Best Taylor Swift Albums: Ranking Tay Tay’s 5 Most Iconic Albums

Discover the top 5 Taylor Swift albums of all time, as we rank her best work. Get ready for some serious nostalgia and chart-topping hits in this comprehensive guide to Tay Tay's discography.

Taylor Swift is an American singer-songwriter who has established herself as one of the biggest names in the music industry over the last decade. With eleven studio albums and countless accolades, she has cemented her place in pop culture history.

Over the years, Swift has reinvented herself and her music, transitioning from country to pop with ease and continuing to churn out hit after hit. Over the past 17 years, she has released eleven studio albums, each showcasing a unique sound and style. From her country music roots to her pop-infused anthems, she has mesmerised audiences with relatable lyrics and memorable melodies.

Her 2006 debut album showcased her talent as a country singer-songwriter, while her more recent albums, such as ‘Lover’ and ‘Folklore’ have shown her growth as an artist and her willingness to experiment with new sounds.

Her highly anticipated 11th studio album, 'The Tortured Poets Department', was released on the morning of April 19th and shares similarities with her 'Midnights' album.

In this blog, to celebrate the release of ‘The Tortured Poets Department’, we'll be taking a look at Taylor Swift's five most iconic albums.

5. Speak Now

At number 5 we have ‘Speak Now’, Taylor Swift's third studio album released in 2010. It was written entirely by Swift, who drew inspiration from her personal experiences and stories from her fans.

It was a departure from the themes of her previous album ‘Fearless’, which focused on teenage love and heartbreak. ‘Speak Now’ showcased Swift's growth as an artist, both lyrically and musically.

The album was home to some of Taylor Swift's most notable early tracks, including ‘Mine’, ‘Back to December’, and ‘Mean’. These tracks became blockbuster hits and showcased Swift's ability to write relatable, catchy songs that resonated with her audience.

The album was a commercial success, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 and selling over one million copies in its first week. The record is now certified 6x platinum with over 4.7 million sales.

The concept behind ‘Speak Now’ was centred around the idea of taking control of your own narrative. The album was lauded with praise by fans and critics alike, with The New York Times stating that Swift had “transcended the limitations of genre and became a pop megastar”.

4. Folklore

‘Folklore’, released in 2020, marked a change from Taylor Swift's previous sound. The album was a step away from the synth-pop sound of her previous albums and was heavily influenced by indie folk.

The album was released during the COVID-19 pandemic and was a complete surprise for her fans. It was written and recorded in isolation and features 16 tracks that explore themes of love, loss, and storytelling.

The record was a critical and commercial success, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 and selling over two million copies in the US alone. The lead single ‘Cardigan’ became an instant hit, topping the charts and receiving critical acclaim.

The stripped-down sound allows Swift's lyrics to take centre stage, showcasing her talent as a singer and songwriter. The album has been praised for its meaningful and mature lyrics, with Swift exploring complex emotions and relationships.

‘Folklore’ is a beautiful, thought-provoking project that showcases Tay Tay’s growth as an artist. Its simplistic sound and storytelling lyrics have resonated with fans and critics alike, cementing its place as one of Taylor Swift's best records to date.

3. Evermore

Coming in third place is Taylor Swift’s ninth studio release ‘Evermore’. Also released in 2020, the album was a continuation of the sound established in its sister album ‘Folklore’. The record was another surprise release, and like its predecessor, was heavily influenced by indie folk.

The sound on ‘Evermore’ was carried by dressed-down guitars and sombre pianos and featured limited percussion, with Taylor Swift once again showcasing her ability to adapt to new sounds and genres.

The album featured some of the singer's most loved ballads, including ‘Willow’, ‘Gold Rush’ and ‘Tis The Damn Season’. The record also featured guest appearances from bands such as Bon Iver, Haim and The National.

‘Evermore’ debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and sold over one million copies in the US alone and earning a platinum certification.

