When I bought Red at midnight on October 22 I didn’t know what to expect. I had previously listened to and loved all of Swift’s albums, but I felt like it was time for her to make a change. I was not disappointed; right when the drums started on the opening track, “State of Grace,” I knew Red was going to be completely different from anything else Swift has made.

What makes Red so unique is the variation in music throughout the album. Swift displays excellent range: from the country twang of the banjo in the song “Red,” to the electronic production of the song “I Knew You Were Trouble,” to the pop hook of “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” Swift completely thwarts all the criticism that all of her songs are essentially the same. Don’t get me wrong, Swift didn’t abandon her tried and true ideals of love and heart break. The album still gives us everything we’ve learned to love about swift like the love anthem “Stay Stay Stay” or the tear jerker break up song “Sad, Beautiful Tragic.” Overall Red has a little bit of everything and is a must buy for the everyday pop or country fan.

Grade: A-

Key Tracks: “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” “Red”  “I Knew You Were Trouble”        “Stay Stay Stay”