folklore
by Taylor Swift
  • Record Label: Republic
  • Release Date: Jul 24, 2020
User Score
9.0

Universal acclaim- based on 17537 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15,823 out of 17537
  2. Mixed: 241 out of 17537
  3. Negative: 1,473 out of 17537
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  1. mattduran3715
    Jul 24, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. trash she needed Kanye to help her blow up I do not like this album one bit… Expand
  2. RicardoBaflo
    Jul 24, 2020
    0
    Folklore no sigue una secuencia interesante. Mientras más avanzan las canciones, más deseas que termine pronto. Un álbum para poner en los velorios.
  3. mmuleta
    Jul 24, 2020
    0
    Not my type of song. I want the old and pop Taylor back. I also wish had features
  4. yuhariw
    Jul 24, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. i expected more from taylor, she is my idol but this album ain’t it, her older albums are so much better than this… Expand
  5. Chri85x6
    Jul 24, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Moneygrab and it just sounds like all her others album, I think it was rush… Expand
  6. LilaKate
    Jul 24, 2020
    1
    Compared to her other albums, folklore doesn’t have any of that spice. While there are a few notable songs, most are just quite drowsy and simple.
  7. arrivwl
    Jul 24, 2020
    0
    I could even give it a higher grade because of the production and the great work with Bon Iver in “exile”, but nothing she does can come out well for me. I'm sorry but keep trying, one day it will!
  8. OllieFtna
    Jul 24, 2020
    0
    All songs are incredibly similar, vocals are nothing to write home about tbh old Taylor had it down pat
  9. Junwei
    Jul 25, 2020
    0
    Good and peace.An album which is not mainstream, but music is for art. This album can help me sleep well!
  10. Debsh
    Jul 25, 2020
    0
    Didn’t enjoy it and it felt like one long song. All Taylor’s music is starting to sound the same.
  11. Darisha_33
    Jul 26, 2020
    0
    Not a good album for pop lovers. Definately not her best. The album has simillar productiom of all songs.
  12. ronaldohero
    Jul 27, 2020
    0
    Not impressive at all. Dull album every song is similar, no creativity, not good at all
  13. zm1313
    Jul 27, 2020
    0
    another boring album by taylor swift. a literal snooze fest. she’ll never top reputation, but all she cares about are Grammys
  14. LilyRosen
    Jul 25, 2020
    3
    This album is so boring, all 16 songs are the same, nothing special, you can listen and after 5 songs to sleep
  15. jplucena
    Jul 24, 2020
    0
    sounds boring and repetitive, all the tracks sound the same and have the same theme, but it is indeed a sad album, that’s the only thing i like about it.
  16. Giliarde
    Jul 24, 2020
    2
    The fans created a huge expectation but the album experience is a shallow experience with rhythms that go nowhere, I mean the rhythms are repeated with generic and little creative beats.
  17. EfrainVega
    Jul 24, 2020
    1
    un album muy maduro, pero a la vez muy reciclado. un cambio del pop al alternativo, pero demasiado repetitivo y sencillo siendo de una artista de alto calibre
  18. Henriqueisso
    Jul 27, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I don’t really understand this type of music, but I wish the musician the best and I wish she keeps improving her craft.… Expand
  19. Henmax2007
    Aug 11, 2020
    1
    despite some two or three good songs, i think Taylor is an overvalutaed artist.
  20. Betul
    Jul 24, 2020
    1
    Unfortunately the album sounds like one whole song. The songs are sounding very similar. But the lyrics are good. It's just not an album you coukd listen to for a long time
  21. justacritics
    Jul 24, 2020
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The album was okay but the songs were boring and Taylor seemed like she was reaching… Expand
  22. OgaihtSouza
    Jul 24, 2020
    3
    O conceito tá ok e também achei que a voz dela combinou com o estilo folk, mas vamos combinar que esse mijo todo é forçado demais.
  23. PUNKCHAMPIE
    Jul 26, 2020
    0
    the album is so bored, the lyrics are good but the sound is exactly the same on every song.
  24. Gutsipiano
    Jul 26, 2020
    0
