Taylor Swift is emerging as a new country voice. What a lovely voice it is too. Her first self-titled album gives us a taste of what she can do. While she was only 16 when she recorded this album, she must have an old soul. She wrote or co-wrote all of the songs on her album. All of them are touching, some of them are funny, some of them are ballads--and the whole album is good country music. This is an album that you can listen to all of the tracks--a rare bird in this day and age.

1. Tim McGraw--yeah like the singer. Her first single. This is a cute ballad about a summer memory and perhaps the boy that got away. And looking back and thinking back to this good time. Great song. I hear guitar, light percussion and maybe steel guitar in this one.

2. Picture to Burn--more upbeat, I hear guitar, percussion and banjo. About a relationship that has ended badly. I laughed at this one especially the line "and if you come around saying sorry to me my daddy’s gonna show you how sorry you’ll be" I can just picture her father standing with a shotgun. Good revenge song.

3. Teardrops on my Guitar--Another ballad. Light percussion and guitar. Beautiful and touching song. It is her second single. Many will relate to this song. Loving the friend you have, but unable to tell them and having to hide that love. And how painful it is to listen to them talk about the significant other you wish was you. Probably my favorite on the album.

4. A Place in this World--More upbeat. I hear guitar and another string and percussion maybe fiddle. Lyrics talk about starting out on your own and finding you place. Nice song.

5. Cold As You--ballad. Guitar and steel guitar. This song is about the a person who shuts everyone else out, and the one person brave enough or stupid enough to love them through it all.

6. The Outside--Has a more upbeat tune. Has guitar and percussion. This song relates to the other as wanting to be a part of someone's life but finding yourself outside of it.

7. Tied to Together with a Smile--Ballad. Features guitar and light percussion. This song is about the perfect and beautiful person you know that is falling apart inside. "cry, but you don’t tell anyone that you might not be the golden one and you’re tied together with a smile but you’re coming undone."

8. Stay Beautiful--upbeat and catchy. I also admire her for calling a boy beautiful in this song. heh. I hear guitar, tambourine, and banjo. I like this song too.

9. Should've Said No--could be the third single from this album. Has a bit of a driving tune. Features fiddle, percussion and guitar. Cheating song--girl giving a guy his walking papers. "You should’ve said no, you Should’ve gone home you should’ve thought twice before you let it All go you should’ve known that word, bout what you did with her would get back to Me..."

10. Mary's Song (Oh My, My, My)--lovely ballad. Guitar and light percussion. Song chronicling a life of love from them being kids together, being teenagers together, getting married, raising kids. Just a lovely song. I like this one a lot too.

11. Our Song--another cute song. Features guitar, banjo and percussion. Girl says we don't have a song and the boy explains what their song is "our song is the slamming screen door, sneakin’ out late, tapping on your window when you’re on the phone and you talk real slow cause it’s Late and your mama don’t know our song is the way you laugh the first date “man, i didn’t kiss her, but i should have” and when i got home ...before i said amen asking god if he could play it again" I like this one too.


Overall I like all the songs on this album. I have listened to it constantly for three days. She is an up and coming keep you eyes and ears on this one. This album is good solid country. And if you like good country music then you should like Taylor Swift's album. It has good music, she has a lovely voice and the lyrics are nicely written—what more could you ask for?


Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Driving