The Definitive (sure . . .) Ranking of Taylor Swift Albums (as of TLOAS)
My ranking from least favorite to BEST.
12 - Debut
I would say that I just have not listened to this album much. I have only listened to it once, and it is not that memorable for me. Also, country is one of my least favorite genres, and her vocals and writing are still being developed in this album. However, this is very impressive for writing and singing this at 15.
11 - Fearless
This is a big jump from debut in this ranking, and in themes and sonically. This album has great highs like “You Belong With Me,” “Forever and Always,” “Fifteen", “Mr. Perfectly Fine,” and many more. However, the vault tracks are forgettable, and the inconsistencies are a lot.
10 - Midnights
Midnights is a concept album of many different songs written at midnight. It feels like it. I don’t really care about themes and fully chronological/fleshed out stories; however, this is very all over the place. It has great songs all over, but it is not what I think of when I think about Taylor Swift.
9 - Red
All over the place, but it has a great opener and closer, building the theme. There are so many highs, but few unmemorable lows like “I Almost Do” and “The Moment I Knew.” It is an album that has so many songs that you just want to pick out, but I never listen to the album in its entirety.
8 - Lover
A nice palette cleanser of an album with such bops; however, there are a lot of songs that I just don’t go back to, and some of the songs are really shallow.
7 - Reputation'
A great comeback album with a great sound, but I always pick and choose songs rather than listen through:
6 - The Tortured Poets Department
The Anthology is her most “Taylor” album, which is all over the place, but is just soooo amazing. The OG album also has bops, but the work as a whole feels all over the place.
5 - The Life of a Showgirl
So overhated! It is a concise album with such bangers and production that remind me of my trip to Canada (listening to it so many times in the car).
4 - Evermore
Such a reminiscent and beautiful production album. This is Taylor’s writing at its best, and it is trying so much in so many ways.
3 - 1989
The Pop Bible. 1989 is an album you can listen through and through with NO skips. It is iconic and perfect and so reminiscent of my early childhood; however, it does not have the core songs that others have.
2 - Speak Now
100% Taylor written masterpiece. So impressive, she wrote this so young and has such a personal theme and lesson. Also, there are no skips on the vault; that is impressive.
1 - Folklore
The PERFECT album. It is so cohesive in its theme of storytelling, and the tracks blend with each other so well. It was also my obsession during the pandemic, and it was my soundtrack. Also, I have favorites of all time like “the 1” and “invisible string” on this record.
