We praise Taylor Swift a lot but I truly want to reflect on how good of an album Fearless was and is. And she released it age 18, full of songs she wrote from 16-18. Certainly other young women made equally good albums (Alanis, Fiona, Lauryn), but still! This album fucks.

Like, Fearless is such a fully-realized end-to-end album. To use a phrase Swifties hate, “sonically cohesive.” Other than Jagged Little Pill (which age wise is more like Taylor& #39;s Red), it’s hard for me to think of another album from an artist that hits like this beginning to end.

Like, Fearless nailed the production. Michelle Branch& #39;s The Spirit Room and Jewel& #39;s Pieces of You had great writing and were let down by lousy production. Alanis and Taylor nailed both. The Score (The Fugees) does too (all hail Wyclef!!). Fiona& #39;s Tidal is OK. Hence end-to-end.

People have pointed out Lorde& #39;s Pure Heroine and that was one I omitted erroneously. Definitely another end-to-end album that nails production, writing, and vocals. Melodrama is an equally great follow-up.