ,150 euro for the lower tier and pitch seats.
From what I've heard MCD only wanted to have one gig but Livenation demanded 2 ,which was insanity.
I'm not complaining anyway as I got a good few free tickets for friends .
I honestly wouldn't cross the road to see her myself.

Taylor ripped her fans off massively on that tour ,with that ill fated ultracynical Ticketmaster Verified fan malarkey in the US where people spent a fortune on merchandise to try and get access for presale tickets for the tour only to be offered crap seats at exorbitant prices .

As for Sheeran ,I've seen him a couple of times , he is terrible .

But I don’t think that’s how the presale works? I’ve signed up for notifications on her website after ordering a vinyl last year. I get emails of presale access to her concerts ever since, it’s great. Two days to purchase before the tickets are released to the general public.
The first concert sold fine, but the second was a disaster. Funny you say they were exorbitant prices, the Celine Dion tickets I tried to purchase recently for relatives were mad dear, as were many other prices I’ve seen for other artists. But as usual Swift gets vilified for what all Artists are doing currently.

Zardoz

CruelSummer wrote: »

But I don’t think that’s how the presale works? I’ve signed up for notifications on her website after ordering a vinyl last year. I get emails of presale access to her concerts ever since, it’s great. Two days to purchase before the tickets are released to the general public.
The first concert sold fine, but the second was a disaster. Funny you say they were exorbitant prices, the Celine Dion tickets I tried to purchase recently for relatives were mad dear, as were many other prices I’ve seen for other artists. But as usual Swift gets vilified for what all Artists are doing currently.

Thats how it worked in the US
https://mashable.com/2017/08/25/taylor-swift-ticketmaster-reputation/?europe=true

https://www.altpress.com/news/heres_why_taylor_swift_ticketmasters_ticket_sales_plan_is_basically_a_scam/

Celine Dion was playing the 3Arena ,10000 seats each night ,a total of 20k tickets.
Her fan base would be middle aged .
Small capacity ,big demand .

Taylor Swifts fans are mostly kids ,they don't have much money so charging 150 euro a ticket is unfair as its the parent who have to fork out.

Yeah, I really don't know if I'd put it up there with her best.. funnily enough I'd spent the week before it was released listening to 'fearless' and there are a few absolutely amazing songs on that album.. very poppy alright, but craft-wise a few of them are absolutely exceptional..
But like, this one, 'the last great American dynasty' is brilliant..mirrorball has one of the best lyrics I've heard in a long time too..

"You are not like the regulars
The masquerade revelers
Drunk as they watch my shattered edges glisten"

CruelSummer

“Taylor Swifts fans are mostly kids ,they don't have much money so charging 150 euro a ticket is unfair as its the parent who have to fork out.”

I forgot the memo that we’ve still to pretend her fans are all ‘kids’ to stay cool. She has mass appeal to all ages in my opinion depending on the songs, genre, etc. people like.
It’s funny because the stand we were in was full of people in their 20s / 30s, some who even went to the trouble to bring snakes, etc., which was a theme of the tour. I was actually sitting beside a couple from the North who we’re approaching 60 and seemed big fans.

RobertKK

I am far from a teenage and this album is a great listen. I find it very relaxing and in a crap year, this is a shining jewel.

JohnGreenFan

CruelSummer wrote: »

“Taylor Swifts fans are mostly kids ,they don't have much money so charging 150 euro a ticket is unfair as its the parent who have to fork out.”

I forgot the memo that we’ve still to pretend her fans are all ‘kids’ to stay cool. She has mass appeal to all ages in my opinion depending on the songs, genre, etc. people like.
It’s funny because the stand we were in was full of people in their 20s / 30s, some who even went to the trouble to bring snakes, etc., which was a theme of the tour. I was actually sitting beside a couple from the North who we’re approaching 60 and seemed big fans.

I think because she started so young, an awful lot of her fans are her own age or just slightly younger. I'm not sure I actually know any kids who are fans despite what her fanbase is made out to be.

JP Liz V1

Looks to be the biggest album of the year so far

I had never listened to a Taylor Swift album before this one, I found some of her previous singles fairly enjoyable ("I Knew You Were Trouble", "Shake It Off" and, despite its flat chorus, "Look What You Made Me Do") but it was never enough to make me want to actively investigate her more. When I saw The National promoting this one, curiosity got the better of me.

