"Exile (feat. Bon Iver)" Is Taylor Swift's Best Ballad Since "All Too Well"

The Swifties have spoken.

Last night, we received the exciting news that Taylor Swift was dropping a surprise new album called Folklore, along with a music video for the first single "Cardigan". 

Queen Swift took to Twitter to announce the arrival of her eighth studio album, written and recorded unexpectedly during isolation. Fitting!

If you haven't had a chance to listen to the album yet, it's very different to what we've heard from Swift over the past few years.

On Folklore, Swift dives into the world of folk, alternative rock and indie, and it's pretty damn beautiful. 

It's safe to say her fans are going wild over the record, and they've already picked out some of their favourite tunes. The most common pick: "Exile (feat. Bon Iver)". 

Some fans are even calling it a "career highlight". 

can we all agree that exile is a career highlight #Folklore pic.twitter.com/tDtDpNUtqJ

— zach (@blindingrep) July 24, 2020

Exile is a lyrical masterpiece. They just really did that. The contradictions of Taylor and Bon Iver's lines just touches our emotions and it is definitely one of her career highlights. It's surreal and mesmerizing.

Taylor Swift & Bon Iver, I love you.#Folklore pic.twitter.com/7WnkBP2vMG

— 𝚁𝚞𝚙𝚜𝚑𝚊 (@AreEssAre) July 24, 2020

On "Exile", Swift has teamed up with Bon Iver's Justin Vernon for a delicate ballad that paints a failing relationship as a territorial war. 

In the chorus, they sing, "I think I've seen this film before, and I didn't like the ending." 

Vernon describes the two ex-lovers seeing each other following a break-up, while Swift explores the warning signs that convinced her the relationship wasn't working anymore. 

"Exile" is the only listed artist collaboration on the new 16-track album, and the stripped back sonic layering highlights the sweet vocals of both the singer-songwriters. 

It's subdued, whimsical and nostalgic. In fact, we reckon it's Swift's best ballad since Red's "All Too Well". 

While the track isn't as long as "All Too Well", Swifties have been quick to point out that "Exile" feels like it could be related to "All Too Well". 

So, if you haven't heard "Exile" yet, go and stream it right now. 

Just be prepared to cry. 

Header Image: YouTube (Taylor Swift)