    Simplemente aburrido que necesidad tiene de dormir a la gente con el album completo?
  25. Valmeida
    Jul 24, 2020
    1
    The album shows a linear and repetitive sound from the artist. She needs to mature soundly and learn more solid and personal work.
  26. Uchiha12573
    Jul 24, 2020
    2
    Expected a little bit more but it was ok,didnt really like all the songs,some were good tho
  27. JedazionFuller
    Jul 24, 2020
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Boring songs that sound the same, lyrics were kinda good but we're wordy and very hard to interpret.… Expand
  28. Biggestenemy
    Jul 24, 2020
    1
    It is the same lyrics that most of their albums, only some songs save the album
  29. Youreobsessed
    Jul 25, 2020
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I've listened to it once and came to the conclusion that miss swift is buying good reviews. The album sounds like every other pop girly trying to do something now and fails. I'm sorry but she should've stopped doing whatever she's trying years ago.… Expand
  30. Naium
    Jul 25, 2020
    2
    All the song sound the same. I liked Taylor swifts but I feel like she’s getting more and more lost.
  31. pauls69
    Jul 28, 2020
    0
    mmm chile, not her best album, i think very overrated, monotonous, she is isn't bringing something we haven't seen before
  32. igorrx
    Jul 25, 2020
    2
    Taylor Swift tried to rescue her country's influences that had been out of date for years. In an album with so many versions, it is impossible to deny the influence on Lady Gaga's album, Joanne. In the moment of a pandemic all we don't want is to listen to this album and cry again. More of the same, boring and uninteresting.
  33. hazzadus
    Jul 26, 2020
    0
    Such a boring album. No catchy hooks, no catchy or upbeat songs. Literally unlistenable.
  34. Rafeuz
    Jul 26, 2020
    0
    I just dont like it.All the songs sound the same.It is just a very boring album!
  35. zhangzihao
    Jul 27, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Its definitely one of the worst album she made. Exile is the most worthy of listening… Expand
  36. Said000
    Jul 27, 2020
    0
    Good lyrics but the sound is boring with not unique sound and not that great production it's deserve more than 0 but I was really going to it with high hopes because of the rating but it's kind overrated
  37. juanesanchez
    Jul 27, 2020
    0
    This is the most boring album in the history of music, all the tracks sound the same. in short, only one word can describe it correctly: sleeping pill
  38. Alejadro
    Jul 27, 2020
    0
    It is blasphemous album, it is like listening and that within seconds you fall asleep.
  39. Dios1507
    Jul 27, 2020
    0
    a simple album with boring tones and very little advance although it has the Titan of pop as a singer does not mean that everything you do is good as in the case of me! which was a generic and flat pop
  40. bruhnocosta
    Jul 28, 2020
    0
    Vixe que música chata. Melhor ouvir Lana del rey.
    Volta pro country, querida kkkkk
  41. alifeferreira
    Aug 28, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Fracasso do ano Fracasso do ano Fracasso do ano do ano Fracasso do ano kkkkkk… Expand
  42. deeee
    Aug 28, 2020
    0
    a mess, no artistic growth at all since Lover. Just shows 1989 was the peak of her career
  43. Omarmisael
    Aug 28, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Un asqueroso, aburrido e irritante intento de Taylor de hacer un álbum alternativo.… Expand
  44. EffyHeart
    Aug 14, 2020
    0
    give me cancer after listen to this, i'm going to the hospital ask for help!
  45. AlexaD
    Jul 27, 2020
    0
    Just another boring album, no creativity, nothing impressive at all, just a waste of time
  46. NinjasHyper10
    Jul 27, 2020
    0
    This album is boring asf please she had to keep it on draft i swear this wont be successful at all
  47. annac98
    Jul 27, 2020
    0
    Claims to be a "surprise" album when it was purposely released during the last week bundles would count towards Billboard charts positions. She might be good at creating lyrics but her deliver is terrible and all she got of out this was a boring, Lana del Rey wanna-be album.
  48. Muj98
    Jul 27, 2020
    0
