BY MEGHAN BAEHL, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
I am aware that not everyone shares my music taste, but I will do my best to convince readers to, at the very least, attempt to listen to one song from each album. I am aware the term “ladies first” is archaic, but in this case, I feel so strongly about the albums I am about to introduce. I am not sure I can wait until next week for the girl’s edition.
Also, I will only cover three out of the six due to word constraints and wanting to give each album all the hype it deserves.
It is only fitting to start with Taylor Swift’s “Evermore,” which dropped in January of this year. The most familiar songs from her album would be “willow,” “champagne problems” and “no body, no crime” (featuring HAIM). Those three songs are the most played on the radio, so you have definitely heard it blaring in the grocery store before, even if you hadn’t realized it. “Evermore” is a continuation of Folklore, which is Swift’s 2020 album.
The album pays homage to her iconic biographical style of music but is more refined and riveting. Swift’s lyrics are poetry, and she makes both modern and other references. We get to see Swift delve deeper into the satisfying indie/alternative pool, and it keeps getting better and better. Top listens for me are “tolerate it” and “‘tis the damn season,” which although both omit various emotions from me, will never make me cry as much as “happiness” or “dorothea.”
I feel like this is a good time to segue into “Sour,” which is Olivia Rodrigo’s debut album. Do you want to listen to something and not skip one song? This is the album for you, then. Rodrigo’s “drivers license” tugged at the world’s heartstrings and brought back early 2000s T-Swift’s belt at the top of your lungs in the car type of music. But, Olivia also gave us “good 4 u” which gives off vibes of a 2021 version of Paramore’s Misery Business.
My top two on the album are “jealousy, jealousy” and “traitor.” It does not matter if you are in the healthiest relationship in your life, her lyrics are so emotional and will undoubtedly make you cry or at least shed a tear.
Okay, very quickly, “Strangers Forever” by up-and-coming breakout artist Maude Latour is the most satisfying “mini album”. Six songs at around seventeen minutes will make you dance around your room and motivate you to get through that ten-page essay you procrastinated. My favorite songs are “Furniture” and “Clean,” and admittedly this is the only album I have not fallen asleep in the library too.
I’m sure you’re wondering, “Meghan, how come you didn’t include Billie Eilish’s Happier Than Ever?” In my opinion (Billie stans please no hate), I find much more enjoyment in her brother Finneas’ music, which I will highlight in the coming weeks’ articles. Also, maybe I will add her to the honorable mention list because her song, “Happier Than Ever,” is a banger.
