taylor swift's albums, ranked

Books + Brie
Jun 15, 2019
3 min read

Updated: Jun 23, 2019

I cannot convey in words how much I love Taylor Swift.

In 2015, I saw her when she went to Washington, D.C. for the 1989 Tour. I think a part of the died that night. Seriously though, that was one of the happiest nights in my life. (It would have been even better if my forever celebrity crush Karlie Kloss was the special guest that night. Perhaps it's good that she wasn't though, because I seriously think I would have fainted.)

As silly as it may sound, for over the past decade Taylor Swift has been my role model. I admire her everlasting kindness and gratitude; how she unabashedly bares her soul out while writing and performing; and her tendency to wear her heart on her sleeve—to name a few things.

There are so many layers to Taylor's music that I truly think are overlooked because of her bubblegum appearance and poppy beats. When I was reading Diana Silver's playlist on Pitchfork, she said something that immediately resonated with me and reminded me of Taylor:

'How did she know exactly how I felt, and encapsulate it so eloquently into this song that slaps?...She said it better than I could even feel it. She’s above us, yet she’s one of us.'

Check out my ranking of Taylor's albums below.

Taylor Swift's albums, ranked

1. Red (2012)

Singles: 'Red', 'I Knew You Were Trouble', '22', 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together', 'The Last Time' ft. Gary Lightbody, 'Everything Has Changed' ft. Ed Sheeran, 'Begin Again'

God tier songs: 'All Too Well', 'The Moment I Knew', 'Come Back...Be Here'

Best music video: 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together'

There are only a few albums that have reached the same level of artistry as Red: Fleetwood Mac's Rumours, One Direction's Up All Night, and the Phantom Thread Original Soundtrack.

2. 1989 (2014)

Singles: 'Blank Space', 'Style', 'Out of the Woods', 'Shake It Off', 'Bad Blood', 'Wildest Dreams', 'New Romantics'

God tier songs: 'Style', 'You Are In Love'

Best music video: 'Style'

The synth-pop album of our dreams.

3. Speak Now (2010)

Singles: 'Mine', 'Sparks Fly', 'Back to December', 'Mean', 'The Story of Us', 'Ours'

God tier songs: 'Dear John', 'Last Kiss'

Best music video: 'Mine'

Can we please talk about the fact that Taylor wrote this all by herself when she was only 19?! I'm the same age as she was and I just write silly blog posts.

4. reputation (2017)

Singles: '...Ready For It?', 'End Game', 'Delicate', 'Look What You Made Me Do', 'Gorgeous', 'Getaway Car', 'New Years Day'

God tier songs: 'Delicate', 'Dancing With Our Hands Tied', 'Dress', 'Call It What You Want'

Best music video: 'Delicate'

While this album produced the most God tier songs, it also has the only Taylor songs that I simply cannot stand*.

*If you're curious I hate 'End Game', 'King of My Heart', and the worst of them all, 'This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things'.

5. Taylor Swift (2006)

Singles: 'Tim McGraw', 'Picture to Burn', 'Teardrops On My Guitar', 'Should've Said No', 'Our Song'

God tier songs: 'Tim McGraw', 'Stay Beautiful'

Best music video: 'Our Song'

The album that started it all. Everyone I have ever talked to agree that Taylor Swift is filled with sweet, feel good country classics.

6. Fearless (2008)

Singles: 'Fearless', 'Fifteen', 'Love Story', 'White Horse', 'You Belong With Me'

God tier songs: 'Fearless', 'Hey Stephen'

Best music video: 'Love Story'

As trivial as this list is, I feel really bad about ranking Fearless so low. Let the record show that this was the first album I ever bought and its the reason why my mother introduced me to Shania Twain (which I am so incredibly thankful for).