Track Listing

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
14. Our Song
15. Teardrops On My Guitar
16. Should've Said No

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #57 in Music
• Released on: 2009-03-09
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .23 pounds
• Running time: 64 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
18-year-old singing sensation Taylor Swift presents the listener with a conundrum. Her music isn’t particularly inventive--indeed it’s built largely on what you could call country music clichés--yet she does what she does so well you have to work really hard not to like it. With her blond hair, blue-eyes and pretty face, it’s easy to write Swift off as yet another "tweenie". But beneath the glossy exterior lurks some genuine talent: she writes her own tunes, plays (some of) her own instruments and even though she sings about the inevitable pop themes of love and heartbreak, she doesn’t rely on any "sex-sells" cynicism to shift her records. All of which is to say that Swift’s second album, Fearless, while it won’t win any awards for innovation, makes for pleasurable--if highly predictable--listening. --Danny McKenna

CD Description
At just 19 years of age Taylor Swift has united millions of admirers and bridged the gaps between musical genres, becoming a multi-platinum teenage sensation in the process. The album Fearless has been hugely successful in the USA, and she’s now preparing to unveil it in the UK. “It’s really cool to come over to Europe and have a fresh start and introduce myself for the first time”, she says. “I’m really excited about it. And I hope that my music knows no boundaries, borderlines or genres”. The album provides an irresistible introduction to Taylor’s exquisite songwriting prowess, featuring title track "Fearless", "You Belong With Me" and "You’re Not Sorry", as well as "White Horse" (recently featured on hit US TV show Grey’s Anatomy) and her latest smash and debut UK single "Love Story". The UK version of Fearless also features earlier hits "Our Song", "Teardrops On My Guitar" and "Should’ve Said No", all taken from her first album Taylor Swift.

Customer Reviews

Fearless - 'Good Concept', 'Good Songs' - 4 Stars.
So, the Taylor Swift phenomena has arrived in the UK with force. `Fearless', the country-pop diva's second offering is commercial all-over, but maintains strong sincerity and solid song writing skills - with all tracks being at least co-writes from the girl herself. Since release of this album, it has been selling thousands upon thousands globally, and Swift has gone on to take home top honours at some of America's biggest awards - CMA Entertainer of the Year, AMA Artist of the Year, CMA Female Vocalist of the Year, and, for this album, CMA Album of the Year.

Although Swift's songs are through and through teen subjected, the melodies and themes of heartbreak and love are very versatile and relatable for all ages. Many have slated her all-too innocent role in songs, and abusing the vulnerability of the teen years, but you can sense a distinct voice for where this work is coming from: a mature teen with a strong sense of self and living in the moment - accepting that she doesn't know everything, and accepting that she isn't going to find `Mr Right' in every relationship. It's interesting to watch unravel through the set.

`Fearless', the first track is a catchy number that talks about the perfect first-date, and is an easy song to get into. The lyrics are unoriginal in theme, but have a curiosity to them that are enjoyable: ultimately emphasising Swift's age more than her musical flair. For those who haven't encountered Swift's voice before, you'll understand from first listen that she isn't a `vocalist'. Her voice suits the `singer/songwriter' category. You either get something from her vocal, or you don't. A lot don't, but the teens do. It's one of those things. I don't agree with Swift winning vocal awards, as her range is shaky and limited - overall weak. But there's sincerity in her delivery. Endearing I suppose.

Back to the songs however, `Fifteen', the album's 4th single release in the U.S, is a guitar melody. A good chord progression with clever use of suspended chords. `Love Story' was the lead single - Swift's biggest hit yet. A driving melody with themes of dangerous love, youthful hope and classical references. A fine piece of pop music. `Hey, Stephen' is a weak melody - straying into annoying territory. Very young and naive in theme - actually becoming unlikeable at points.

`White Horse' is arguably one of the top 3 songs on this record. Melodically it's beautiful, and the narration is touching. The concept is solid, and possibly uses the title's double meaning - depending on how deep you want to read into the song. Spectacular emotion. `You Belong With Me' is reminiscent of her early hit `Teardrops..'. Another huge hit, with a driving bass and drum mix, clever use of country instrumentation and a likeable theme. Challenging the social order of teen dating, all the rejects and oddballs will be singing this: as the boy they secretly love is dating a cheerleader. Priceless. `Breathe' is an interesting collaboration with Colbie Caillat. A so-so melody mixed with an odd arrangement. Easily skippable. `Tell Me Why' is possibly the most grown up in theme - with killer lyrics and an actual country hook. If this were released to country radio, it'd be a stormer. Reminiscent of Patty Griffin's `Truth #2' that the Dixie Chicks covered.