The album showcased Swift's ability to write hugely popular introspective and emotional hits and also her ability to successfully mould her sound into any genre.

2. Red

Released in 2012, Red marked Taylor Swift's first step away from her country-pop sound and a move towards a more heavily pop-influenced sound.

Red was a highly anticipated album, with Swift promising her fans that it would be her most adventurous and experimental album yet.

The album features a mix of country and pop influences, with the singer experimenting with new sounds and collaborating with different producers.

The record's lead single, ‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together’ became a huge worldwide hit, earning Swift her first number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100. The album also features popular tracks such as ‘Red’, ‘I Knew You Were Trouble’ and ‘22’.

Overall the project was a landmark success, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 and selling over four million copies, earning a 7x platinum certification.  

Tracks like ‘22’ and ‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together’ showcased Swift's newfound pop sensibilities, planting the seeds for what would become one of the most successful music careers of all time. While ballads like ‘All Too Well’ and ‘Begin Again’ once again highlighted her songwriting prowess.

1. 1989

Taking the top spot on our list is Swift's fifth studio album ‘1989’. Released in 2014, the album is titled after the year of her birth, which is fitting as the project signalled Taylor Swift's artistic rebirth.  

After releasing her fourth studio album featuring a mix of pop and country sounds, many began to question if the singer was still a country musician. Tay Tay answered their questions with this full-throttle synth-pop album that finalised her departure from country music and cemented her as one of the most popular pop artists in the world.

The album was a monumental critical and commercial success, becoming Swift's third consecutive album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 and selling over five million copies in the US alone.

The album showcased Swift's growth as an artist and marked a significant turning point in her career that thrust her to the forefront of the music industry.

The album produced some of the singer's most iconic tracks, including ‘Shake It Off’, ‘Blank Space’ and ‘Bad Blood’. These tracks showcased Swift's ability to write catchy, anthemic pop songs that resonated with fans. These hits have gone on to become staples of their genre.

Special mentions go to her 2017 ‘Reputation’ album, inspired by intense media scrutiny and the fantasy series Game of Thrones, and to ‘The Tortured Poets Department’.

What is Taylor Swift's new album about?

Since announcing her new album during her Grammy's acceptance speech on 5th February, Taylor has been hinting at its arrival for weeks.

On the morning of the 19th of April, the eagerly anticipated album arrived. The release included a surprise announcement that ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ is a secret double album, with an extra 15 songs more than expected, to the joy of her fans across the world.

The singer has said that it is a story, “one that was both sensational and sorrowful in equal measure. This period of the author’s life is now over, the chapter closed and boarded up.”

Rumours are circulating that it is likely to have been inspired by the end of her relationship with ex-boyfriend and English actor Joe Alwyn and by the five stages of grief. There seem to be references to other past relationships scattered throughout, including the lead singer of the British band The 1975, Matty Healy.

The Guardian has described the album’s sounds as splitting “the difference between the glossy 80s-influenced pop-rock of 1989 and the small-hours understatement of Midnights, softening the former’s neon hues” with “simple pulsing synth basslines and subtle electronics”.

Fans attending her upcoming ‘Era’ shows will probably be lucky enough to hear tracks from the new album live. There is no doubt that the new material will only increase the Swifties’ love for her, with yet another set of music records ready to be set.

Why did Taylor Swift name her new album 'The Tortured Poets Department'?

Why Taylor named her album ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ is the subject of speculation, as she has not offered any official explanation.

Noticeably longer than her previous albums’ names, it may be tied to the inspiration taken from grief. Other theories reference a group chat her ex-boyfriend once admitted to being in called ‘The Tortured Man Club’.

In the same post that announced the release of the (first) album on X (formerly Twitter) shown above, Taylor’s caption also makes a reference to the name, saying “... Once we have spoken our saddest story, we can be free of it. And then all that’s left behind is the tortured poetry.”

How to watch Taylor Swift in concert live and in style

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