How to Start Listening to Taylor Swift’s Discography
Artists with large discographies can sometimes be discouraging to start listening to. There's always the option to listen in order to get the same experience as long-time fans, however, the fan favorites and even one’s own music preferences are always tempting to start with. Taylor Swift is no exception to this; she currently has nine albums and many know her hit singles, but her fan favorites within the album barely get any recognition from mainstream media.
For anyone that would like to start listening to Taylor Swift and her full discography, they should start with “1989” (2014), which most likely has more songs that one would know, so it’s a great starting point due to its familiarity. Next would be “RED” (2012) because similarly to “1989” many would know some of the songs. Additionally, there is a wide range of genres in this particular album such as country, pop, rock, synth-pop, and folk. After listening to “RED”, consider listening to Swift's third country album “Speak Now” (2010) which also includes genres such as rock and pop. An entirely self-written album, the tracks showcase Swift’s songwriting talent from such a young age. Continuing on from Swift’s songwriting talent would next be “folklore” (2020) and “evermore” (2020) which show Swift’s polished, reflective, and mature songwriting. These sister albums feature a toned down production and an imaginative storytelling that does not center around Swift herself but rather fictional or historical characters. Next would be Swift’s 7th album “reputation” (2017), an often misunderstood album, as it is marketed as an album with themes of mostly karma, revenge, and spite. However, it mostly focuses on “finding love in chaos” according to Swift herself. Then would be “Fearless (Taylor’s version)” (2021), the first of Taylor Swift’s re-recording and what is considered a cult classic by her fans. Thus the album would return new listeners to more familiar songs like “Love Story” and “You Belong With Me.” Next is “Lover” (2019), Swift’s love letter to love itself. It’s a pop album that reflects on commitment, personal growth, and maturity. Last is Swift’s debut album, “Taylor Swift” (2006), which returns back to her country roots and starts at the very beginning.
Inevitably, many people will have preferences as to which album they love the most, but an amazing thing about Taylor Swift is that her discography spans three main genres. No matter what genre of music you love, make sure to pay attention to Swift's descriptive and specific songwriting as it stays constant throughout all of her albums and resonates with many fans, no matter what music production is behind it. Happy listening!
