Okay, I don't really like most of Taylor Swift's music - It's annoying. But, my mom does, and so I'd gotten her each of Taylor's CDs for her birthday as they came out. One night last spring, we were driving along the highway, it was pouring rain, and my siblings were fighting with each other. So I flicked on the CD player to drown out the noise. One of the CDs in the case was this one, Mom was wanting to show me one of the songs on there. I shrug. "Okay." So she plays the song(I forget which one), I'm like "Hmm..that was pretty good." "I know! Isn't it? Have you heard that one before?" "Nope." "Have you ever even listened to an entire Taylor Swift CD before?" "No..." "Well, you are now." It was a lot better than I expected, I liked about half the songs on it. And it was hilarious to hear my brother Caleb(he's eleven, loves the outdoors, guns, fishing, etc) singing along with nearly song at the top of his lungs, and adding snide commentary in between verses.
Anyway, it was released October 25, 2010 by Big Machine Records, and it was her third album, she wrote every song single-handedly.
Track One - Mine - If she tried writing novels, would they be any good? This tells a story well, about a couple meeting, then dating, getting married, then hitting some rough places, all in about four minutes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPBwXKgDTdE (Never took the time to ever watch this video...it's kind of interesting.)
Track Two - Sparks Fly - "I know this is probably a really bad idea, getting to know you....but I don't really care." Dumb... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPBwXKgDTdE (Concert video...)
Track Three - Back To December - Ouch. Why is this the only country song on radio that just right out says "It was my fault, and I feel awful about it, and everything that happened later." Painful. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUwxKWT6m7U (Boring video.)
Track Four - Speak Now - I've always sorta wondered what would happen if a wedding was broken up in the middle of the ceremony...an interesting look at that hypothetical situation. The lyrics don't match the melody, that's always really irritated me, for some reason. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUwxKWT6m7U
Track Five - Dear John - I have never listened to this all the way through, it's so boring and excrutiatingly dull. Actually, I don't think I've ever made it past the first line. But I think it's about some guy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55c1wo0zUV4&feature=related
Track Six - Mean - Now I remember...this was that song that we were trying to find that night. Heard it on the radio, and then wondered which CD it was from. A great song, alleged to be written in response to an unfavorable critic, which is slightly hard to play, and good for singing with your brother. Okay, actually, it's almost like something from The Sound of Music; one person starts singing it, and everyone else has to join in. (Of course, we also launch into "Call Me Maybe" in the middle of Wal-Mart...) Anyway, it's very catchy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYa1eI1hpDE (Average video, a little strange.)
Track Seven - The Story of Us - Terrific writiing, captures all the emotions and scenes perfectly. One of my favorites from her. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN6VR92V70M (I had no idea they shot a real video for this, but it's fantastic.)
Track Eight - Never Grow Up - This was written for all the little kids that listened to Taylor, sort of a song for all the little siblings in the world. Kind of bittersweet. Good song, good to play. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6qutPepOdc&feature=related
Track Nine - Enchanted - This is kinda forgettable, until it gets stuck in your head and won't leave; then it's just annoying. But anyway, this is supposed to be a song she met after meeting Adam Young(better known as the one-man band Owl City), and then as a sort of thank you he re-recorded it and sent it back to her. Don't know if it's true or not, but it makes a good story. And I like his version better. (Taylor - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGEsRZf_txw Adam - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JGHd0NWmGM)
Track Ten - Better Than Revenge - "What? Miranda's considered more country than I am, because she has bad-girl breakup tunes? Even Carrie is considered more country than I am for the same reason? Okay, then....take this, y'all." Kind of entertaining. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYSgEFS11GU
Track Eleven - Innocent - I don't know how to categorize this one. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnHsQcv_Qqc
Track Tweve - Haunted - Never heard this song before. A deep friendship or relationship is splitting apart, it seems. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHvys3BJmko
Track Thirteen - Last Kiss - Reminiscing about an old boyfriend? Never listened to this, either. Boring. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulyG94KsJpY
Track Fourteen - Long Live - This is great. It should be played at big events, like homecomings or graduations, and should be used as the goodbye song on American Idol. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sUrr4wf0Kc&feature=related
Very Taylorish material here, good for inspection and worldview-examination. Enough music that isn't completely feminine to enjoy, pretty good writing throughout, nice melodies, when it isn't mind-numbing "Alas is me" timewasters.
My Rankings -
14 - Dear John
13 - Last Kiss
12 - Haunted
11 - Innocent
10 - Enchanted
9 - Sparks Fly
8 - Speak Now
7 - Mine
6 - Better Than Revenge
5 - Never Grow Up
4 - Back To December
3 - Mean
2 - Long Live
1 - The Story Of Us.
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