`You're Not Sorry' is another so-so melody. Overemotional lyrics, a battered theme by this point on the album, and pales next to tracks 5 & 8. `The Way I Loved You' is possibly the best track on the album. Co-written with John Rich, the melody is simple but heartfelt; the lyrics aren't groundbreaking but they transcend. The hook pulls on the heartstrings, and the element of hindsight provides much needed maturity. My personal favourite also. `Forever and Always' however pushes our heads back under the water for an overemotional wave of pop rant. The song is unoriginal, but i'm sure many teens will love it. This does not transcend. `The Best Day' is an off-colour track that follows the `best day' of three different ages, and is somewhat poignant considering the majority of the material on the album. Interesting.

`Change' rounds the `Fearless' set list off disappointingly. A boring melody that doesn't stir, and a theme that doesn't affect. Tracks 14, 15 & 16 are three songs included on the UK release from Swift's first album, and were all Country No#1's - each great in their own way. I won't go into detail with these as this is a review of `Fearless', but the versions used here are the pop versions - and take away the sincerity of the tracks. If the arrangements were the originals, they'd portray her first album much better.

Something interesting to note is that Swift is actually co-producer of this album. This is rare - at such a young age, and for only her second album, to co-produce is huge. A more `pop' version of Shania Twain would best summarise the production's impact - clever use of country instrumentation on what are mainly pop songs, but with a strong presence of drums and electric guitars.

No matter how people view Swift, she has an undeniable likeability factor due to her rawness and unique nature. She's a songwriter through and through, and with age will come more complex, grown up work. I personally am not a fan of her voice - the technique just isn't there. I actually think she's quite poor. Thus why I haven't commented on her vocal per song. But her songs are all clever pieces of pop music, some are spectacular. The melodies are singable and easily remembered. Country music has changed drastically in the past couple years, possibly due to Swift's influence on the country demographic from which she appeared. I won't be calling her a country artist, but am pleased it is important to her that she is considered as one. Again, hopefully grown up work will come of age. It'll be interesting as to where she goes from here.

4 Stars.

Taylor Swift just gets Better!!!
This is her 4th album in the states, this UK version has 3 bonus tracks compared to the US version. The 3 bonus tracks are off her 1st album "Taylor Swift" All three songs where hits state side. I've had "Fearless" since Christmas day and been playing it everyday. Taylor opens the album with the strong title track "Fearless", and ends the original US album with the powerful theme song of the summer Olympics, track 13 "Change". In the middle is a sure huge hit "The Way I Loved You" - a song that she wrote with John Rich. "Fifteen" is her most personal song, a bittersweet gem where she sings about her freshman year and her best friend for the past 5 years, Abigail. "White Horse" (which has already been featured on Grey's Anatomy) is a well written tearjerker - a heartfelt song that is just waiting to become her next blockbuster hit. A good example of her more acoustic side is "Breathe" - a simple song written with Colbie Caillat who also sings background vocals in the song. Taylor's writing seems to have matured and grown in the past 2 years. Take "The Best Day" for example - which is a completely different but awesome song, which is written about her family. She appeals to a wide audience, and executes this so well here on Fearless.
If you like "Fearless" buy other albums from Amazon.com

Talent To Spare
D. Lewis questioned me in a recent posting, with regard to another of
my tawdry missives, ( Empire Of The Sun's 'Walking On A Dream' )
about what, in my estimation, might constitute "good pop music".

Well, Ms Swift's album 'Fearless' comes pretty
damned close to fulfilling that definition.

Not since the wonderful Ms Twain's 1997 ( Was it really
that long ago ? ) cracking little album 'Come On Over'
have I heard such a confident display of country(ish)
pop belted out with such fresh-faced abandon and aplomb.

We are led to believe that she writes her own songs
and it would be churlish to doubt it.

Ms Swift's voice is a fine instrument.
Given her tender years a very fine instrument indeed.

Production and musical accompaniment are supportive
and sympathetic to her cause throughout.

Many Amazonians will already know this collection of sixteen
songs far better than I. It having only recently come to my
attention I will endeavour, none-the-less, to provide a
constructive Wolf-eyed view.

Highlights, after more than a few hearings, include :

'Fifteen', a charming reflection on the highs and lows of first love.
(The mandolin is a delight).

'You Belong With Me' explores themes of competition and jealousy
with unabashed good humor.

'Breathe', carried by a deliciously loose snare drum and
judiciously employed string section, is, within the
context of this recording, Ms Swift's finest moment.

'Love Story', with its warm harmonies and driving minor key
melody is as near-perfect as a pop song might be (NB D. Lewis !).

The fiddle and banjo-led 'Our Song', despite its references to
the idea of a God in which we would be foolish to invest, reaches
musical salvation despite itself.

The subtle slide guitar and organ contributions to
'Teardrops On My Guitar' are quite beautiful.

Concluding track 'Should've Said No' brings the album to a
powerful full-band conclusion.

Ms Swift can be justly proud of the final result of her labours.

Recommended.