Taylor Swifts much anticipated CD, Red hit stores this week and a copy found its way to my desk. I figure with this new website its time to revive the CD reviews I did many years ago. So lets start with one of the biggest CD’s of the year. Red is Taylor’s 4th studio CD by my count and you’ll find 16 new tracks. I have no doubt that this project will only add to the great debate, is she country or is she pop ?  Taylor identifies herself as country and she has named a diverse set of influences that range from Shania and the Dixie Chicks to Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks to the Beatles. That diversity shows all through Red. The album opens with State Of Grace which has the feel of a late 80′s U2 track. Its a cool track , maybe not a fit for country radio but still cool. From there the tracks bounce back and forth from  pop to  pop country to Taylor rocking out  just a bit. The current single Begin Again which shows Taylor’s growing maturity as a writer which is a direct contrast to the youthful spirit of We are Never Ever Getting Back Together.  There’s a lot going on here, forget the notion that Taylor is trying to crossover. and look at Red for what it is. A CD from a  young lady finding herself as an artist and shes experimenting with different sounds and styles that she’s drawn to. This isn’t for everybody but if you like Taylor or you like artists who are looking to expand their sound then pick up a copy of Red.