Swift, Taylor: Folklore (In the Trees ed.) (2LP-beige) LP

The best selling album of 2020 and the only album to sell at least a million copies during the calendar year, Taylor Swift's eighth studio effort, Folklore also marks the singer/songwriter's seventh consecutive No. 1 entry on the Billboard 200. The indie-leaning collection, a surprise move away from the star's pop roots, was also one of the year's most critically acclaimed. Three of its tracks reached the top 10 of the official charts in eight countries including "Cardigan," "The 1" and "Exile." Working with her longtime collaborator Jack Antonoff, Swift also enlisted the help of Bon Iver, and Aaron Dessner of indie darlings, The National to contribute to the album. Of the collaborators, Dessner co-wrote or produced 11 of the 17 songs, while Bon Iver co-wrote some songs and sang on the record as well. As the title and cover art suggest, Folklore is a stripped-down affair, a beautiful collection of contemplative, indie-folk songs that acts as a balm for these chaotic times. "In isolation my imagination has run wild and this album is the result, a collection of songs and stories that flowed like a stream of consciousness," Swift shared. "Picking up a pen was my way of escaping into fantasy, history, and memory. I've told these stories to the best of my ability with all the love, wonder, and whimsy they deserve. Now it's up to you to pass them down."