Best Albums of 2012 – ‘Red’ By Taylor Swift

'Red' sold over a million copies its first week in stores, making it the biggest debut by a brand-new album all year. There's a reason that Taylor Swift's adoring public responded so passionately to the album.

It is full of honest, straight from the heart(break) anthems. Swift is the poet laureate and voice of her generation, speaking to them directly through the medium of song. She takes the emotions they are feeling and distills them into her album tracks. She's been there, done that, wore the T-shirt and knows how it feels. In essence, she is one of them.

But beyond her bond with fans, Swift also looked without leaping when it came to songwriting. She purposely chose to work with outside writers and to put the breaks on her twangy, country style in favor of going full on pop.

Yes, there are country-tinged songs ('Begin Again') but Swift goes totally pop on the crazy catchy 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,' which literally feels like a roller coaster ride. She also delivers a good dose of pop on the title track, which is impossible not to sing along with.

'Red' is T. Swizzle's ultimate pop album and it's positioned as the album that will cross her over entirely. It's full of songs that you can't help but dance to.