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

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18 in Music
• Brand: Taylor
• Released on: 2008-11-11
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced

Album Description
Fearless is the 2008 sophomore album from Taylor Swift, the young Country singer/songwriter who charmed the hearts and charts of America beginning with her debut single 'Tim McGraw'. Her triple-platinum self-titled debut release has scanned over 3.4 million units and spent more weeks at #1 than any other Country album this year: 24 weeks! Taylor is the only Country female artist to have five Top 10 singles from a debut album and the only Country female vocalist this decade to reach the Top 5 on Billboard's Hot 100 Chart. Needless to say, she's a sensation that has only just begun to show what she is capable of. 13 tracks including the single 'Love Story' and 'Change', first heard during the 2008 Summer Olympics. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

St. Petersburg Times, November 2008
Why we care: There's never been a more cynical time in pop music, at least from a critic's point of view. Not only do we assume most Top 40 tartlets aren't doing their own singing -- we've accepted it, grading on cultural impact, art and integrity be damned. The 18-year-old Swift's pop-country pirouettes have all the weight of a dandelion crown, but she can sing and write a bit and flash a genuine smile. Ultimately, though, the Pennsylvania gal is one of the hottest things in music more for what she's not. Why we like it: With feet-on-dashboard beats and innocent guitar strums, Swift's sophomore helping of country fluff (see first single Love Story) details the kind of drama and heartbreak crescendo that can devastate a kid...at least until after recess. Her voice is strong when it has to be, wispy and lilty in those quiet times. She knows catchy, that's for sure.

Reminds us of: The star pupil at Faith Hill's Camp for Exceptional Blonds

Grade: B

Arkansas Democrat Gazette, December 28, 2008
Swift Fearless, taking the spotlight away from Rose BY WERNER TRIESCHMANN

This is so old-school pop star.

Three days before Christmas and a stop at west Little Rock's Best Buy to snag Taylor Swift's Fearless turns up empty - that's right, not a single copy to be had in the whole store. Boxes of Guitar Hero and gleaming iNanos were still waiting to be bought. Then there were the well-stocked displays for a certain new album by Guns 'N Roses.

Taylor Alison Swift, who turned 19 on Dec. 19, was only 4 years old when Axl Rose started working on Chinese Democracy. Today, however, Swift, the cat-eyed, curly-haired singersongwriter, is the most popular music act in the country. Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers have the power of the 'tween marketplace and the mighty Disney behind them, but only two full-length albums into her career, Swift is challenging the rule that nobody makes rock stars anymore.

Swift is, of course, slotted as a country act and her first big hit, "Tim McGraw," reinforced that label. Among the many things that Fearless confirms, the foremost might be that the Pennsylvania-native Swift is navigating the broad waters of pop music. There's a banjo and fiddle here and there on Fearless, but the symphonic strings and general guitar uplift dominate.

You already know what Fearless is about - or maybe your favorite/closest teenager informed you in a breathless text message filled with exclamation points and all caps. Romance! Doomed romance! Being 15 and being crazy in love with Romeo even though of course it can't work out because he's a vampire - oh wait, that's something else.

Maybe you also already know that Swift's name is on all of these songs and that there are only five or so where the teenager shares credit with John Rich (of Big & Rich fame) and others. Maybe you've already decided that you love or hate this young, beautiful and now-rich singer-songwriter because of what you already know.

It's not likely that even Swift's biggest fans could tell from her low-key, mostly-acoustic, happy-to-be-here debut that the girl has a gift that translates to a bigger stage. That is to say, Fearless is about as tightly constructed and as hook-heavy as any pop record could be. The hits are certainly going to keep on coming after "Love Story" has its run on the charts.

While most of the early praise for the record has focused on Swift's sharp eye for detail (the nervous anticipation that comes with the first day of high school and the insanity that comes with young love), few have spoken about her voice. Although you can take it to the bank that Nashville's most expensive machines were applied to smooth out the edges, Swift is still able to convey the passion - the fragile feelings - that drives so many of these songs.

Taken as a whole, the great sweep of the production elevates Fearless, makes it more than a heartsick diary typed on perfumed resume paper. That's not to say that Swift's obsession over the fickle ways of young men doesn't start to wear.

The last song - the abstract, gospel-ish "Change" - isn't enough of a curve to break up the feel that too many of the tunes here are about the same thing with the same kind of tempo.

But even at 19 years old, Swift is smart enough to play to her strengths and her strengths are enough to make Fearless rich and satisfying in ways that few albums can match. Eat your heart out, Axl Rose.

