St. Petersburg Times, November 2008

Why we care: There’s never been a more cynical time in pop music, at least from a critic’s point of view. Not only do we assume most Top 40 tartlets aren’t doing their own singing — we’ve accepted it, grading on cultural impact, art and integrity be damned. The 18-year-old Swift’s pop-country pirouettes have all the weight of a dandelion crown, but she can sing and write a bit and flash a genuine smile. Ultimately, though, the Pennsylvania gal is one of the hottest things in music more for what she’s not. Why we like it: With feet-on-dashboard beats and innocent guitar strums, Swift’s sophomore helping of country fluff (see first single Love Story) details the kind of drama and heartbreak crescendo that can devastate a kid…at least until after recess. Her voice is strong when it has to be, wispy and lilty in those quiet times. She knows catchy, that’s for sure. Reminds us of: The star pupil at Faith Hill’s Camp for Exceptional Blo (more…)

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Amazon.com essential recording

The Beatles’ last days as a band were as productive as any major pop phenomenon that was about to split. After recording the ragged-but-right Let It Be, the group held on for this ambitious effort, an album that was to become their best-selling. Though all four contribute to the first side’s writing, John Lennon’s hard-rocking, “Come Together” and “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” make the strongest impression. A series of song fragments edited together in suite form dominates side two; its portentous, touching, official close (“Golden Slumbers”/”Carry That Weight”/”The End”) is nicely undercut, in typical Beatles fashion, by Paul McCartney’s cheeky “Her Majesty,” which follows. –Rickey Wright

Digitally remastered digipak edition of this classic 1969 album from The Beatles featuring ‘Something’, ‘Come Together’, ‘Here Comes The Sun’, ‘Oh Darling’, ‘Because’ and many more. The album has been remastered at Abbey Road Stud (more…)

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