I think all the songs on evermore are undeniably good, some of them just incredible, but it does lack the magic of folklore and they come off a bit disjointed...... and while she did the ‘stories about other lives’ thing well on folklore, on evermore it just feels a bit too overdone so that the songs aren’t as evocative for me. Idk. Maybe at this point in her career I’m so used to hearing Taylor’s voice speak to Taylor’s emotions, but while for example, “ivy” is a really good song, I just dont believe it and don’t feel like listening again.
To me, some songs come off like pieces of lyrics and tropes that Taylor likes, all put together to make a narrative, which is absolutely fine, but just makes more for like a soundtrack album, a “look what I can do”, rather than the magic of the unexpected and imaginative folklore.
The album comes off more as a flex, like “I can do it again” (write a great, lyrically driven indie record in lockdown), and “look I can write songs about cheating wives and broken engagements” which is undeniably impressive..... but for me it does as one poster said “dilute” the special quality of folklore and what it was. That said, they are all great tracks so why keep them to yourself. But ultimately a little b side record might’ve been preferable, if we are just talking about the legacy of her album releases.
To me, some songs come off like pieces of lyrics and tropes that Taylor likes, all put together to make a narrative, which is absolutely fine, but just makes more for like a soundtrack album, a “look what I can do”, rather than the magic of the unexpected and imaginative folklore.
The album comes off more as a flex, like “I can do it again” (write a great, lyrically driven indie record in lockdown), and “look I can write songs about cheating wives and broken engagements” which is undeniably impressive..... but for me it does as one poster said “dilute” the special quality of folklore and what it was. That said, they are all great tracks so why keep them to yourself. But ultimately a little b side record might’ve been preferable, if we are just talking about the legacy of her album releases.