Spunky, young music sensation Taylor Swift released her fourth studio album Red in December 2012, after much anticipation from fans worldwide. Fans were shocked by Swift’s new style and sound, but the album was an instant hit. Swift managed to do it again – captivate her audience with her poetic lyrics, which every one can relate to set to music, which no one can forget.

The album is a mix of the old and new Taylor. Songs like “All Too Well”, “Begin Again”, and “I Almost Do” remind listeners of what they are used to from Taylor: beautiful, well written songs; other tracks, like “We Are Never Ever Ever Getting Back Together”, “I Knew You Were Trouble”, “State of Grace”, and “Holy Ground” expose a new side of the maturing artist as she experiments with pop and rock.

Swift collaborated with more writers and producers than ever before to create such diversity. She teamed up with Gary Lightbody (of Snow Patrol) to write and record a thoughtful ballad titled “The Last Time” that pulls at the listener’s heartstrings and makes them vulnerable to strong emotions. She also wrote and recorded with Ed Sheeran on a song called “Everything Has Changed” that brings out the best of each artist. Other new producers and writers are responsible for songs that are more along the pop and rock genres.

There is diversity in tempo and moods throughout the album. Some songs are upbeat and whimsical, while others are slow and depressing. The mixture of types makes the album interesting and prevents it from easily boring the listeners.

Though her sound and style have changed, the complexity and relevance of her lyrics that was present in previous albums like Fearless and Speak Now is still present in her fourth album. Swift uses strong language to tell her stories and put each listener in her shoes. Lyrics like “You call me up again, just to break me like a promise, so casually cruel in the name of being honest; I’m a crumpled up piece of paper lying here because I remember it all too well,” and “You wear your best apology, but I was there to watch you leave; And all the times I let you in, just for you to go again,” are prime examples of poetic lyrics created by Swift.

Other songs, however, like, “Starlight” and “22” are repetitive and redundant in their lyrics and do not reflect deep thought or any sort of substance. And lyrics from songs like “Treacherous” or “State of Grace” may be too mature and suggestive for Swift’s younger fan base.

Swift hoped to stun her audience with the new album, but also stay true to whom she is and to what they want to hear. Red’s contrast of pop, rock, and ballad genre did this perfectly.