Taylor Swift Album RD Series #1: Taylor Swift (Finished!!!)

[fearlessarrow]

The Taylor Swift Album Rankdown Series: Pulse Edition

Now that the Miley Cyrus rankdown is coming to a close, it's time to introduce my next rankdown!
This will be a series of 6 mini rankdowns of each of her studio albums, including reputation which has not been released yet as of right now when I'm writing this post.

I thought about possible ways to go about this rankdown, but I wanted to celebrate her journey up until this point, from your girl-next-door country singer to one of the biggest pop stars in the world. So the album we will be ranking first is...

Taylor Swift


The tracklist:
1. Tim McGraw
2. Picture to Burn
3. Teardrops on My Guitar
4. A Place in This World
5. Cold As You
6. The Outside
7. Tied Together With a Smile
8. Stay Beautiful
9. Should've Said No
10. Mary's Song (Oh My My)
11. Our Song
12. I'm Only Me When I'm With You [2008 re-release]
13. Invisible [2008 re-release]
14. A Perfectly Good Heart [2008 re-release]

Here's a Spotify link to the album:



















Since this is a short rankdown, I am going to make this due on November 8th, so that we can prepare for the release of reputation on the 9th and then obsess over it on the 10th! However, if you need an extension, please let me know and we can work around that.

If you're being tagged, it's because you've participated in the Miley Cyrus and/or Dierks Bentley rankdown, or expressed some interest via whatever interaction we've had. If you wish to be removed from the tag list, please let me know and I can take you off the tag list. Last but not least, anyone is welcome to join, so please feel free to jump in even if I didn't or forgot to tag you!

Choco Normi Disco XXXma$ Bwol zaclord 🌈 crazyb Sambalada †ealsünset DistrictTwelve jtd Thee Stallion .indulgecountry @mirza Az Paynter @walker9 Leo ✔ fmbf101 born Wave. Juanca Kanenrá:ke austin sbme rgreen0625 bboat11 Kentucky25 Cody Wants Out... countrymusicjunkie recordyear castleoblivion26 dub someguy vann matteeeb carriekins gardyfan raylatch98 LBTrocks dm2081 cerulean Mr. Thonk Eyes chicken077  

[fearlessarrow]

Participants:

fearlessarrow
crazyb
Mylo13 💜
austin
#brayden
bboat11
.indulgecountry
toomuchboy
someguy
Choco
DistrictTwelve
Kanenrá:ke
†ealsünset
Leo ✔
Cody Wants Out...
zaclord 🌈
born
Normi
XXXma$
awesomecharts
Doc Indie Party Rock
Sambalada
castleoblivion26
@mirza
@jamesflame
dub
cerulean
Glove Slap
LBTrocks
surfy
@cagedjuggalo
soulfulwings
CF15
radioactived
Tim

[fearlessarrow]

Results:

1. Teardrops On My Guitar (WINNER!!!)
2. Should've Said No
3. Tim McGraw
4. Our Song
5. Cold As You
6. Mary's Song (Oh My My My)
7. The Outside
8. Picture to Burn
9. A Place In This World
10. I'm Only Me When I'm With You
11. Stay Beautiful
12. Tied Together With a Smile
13. A Perfectly Good Heart
14. Invisible

Lowest SD: A Perfectly Good Heart (3.00937)
Highest SD: Tim McGraw (4.16438)

[Doc Indie Party Rock]

I might give this a go. Her music was much more wholesome back then.....and better IMOP.

[fearlessarrow]

Oct 21, 2017 1:24:59 GMT -5 Doc Indie Party Rock said:

I might give this a go. Her music was much more wholesome back then.....and better IMOP.

Wait seriously? I would love to see your rankings!

[LBTrocks]

I might do this one... liked her first album

Then I heard her live in 2007.... yikes

[.indulgecountry]

Oh boy, I'm so excited for this! Her debut is still her best album imo!

[born]

I almost screamed when I saw the notification for this! So freaking excited!

fearlessarrow I love you so much :')

[bboat11]

I am by no means a Taylor Swift fan, but I will gladly participate in this! It's a nice/gradual/easy way to become more familiar with her music. We'll see if her album tracks speak to me more than her singles did from this album.

Oct 21, 2017 2:08:25 GMT -5 born said:

I almost screamed when I saw the notification for this! So freaking excited!

fearlessarrow I love you so much :')

Speaking of album rankdowns... I hope you're still planning to do the Evolution rankdown too! I really enjoyed having you in the last one! (You have until the end of the weekend if you choose to do it)

[born]

^I'm actually in the middle of listening the album and I can't decide whether I should finish this one or the 2000s Artist Threes one.

[bboat11]

Oct 21, 2017 2:23:04 GMT -5 born said:

^I'm actually in the middle of listening the album and I can't decide whether I should finish this one or the 2000s Artist Threes one.

I mean, 14 songs versus like 60... The path of least resistance would have you completing the Martina one! Lol but it looks like the Artist Threes one is about to close, so that's probably gotta be the first priority. If you need more time for Martina let me know Otherwise I'll stick with the plan to close it on Sunday night.

[gardyfan]

Please take me off this one.

[zaclord 🌈]

How do I rank every song at #14?

