Album Reviews

Taylor Swift

`Fearless'

(Universal Music)

Taylor Swift's second album, ``Fearless,'' reigned at the top of the Billboard charts for 11 weeks until U2 knocked it down two weeks ago. It's not hard to see why the 19-year-old pop princess is such a phenomenon; she sings catchy songs about boys, writes her own music, plays the guitar and is cute.

Songs like ``Love Story'' and ``White Horse'' hit just the right note with young listeners. Swift always writes about her personal experiences, so it was no surprise she wrote ``Forever & Always'' after breaking up with heartthrob Joe Jonas. She successfully blends country music with pop, making her a true crossover star. The special Korea version includes three of Swift's early hit songs, including ``Teardrops on My Guitar.''

-Cathy Rose A. Garcia

X Japan

`X Singles'

(SonyBMG)

Fans of legendary Japanese rock group X Japan were sorely disappointed to hear about the postponement of their upcoming concert in Korea this weekend. To lessen the disappointment, fans can pick up ``X Singles,'' a compilation of the group's memorable singles such as ``Kurenai,'' ``Silent Jealousy'' and ``Sadistic Desire.'' Also included are live versions of ``20th Century Boy,'' ``X'' and ``Endless Rain.''

Also available in Korea is X Japan's DVD ``X Psychedelic Violence Crime of Visual Shock Vol. 4'' from their Jan. 1 1992 concert at the Tokyo Dome.