    As a Taylor fan i'm so disgusted with this album. She is looking for something that already exists and she is not the best on it... we need another 1989 album.
  49. Manny90210
    Jul 31, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Nothing new. Same old! She is not growing as an artist. I expected something new, not the same pale music. Taylor you need to elevate your craft and I know you can. Until then bye!… Expand
  50. Sl63
    Aug 28, 2020
    0
    Boring there’s nothing much to it, maybe taylor should stop shifting genres and just stick to her pop persona. Thanks.
  51. AnaNavarro
    Aug 28, 2020
    0
    Sorry but it’s too boring, it wasn’t an obligation to create an album just because yes, there was no need
  52. Alejandro100618
    Aug 28, 2020
    0
    Álbum muy aburrido taylor no muestra a la artista que es en su máxima expresión.
  53. JoseCedano
    Aug 28, 2020
    0
    boring and local, even his fans didn't like it. but what did they expect from such a dull and boring "artist"?
  54. eloiza
    Aug 28, 2020
    0
    I dont know why but I didn't like this album, sorry taylor and swifties, maybe the next
  55. davidvandelay
    May 5, 2021
    0
    There's nothing wrong with the occasional ballad or emotional piece, but this album was an hour-long waste of time! I am baffled that it got any attention at all. The lyrics felt like Taylor was trying WAY too hard to be deep, and the music was just so boring! No one felt the need to add a simple beat or something to move it along. I couldn't stand it. Anyone who felt like this album wasThere's nothing wrong with the occasional ballad or emotional piece, but this album was an hour-long waste of time! I am baffled that it got any attention at all. The lyrics felt like Taylor was trying WAY too hard to be deep, and the music was just so boring! No one felt the need to add a simple beat or something to move it along. I couldn't stand it. Anyone who felt like this album was substantial in any way should get their ears cleaned. Taylor Swift has really took a turn for the worse since "1989".… Expand
  56. mileyrockstar
    Jun 1, 2021
    0
    just white privilege.... nothing is good about this at all she doesn't deserve the hype she has with sales tbh :/ it should go to miley, katy and dua
  57. maria90123
    Jun 1, 2021
    0
    flop album, boring songs that just are straight up not listenable and lyrics that show she just searched up synonyms on google
  58. Noahhh
    Jul 24, 2020
    0
    advertising 10/10
    music 0/10
    i like these kind of songs but this album have 16 simiar songs
  59. futurenoah
    Jul 24, 2020
    0
    This "alternative" sound is so incredibly tired. So uncharacteristic of Taylor too, and she does it no justice at all. Her squeaky voice really doesn't suit songs that sound like attempts on writing for Lana or Billie. Overall I'm left feeling bored and disappointed. Taylor should stick to pure pop.
  60. gspntnz
    Jul 24, 2020
    0
    Boring, I think that this is her worst era. I miss the old Taylor when she was the pure pop. In this crazy time dominated by the COVID we need music that can distract and let amuse us . Maybe she chose the wrong time to release it.
  61. bbbijayyy
    Jul 27, 2020
    0
    I really loved her genre switch move and she really did amazing amazing with Reputation but last two albums are really poor. It's just seem as if she's following the mainstream success instead of personal growth. She really upset me with this one.
  62. Alextaylorswift
    Jul 24, 2020
    0
    Boring, repetitive, Taylor we needed something more innovative, and different but you come once again and just show the same
  63. larissabuqma
    Jul 24, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The songs are horrible, more of the same, nothing innovative, the critic should put a stop to this shameless plagiarism of the NFR.… Expand
  64. Umahi-Briggs
    Jul 24, 2020
    0
    A poorly executed attempt at recreating a Lana Del Rey album. I love slow, melancholic songs/albums usually but this one feel flat for me. I’m off to cleanse my ear with some Freya Ridings and London Grammar after listening to this album.
  65. SWM5814
    Jul 24, 2020
    0
    Think about this: The album is going to get higher scores than 19, 21 and 25, both of Lorde's albums, Billie Eilesh, all of Lizzo's albums and every Beyonce album.

