Note: This review is number one in a series looking back at Taylor Swift’s first 10 albums.

Taylor Swift’s very first album, “Taylor Swift”, was a true country album. In her voice you can hear her Nashville accent- whether it was ever real we will never know- and the classic country twang that’s heard throughout the beginning of her career.

Since the release of her first album, Swift has expanded to many different genres and styles, but during her “debut era,” as the Swifties call it, Swift was a picture-perfect country girl, with wild curly blonde hair and cowboy boots.

This album was an instant success when it was released in 2006. Taylor Swift was nominated for Album of the Year at the Country Music Awards as well as spent 24 weeks as the top-streamed country album.

The success of this album was partly due to Swift’s vulnerability in her lyricism. Swift embodies a stereotypical teenage girl in this album, name-dropping people from her high school, fangirling over Tim McGraw, and portraying an adorable innocence with her public image.

Songs like “Picture to Burn”, “Should’ve Said No”, and “Cold as You” showcase her teenage angst that captured listeners’ attention.

With songs like these, Swifites began to follow Swift’s life with unwavering focus. No doubt, this was difficult for Swift at such a young age, but this is what set Swift apart from other artists: her connection with the fans.

Swift’s album catered to a new audience than typical country music. In the early 2000s, most country artists, like Kenny Chesney, George Strait, and Rascal Flatts, were playing for a completely different demographic, Swift brought a whole new community to the country music scene. This was just the beginning of Swift’s personal, deep connection with her fans.

Next Album “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” (2023)