Red

Having recently discovered Taylor's music with 1989 I decided to investigate her back catalogue. Having heard that she had been a Country and Western singer who had gone mainstream, I wasn't sure I would like her earlier music, but listened to the short extracts and decided to give Red a try - I'm glad I did.This is not a Country and Western album. There are elements of C&W in some of the songs (e.g. steel guitar) but it is at most crossover. Strangely enough, despite my not being a fan of Country and Western, my list of highlights includes some of the more country songs.The album starts well with State Of Grace, a rocky song that I consider to be a highlight. This is followed by the title track, another rocky song and another highlight - although I should point out that the backing vocals on Red are the main appeal for this listener. One listen to that song and those backing vocals are stuck in my head!Things go a little more country after this, but that isn't a bad thing. Stay Stay Stay is one of the most country songs on the album and is another highlight. This is followed by The Last Time. This song starts with a dreamy ethereal feel before becoming rocky. Holy Ground is another C&W influenced song that is, for this listener, a highlight (I'm going to have to stop denying that I like C&W!). Sad Beautiful Tragic is a beautiful soft song and another highlight.The final highlight is Starlight, another rocky song.All the other songs count as good with only one minor criticism. At times during The Lucky One I thought that Taylor's voice seemed a little strained.Seven highlights out of sixteen songs makes for a five-star review and a recommendation.

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It seems that heartbreak does good to Taylor Swift. At least to her music. John Mayer as an inspiration for one of best songs on her previous "Speak Now" album (the sprawling and stinging "Dear John") now aside, on her fourth album "Red" she shines brighter than ever. Indeed, lyrically, she's really as 22 (born in December 1989), as she sings on the eponymous song, one of the highlights of the record. Relationships stuff still serves as a prime source of inspiration for this superstar, which, in turn, makes her a next-door-girl and easily identifiable with for many of her peers.Her style is now far from country alone, indeed, only a fiddle in the closer "Begin Again" may remind you of that. In fact, Swift makes her pop more global and open to new inspirations. The record begins with "State of Grace", a starter similar to U2's "Where The Streets Have No Name" on the classic "The Joshua Tree" LP. And two guest stars from Britain give their best as well - Gary Lightbody sounds real (and maybe better than ever) on "The Last Time", while the Brit Awards sensation Ed Sheeran joins in but stays decently out of the spotlight on the tenderly melodic "Everything Has Changed". The British stamp is unmistakably heard on "All Too Well", while "Starlight" sports Keane-like piano.Elsewhere, Taylor is as ingenious as ever. "I Knew You Were Trouble", "22" (where her vocals are similar to Alanis Morissette) and the No.1 smash "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" find her at the top of her game and with uncanny synergy with Swedish master pop composer Max Martin (guy behind hits of Backstreet Boys and Kelly Clarkson, among many others). Energetic "Holy Ground" sounds well juxtaposed to ballad "Sad Beautiful Tragic". And almost every song has an added value to it (the sum of the record's parts is higher than at "Fearless" and "Speak Now", which both got a tad samey towards the end), including "Treacherous", co-written by Adele's collaborator Dan Wilson.Generous at its 16 songs, "Red" should not disappoint Taylor Swift's loyal fans, as it expands the musical horizon gradually, gently - and sublimely. This barrier-breaking album is maybe the next best thing to save the current lame pop music based on short-lived dance tracks. Already one of the highest-grossing artists of our day, Taylor Swift is the one who definitely deserves it, since there is not much pop artists left of her stature now, which - given her still the tender age and the full-blown artistic maturity in one - is all the more impressive.This rewarding "Red" should definitely get the green. Like... ever.

Good value for money

I'd change just one thing about this album: The tracklist. Songs like "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" and "22" are surely great when you're feeling like it, but they just don't fit into the atmosphere of this almost-perfect record and I think that they represent the album wrongly as they're the most known singles off the album. Just like the cover image for "Speak Now" those songs are what make this album seem like your disasterous teen-pop record that you buy for your 10-year-old. However, lyrical masterpieces like "State of Grace", "All Too Well", "Holy Ground", "The Lucky One", and "Begin Again" are some of the songs that make this one of the best albums of the decade. Incredibly vulnerable and beautiful tracks like "I Almost Do", "The Last Time", and "Sad Beautiful Tragic" are almost hidden in the album, since they get almost no attention as I've seen from the reviews, which is ironic because it's one of the best-selling records of the 2010's.

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