Taylor Swift

Just another one of my blog post ripped from my own blog. Fancy a visit? Here. Thanks a million :)

To honor one month since Red was released, it’s timely for me to write a review for it. :)

Disclaimers: First, I’m not a music critic. Second, I’m a Swifty. Third, I’m pretty emotional. Adding to the fact this is pretty a personal thing. So you can see how biased this may turn out!

I was particularly excited by Red. Well simply because this is the first time I’m following everything that leads up to a Taylor Swift album - from its announcement, its promotional singles to the release itself. I even ordered the album myself ahead of the release date. Adding up to that a few days after the announcement by some magic I finally activated my Taylor Connect account (the link’s on the right :)). I was really kept up with all the conversations about Taylor and in particular, Red. Red is something truly special for me.

For that speciality and that excitement, naturally I have high expectations of Red. It must be something that can top Speak Now, at the time my favorite record. Something that needs to blow me away.

By blowing me away, I mean getting that chill down my spine after a first listen. And all the promotional singles accomplished that in a comfortable fashion.

We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together struck me with its quirk. I’ve never heard such a hilarious break-up anthem. Like ever.
Begin Again struck me with its light-hearted rhythm. The hope for a wonderful new beginning.
Red, the title track struck me with its lyrical depth. Really shows how well a writer Taylor is.
I Knew You Were Trouble. struck me with its hard, experimental beats. Something that is so dark, so cold, so tragic.
And State of Grace impressed me with its upbeating, U2-style epicness. Another song that signals a heart full of hope for a great relationship.

The five promos already gave me so much hope for a great record. It’s fulfilled when I receive my copy of the full album.

Again each song struck me in an unique beautiful way. Like Everything Has Changed and The Last Time, for the beautiful vocal harmony. One for the full of hope, one for the full of regret. Or The Moment I Knew for its deep sadness, and All Too Well for its so tragic depiction of the end…

I love how every song tells its own story. Some of them are so anecdotal that I could literally close my eyes and imagine a scenic depiction of that song, and all the feelings associated with it. Truly like slow-motion.

And I definitely love how the album is a crazy mix of so many different emotions. I mean listening to the album according to the song order takes me through a roller-coaster ride with emotions. If I just classify the songs into 2 types - happy and sad, the album is almost like happy-sad-happy-sad-happy-sad-… Truth be told, there are even different shades of happiness and sadness. It’s so much of an emotional investment…

All in all, the album exceeds my own expectations for it. It’s so special and unique. On the way to be my favorite Taylor Swift record.

Verdict: Get it. You will not regret. And get the deluxe version if possible - it’s a great investment (given the nice additions to the book of emotions, and the nice twists to the original book of emotions).

Took me so long to write. Oh well Happy Thanksgiving! So many things to be thankful for!