Stay Beautiful, Taylor (Taylor Swift - Taylor Swift)

Member Name: crazyminx

Product:	Taylor Swift - Taylor Swift
Date:	01/10/08 (116 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Gorgeous voice, beautiful lyrics, catchy songs

Disadvantages: A couple of less memorable tracks

With Taylor Swift's second album 'Fearless' set to be released on 11th November 2008, this seemed like a good time to review her debut.

Although she has barely been heard of over here, Taylor's self-titled first album shot to No.1 in the States and has gone triple-platinum - not bad for a girl who was only 16 when it was released in 2006! All five of the singles released from it made the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 (the US singles chart), with two of them getting to No.1 and one of them, 'Our Song', staying in the top spot for 6 weeks!

Taylor's style is sweet, pop-country songs with catchy tunes and poignant, self-penned lyrics. Her voice is beautifully pure, though in some of her angrier songs she gives it a slightly rock-country edge. If you like singers like Carrie Underwood then you won't go far wrong with this album.

It's also important to note that even though she was a teenager when she wrote these songs, many of the themes will apply to any agegroup - lost love, unrequited love, being cheated on, getting dumped, watching an insecure or ill friend fall apart - these are universal themes and I would say that any age or gender could identify with her beautifully written words.

So, let's get a bit more specific and look at the songs on the album:

1. Tim McGraw

This is a gorgeous ballad about a summer that Taylor spent with a boyfriend before he left town. She describes the days and nights they spent together in such an evocative way that you can practically see the stars and hear the strains of Tim McGraw's country songs playing in the background as they danced by the lake. It is a bittersweet song filled with yearning, with a lovely chorus. It was Taylor's first single and reached No.6 in the US charts. One of my favourite songs on the album, the video is beautiful too - check it out on Youtube.com.

2. Picture to Burn

This is a classic upbeat revenge song about a boyfriend who treated her badly. It's incredibly catchy and features some amusing lines such as: 'So go and tell your friends that I'm obsessive and crazy, that's fine, I'll tell mine you're gay!' It's in a similar vein to Carrie Underwoods 'Before He Cheats' and is the sort of song that'll get you singing along, especially if you've ever been in a similar situation. It reached No.3 in the US charts.

3. Teardrops on My Guitar

This way the first song of Taylor's that I heard, and it inspired me to get hold of the album. It's a lovely, slow song about loving a friend who doesn't realise you have feelings for them. Another one that'll get you singing along, the lyrics to this are beautiful and again, so is the video.

4. A Place In This World

This is a chilled out, poppy and surprisingly cheerful song about finding out where you belong and what you want. It is quite mainstream and a bit less country than the other songs. Not overly memorable, but a definate pleasure to listen to.

5. Cold As You

The slowest song on the album, and in my opinion it is the most powerful from a lyrical point of view. Anyone who's had (or tried to have) a relationship with someone who is cold and shut off will identify with the stunning words. Taylor's voice shines on this one too.

6. Outside

Another one that's not too memorable but very enjoyable to listen to. It's about being an outsider and wanting to be a part of a normal group of friends, which Taylor never experienced much due to pursuing her music career from a young age. It's poppy with a fast beat and a great chorus and always makes me want to get up and dance.

7. Tied Together With a Smile

Taylor wrote this about a friend with an eating disorder, though it could apply to anyone who struggles with low self-esteem. The lyrics are simple but beautiful; the chorus includes the haunting words: 'Noone knows - that you cry, but you don't tell anyone, that you might not be the golden one. And you're tied together with a smile, but you're coming undone'. The music to this is pretty pared down so that you can focus on Taylor's beautiful voice which is filled with emotion and pain on this track.

8. Stay Beautiful

This is a very cheerful, catchy little song. This is probably the song that's most aimed towards young girls, about having a crush on a cute guy, and it always makes me smile.

9. Should've Said No

A brilliant, angry and emotional song directed at a guy who cheated on her, this is made No.1 in the US charts and is one of the strongest songs on the album with a sharp, punchy chorus. Another great one for singing along to, especially if you're trying to get over a relationship.

10. Mary's Song (Oh My My My)

This is beautiful, reflective song about a woman looking back on the life she has spent with the boy who became her best friend and husband. It covers all the stages of life and is just lovely.

11. Our Song

Taylor's most successful single, this is a cracking song to end on which has a great video to match. It is happy, catchy, classic pop-country music that'll have you dancing and singing, especially when the fab chorus kicks in. The song starts off with some fab violin music and this combined with drums and guitar makes it a really great track.

This album was reissued in 2007 with a multimedia track on the end, though I don't have that copy. It is available for £17.49 from Amazon.co.uk, with used and new copies starting from £4.79 on Amazon Marketplace - a total bargain for a brilliant CD that you'll want to listen to over and over.

Summary: If you like country, pop or girly music, I can't recommend this great album enough.