Member Since: 11/29/2010
Posts: 19,664
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Quote:
It's also a staggering work of pop genius.
When the last album came out, my first reaction was that she can do anything, but this album shows that she can do anything. It's her London Calling or Sign O' The Times. I'm not saying that she is cool, meaningful, political, or alternative like the Clash, but just as on London Calling, they took a sledgehammer to their "punk" image, and just did whatever the hell they wanted, with the best songs of their career to boot, on this record Taylor takes a sledgehammer to her "country" image, and just does whatever the hell she wants, with the best songs of her career to boot. There were five singles pre-released from this album, and the first one hit #1 on the Billboard pop chart, but there are at least three more "album tracks" here that could have been effortless #1 pop hits had they been released as singles. "Starlight" has a "how did she do that?" instant #1 chorus, and "Stay Stay Stay" takes "pop country" and turns it from a dirty word into a clever, brilliantly catchy song that could have topped both the pop and the country charts. Meanwhile, "All Too Well" and "Sad Beautiful Tragic" take the emotional punch and maturity of "Dear John" and "Last Kiss," respectively, and ratchet up the maturity and emotion to another level still. I've said before that I thought she had a Blood on the Tracks level of talent inside her, and "All Too Well" proves that she does. Even the duet with the guy from Snow Patrol is powerful and brilliant. This is not the same cohesive album-length statement to match Speak Now, and there are things that many fans will strongly dislike or even hate about this album, but the high points are very high indeed, and confirm that she is a special once-in-a-generation songwriting talent.
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taylor getting all the praise!! 
cant wait for its metacritic score!! 
