MY Top 5 Taylor Swift Albums
The Top 5 Taylor Swift Albums
Why 5? Why not ?!? Taylor’s a bit like marmite to some. To some she’s a hero, to others she’s talent-less. To me, she’s a really good artist that’s been going on for decades now. She’s proved her longevity. As such, she deserves this list...from me! Lol!
Taylor, you’re welcome!
5 - ‘Lover’ (2019)
‘Lover’, always feels to me like a ‘best of so far’ release as it brings together her pop and country styles under one room. It feels sparse and not as bright and brash as ‘1989’ was. But that’s a good thing.
It works as an album, it flows really well, never outstays it’s welcome and has some fantastic tracks on here. ‘I Forgot That You Existed’, what a kiss-off! ‘Cruel Summer’, the title track, ‘The Man’, ‘Paper Rings’, ‘Death By A Thousand Cuts’, ‘Soon You’ll Get Better’ (Beautiful, about her mum and her cancer diagnosis) and ‘Daylight’ are some of my favourites on here.
4 - ‘1989’ (2014)
Modern-era Taylor starts here. And what an album. Pure pop. Stylish. We hit the ground running with ‘Welcome To New York’ and never let go. Taylor had recently moved from Nashville to the big bright lights of New York and the albums style, sound and production are much more urban. Critically, and crucially, Taylor had just had the highest grossing country tour - in support of the ‘Red’ album - whilst also facing a bit of a backlash from that album being ‘not country enough’.
She pushed on, taking UK influences like the Fine Young Cannibals, Annie Lennox and Peter Gabriel as influences, and created this. ‘Blank Space’, ‘Shake It Off’, ‘Bad Blood’, ‘How You Get The Girl’, all amongst my favourites. The Deluxe version adds ‘New Romantics’ amongst others to the mix. One of my very fav Taylor songs.
3 - ‘Speak Now’ (2012)
Album Number 3, ironically enough, 3rd on this list. Carries on where ‘Fearless’ left off. We start with ‘Mine’ and you just know this is gonna be great. Big memories for me, this on. This is where I heard Taylor, this album. Reminds me of my childhood. ‘Sparks Fly’ is such a lovely song that makes you believe in love. ‘Speak Now’ and ‘Mean’? Wonderful. ‘The Story Of Us’, a wonderful concept. ‘Never Grow Up’? Beautiful. ‘Dear John’? Purportedly about a certain Mr Mayer, certainly has the sounds of him. A great album.
2 - ‘Red’ (2012)
‘Red’ is a storming album. The last of her ‘country’ style albums. Of course, Taylor has always hitted other styles of music throughout her career up to this point. But this is more rocky than previous albums. Delightful music. Delightful lyrics. Delightful performances.
‘State Of Grace’ just builds - like the best parts of Bruce Springsteen and U2 - and is my personal favourite on the album. The title track is a huge, shouting and jumping in the air monster. ‘I Knew You were Trouble’, ‘All Too Well’ (my karaoke tune!), ‘22’, ‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together’, ‘Stay Stay Stay’ (such a fun track!), ‘Holy Ground’, ‘Starlight’. Fantastic.
1 - ‘Fearless’ (2008)
‘Fearless’ has always spoke to me. About me. For me. Her 2nd album? Aren’t they suppose to be difficult? There’s certainly nothing to say that. It’s all down to hard work. Plain and simple. Wonderfully produced, it has a great sound to it all.
The material? My goodness. The material is striking. A huge lift up, compared to the debut. We start with the beautiful ‘Fearless’, there’s ‘Fifteen’ (how many times did I sing that song?), ‘Love Story’, ‘You Belong To Me’, ‘Teardrops..’ And ‘Forever & Always’ being just some of the stars in the sky of this Universe. My fav track, an extra track on the album, the piano version of ‘Forever & Always’. Just beautiful.
Taylor has that country edge to her music, where I feel that the very best of her music lives. The human touch. Not keyboards and drum machines. Some absolutely wonderful lyrics too. The beginning of her really showing the world just what she was made of.
So...Agree/Disagree? Fine. That's why this is MY Top 5.
What would YOU include or exclude?
🫶🏽
