Taylor Swift Went Into The Woods And Came Out With A Surprise Album, Which Is Coming Out At Midnight

You know how Kanye West has a new album, DONDA: WITH CHILD, coming out tomorrow? Well, his nemesis Taylor Swift grabbed his mic and said, “Yo, Kanye, I’m really happy for you, and Imma let you finish, but I have a new album coming out tonight too.”

The Swifties can go ahead and switch out their usual bedtime beverage of strawberry tea with a sprinkling of stardust (pink sugar) with apple cider-flavored Red Bull because they’re going to be up all night using their cotton candy-scented, cloud-shaped magnifying glass to scan brand new Tay Tay song after brand new Tay Tay song to figure out who she’s writing about. Wait, did I say cotton candy-scented, cloud-shaped magnifying glass? That was the Lover era. They’re going to use their Demeter Dirt-scented, Little Trees-shaped magnifying glass on Taylor’s eight studio album, folklore. Um, Nelly Furtado will see you in court, Tay Tay!

Taylor’s last album, Lover, came out on August 23, 2019, and it was a candy chest full of sugary pop songs, like the rejected end credits Pixar song Me! and every Pinterest bride’s dream wedding song Lover. For folklore, Taylor has left the glitter and Nick Jr. Jem!-aesthetics behind and is giving us “just Googled ‘dark cottagecore’” moodiness. Taylor apparently put together folklore while self-isolating, and she’s stepping back into the country space by going indie folksy. And if you’re thinking that the pictures for this album look like something the most popular girl in high school would post on Instagram after listening to 30 seconds of a Bon Iver song, that’s because Taylor worked with Bon Iver for a song on folklore. She also worked with her usual partner in ~musical artistry~ Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dressner of The National.

Here’s the announcement that sent the Swifties furiously tearing their closet apart for the perfect autumntime Midsommar (Midhöst?) cosplay look:

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Most of the things I had planned this summer didn’t end up happening, but there is something I hadn’t planned on that DID happen. And that thing is my 8th studio album, folklore. Surprise 🤗Tonight at midnight I’ll be releasing my entire brand new album of songs I’ve poured all of my whims, dreams, fears, and musings into. I wrote and recorded this music in isolation but got to collaborate with some musical heroes of mine; @aarondessner (who has co-written or produced 11 of the 16 songs), @boniver (who co-wrote and was kind enough to sing on one with me), William Bowery (who co-wrote two with me) and @jackantonoff (who is basically musical family at this point). Engineered by Laura Sisk and Jon Low, mixed by Serban Ghenea & Jon Low. The album photos were shot by the amazing @bethgarrabrant. Before this year I probably would’ve overthought when to release this music at the ‘perfect’ time, but the times we’re living in keep reminding me that nothing is guaranteed. My gut is telling me that if you make something you love, you should just put it out into the world. That’s the side of uncertainty I can get on board with. Love you guys so much ♥️

A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on Jul 23, 2020 at 5:00am PDT

Taylor already shot a socially distanced video for folklore’s first single, cardigan. Yes, cardigan. This must be an anti-Kanye album. She hates CAPS now!

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The music video for “cardigan” will premiere tonight, which I wrote/directed. A million thank you’s to my brilliant, bad ass video team – cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto, producer Jil Hardin, executive producer Rebecca Skinner, AD Joe ‘Oz’ Osbourne, editor Chancler Haynes, special effects wizards David Lebensfeld & Grant Miller, and set designer Ethan Tobman. The entire shoot was overseen by a medical inspector, everyone wore masks, stayed away from each other, and I even did my own hair, makeup, and styling 😂

A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on Jul 23, 2020 at 5:08am PDT

Taylor also released the tracklist, and surprisingly there’s no songs titled All Braun, No Bite, and Scooter Ride To Hell (she’s probably saving those tracks for her metal album). And like any indie folk artiste, it looks like Taylor is going for those sales. Taylor is putting out 8 deluxe CD editions as well as 8 deluxe vinyl editions, and merch (including an actual cardigan, of course). Billboard announced that beginning next month, they will not count album sales that are bundled with merchandise or concert tickets. They will also not count a physical CD or vinyl as a sale until it has shipped. So when an artist offers a digital download with the purchase of a CD, that digital download won’t count. Artists use those tactics to rack up sales to try to chart high. But since folklore is coming out on July 24, Folksy Taylore has Riverdanced on those new rules!

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folklore will have 16 songs on the standard edition, but the physical deluxe editions will include a bonus track called “the lakes.” Because this is my 8th studio album, I made 8 deluxe CD editions and 8 deluxe vinyl editions that are available for one week😄 Each deluxe edition has unique covers, photos, and artwork. Available exclusively at taylorswift.com

A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on Jul 23, 2020 at 5:03am PDT

So yeah, this is Taylor’s folksy Man of the Woods. But you know who saw this coming over 25 years ago? Nell is obviously a seer of the future, because when she said “Tay in the wind,” earthy Taylor Swift is what she was really talking about!

Pic: Instagram