Goodbye twang, hello talented.  Taylor Swift, one of music’s hottest stars, has fans raving over her new album Red.   With consistently impressive lyrics and a sound that transcends genres, Red has the ability to please music lovers of all persuasions.
One of the most striking features of Red is its remarkable range.  Each song has a unique feel to it, adding contrast and variation to the album.  While some songs have the classic, sweet, “Taylor” vibe, others, like “I Knew You Were Trouble” have a rocker feel and experiment with new trends like dubstep and heavy bass.  Convent of the Sacred Heart senior Jackie Batrus is passionate about Swift’s new sound.
“I absolutely love it,” Jackie said.  “The album is so different than anything she has done before.  She’s going out of her comfort zone on certain songs.  I love the bass drop of “I Knew You Were Trouble”.  I also like how she co-wrote her songs with other performers instead of doing them all on her own.  It makes it different.”
One of these collaborations was done on the song “Everything Has Changed”, featuring up and coming artist Ed Sheeran.  The combination of their gentle tones creates a beautiful sound perfect for doing homework and relaxing.  However, one of the low points of the album is her song with Gary Lightbody, “The Last Time”.  The eerie sounding harmonies and the slow pace of the song make it one of the weaker songs on the album.
High points in the release are found in songs such as “22” and “Red”, highlighting Swift’s fun-loving spirit.  Lizzie Considine, a freshman at Sacred Heart and a die-hard Taylor Swift fan, has her own favorite.
“First of all, I’m obsessed with the entire album,” Lizzie said.  “Obsessed is the only word I can use to describe my feelings.  I’m not sure I’ve listened to any other songs since the album has come out.  My favorite song is “Stay Stay Stay”, definitely.”
Another unique quality about Red is the personal and touching lyrics.  If fans are curious about Swift’s life, all they need to do is really listen.  Swift recently appeared on Ellen and spoke about how she reveals her personal thoughts and feelings through her song lyrics, a quality that Red really showcases.  In songs like “The Lucky One”, Swift opens up about what fame is really like, singing, “…you don’t feel pretty, you just feel used,” and, “you wonder if you’ll make it out alive.”  Listeners can truly get a sense of what Swift feels through the in-depth and touching quality of her lyrics.
While many fans are warmed by Swift’s songs, Sacred Heart senior Caity Ruzika has trouble identifying with any of them.
“They all sound the same to me,” Caity said.  “I just don’t find anything really special about any of them.  I can’t relate.”
Caity’s negative reaction to the album stands in stark contrast to the multitude of Taylor-loving Sacred Heart students who are all listening to Red on repeat.  Whether a fan or not, Sacred Heart should prepare itself for the inevitable, loud imitations of the catchy, new songs. The album is as hot and vibrant as the color it is named after, made clear by all the success and rave reviews it has already received.
– Devon Hoffman, Opinions Editor