Red [Deluxe Edition]

I'd heard about Taylor's new album via the Ellen Degeneres show when she performed a couple of the new songs live. After having heard "Red", "We are never ever getting back together" and "Begin again" I was hooked. BUT THEN, I heard that she'd also spread her wings quite a bit with this new album and added some really amazingly talented musicians to duet with to her album including Ed Sheeran and Gary Lightbody from Snow Patrol. Wow.

So the "standard" album differs from the deluxe version in that it doesn't feature a couple of songs (as you'd expect). Actually it's quite a few songs, but most are just acoustic duplicates. The songs you'll gain from the deluxe version are, "The moment I knew", "Come back...be here" and "Girl at home" with acoustic versions or the original demo versions of "Treacherous", "Red" and "State of Grace". Do I think, having bought the deluxe version, that you'd be missing out on much without these added little extras? Yes. I really REALLY do. The demos and acoustics aren't such a big deal, but are a nice addition, but the three additional songs are wonderful - some of my favourites from the album infact. So invest in the deluxe if you can!

So here are the songs and a tiny insight into their sound:

-State of Grace: An upbeat, uplifting song that I really liked. It's not what I would call country, it's definitely more pop, but it still has her little twist to it and you can't help but sing along.

-Red: This is a typical, catchy, well-thought-out, lyrical masterpiece of Taylor's. You know how she just manages to add a little bit of humour here and there? Like with "Speak now", it's kind of like that. Very catchy with a hint of country. My favourite of the album.

-Treacherous: I loved the meaning behind these lyrics. It's slower, verging on ballady, but it's lovely. A hint of country, but not as obvious as her usual stuff which is nice for variation and shows her talent.

-I knew you were trouble: So country, so catchy and SO much fun. This is a fantastic addition because it's actually lyrically really powerful - it reminds me hugely of "Should have said no" in it's meaning.

-All too well: A country ballad. Typical Taylor, a pretty song with deep meaning.

-22: This for me is the lapse in the album. It's upbeat and fun but it's actually quite annoying. I end up skipping it and I NEVER do that with her songs.

-I almost do: Another country ballad I was glad to have. I don't know how she does it but her lyrics are just so brilliantly emotional. She manages to actually convey pain pretty effectively through her tone and I thought that was demonstrated particularly well with this song.

-We are never ever getting back together: You know what, when I first heard this and it's pop feel I thought "Oh no, what has she done to?!", but it grows on you. Quickly. It's catchy and fun. It started off right down the bottom for me and now is one of my most played from the album. You'll learn to love it!

-Stay Stay Stay: This is an upbeat, fun, country song. It reminds me of her very first album with all of the catchy, slightly cheesy songs we all pretended not to like but secretly played repeatedly behind closed doors. It's fab. Reminds me of "I'd lie".

-The last time: This is the duet with Gary Lightbody. It reminds me of Lady Antebellum's work so if you like them, and Taylor, then you'll love this. It's a balladic song which I think was intended to demonstrate some real, raw emotion. Their voices merge ridiculously well and I was so impressed with this song. It's beautiful. I hope she does more duets in the future.

-Holy ground: This is a slow-ish song with a new feel to it. It's not one which I play too often, but I do like it and it's definitely a different side to her voice that I liked.

-Sad beautiful tragic: For me, this was just TOO slow. I do like her ballads usually, often more than the upbeat, catchy ones. But I actually just find this depressing and a bit boring. There always has to be one I suppose. Maybe it will grow on me.

-The lucky one: This one's great. A nice insight into what it must be like to be a celebrity. I liked the message and I love the sound.

-Everything has changed: This is the duet with Ed Sheeran. A slow-ish ballad with GREAT lyrics. I don't think I need to say more. Ed Sheeran people!!

-Starlight: This is on the same level as "22". It sounds similar and is a tiny bit irritating. I like it in small doses. I'd describe it as lacking in maturity in comparison to her other songs on this album.

-Begin Again: I like this one. A pretty ballady sound with an interesting message.

And from the deluxe:

-The moment I knew: You've got to love a good piano in her songs. Wow. Really pretty and sad. Kind of like "Back to December" I'd say.
-Come back...be here: Nice country ballad with a lot of variation in her voice. This isn't to be missed. Get the deluxe just for this one.
-Girl at home: Upbeat with fun lyrics. I like how she's really used her voice in lots of different ways.

So overall, a new take on an already well established talent. Taylor can sing, yes, but her lyrics are what really sell this album for me. And the duets are INCREDIBLE.

As a side note: If you're a massive Taylor fan, I mentioned earlier about the Ellen Degeneres show and Taylor performing. Be sure to check out an interview she's done alongside Zac Efron where they're singing a duet! It's hilariously funny and appears to be totally unrehearsed. Had me in stitches.

