Deep Dives: Taylor Swift Part 1 (Taylor Swift)

    Everybody knows her and everybody loves her! What a great way to debut a new blog than by covering the debut album of the world's biggest pop star? Deep Dives is a series where I will pick an artist and write about their albums in a series of posts. Let's get started!

    For starters, I love Taylor. I haven't always super loved her, but since Speak Now I have been a big fan. I would have never guessed she would become as huge and influential as she is. I had the idea for covering Taylor Swift when I saw today that her single, "Cruel Summer," has hit number one on the Hot 100 becoming her 10th chart topper. From a 4 year old album. So impressive. So let's talk about where Swift got her start.

    Some background, Taylor Swift was released by Big Machine Records in October of 2006. Wow. 17 years ago. Doesn't seem to be that long ago! I remember Swift becoming a sensation amongst middle and high school social circles seemingly overnight with this album. I find how this album has been received over the years interesting. I don't think it quite caught on with the new fans that came in from Red onwards. But this album was so popular from 2006 to 2009. Her songs played on country and pop stations a ton. Swift has even ignored the album completely on The Eras Tour. Which is so strange to me because she captivated her newfound audiences with this debut and had some big hits. 

    Anyways, Swift began recording the album in 2005 around age 15. It's hard to believe a teenager could write such big hooks as she is credited as a writer on 11 of the tracks. Nathan Chapman, who would work with Swift on her next 4 records, produced this album giving it a solid country sound while letting Swift's freshness shine through allowing the record to appeal to country fans old and new. Rolling Stone named the album one of the "100 Best Debut Albums of All Time" at number 32. The album and its singles garnered many accolades and achievements. It's a solid debut which laid the groundwork for Swift's future works and continues traditions that she still follows to this day like easter eggs and her own unique outlook on various themes. 

    Swift was allowed to be her own age and feel as mature as she wanted on this record instead of trying to be something she wasn't. She was a teenager who understood much about the world more than her peers. This is highlighted in the intricate details of songs such as "Cold As You" and "Tied Together With a Smile." Along with the grown-up "Should've Said No" which could have been sang by an adult singer at any age and fit them like a glove. 

    The record strikes a great balance between fun and serious or even both at times. Debut single and first track, "Tim McGraw" has a great hook that is fun to sing but is also dramatically romantic. "Our Song" is pure serotonin. Catchy as the best of them. "The Outside" has serious lyrics but has a crazy fun and twangy instrumental. "Mary's Song (Oh My My My)" is a fan favorite for a reason. 

    It's often that artists grow and change from their debut material, and they shy away from it because they've matured. Amy Lee of Evanescence comes to mind in this regard. Swift doesn't have much to worry about in this regard as I actually think her debut is more mature than its follow-up, Fearless. Which is very much about high school. Swift has changed but she still feels like that genuine, human girl we were introduced to here. 

    The album has aged. *Side-eyeing those soured milk lyrics from "Picture to Burn."* But the production here holds up as a fine specimen of a country/pop/rock album as its tracks still sound as bright and wide-eyed as the teenager that sang them. 

    Taylor Swift has proven it's here to stay and is timeless. I think it'll get it's flowers once again when it's Taylor's Version is released. Thank you for reading!

Rating: A Rank Stay Beautiful!

Standouts: 

    Tim McGraw 💖

    Picture to Burn

    Teardrops On My Guitar ⭐

    Cold As You

    Our Song 💣

    Should've Said No 👍

    A Place In This World

    I'm Only Me When I'm With You