Fearless (Taylor's Version)
by Taylor Swift
This was the first thing I'd heard by Taylor.
I remember it like it was yesterday only I can't recall the name of the website that I used. It allowed one full listen to an album and then you had to buy it and, I think, Apple bought it and it became iTunes.
By the time I heard "The Best Day" I found myself weeping and I thought there must be something wrong with me.
I commented that to an editor of a blog I was writing for and he said, "They're good songs, dude".
That they are.
Dilemma:
Do I rate the album with or without the bonus tracks?
Because the "album" is a redo of the original album.
Hmmm...Let's see what happens.
- Fearless 90
- Fifteen 100 💗
- Love Story 100 💗
- Hey Stephen 95 💗
- White Horse 95 💗
- You Belong With Me 100 💗
- Breath 85
- Tell Me Why 90 💗
- You're Not Sorry 90 💗
- The Way I Loved You 85
- Forever and Always 90 💗
- The Best Day 100 💗
- Change 90
(With that last song you know...Taylor wants to rock)
Fearless rating:
5 out of 5
A+
Bonus tracks:
- Jump Then Fall 85
- Untouchable 90
- Forever and Always (Piano version) 90
- Come In With the Rain
- Superstar 70
- The Other Side of the Door 75
- Today Was a Fairytale 75
- You All Over Me (From the Vault) 68
- Mr. Perfectly Fine (From the Vault) 72
- We Were Happy 73
- That's When (From the Vault) 80
- Don't You (From the Vault) 70
- Bye Bye Baby (From the Vault) 73
- Love Story (Elvira Remix) 90
The second part, the stuff "From the vault"...it doesn't really add anything. The songs are fine but the 13 that makes of the real album are chef's kiss perfection.
Fearless holds up nearly 17 years later, despite these recordings being newly crafted. The songs, man, it's the songs. I don't listen to a lot of Country but, boy, if they all had songs this well written, I would.
This is the story of a 19 year old navigating the world of burgeoning adulthood and relationships and teenage love and it lands every step of the way.
