Taylor Swift [15 track edition] (2008)

"Only 16 when she recorded this debut album, the country-pop singer's considerably strong voice straddles that precarious edge that both suggests experience far beyond her years, and simultaneously leaves no doubt that she's still got a lot of life to live. It's a fresh, still girlish voice, full of hope and naïveté, but it's also a confident and mature one. That Swift is a talent to be reckoned with is never in doubt: her delivery on tracks like the uptempo "The Outside," the spare acoustic ballad "Mary's Song (Oh My My My)," and especially the leadoff track, "Tim McGraw," which was the first single from the album, is that of a seasoned pro, despite Swift's newcomer status. "Tim McGraw" may also be the album's highlight -- not a teenager's tribute to the country superstar, it instead uses McGraw as a marker in a lover's time line. She's come up with a commendable starter album that's as accomplished as any by a 10-year veteran who's seen a lot more road and felt a lot more emotion." (Jeff Tamarkin, Allmusic)