I’ll be the first to admit it – country music just ain’t my thang, however, my two daughters seem to have inherited that gene from my husband. When the chance to listen to Red, the latest CD by country darlin’ Taylor Swift came around, they both were pretty excited.
Now, here’s where I admit, that although I’m not a huge fan, there were more than a few songs on Red that have caught my attention – which really surprised me. Before I even got to the lyrics on the CD case, I read her “Prologue” and was shocked to see that she quoted a poem by Pablo Neruda – a master Chilean poet. I can honestly say that never thought I’d see a quote from some as profound as Neruda in anything connected to Taylor Swift, so instantly, her stock rose with me. Her prologue is a bit of a defense for her country-girl-angst-filled songs, and I have a hard time believing that at the ripe old age of almost 23, she’s been around the block enough to justify her “I’m gonna get you back” attitude. But, I will say, her songs have a fun beat, so regardless of what they’re about, kids and adults alike are going to turn her songs up whenever they hear them. Additionally, I throw her a nod for writing or co-writing every song, as well as playing on several tracks.
Here’s the kicker – there are songs on Red that I genuinely enjoyed! The first track, State of Grace, is an absolute crossover song and sounds more like a song from a John Hugh’s movie than anything I’ve ever heard from Taylor Swift. The title track, as well as the majority of songs on the CD definitely throw a cowgirl hat into the mix, but, that’s her home genre, so it makes sense. Track 4 – I Knew You Were Trouble is a favorite for my 12 year old, and after hitting replay about fifty times, I can say that I pretty much know it by heart too. It’s a little bit country and a little more pop, so it’s a pretty good mix for me. Then there’s the current girl-power anthem – We Are Never Ever Getting Back. Try to find me one girl or woman who hasn’t been able to internalize this song and be thankful for where they are today – I know I’m one of them! The Last Time, a duet with Gary Lightbody of the band Snow Patrol has a fantastic sound with a great strings accompaniment to the usual band set-up – this ties for my favorite, with State of Grace.
All-in-all, the album is a mash-up of pop and country with some folk sounds (think Suzanne Vega) thrown in. It’s won a spot in our rotation and I promise, I won’t even skip through the CD to the songs I really like, because, for the most part, it’s a pretty good crossover showing for a country girl.
That’s IT Mommy – Erin
* We did not receive monetary compensation for this review. Erin received Red by Taylor Swift, free of charge to facilitate this review. This in no way swayed our opinion of the product or service. The review is in our own words and is our opinion. Your results and opinions may differ