    That's kind of funny to me. It's also reflective of the kinds of people who review music and the pressures to like whatever Taylor Swift puts out, regardless of how many times you've heard it before, how little fire or joy    Think about this: The album is going to get higher scores than 19, 21 and 25, both of Lorde's albums, Billie Eilesh, all of Lizzo's albums and every Beyonce album.

    That's kind of funny to me. It's also reflective of the kinds of people who review music and the pressures to like whatever Taylor Swift puts out, regardless of how many times you've heard it before, how little fire or joy there is to the tunes, or how many times Swift had worked this emotional corner of finding enemies (though, in folklore, she tries using fictional characters at times).

    How someone has the stupendous commercial, critical and artistic success of Swift (1989 really is a great, and confident, album) and is left writing and recording Friday night white wine music, I guess she'll cover, someday, in an album that has her on other side of this sentimental era in her work.

    Swift is a gifted curator (a lot of millennials are); there's a song in here that's not nearly as good as Iron&Wine's The Trapeze Swinger, but you know she knows the song. A lot of the album's like that, sort of a breezy, moody, vaguely backwoodsian tour of tunes that fits neatly between a half-hour social media binge and a couple HGTV shows. it's completely inoffensive, like a steaming, oversized mug of evening craft tea at the cabin. Tea isn't soda and it's sure not coffee or booze, it's tea - delicate, a little watery, comfortable. Tea raises no hell and is a nice drink before sleep. You're not gonna knock tea - it feels unfair to the very essence of tea - and, in fact, a certain person is going to say they very much love tea for its lack of the all things that make soda, coffee and booze, you know, those things. There's a song here called "mad woman" that could be soda, coffee or booze but it's tea. Good for sleeping.

    When Madonna was 31, she released Like a Prayer.

    Another album critics thought far less of than this.

