| BEST 2010 ALBUMS: #8. TAYLOR SWIFT - 'Speak Now' |
| Written by Shahlin Graves | |||
| Friday, 31 December 2010 15:12 | |||
#8. TAYLOR SWIFT - Speak Now  Homegirl TAYLOR SWIFT sold over a million copies of her third album 'Speak Now' in its first week of a release - no easy feat, and one that music industry experts are predicting may be the last sales record of its kind. With all fourteen songs from the standard edition of the 'Speak Now' album having charted on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 - and even Rolling Stone magazine recognising that no-one currently does pop like Taylor - there's no doubt as to who America's Sweetheart currently is. Having written all of the songs of 'Speak Now' entirely without co-writers, Swift distinctly sets herself apart from many of her peers who are merely glorified lyric-writers. She expands upon her country-pop back-catalogue by composing instrumentals for live strings, and even a full orchestra on 'Haunted' and 'Back To December'. Sure, Taylor's starry eyed self-indulgent romanticism might not be for everyone, but I for one infinitely prefer a girl clinging onto notions of chivalry and love at first sight, than the Taylor Momsens and Miley Cyrus' of the world. The absolute highlight of this album for me is (the Adam Young of Owl City inspired) 'Enchanted' - "Please don't be in love with someone else / Please don't have somebody waiting on you..." - I couldn't have said it any better myself. And while we're quoting Taylor's song-diary, let's not forget the brilliant "no amount of vintage dresses gives you dignity" one-liner of 'Better Than Revenge'. In typical Swift fashion, the subjects of her songs become the stuff of pop culture urban legends - and for her fans, it's also nice to be on the inside of Taylor's personal jokes. MUST-LISTEN: 'Enchanted', 'Sparks Fly', 'Better Than Revenge', 'Long Live', 'Dear John', 'Speak Now' (and 'Superman' on the deluxe edition). YOU WILL LIKE, IF YOU LIKE: Lady Antebellum, Colbie Caillat, Gloriana, Carrie Underwood... and the happy place where animal sweaters, mountains of glitter, and baked goods (caramel delight, to be precise) collide. MUST-WATCH: Taylor Swift's 'Mine' music video...  |