Customer Reviews

~brilliant songwriter~
Taylor Swift is one talented teen! She had a hand again in every song on her highly anticipated sophomore CD - this time she wrote 7, and co-wrote 6. The first single, "Love Story" is a good example of how she can combine great lyrics with a catchy beat - and then produce a smash crossover hit. The most remarkable thing about the album is that it is incredibly balanced...and almost every song is so good that it could be released as a radio single. I think it is now safe to say that she is a rising star who will just keep on rising!

Taylor opens the album with the strong title track "Fearless", and ends the album with the powerful theme song of the summer Olympics, "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.

It's incredible how quickly Taylor crossed over and became not only a big country star, but a huge pop star also. It took only her second single - Teardrops On My Guitar - for her to become amazingly popular in mainstream music! Then she continued to release 3 more hits (two of them #1) off her debut album. Talk about a hard act to follow - but I can't see this trend stopping anytime soon with Fearless - this album is a major home run. She isn't the same country artist who sang "Tim Mcgraw", and I understand that some people will not be happy about that. If there are any flaws here, it would be that many of the songs are pop-country hits which are about the same subject - teens. You can't please everyone, but look for her to just become even bigger and more popular, with more #1's and crossover pop smash hits. Taylor's sophomore CD is very well done...filled with excellent, self-penned, radio-friendly top 40 hits! Overall ~ 9/10 ~

Pure country-pop cotton candy sprinkled with hearts and rainbows
Ironically, I thought the first Taylor Swift album was terrible [I got it for free, thankfully], but I heard her sing "Love Story" on the Country Music Awards, and although her vocals were weak, I found the song very catchy, so I picked up "Fearless" on sale. As cheesy and girly as it is, I LOVE this album, and have been listening to nothing else for the 2 weeks since I got it. The title track ("Fearless") is the first song on the album, and it's a strong opener. Though I must say, "Fairy Tale" would have been a much better title for this album since these lightweight tunes are about as 'fearless' as a puppy dog on a stormy night, and have tons of prince/princess/horses/hand-holding/standing outside of bedroom windows type references.

"Fearless" is a collection of songs that any teeenaged girl can relate to. Are the lyrics profound? Nah. The music innovative and brilliant? Nope. But nor does it need to be. The beauty of this album is in it's simplicity, and the best way to enjoy this cd is to take it for exactly what it is: the romantic musings of a young girl in [and sometimes out] of love, set to catchy melodies with memorable hooks. For a little old lady like myself [I'm 29], this is a pleasant throwback to high school; a time when you want so badly to fit in, and whether or not your crush smiled at you could make or break your day. It's fun to revisist those days through the eyes of a young singer for whom this stuff is recent reality.

I had every reason not to like this cd [not a *huge* country fan, not 18, never known "small town" life, etc.], but like a plain ol' peanut butter and jelly sandwhich, it just hits the spot.


Favorite tracks:

Fearless
Breathe
Fifteen
Love Story

Not a letdown!
I find that sometimes a musician will have an awesome first album, then the next album comes out and just doesn't quite have it... This is so not the case here. It has that Taylor Swift sound that you love, but is new and fresh. Her sound has definitely evolved without becoming unrecognizable.
Stand out songs I think are:
*Fearless, the title track, that has those awesome lyrics that are so simple that Taylor Swift always seems to come up with. Sweet message about loving a boy that makes her feel fearless. Makes you feel good.
*White Horse - Ballad about being treated badly by a guy and all the feelings that go along with that. This is a song that definitely sounded different to me initally (when I heard it on Grey's). It's not as country as some of her other songs. Love, love, love the lyrics.
*Breathe feat. Colbie Caillat - Slow song with lyrics about a separation from someone you love and how hard that is. Simple beat. Love the sound of Taylor and Colbie singing together on the chorus. I love singing along to this in my car. It has so much emotion.
*You're Not Sorry - Slower song about a guy who treats a girl badly, leads her on, lies, apologizes when he doesn't really mean it (hence the title). It's about finally waking up and realizing you're too good for that guy (haven't we all been there?). Catchy chorus. Nice beat.
*The Best Day - This song reminds me a little of Colbie Caillat's style of music as well. It doesn't necessarily have to be considered country, especially if you don't know Taylor Swift. Just a sweet, simple song about her mom. I love it. Plus, my mom is awesome, and I always think of her when I listen to it. Really a sweet thing to write a song for your mom I think (and it's not cheesy like you might think it could be).
*Change - This song is upbeat. It's about being the one to believe in change when not everyone does and some even want to stop you and keep things the same. And how good it feels when that much needed change comes along. Very feel good song and passionate.

I have lots of favorites on here as you can see, but these are the ones that really stick out to me. I like every song on the album, but these are the best (I think). I also have to say that I'm not a huge country music fan. I like Taylor Swift because she has a good voice, simple songs that are fun and catchy with good lyrics. She doesn't sound super country when she sings, and there aren't a bunch of country-style instruments. It's just about the music. It sometimes doesn't even sound like country.