    Kind of funny.    … Expand
  66. TheAxl
    Jul 24, 2020
    0
    The worst album, cardigan is a worst balad with worst rhythm, why taylor? Why??
  67. Bertie1006
    Jul 24, 2020
    0
    Not a fan of her apart from 1989. This was her JOANNE but didn’t do it well enough for it to be a successful era for me
  68. JasonCuba
    Jul 24, 2020
    0
    Boring boring boring boring as everything she can do. Any skip? The full album!!!
  69. moonlight73
    Jul 24, 2020
    0
    is very boring, like an Lana Del Rey album she try to do another music, but she failed
  70. Loverboytrick
    Jul 24, 2020
    0
    Ok THIS SOUNDS TOTALLY To The Lana del Rey, a cheap copy of your style to have good review
  71. KikedS
    Jul 24, 2020
    0
    Meh “art” my ass, this álbum was so bored with that flat melodies without any grace, nothing new, nothing iconic, much less memorable, Taylor being Taylor since 2009
  72. Bilbobaggins6_9
    Jul 24, 2020
    0
    It's just the same recycled stuff that she has been putting out since like 2011. A little originality really goes a long way.
  73. Taywhore
    Jul 25, 2020
    0
    Fine lyrics, Trashy voice. It sounds so boring. I don't know why people love this album.
  74. Helenaa
    Jul 24, 2020
    0
    i don’t even know what to say honestly, i thought Lover was bad, but this is even worse.. i used to love Taylor’s music, but lately she keeps downgrading. Lover was a very childish album, but this one is just really disappointing, i expected more.
  75. smilebizzle
    Jul 26, 2020
    0
    Didnt like, most of the songs sound the same. Her other albums are way better than this.
  76. Junio2292
    Jul 24, 2020
    1
    Não gostei do álbum. Talvez seja apenas opinião pessoal mesmo. O único álbum da Taylor que eu realmente gostei foi reputation
  77. jose_
    Jul 24, 2020
    0
    La letra de cada una de las canciones no son malas, mismo ritmo en cada pista y es aburrido escuchar lo mismo, probablemente le vaya bien pero no sera por mucho
  78. d4nzy
    Jul 24, 2020
    1
    What was this mannnn, like what actually is this, what was this meant to accomplish like I don't get country and pop is a genre I think I can get into if we're keeping it real
  79. Fwmatt
    Jul 24, 2020
    1
    Horrible album. Simple as it is. She sounds the same she shouldn’t have dropped it. She should’ve perfected it
  80. Superhero1015
    Jul 24, 2020
    2
    With a singular Bon Iver feature, Taylor's Folklore album feels like a waste of potential. With this record serving as an "experimental" attempt and a maturity in Taylor's music, the storytelling is convoluted, the instrumentation is uninteresting, and her Taylor's vocals are the same as they've always been. Songs like "betty" prove how little she has changed from her early work.
  81. nobody12
    Jul 24, 2020
    0
    l
    The worst album of the year without a doubt, the songs are all the same, Taylor Swift is already old and is starting to make bad music, and there are people thinking that this crap will win the album of the year by the Grammy Awards, definitely never, this alb
  82. SunAnd
    Jul 24, 2020
    0
    All her Albums are same with different names. Even all the songs are same and boring. This is one of the worst albums of this year, but anyway it's gonna be at Number 1, win many awards etc cause of her fans.
  83. EsraCetinturk
    Jul 24, 2020
    0
    Inadequate infrastructure. Looks like a Lana del rey Album so it doesn't look original.
  84. venusprism
    Jul 24, 2020
    0
    Ever since the release of the embarrassing ME! in 2019, Swift's music has taken a turn for the worst. This album proved that Swift didn't fail to disappoint my eardrums once again. The slender man aesthetic and the outdated magical childish Disney sound of the album seem to clash every time Swift hits a flat note. And the unnecessary love triangle was hard for me to handle theEver since the release of the embarrassing ME! in 2019, Swift's music has taken a turn for the worst. This album proved that Swift didn't fail to disappoint my eardrums once again. The slender man aesthetic and the outdated magical childish Disney sound of the album seem to clash every time Swift hits a flat note. And the unnecessary love triangle was hard for me to handle the embarrassment. And finally, indie isn't for you Taylor. stay in your lane dumb **** … Expand
  85. Kevinyuh
    Jul 24, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Suena casi todo igual algunas son buenas, en general es aburridooooooooooooo… Expand
  86. sophielevitt
    Jul 24, 2020
    2
    the lyrics are great! but the backtrack is so bad - it literally put me to sleep and i had to stop the album halfway through because of that. i don't know where the praise is coming from if it's regarding anything other than lyrics.
  87. No_teimporta
    Jul 24, 2020
    3
    Typical Swift album, meeeeeeh
    Taylor and the same albums Oh! My heart is broke, I will make a song.
  88. madomatt
    Jul 26, 2020
    0
    Maybe the best album since Red the best part on the album bon iver and the production but kanye made that girl famous
  89. BeHonest
    Jul 27, 2020
    0
    Her old work was way better. Reputation will always be her best album and that's on perry@
  90. Sadeeedwards
    Aug 14, 2020
    2
    Folklore gave me winter vibes, which is odd considering it was released in the middle of summer. I'm very suspicious it was released early due to the billboard hot 100, she released just a week before bundles stopped counting towards the billboard hot 100. She took advantage of that, and released multiple bundles. Which scored her a #1 debut.

    The album seemed very messy, the mixed    Folklore gave me winter vibes, which is odd considering it was released in the middle of summer. I'm very suspicious it was released early due to the billboard hot 100, she released just a week before bundles stopped counting towards the billboard hot 100. She took advantage of that, and released multiple bundles. Which scored her a #1 debut.

