All of 16 when she recorded this debut album, country-pop singer Taylor Swift's considerably strong voice straddles that precarious edge that both suggests experience far beyond her years and simultaneously leaves no doubt that she's still got a lot of life to live. It's a fresh, still girlish voice, full of hope and naïveté, but it's also a confident and mature one. That Swift is a talent to be reckoned with is never in doubt: her delivery on tracks like the uptempo "The Outside," the spare acoustic ballad "Mary's Song (Oh My My My)," and especially the leadoff track, "Tim McGraw," which was the first single from the album, is that of a seasoned pro, despite Swift's newcomer status. "Tim McGraw" may also be the album's highlight -- not a teenager's tribute to the country superstar, it instead uses McGraw as a marker in a lover's time line: "When you think Tim McGraw/I hope you think my favorite song." It's a device that's been used countless times in as many ways, that of associating a failed affair with items, places, and people, yet it works as a hook here and manages to come off as an original idea.Swift wrote or co-wrote every song on the record, a fairly remarkable feat considering the sophisticated manner in which she treats matters near and dear to the heart of one her age ("Now that I'm sitting here thinking it through/I've never been anywhere cold as you"). Producer/mentor Nathan Chapman has applied to some of Swift's songs a gloss that not all of them really require and in some cases would do better to shed. But Swift has no trouble overcoming any blandness taking place around her. She's come up with a commendable starter album that's as accomplished as any by a ten-year veteran who's seen a lot more road and felt a lot more emotion. Swift's young age may be a major point of interest in bringing listeners in, but by the end of the record she's succeeded in keeping them. ~ Jeff Tamarkin, All Music Guide
Wow, this album is probably underrated. I've never taken the time to sample it, but as I've started liking Taylor more and more I've come to it. All I knew is that originally her music was slightly more country- because I have never considered her country even hearing "Our Song."
Allright, the songs are fixed once again, and all of our comments from the past three weeks are gone once again. lol. Ah well, let's see how many days they stay fixed before they screw up again. ha
Tennis is great Fangirl. But I haven't played it in a while. I also like badmitten.
Speaking of swimming...I went to the beach with my mom today. All I have to say is....brrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!
But yet I still went in up to my waist. I couldn't feel my legs. Ha ha.
I usually try to go to bed at ten thirty or eleven at get up at six o'clock so I can get to work by eight. Works pretty well for me! :-D
On the contrary coondini, I never understood people like you! No offense of course. I could never sleep in until noon. Somehow I always end up feeling inexplicably guilty, as if I've wasted half the day already just lying there.
I know, it's a weird mentality. ^-^ But sleeping in late for me is like nine o'clock. Even THEN I feel guilty.
Oh wow...how do you do that, kimber? You kids and your early mornings, I swear. LOL...but for me, I'm more of a go-to-bed-at-3AM, get-up-at-noon kind of person, lol (though that will have to change once I get a job again, hopefully soon).
RIP, Pluto! I shall always think of you as the ninth planet! :'( STUPID SCIENTISTS!!! X( wow, Writer, I am so not a morning person. but I don't get it when people go to bed at say... midnight and wake up at 2pm! wtf? I get a good 8 hour sleep every night. and rest in my bed for an extra 2 hours! so I'm up at about 9. :)
Still early for you coondini? Wow, what time do you have to wake up in the morning? Lol.
I'll admit, I'm sort of a morning person, but I still like to get to bed early. Mostly between ten thirty and eleven. :-D
Willis, who knows what universe the Taylorbots are on. Probably the one ten behind Pluto. Ha ha.
Not really Fangirl. Sorry! It's almost midnight here...and my brain is slowly shutting off like a janitor flipping off the lights in an office building as he leaves.
So...dark...
Ha ha.