Thoughts on Taylor Swift Because We Probably Will Get Back Together

I love me some T-Swift! She is charming, delightful, and girl sings everything I'm feeling. She also has that delightful, simple country sound that doesn't get overly crooning or twangy. She's desperately romantic, but equally badass like Carrie Underwood (but way above keying a guys car because she just uses their own actions to humiliate them with a catchy melody).

Except her new single leaves me with a raised eyebrow thinking, WTF? The melody is delightful and catchy in exactly the way that a Taylor Swift song can be, but bizarrely overproduced to the point of abandoning the little bit of country that she may have still been holding onto. I love that little bit of country and this sounds like it should be the opening to some reality television show on MTV. She also talks during the song and while that probably wont' ever hold her back (it certainly didn't hurt Britney when she did it), it makes me want to roll my eyes and ask her why she let someone convince her this was a good idea. She has always been so far above what this song is.

Fortunately, all is not lost. There is a country radio mix that has an actual banjo instead of a garage band guitar and I'm pretty sure this is her actual voice.

Hunger Games: Songs from District 12 and Beyond

I can name a few select soundtracks that have impressed me as much as The Hunger Games has. With the exception of two songs (kid Cudi? really? was this an attempt at pandering to a tween audience?), the Hunger Games soundtrack might as well have been pulled from the most played artist list on my itunes.  It is a beautiful collection of artists like Arcade Fire, The Decembrists, The Punch Brothers, The Secret Sisters, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, and The Civil Wars who each capture so well the mood of The Hunger Games. Many songs have an Appalachian feel reflective of the coal mining district heroin, Katniss Everdeen, hails from. All have dark, melancholic undertones. Some songs make direct references to the story, while others are simply thematic. It is a beautiful, rich soundtrack and I'm impressed that the creators sought out such talented artists instead of falling back on top-40 artists for a film that was sure to be a blockbuster hit. 

Taylor Swift: Safe and Sound

I posted this video to Accidental Music's Tumblr (it's cool, check it out!) but it is far too amazing not to get an official post of its own. Seriously, I am so entirely in love with this song that features T-Swift teamed up with Grammy winning Civil Wars, which has to be one of my favorite collaborations to date. Swifts voice it at its best with this haunting melody and The Civil Wars add perfect instrumentals and accompanying harmonies. The song is part of upcoming the Hunger Games soundtrack, which promises to be outrageously amazing with its inclusion of artists like Arcade Fire, The Decembrists, The Carolina Chocolate Drops and so many other great artists.

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Do you ever have days when you can't stop listening to Taylor Swift on repeat?

Or is it just me? Maybe it's just me.

In unrelated news, I have a few music questions I want to throw out to you music aficionados and readers. Is there a band out there who's fan club you would pay money to join? If so, what band and what would you expect to get out of it? I am speaking as a former Warehouse member who is curious how Facebook pages, Twitter, and band mailing lists have changed the face of fan clubs.

Thoughts?