A Taylor Swift Catalog Wrap Up
(Bridget's Version)
I saw this trend on TikTok (#SwiftTok) of users taking TS albums and categorizing what they feel are the best and worst single tracks on the album - no ranked choice, no multiple #1’s. Taylor has racked up a substantial catalog, so it’s pretty difficult to drill it down. I thought I’d do something a bit different on the blog and try it out, especially considering we are a couple months away from a tour heralding an overview of her work. I’m adding my own flair, though. See the following stipulations:
— I added a category for “best song to scream along with in your car,” which I’ll just label as “car track” for brevity.
— Any re-released album is being judged by Taylor’s version and not by the original album, which means vault tracks are included in my final judgment.
Debut (self-titled)
Best: Tim McGraw
should go without saying, honestly. It leads the album as track 1, and it’s track 1 in my heart.
Car track: Picture to Burn
I know she changed it to be more culturally appropriate, but I still unapologetically sing “that’s fine, I’ll tell my friends that you’re gay” whenever this comes on. Don’t worry, I’m allowed to (insert one of the gay hand flick gifs here). This was a tough pick with Should’ve Said No, but I do think Picture to Burn is incredibly satisfying.
Weakest: Invisible
It feels so repetitive on this album to other tracks that do the concept with better execution. I almost always forget that this track existed.
Fearless
Best: Love Story
I waffled between this and Fearless, but I do think this song has endured very well throughout the years. It was a brilliant single and was the beginnings of Swift writing songs from perspective other than her own. She’s been able to play around with it in live versions throughout decades of tours, and while we may all be slightly tired of it, it’s a classic for a reason.
Car track: The Way I Loved You
I almost picked Forever & Always, which is a great song to scream in a moving vehicle, but I decided to pick this one. This song is so toxic but she’s my problematic fave. I love the how quick and forward-moving the verses are, and it has that quintessential nostalgia piece that never fails to make me smile.
Weakest: Superstar
I cannot believe this made the cut for the final album but You All Over Me did not???? The word superstar makes me cringe.
Speak Now
Best: Sparks Fly
This might be a controversial pick, but while I might personally identify with songs like Mine and Dear John, I do think that Sparks Fly is the most interesting musically.
Car Track: Better Than Revenge
Alright, I am really outing myself as the toxic one. I’ll just own it! This one will also probably be uncomfortable to re-record now that TS is in her thirties. That being said - the Paramore vibes make this a fun sing-along.
Weakest: Innocent
Nothing has aged quite as poorly as this song, and I honest to God hope she just skips it when it comes to re-recording this album. For those that don’t know, this song is about Kanye West in response to his 2009 VMA’s stunt. Even if I could forget that fact, the song just falls flat to me. There’s nothing particularly interesting about the lyrics or musicality.
Red
Best: All Too Well (10 minute version)
This is another that goes without saying - it’s the best track on the album and one of her best songs in the entire catalog. This song is unmatched on Red.
Car Track: Come Back…Be Here
On an album full of tracks that are ideal to drive off into the sunset to, this was a difficult call. This might be a personal bias more than an objective stance, but I do think this chorus is tough to beat on a long drive.
Weakest: Stay Stay Stay
Could we have just left the Speak Now tracks on Speak Now? This song makes me mad, mad, mad and is one of my only skips on this album, which I otherwise regard as a masterpiece.
1989
Best: New Romantics
Once again, this never should’ve been a bonus track. I get why we kick off this album with Welcome to New York but this as Track 1 would’ve had me feral. It’s by far one of the most intriguing songs on this album.
Car Track: Style
It’s mysterious, it’s sexy, it deserves its own runway. I will never tire of this one.
Weakest: How You Get The Girl
1989 is entirely no skips for me and holds an intense amount of nostalgia in my mind, so a weakest track was excruciating to identify. While I have grown to love this track, one has to admit it’s not as compelling as the likes of Black Space, Out of the Woods, Clean, or Wildest Dreams.
reputation
Best: Delicate
Not only do I think it’s written in a smart way, I also just think it’s a gut punch. Disguised as a song you could play at a club, it’s also deeply lonely in nature and evokes what the entire album is really about within four minutes. A lot of this album cuts like a knife sonically, but Delicate cuts at your heart.
Car Track: Getaway Car
And not just because it’s punny! I was so close to picking this on the best track. I still kind of think it is.
Weakest: End Game
Ed Sheeran’s verse. Do I have to say more?
Lover
Best: Lover
TS famously loves this song and is incredibly proud of it, and I have to agree with her. It’s one of the best she’s ever written. It’s heartfelt, sincere, and relatable.
Car Track: Cruel Summer
If you haven’t screamed the bridge of this song, have you even lived?
Weakest: Me!
In a world where everyone has big thoughts about this song, I am simply ambivalent. I didn’t hate it when it came out, I am largely indifferent to Brendon Urie on the track, but it felt like she wanted another Shake It Off moment and it didn’t land that way.
folklore
Best: cardigan
I will go to bat for this song any day of the week. I think it’s brilliant. It flows seamlessly from one line to another despite being lyrically dense.
Car track: august
ESPECIALLY the long pond version. That extended “mine” on “you were mine to lose” feels especially therapeutic to sing.
Weakest: hoax
I wish she had just ended the album with The Lakes, since she has publicly said that she considers it the ending track. I’ve grown to love hoax but it is largely forgettable on this otherwise very memorable album.
evermore
Best: ivy
She’s beauty, she’s grace, she’s cheating on her husband and I don’t care. She’s exquisitely written, the instrumental is stunning, and I will always stan.
Car Track: champagne problems
The next time you have a bad day, get into your car and scream “she would’ve made such a lovely bride, what a shame she’s fucked in the head, they said.” 10/10 highly recommend as a remedy to all problems.
Weakest: Coney Island
I truly don’t feel like this album has a weak point but if I had to pick one it would be Aaron Dessner suddenly appearing on Coney Island.
Midnights
Best: Anti-Hero
Anti-Hero is a strong all-arounder. She hits the mark lyrically but doesn’t get drowned out by the heavy production. I think it’s a strong song to represent the entire album and was perhaps her best lead single choice to date.
Car Track: Karma
I recently got some really great news after months of having nothing but awful news. I got in my car after work and turned the volume up so high on this song. It was the most I’ve smiled in awhile.
Weakest: Labyrinth
Unlike many, I actually really like this song, but admittedly it’s a weak point. I even prefer Snow on the Beach (ft. Lana Del Ray who you can barely hear? Lana Del Ray from extremely far away is how I like to refer to it) over this track, because I feel like you could take a nap during the verses and not miss much.
If you made it to the end of this, you deserve to go listen to those “Car Tracks” and have a great time. See you around, Swifties.
Ty for this valuable resource!