Swift, Taylor: Folklore (2LP, ''In the Trees'' edition) [REPUBLIC]

*Folklore* is the eighth studio album by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, released unexpectedly on July 24, 2020, through Republic Records. Following the COVID-19 pandemic's onset, which led to the cancellation of her tour for *Lover* (2019), Swift created *Folklore* during quarantine as "a collection of songs and stories that flowed like a stream of consciousness." She collaborated with producers Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff virtually, with Dessner working from studios in the Hudson Valley and Antonoff from New York City, while Swift recorded her vocals in her home studio in Los Angeles.

Departing from the upbeat pop of her previous albums, *Folklore* features mellow ballads driven by piano, guitars, strings, and subtle percussion, exploring indie folk, alternative rock, and electro-acoustic styles. Influenced by the isolation of quarantine, Swift delves into themes of escapism, empathy, nostalgia, and romanticism through fictional characters and narratives, contrasting with the autobiographical tone of her earlier work. The title reflects the enduring nature of folk songs, and the album's visual style embraces cottagecore aesthetics.

Upon its release, *Folklore* topped charts worldwide and achieved platinum or higher status in Australia, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, and the United Kingdom. In the U.S., it became Swift's seventh number-one album, spending eight weeks at the top of the Billboard 200 and becoming the best-selling album of 2020. Tracks such as "Cardigan," "The 1," and "Exile" featuring Bon Iver reached the top 10 in eight countries, with "Cardigan" becoming Swift's sixth number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100.

The album received widespread critical acclaim for its emotional depth, poetic lyrics, and relaxed pace. Critics praised its introspective nature as fitting for the pandemic era and viewed it as a bold artistic shift for Swift. It appeared on numerous year-end lists for 2020 and earned a place in Rolling Stone’s 2023 revision of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time." At the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, it won Album of the Year, making Swift the first woman to win this honor three times. Swift also discussed and performed *Folklore* in the Disney+ concert documentary *Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions*, which premiered on November 25, 2020. The album’s sequel, *Evermore* (2020), was released two weeks later. Many artists have cited *Folklore* as a significant source of inspiration.