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Monday, October 22, 2012

LP Review | Taylor Swift - Red

Taylor Swift
Red
Big Machine Records
Release date: October 22, 2012

By Shawal Ras


 Taylor Swift has done it again!

Her fourth studio album, Red, which released today is somewhat one of my favorite albums this year. The sound, the image and the feeling to it is very vintage, very country and very original. I love it.

 The album kicks off with 'State of Grace', a high-rush track to set the mood of the whole album; it sounds dangerous, the kind that Taylor's mentioned in the prologue, stating she did experienced the "dangerous" kind-of love and wanna tell a story about it.

 In between 'State of Grace' and the final 16th track, 'Begin Again', I am completely in love with the song about coming-of-age, '22' and a few more notable songs as such 'All Too Well', 'The Last Time' (feat. Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol), 'Everything Has Changed' (feat. Ed Sheeran) and 'Starlight'. 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together', 'Red' and 'Begin Again' are another three of my favorite tracks which I've mentioned in my previous post (update: post deleted).

 My most un-favorite tracks are 'Holy Ground', 'I Knew You Were Trouble' and 'Stay Stay Stay'. Why? Well, its a bit too loud with the whole music arrangement. No, no, don't blame it on the speaker. Like I said, this is just MY opinion. Plus, 16 tracks are way too much for a standard studio album and with the additional 6 bonus tracks for the deluxe, well, its just seems too many.

 I may not be a professional music critic, but to me, she has outgrown herself. Instead of writing songs about apocalyptic relationships like what she's done in the last three albums, this time, she decided to embrace the whole experiences and put it into a truthful pop album.

 She's a grown woman now. There's no more angst in her songs, instead, there's pure love, emotion and catchy choruses and no more dreamy scenes like what she did with 'Love Story'. 

 Plus, do buy the original one 'cos the booklet is very nicely done. With RED splashed all over the pages, her photographs look chic and very Abercrombie & Fitch-esque. There's lyrics and a prologue write-up that tells the story about the whole album. Very nice. Very bohemian. I dig it.

 I'm not a big fan of Taylor Swift's past works, but now, with Red, she got herself a new one.

 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

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