After a couple of listens I would say that it's quite a good album, not amazing but still very worth a listen. Its biggest weakness is being a bit too long, there are a couple of tracks that could have been shaved off. But the highlights are very good indeed; "Epiphany" is a beautiful song, "Cardigan" has a very nice Lana Del Rey-esque vibe to it and "This Is Me Trying" is another one I liked.

Will I actively listen to more of Taylor Swift's back catalogue? Unsure.
Am I more interested in what she does in the future as a result of this album? Yes, definitely.

CruelSummer

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I had never listened to a Taylor Swift album before this one, I found some of her previous singles fairly enjoyable ("I Knew You Were Trouble", "Shake It Off" and, despite its flat chorus, "Look What You Made Me Do") but it was never enough to make me want to actively investigate her more. When I saw The National promoting this one, curiosity got the better of me.

After a couple of listens I would say that it's quite a good album, not amazing but still very worth a listen. Its biggest weakness is being a bit too long, there are a couple of tracks that could have been shaved off. But the highlights are very good indeed; "Epiphany" is a beautiful song, "Cardigan" has a very nice Lana Del Rey-esque vibe to it and "This Is Me Trying" is another one I liked.

Will I actively listen to more of Taylor Swift's back catalogue? Unsure.
Am I more interested in what she does in the future as a result of this album? Yes, definitely.

Thanks for the feedback. If you like some of her acoustic/rock/country songs, you might be interested in the songs Speak Now, Haunted, White Horse, Back to December, Sparks Fly, State of Grace, The Moment I knew, Sad-Beautiful-Tragic, Begin Again, I Almost Do. There’s also Innocent on the album Speak now and many others.

CruelSummer

CruelSummer wrote: »

Thanks for the feedback. If you like some of her acoustic/rock/country songs, you might be interested in the songs Speak Now, Haunted, White Horse, Back to December, Sparks Fly, State of Grace, The Moment I knew, Sad-Beautiful-Tragic, Begin Again, I Almost Do. There’s also Innocent on the album Speak now and many others.

White horse is just an amazing song..love story too on that album..knew it but never really realised it was her..

CruelSummer

Taylor released this last night.

https://twitter.com/taylorswift13/status/1331602461010894850?s=21

Upon first listen on Spotify, sounds great. Looking forward to watching it on Disney plus.

They released the Exile video to YouTube:
https://youtu.be/o5SQIECedTY

My tears ricochet, cardigan upon first listen also sound really good.

Woooo Taylor!!!...

"Sister record" of folklore out tonight..

JohnGreenFan

Deleted User wrote: »

"Sister record" of folklore out tonight..

https://www.instagram.com/p/CInkR4Ajyi1/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CInk1QnDdul/

I am so excited!!!!

S.M.B.

Surprise album
Surprise Disney+ special
Surprise album

Well played Taylor

(although I'll take some of that back if it's just an out takes album)

sbsquarepants

I'm on the fence as to whether i'd call my self an out and out fan per se because there's a fair bit of her stuff i don't like, but what i do like i like a lot! Plus she seems like an all round decent auld skin, and she's hot as hell which never hurts! She has some really great songs and 1989 is a fantastic album from start to finish, one of my all time favourites to be honest.



This one is not as instantly catchy, i don't think we're going to be hearing it on the radio every 5 minutes, but i've found myself listening to it quite a bit over the past few weeks and it's certainly a grower, has some really good songs on it. I particularly like exile (even though i'm not a Bon Iver fan at all) and the one. It's more mature than her previous stuff i think, possibly aimed at a different audience.

CruelSummer

Wow what a surprise! And just in time for her 31sr birthday! Has this been planned all along or is this released on the back of the folklore success. We’ll know tomorrow!
She’s to talented & has used this time to use it for good. Soothing music for us all!

RobertKK

I love Taylor Swift, love Folklore, possibly one of her very best albums, listen to it most days.
It was a big surprise that we are getting a new album in five and a half hours and a sister album to Folklore.
I just hope Folklore wins Album of he Year at the Grammys. Just a beautiful album and I picked up a limited edition signed copy as my Christmas present to myself.

RobertKK

[QUOTE=CruelSummer;114180748]“Taylor Swifts fans are mostly kids ,they don't have much money so charging 150 euro a ticket is unfair as its the parent who have to fork out.”

I forgot the memo that we’ve still to pretend her fans are all ‘kids’ to stay cool. She has mass appeal to all ages in my opinion depending on the songs, genre, etc. people like.
It’s funny because the stand we were in was full of people in their 20s / 30s, some who even went to the trouble to bring snakes, etc., which was a theme of the tour. I was actually sitting beside a couple from the North who we’re approaching 60 and seemed big fans.[/QUOTE]

I saw an elderly man using a Zimmer frame at her concert in Croke Park, on the pitch and fair play to him.

