Most 22 year olds are finishing up in college, looking for their first real job or preparing to travel the world to “find themselves”.  Taylor Swift however, is not your average 22 year old.  At this tender age Miss Swift has just released her fourth album, yes fourth, and before even listening to ‘Red’ we can guarantee you one thing; it’s going to feature a lot of heartache.

Kicking things off is State Of Grace, with a much heavier sound than you would expect from the pop country princess.  This rocky song is about the beginning of a relationship; falling in love and how your life will never be the same again.  “We fall in love till it hurts or bleeds.” Steady on Taylor, with lyrics like that you begin to see why you scare men off.

Title song of the album Red is about, yep you guessed it, love (mainly the bad bits after she has lost him though).  For someone who made their name as a country act, it is an incredibly pop sounding track.  The chorus could have been lifted from a Xenomania track.  I Knew You Were Trouble is yet another fantastic pop track. I’m sure you can guess what the song is about.

Now it is impossible to talk about the pop elements of ‘Red’ without mentioning what is possibly the catchiest song in the history of the pop.  Like, ever.  In years to come We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together will become a classic sing-along for scorned women, this generation’s Jolene, or Love Is A Battlefield.  It is just the perfect pop song; catchy relatable lyrics and an addictive hook.  Although not technically a feature of the album, the video has a hipster bear in it.  What more could a person want?!

All Too Well, which may or may not be about a certain Gyllenhaal sibling, is a return to country roots for the songstress.  Whoever this song is about though it has to be said, you’re not a very nice person.  How dare you call up Taylor to dump her, what you had was “a masterpiece ´til you tore it all up”.  I hope you’re happy with yourself.

Led by piano and strings, The Last Time is the standout track on the album.  Featuring Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol fame, it could have been lifted from ‘Eyes Open’.  Taylor’s sweet voice is complimented perfectly by Lightbody’s dulcet tones creating beautiful harmonies.

While listening to ‘Red’ you will go through several phases.  Firstly, you will feel sorry for poor Taylor; those men treat her so badly!  Then you will begin to wonder is this about one guy or several?  If one well you need to get over him; he’s a tool, girlfriend.  If it’s several well… she has terrible taste.  Finally you will release Taylor is frankly, a needy clinger and maybe needs to ask herself “Is it me?”  Albums about heartache can be huge successes; just look at Adele.  Taylor, however, is no Adele.  While she is a very talented song writer, and ‘Red’ does feature some fantastic tracks and is well worth a listen, after sixteen tracks and six bonus tracks it just all becomes a bit too much.

If you have just been dumped do not under any circumstances listen to this album, it will not be your friend. For the rest of you, it’s jammed with pop country goodness.