Jk, this album is actually pretty good. I'll get around to this

[Bwol]

UM YES COUNT ME IN

[Choco]

I'm not a huge fan of this album. But I'll try to do this.

[Deleted]

I've been meaning to revisit the album for awhile so this is a welcomed rankdown

[Green Baron]

Oh boy, Doc you are going to be in for a ride

[born]

Oct 21, 2017 12:43:33 GMT -5 zaclord 🌈 said:

How do I rank every song at #14?

Jk, this album is actually pretty good. I'll get around to this

 let her breathe for just one second!

Btw, before you all go and bury "A Perfectly Good Heart", you should know that it deserves a top half ranking.

[zaclord 🌈]

I swear to God if "Our Song" wins this...

[someguy]

I don't think I've heard the bonus tracks, but I'll give them a listen and do this.

[Cody Wants Out...]

Holy cow, it's been literally years since I've listened to this album and I remember every single song on here. I'll try to send in a list this week.

[Spidey]

Count me in for this!

[Exclusive]

Hmm ill try to do this

[XXXma$]

Oct 21, 2017 23:23:11 GMT -5 zaclord 🌈 said:

I swear to God if "Our Song" wins this...

It's definitely a contender, I believe, but I would honestly put money on Teardrops taking it all.


Though I'm hoping neither of them win and for a certain other song to win. I don't want to disclose my #1, but it's one of my favorite Taylor songs. Sassy, yet endearing.

[fearlessarrow]

Oh I forgot to tell you, but this rankdown series I have been excited for forever because not only it's a Taylor rankdown, but also I get to see my favorite people from the two primary genres I listen to, pop and country. That means my favorite posters from both genres can participate in the same rankdown! I know some of you already do participate in both pop and country rankdowns (indulge and zaclord come to mind) but seeing other country posters like bboat who never participate in pop rankdowns participating in the same rankdown as someone like normusic (you will do my rankdown, right? - this is a threat jk) who probably won't do a country rankdown unless it's Maren Morris is exciting! And if Dr. Indie actually does participate, this is going to be one heck of a rankdown!

[bboat11]

Oct 24, 2017 2:25:07 GMT -5 fearlessarrow said:

Oh I forgot to tell you, but this rankdown series I have been excited for forever because not only it's a Taylor rankdown, but also I get to see my favorite people from the two primary genres I listen to, pop and country. That means my favorite posters from both genres can participate in the same rankdown! I know some of you already do participate in both pop and country rankdowns (indulge and zaclord come to mind) but seeing other country posters like bboat who never participate in pop rankdowns participating in the same rankdown as someone like normusic (you will do my rankdown, right? - this is a threat jk) who probably won't do a country rankdown unless it's Maren Morris is exciting! And if Dr. Indie actually does participate, this is going to be one heck of a rankdown!

Ah ha! I knew you had some kind of ulterior motive here! Bish, I'm gone!

Edit: Also, I wouldn't say never... I very eagerly joined in on the Kelly Clarkson one, and Avril Lavigne managed to ensnare me as well! And I am already sharpening my claws in excitement over the inevitable Celine Dion rankdown

[bboat11]

Also, I just finished my first listen-through of this album. Overall I am impressed! There are quite a few songs here that really stood out.

Unfortunately, the weak point for me with this album is exactly what I expected it to be...the vocals. Early Taylor sounded just plain rough. She lacks power, range, soul, texture, resonance, melismatic dexterity, vibrato...pretty much everything that you look for in a famous female voice. Her voice sounds wobbly at best in the middle and high ranges, and is barely a whisper in the low range. I hate to say it, but in a genre where she has to compete with the likes of Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Sara Evans, Faith Hill, and so many other just plain amazing female singers, there is no competition. I have no idea how she managed to get so popular off of this album, other than her age appealing to a demographic of middle school girls who were suddenly given a voice.

Before I get eviscerated, let me just say that I do think Taylor's voice has improved significantly with time! She has established a vocal presence in recent years that is undeniable. I listen to songs like "Out of the Woods", "Blank Space", "I Knew You Were Trouble", etc. and I think "Taylor is a perfect vocalist for this song! This sounds great!" But on many of these early songs, her voice lacks the proper maturity to pull them off with maximum efficacy. While her debut album is full of excellent songs, I found myself thinking 'Ooo, "A Place in This World" sounds like it could have been a #1 hit for Sara Evans!', or 'Imagine how much personality Reba could breathe into "Stay Beautiful".'

Anyway, my point is, I like most of these songs, despite the unseasoned vocals. I am going to do a second listen before I submit my list, in case any of my opinions change

[born]

The vocals are really week indeed. And some of the melodies are kinda... girly & SO 16-year-old. But there are about 2-3 songs with great production and lyrics that could cut glass.

[austin]

I just sent mine in!

[fearlessarrow]

bboat11 I don't think any of the Taylor fans/stans (or most of them, at least, if they're not delusional) would argue with you about Taylor's vocals being pretty weak during this era. While she's improved over the course of her career, vocals were never her strong point. She has a knack for writing great songs (lyrics are her strong point in her country songs) so I'm assuming that's what drew people in. The lyrics are well-written for someone of her age and it perfectly captured the target demographic.

Anyways, I'm glad you liked the album and I hope that swayed you into sending in a list for Fearless onwards as well!