– Customer review on 14/06/2011

'Speak Now' (2010) is probably Taylor Swift's most ecclectic, most adventurous music affort in the 5 years which we have grown to know this Country music starlet.

The array of music stylings go from country, to pop, to rock, to folk-sounding tunes which were all written by Miss Swift herself.

If you aren't a big country music fan, this CD is definately for you. There's the soulful and heartfelt apology called "Back To December", which was written about Twilight star Taylor Lautner, which is a stand-out track on the album.

Then there's songs like "Better Than Revenge", where Taylor digs in to some girl who stole her man (watch out!!!)

However, the most "country" sounding song on the album is definately the anthemic "Mean", in which Taylor puts her critics in her place while playing the banjo and claiming one day she will be on top and they'll still be nobodies!

Comparing Speak Now to Taylor's previous releases 'Taylor Swift' (2006) and Fearless (2008), it seems that this is Taylor's experimental album. Songs like 'Haunted' sound like they could belong on a Paramore album; whereas songs like Enchanted could easily be mistaken as a song by Selena Gomez.

This Deluxe Edition of Speak Now includes some brilliant bonus tracks: Ours, If This Was A Movie and Superman are actually better than some of the tracks on the regular release. Then there are the bonus acoustic versions of songs such as Story Of Us.

In all, Story Of Us is a very different, mesh of music from Taylor Swift. But she manages to stay true to herself with songs about boys, love, life and friendship all making up a lovely release.

To compare it to her other albums would be misleading as it is such a different mix of tracks.

STAND OUT TRACKS:

Sparks Fly (#2)
Back To December (#3)
Mean (#6)
Innocent (#11)
Last Kiss (#13)

**Definately a must-have for any Taylor Swift fans!**

– Customer review on 30/05/2011

With "Speak Now" Taylor Swift ups the singer/songwriter aspect of her art and turns down the radio-ready emphasis a notch. It is a little less calculated and a little more comfortable than her last two, especially 2008's non-stop hit factory "Fearless."

It is also less focused and tight, but since this is Swift's debut effort without any co-writers, her melodies and lyrics composed independently, this was inevitable. The result is akin to comfort food - unpretentious, honest and warm. She has the natural talent and flair for catchy song craft to make a less precious recording - which "Speak Now" certainly is - work especially well.

Because Swift was clearly given more leeway to do as she pleases both her strengths and excesses are more prominently on display than previously. A few of her melodies sound simple and similar to one another, and she is often bursting with lyrics, with every other tune or so a bit overwritten. However, this is also one of the strengths of "Speak Now." It shows that Swift is the real deal - an artist from whom strong songs flow naturally.

Much has been made of the men whom Swift has written songs about, and that transparency shows her age, but "Speak Now" proves she does not need the controversy to validate the music. From the inventive, shrewd, near power-pop of "The Story of Us" and "Enchanted" to the elegant, apologetic "Back to December," these songs stand on their own.

Accents of country remain, but Swift is transitioning into pop/rock territory, and she cannot be blamed for it - at 20, she is, in spite of her major success, still finding her voice. "Mean" with its cheeky, smartly executed humor, is the only outright country tune.

"Someday I'll be living in a big old city and all you're ever gonna be is mean," she forecasts.

– Customer review on 10/01/2011

This cd is amazing! I brought this cd not really being a huge taylor Swift fan and came out her biggest ever. The songs on here are just amazing lyrics wise Dear John which was writen for her relationship with John Mayer and Back To December for her relationship with Taylor Luntner. Innocent and Enchanted are mellow but beautiful tracks and Never Grow Up is the anthem for any adult who looks back at a child and says 'Wish I'd never grown up' Even if your not a huge Taylor Swift fan I can say this album will blow you away!

– Customer review on 19/11/2010

pretty good cd well worth it!!!! and its fun to see behind the scenes of the mine video

– Customer review on 26/10/2010

AH-MAZ-ING Definitely worth buying even if your not a fan of country music or Taylor Swift.