    The album seemed very messy, the mixed genres caught me off guard. It was a mix of folk, pop, indie, country, and there were even some strings heard. Nothing really stuck out about the album, she had some good lower register vocals in a few songs but that's about it. Not to mention invisible string at 1:55 sounds like justin biebers company at 1:13.

    definitely disappointed.    … Expand
  91. GreysonB
    Jul 26, 2020
    0
    Taypeste siendo una inmunda cuando no, y lo más ridículo es que sus fans creen que es "Alternativo" LA TAYMUGRE
  92. mayble
    Jul 27, 2020
    0
    This album isn’t her best work let’s be honest. The whole thing is just boring
  93. HoustonTejas
    Aug 2, 2020
    0
    Its garbage. Lyrics are written to sound sophisticated though are more like high school prose. The melody is repetitive from track to track. It seems she was inspired by JT’s man from the woods, sadly instead of depth it is vanity depth in the mold of Justin Bieber music school of self awareness. Perhaps Swift finally discovered that she herself lacks substance and can no linger hide byIts garbage. Lyrics are written to sound sophisticated though are more like high school prose. The melody is repetitive from track to track. It seems she was inspired by JT’s man from the woods, sadly instead of depth it is vanity depth in the mold of Justin Bieber music school of self awareness. Perhaps Swift finally discovered that she herself lacks substance and can no linger hide by airing her dirty laundry though ironically wants to be taken serious. Having built a career bashing her ex’s, now she wants to be heard as an adult. Best advice, write lyrics that shows you have lived outside of a fame bubble.… Expand
  94. Ismail01
    Aug 28, 2020
    0
    Its really so bad i hate this album its **** bad really really so bad i am not say anything
  95. LcHlnrv
    Jul 24, 2020
    1
    I didn’t like this album. I excepted more from Artist of the Decade plus the fact merch was made for Autumn, Winter and she drop it now because its last week Billboard count some sales....as a fan disappointed. She should have Wait more and have less song... :((
  96. ronaldpc
    Jul 24, 2020
    1
    I don't like that musical style because i love pop and the album is not what i love.
  97. melomaniarchie
    Jul 24, 2020
    0
    Taylor tried to make a new Golden Hour, but she failed miserably. We deserve better.
  98. Jibootyyy
    Jul 24, 2020
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Her worst album for me ::::::::::(((((((((((((((
    :(((((((((((((((((((((((((    … Expand
  99. Iconicteainc
    Jul 26, 2020
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I was EXTREMELY bored with this album. It seemed like an Adele album; one long song, but of course because she’s a traditional pop star, who’s pushing no boundaries and fits a social beauty standard, y’all are acting like it’s the best thing ever. The album is lame.… Expand
  100. certifiedkilla2
    Jul 28, 2020
    0
    I couldn’t sit through this album at all. It was boring all the way through. The vocals were off. Even the feature with Bon Iver that I usually like I couldnt get through. Her worst album as of yet. Seems like she’s getting worst at the years go by. Poor girl. Time to retire
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Awards & Rankings

13
#13 Best Album of 2020
1
#1 Most Discussed Album of 2020

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
88

Universal acclaim - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. Uncut
    Aug 13, 2020
    90
    It's a sharp turn to the left for Swift and a fine reminder that she is more than just a gleaming pop phenomenon, but a remarkable songwriter too. [Oct 2020, p.36]
  2. DIY Magazine
    Aug 7, 2020
    90
    A modern-folk masterpiece which finds her moving from her previous pop bangers into stunningly simple yet sharp melodies, ‘folklore’ will be going down in Swiftie history as one of her most unexpected, and undoubtedly one of her best.
    Read full review
  3. The Observer (UK)
    Aug 3, 2020
    60
    These 16 tracks (17 on the deluxe version) play out quite pleasurably in their entirety, the joins between Swift, Dessner and Antonoff ultimately only of niche interest. But Swift’s powerful songs reach their climaxes with bittersweet orchestrations, rather than blows to the solar plexus or a ringing in the ears. Everything hovers; little truly lands.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »