Taylor Swift’s “Speak Now” does just that

If nothing else, Taylor Swift just keeps finding ways to amaze yours truly. After her newest album “Speak Now” came out on October 25th, I’ve sidestepped listening to it. I bought it right away but haven’t had the free time to sit down and listen to it. That was, until the long bus ride to West Virginia last weekend.

On the drive out on Friday morning I put on my headphones and launched myself into the newest edition of Swift’s songs. Oddly enough, we passed numerous semi trucks with the company brand Swift painted on them. I doubt, however, that many if any of the drivers were listening to the 20-year-old country and pop star.

Fourteen songs that range emotions from happy to sad, depressed and regretful to wistfully and blissfully excited about the times Swift has spent with each subject of each song she has written. On the insert that came with my CD (yes, I went out and bought the physical copy of the album, call me old school) Swift described the impetus behind each song, and the name of the album.

“These songs are made up of words I didn’t say when the moment was right in front of me,” she wrote. “These songs are open letters. Each is written with a specific person in mind, telling them what I meant to tell them in person.”

And I couldn’t help but think about each song’s influence as I listened. Fourteen songs that each had a different feel, that each had their own life, and each had their own message; it was pure musical magic, but I think I feel that way about every other Taylor Swift album I’ve set my listening ears upon.

I especially enjoyed the final song of the album, titled, “Long Live,” which was very upbeat and positive. It paralleled the final song from her last album “Fearless,” which was the especially upbeat song, “Change.”

While I don’t consider myself any kind of music critic, and it’ll be a long time before I ever consider myself qualified enough to be one, I really liked this album, just as I’ve loved a lot of Taylor Swift’s previous work. It had just the right balance of melancholy songs and optimistic songs to entertain this listener.

I’d suggest you go out and buy the album, but chances are you probably already have. In less than a month the album has sold an insane 1.58 million copies. And of course, heed the young Ms. Swift’s advice: “I don’t think you should wait. I think you should speak now.”