On December 10, pop superstar Taylor Swift released her second surprise album of 2020, titled evermore. Swift called evermore the “sister record” to folklore on her twitter, claiming that she and her team “could not stop writing.” The album has an extremely similar feel and sound to folklore, intertwining detailed stories with beautiful melodies and heartfelt lyrics. evermore, like its “sister” folklore, is without a doubt some of Swift’s best work, as it showcases both her lyrical and vocal talents.

The album opens with its lead single, “willow,” a sweet song about the type of  head-over-heels love that can change the way you see everything. It was accompanied by the drop of a whimsical music video, much like “cardigan,” the lead single of folklore. “willow” follows a similar story, as Swift sings about finding true love with a man who seems too good to be true. Both songs are beautifully written with a fun and catchy beat.

Although the production of evermore was truly fantastic, the record shines in its songwriting. Swift and her folklore collaborators raised the bar yet again with beautiful lyrics and interwoven stories, making evermore a truly immersive and exciting album experience. While it’s no secret that Swift possesses incredible talent when it comes to songwriting, evermore’s telling of detailed stories truly distinguished the record as one of Taylor’s best.

Much like many songs from folklore, Swift has once again returned to her country roots by stepping into the shoes of others and telling detailed stories. “champagne problems,” a slower tune, tells the story of a woman, seemingly with a history of mental illness, who rejects her husband’s proposal of marriage. The song delves not only into the woman’s relationship, but also her complicated mental health issues and relationship with herself. Another fan favorite was “no body no crime,” featuring girl group Haim. Telling the story of an infidelity scandal and subsequent murder case, “no body no crime” has a folksy sound similar to some of Taylor’s older material.

Overall, I loved evermore. The vibe of evermore is similar to folklore in the way that it seems extremely genuine. After nine albums, it feels like Swift’s sound has truly matured.