Today I am choosing to go where very few Swifties have gone before — ranking Taylor Swift’s albums from worst to best.
I know what you’re going to say, “There are no bad Taylor Swift albums!” And yes, you’d be correct. But, in life, we all have to make tough choices and today is just one of those days.
I want to say before I jump into the ranking — I like ALL of Taylor’s albums. In fact, if I were to rate each album out of five stars, every single album would get at LEAST three stars or higher. I’m merely having to choose between my favorites!
So, as we all patiently wait for the release of The Tortured Poets Department, let me try to complete the impossible task of ranking Taylor’s albums from worst to best:
10. Lover
This was really, REALLY tough for me because Lover has some of my favorite Taylor songs of all time. In fact, “Cruel Summer” may be in my top five songs ever. I also love “Death By a Thousand Cuts”, “Cornelia Street,” and “I Think He Knows.”
But, I also can’t ignore the fact this album has maybe my least favorite Taylor song of all time. I really don’t like “ME!” and I also don’t love “London Boy,” “You Need to Calm Down,” or “It’s Nice to Have a Friend.” Lover has high highs and low lows, which is why it’s number 10 on the list.
9. Taylor Swift
Ah, the album that started it all. Although she wrote most of it when she was just 16 years old, this album is full of incredible songs. “Picture to Burn,” “Should’ve Said No,” “Our Song,” “Tim McGraw”… the list goes on and on.
Is it as deep lyrically as her later albums? No. Does it definitely sound like an album written by a teenager? Yes. But, that doesn’t mean it’s not really, really good.
Related: Watch our ‘Taylor Swift Albums From Worst to Best’ video
8. Evermore
I know this is unpopular because people really love Evermore, but this album didn’t hit for me quite as much as it did for everyone else
But, with that being said, “Ivy” is one of my all-time favorite Taylor songs. I also really enjoy “Champagne Problems,” “Gold Rush,” and “Willow.” But, some songs just don’t work for me, which is why I feel it deserves the number eight spot.
7. Midnights
The latest album to win Taylor “Album of the Year” at the Grammys, Midnights is full of great songs. You can’t help but dance when “Karma” or “Anti-Hero” comes on, and there’s no denying the lyrical genius in songs like “You’re on Your Own Kid” or “Mastermind.”
However, unlike some of the albums we’ll discuss later, it doesn’t have that ONE song that stands out among the rest. So, while it’s a really strong album, I don’t know if it deserves to be any lower on the list.
6. Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)
I will be the first to admit I probably have this album so high for nostalgia reasons. I was in high school when this came out, so it had a major impact on my teen years.
But, in revisiting the album for this ranking I realized I don’t think Speak Now has a single skip! From “Mean” to “Enchanted” to “Dear John” and “Back to December,” there are just so many fantastic songs from start to finish.
5. Reputation
So here’s the truth — I didn’t love Reputation when it first came out. I thought it was OK, but it was so different from Taylor’s previous work that I couldn’t quite wrap my head around it. However, more than six years later, it’s one of my favorites. The songs are so unique, the writing is top-tier, and it’s very sonically cohesive.
The only reason it’s not higher up is because it doesn’t have that ONE song that just completely and totally stands out.
4. Fearless (Taylor’s Version)
This album changed my life. No, seriously, this was the album that made me a Swiftie. I was 15 when I first listened to “Fifteen.” I liked someone who didn’t like me back when I listened to “You Belong With Me.”
Fearless was the soundtrack to my early teenage years and so for that reason, it will always be one of my favorites. Plus, doesn’t like “Love Story?”
3. Folklore
When Taylor announced the release of Folklore in 2020, it caught everyone by surprise for more reasons than one. Not only did she decide to drop the album out of nowhere, but it was so different from the previous albums she had released.
But let me tell you, this album has zero skips. In fact, “Invisible String” may be one of my favorite songs of all time, but there’s no denying the brilliance of “Betty,” “August,” “Peace,” and “My Tears Ricochet.” Truthfully, those songs just scratch the surface of how brilliant this album really is.
Related: Watch our ‘Taylor Swift Albums From Worst to Best’ video
2. 1989 (Taylor’s Version)
Simply put, this album is pop perfection. In fact, 1989 is a testament to Taylor’s evolution both as an artist and as a cultural icon. It not only marked a significant departure from her country roots, but it also catapulted her to even greater heights of stardom.
“Shake It Off” and “Blank Space” became instant anthems, showcasing Taylor’s ability to craft catchy melodies, but she still managed to show off her incredible songwriting in songs like “Clean” and “You’re in Love.”
1. Red (Taylor’s Version)
Why is Red #1? Truthfully, there’s only one reason — “All Too Well.” I don’t care if it’s the original version or the 10-minute version, “All Too Well” is an absolute masterpiece of a song and should be remembered as such.
But, Red isn’t just great because of one song, it has countless bangers like “I Knew You Were Trouble,” “22,” and “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.” Not to mention, her songwriting prowess shines as she navigates themes of passion, heartbreak, and self-reflection with raw honesty and vulnerability. Simply put, her ability to blend elements of pop, country, and rock is second to none.