For a minute, you forget that Taylor Swift is only eighteen. Especially upon the the first listen of her 2008 sophomore work "Fearless". Unlike her contemporaries, she seems like a real, tangible persona; someone that's easy to look up to and envy at the same time. Her eponymous debut had a lot going for her, but that album doesn't define the irresistible appeal of Swift quite like this one. She surely didn't win millions of fans because of her vocal chops, because the only flaw of "Fearless" is that her voice still needs work, but in context with the layers and themes of the album, it ultimately doesn't matter. What fans fell in love with was the anguish of a teenage girl once burned by love, but is easily ready to fall in love once again. This time around, as the title suggests, Taylor unflinchingly repeats her same old habits of falling in love with the wrong boy, writing a song about it, and shaping it into a universal anthem (she openly admits this in "The Way I Loved You", a rock-oriented track built on the theme of looking for trouble). But fortunately, there's quite a bit more to this album than that. The album's backbone definitely lies with "Forever and Always", "Breathe", and "White Horse", all of which are superb acoustic-flavored ballads, but the album peaks at her tales of high school, childhood dreams, and that one boy who is dating the wrong girl. True, Taylor does not possess the most technically gifted voice, but her delivery of each song gently pushes the album along, with the hooks big yet subtle, and the production immaculate yet a little gritty. She has conviction, and a self-assured attitude that builds the album up to a grand and elegant effect. This is true grandiose pop, but never feels like a garish attempt for crossover success. It's true that country purists will argue that there's little country to be had here, and for the most part, that assertion is true. There are no fiddles here, just violins; acoustic guitars are picked over banjos, and the drums are soft and understated, not at any time loud or harsh. However, with such a strong light pop album, Taylor is entitled to break out of the country shell and expand her message into the masses. And she pulls it off remarkably well, as there's nothing diva-ish about the songs, they are personal yet universal, and there's something here for everyone. None of these things make "Fearless" perfect, but they do make it one of the best albums of 2008, and with all sophomore albums considered, is a triumph as well. She doesn't get sucked into her own view of the world, she works her craft so the subjects are universal, the tracks can work in any setting, and the fame brought on by her debut hasn't gone to her head. All of those facts make "Fearless" an easy and intensely satisfying listen.
Recommended Tracks in Bold:
1. Fearless 2.
Fifteen 3. Love Story
4. Hey Stephen 5. White Horse 6. You Belong With Me
7. Breathe 8. Tell Me Why 9.
You’re Not Sorry
10. The Way I Loved You 11. Forever & Always
12. The Best Day 13. Change
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