Swift breaks records and crosses genres with new album ‘Red’

The world is nowhere near a shortage of cheesy love or poppy breakup songs.

Taylor Swift has supplied us with enough to last till the end of time, and she just adds to this catalog with her new album Red. But despite the reoccurring theme of relationship woes, you can’t deny that this album is catchy and well done.

Over the course of 16 songs, Swift takes us along the familiar journey of breakups and makeups, however there are fewer steel string guitars and more synth beats backing up her smooth vocals than on previous albums.

There are tracks that display her country roots, but she has stepped out of her comfort zone on this album.

With the success of earlier tracks such as “Love Story,” “Mine” and “You Belong With Me,” it’s obvious that Swift has a talent for writing pop anthems, and Red has its fair share.

The songs “We Are Never Getting Back Together,” “Red,” “Begin Again” and “I Knew You Were Trouble” have all already been at No. 1 on iTunes and within the top 15 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Swift also teamed up with Ed Sheeran on “Everything Has Changed” and Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol on “The Last Time.” The remaining 10 tracks on the album serve as reminders of Swift’s knack for metaphorical lyrics and catchy beats as well as her ability to get and hold your attention with slower melodies.

Red is a more grown-up album than what Taylor Swift fans are used to. She’s more dangerous and is taking more chances with the direction of her sound. The song “I Knew You Were Trouble” is a perfect example of this. It’s the most electronic track on the album and displays how Swift’s vocals have matured since 2010’s Speak Now.

With over 1.2 million copies sold in the first week of its release alone, Red has become the fastest selling album in over a decade, and it’s no surprise.

This is Taylor Swift’s catchiest album to date and fully displays her ability as singer not only in the realm of country music, but in pop music as well.

She has made it clear that she is a musical force to reckon with and there’s no stopping her.

So if you are tired of Taylor Swift songs, I suggest hiding under a rock for the next decade at least, because Red will hold relevance for many years to come—and it deserves it.