RobertKK

After 3 listens to the Evermore album, excellent.
Great songwriting/singing. Lovely feel to Evermore.

JohnGreenFan

RobertKK wrote: »

After 3 listens to the Evermore album, excellent.
Great songwriting/singing. Lovely feel to Evermore.

really enjoying listening to it this morning, and watched the disney plus special last night on folklore, which was fantastci and well worth a watch if you haven't already.

CruelSummer

Been listening on the go since early morning! Really enjoying it.
Stand outs so far:
willow, champagne problems, 'tis the damn season, no body no crime, cowboy like me, evermore. I'm sure this will keep changing as I keep listening! What a great surprise for Swift fans to get in this tough year for us all.

I haven't got around to listening to it yet..I will though..

Wooo Taylor!!!..

S.M.B.

Been impressed with my first listen, it does seem a little more than just a collection of out takes.

My biggest complaint about Folklore was that it was too long and now I have another hour of material from the same sessions to soak up.

CruelSummer

CruelSummer wrote: »

Been listening on the go since early morning! Really enjoying it.
Stand outs so far:
willow, champagne problems, 'tis the damn season, no body no crime, cowboy like me, evermore. I'm sure this will keep changing as I keep listening! What a great surprise for Swift fans to get in this tough year for us all.

I'm going to to add marjorie to this list also

Kaybaykwah

Man with broke phone wrote: »

Hi guys can I ask what age you are. With all the hype from this album I gave it a listen and was very disapointed. I can understand if you are all teenagers but there is no way somebody listened to this album and rushed to the internet to discuss it. Im half thinking of reporting some posts on this forum for shilling.

Hum drum music and lyrics by numbers. Try Joni Mitchel ladies of the canyon for comparison.

Yep, it's mega ordinary, and highly derivative.

CruelSummer

Kaybaykwah wrote: »

Yep, it's mega ordinary, and highly derivative.

Yawn. You should go back to your ‘extraordinary’ musicians. It’s funny, Paul McCartney recently did a full magazine shoot and interview with Taylor. He seems to think she’s ‘really good’.

Brock Turnpike

I must say I find all the "Taylor is so talented" narrative very amusing. Two albums which are essentially Aaron Dessner solo albums with her signing on the songs.

"So talented"....*puke*

CruelSummer

Ya sure. She’s only had two albums that have essentially been written by The National.
Never mind about all of those other 7 hit albums, awards and amazing tours she’s embarked on since 2006. Gotcha

Kaybaykwah

CruelSummer wrote: »

Yawn. You should go back to your ‘extraordinary’ musicians. It’s funny, Paul McCartney recently did a full magazine shoot and interview with Taylor. He seems to think she’s ‘really good’.

The Beatles and Wings were a good band. Plenty of invention there. They had the good fortune of having people.like George Martin come in and widen their perspective and broaden the scope of their production values. She isn't attentive to what could bring her forward with a few sidesteps. She's like a Lady Gaga, but in another genre. There is music there, bu it comes severely short of target, because highly formatted.

Too bad about Amy Winehouse's untimely death. She had a powerful voice, a real poetry and musical invention. Her life choices were poor but as an artist, she blew Taylor Swift and Gaga out.

Mr Velo

Brock Turnpike wrote: »

I must say I find all the "Taylor is so talented" narrative very amusing. Two albums which are essentially Aaron Dessner solo albums with her signing on the songs.

"So talented"....*puke*

I'm sure Taylor is devastated by your review.

Brock Turnpike

CruelSummer wrote: »

Ya sure. She’s only had two albums that have essentially been written by The National.
Never mind about all of those other 7 hit albums, awards and amazing tours she’s embarked on since 2006. Gotcha

Keep on drinking that kool aid her record label are serving you up.

fluke

I get that some of her music is not for everybody, but essentially this is an appreciation thread, so if you don't like her, perhaps this thread isn't for you.

CruelSummer

This is a beautiful tribute song & video to Swift’s late Grandmother, Marjorie Finlay. Who was a singer in her own right.

https://youtu.be/hP6QpMeSG6s

Man Vs ManUre

Was surprised to wake up yday and hear about ‘evermore’ and been listening to it a lot since. It’s probably even better than folklore, definitely it’s an easier album to listen to, the songs are more radio friendly and less indie than folklore. What a fantastic two albums. 2 classic albums in the space of a few months.