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Grade: B+
CD • Despite her recent relationship with a high-profile high-school senior, Taylor Swift is 22 years old, and her fourth album "Red" sounds like her first adult album.
Her first juvenile (but fun) single "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" isn't representative of the majority of the 16-song album, which consists of more mature songs about falling in and out of love.
The first single was co-written and produced by Swedish sugar-pop master Max Martin; his magic fingers are all over the consistently gratifying record, where Swift declares her independence from country music and instead pivots toward undeniably melodic dance songs such as "I Knew You Were Trouble" and "22," in which she apes Ke$ha's deliciously snotty vocal style.
Other songs veer straight into top-40 pop-rock territory, ensuring that Swift — displaying her best vocals ever — will be keeping you company on your car radio through 2013 and into 2014. There are worse things that could happen to you, really. —
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