I've been eagerly anticipating this album ever since Taylor dropped the amazing Speak Now. When talking about this album Taylor described it as a collaborative effort unlike Speak Now which was very internal (she wrote every song alone without co-writers and co-produced every song). She worked with a lot of new people on this album including Max Martin (pops biggest producer who's worked with many huge pop stars such as Britney Spears and Ke$ha), Butch Walker (a rock singer but he's produced for pop artists such as Avril Lavigne (My Happy Ending) and Katy Perry (Thinking Of You)) not to mention collaborating with newcomer Ed Sheeran and Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody. Despite this she wrote 9 songs alone.

Anyway getting back to the point this album see's Taylor experiment with a lot of new sound from the Dubstep influence I Knew You Were Trouble to the U2 inspired State Of Grace. This was a risky move but it paid off. The catchy bubblegum tracks like the hit single We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together and 22 are completely irresistible. State Of Grace is an incredible track and a perfect opener. Despite what the lead single may have you believe a lot of these songs are quite slow such as the introspective Treacherous, the incredible All Too Well which produced some of the best lyrics she's ever wrote and several more. There are some more pop songs on the album such as Red and Starlight which are 2 of the albums strongest tracks. Red is a guitar based pop song using colours as a metaphor for emotion and Starlight is an incredible synth based pop songs which is infectious but it still has great lyrics telling of an adventure she had with a boy aged 17. It's like Enchanted funner sister. Both the collaborations are very good. The Last Time featuring Gary Lightbody is a dark song reminiscent of Safe and Sound that is haunting and has some of Taylor's best vocals yet. Everything Has Changed featuring Ed Sheeran is an uptempo number that will have you bopping along. There's still some songs for fans who prefer Taylor's country stuff such as the beautiful ballad Begin Again and the fun up-tempo Stay Stay Stay.

These are my thoughts on each track

State Of Grace-10/10 A great opener inspired by U2. Taylor sings about how love should be over epic guitars

Red-10/10 This is the catchiest song on the album. I like how it compares colours to emotions. It's a great pop-rock song with clever lyrics.

Treacherous-8/10 This is a slower song and is beautiful. You can see how much Taylor has grown as a writer on this album.

I Knew You Were Trouble-10/10 I never thought Taylor could pull off dubstep but this song is amazing. It's catchy, has good lyrics and is just a great bop.

All Too Well-10/10 This is one of my favourite tracks. It's a beautiful song with some of Taylor's best lyrics yet. My favourite part is "Hey you called me up again just to break me like a promise, So casually cruel in the name of being honest
I'm a crumbled up piece of paper lying here, Cause I remember it all all all too well"

22-9/10 This is a really fun song celebrating the complications of being young and confused

I Almost Do-8/10 This is a slower song where Taylor contemplates about a former lover and how she almost goes to contact him but never quite manages.

We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together-8/10 This is the ultra poppy ultra fun lead single. While it's not her best song it's still a fun jam and is greater to dance around and be silly too.

Stay Stay Stay-8/10 This is another fun country song telling a story about an ex-boyfriend

The Last Time-9/10 This is a dark track featuring Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol. It's like hearing 2 sides of the same story from Taylor and Gary. Taylor's voice is amazing on this as well.

Holy Ground-7/10 This is probably the weakest song on the album but still enjoyable and the drums are great in this song.

Sad Beautiful Tragic-8/10 This is a beautiful ballad reflecting on a relationship and everything that came with it.

The Lucky One-10/10 This is a great song where Taylor talks about the Perils of fame praising an artist (rumored to be Joni Mitchell) for getting out before it became to consuming.

Everything Has Changed-9/10This is a great guitar based track featuring Ed Sheeran. It's a really sweet song and is really catchy.

Starlight-10/10 This is an amazing synth based pop song where Taylor's tells about an adventure she had as a teen. It's one of my favourites on the album and is irresistible.

Begin Again-10/10 This is a perfect end to the album. This is a beautiful very personal country ballad where Taylor says about how she starts to fall in love again after a turbulent relationship.

I've been a Swiftie since I heard 'Lovestory' and I was so hyped up about the release of 'Speak Now' in 2010 and even more hyped up this year about the release of 'Red'. I thought, this is Taylor, she'll bring out an amazing album.
And honestly? I'm disappointed; so disappointed. The album in general is a let down for me; I expected better from her. The album is too much of a mix of different genres. I hope her next album is better and she does it the normal way, that's how she does it best. Speak Now was absolutely brilliant, because it was all her, but Red has too many outside influences, which is what's let it down, I think and too much production.The songs I do like though, are State Of Grace, Red, I Knew You Were Trouble, 22, Starlight, All Too Well, I Almost Do and Begin Again. In all fairness, I think the bonus songs are better than some of the songs on the standard edition.
Overall, it's a 'meh' album.
I know I sound like a hater, or a biased fan and that the album must be brilliant because it sold 1.4 million copies in the first week, but that's because she sold out; she went mainstream :'(