By blending pop-music sound with a faint southern drawl and distant guitar, Taylor Swift’s sophomore offering, “Fearless,” delivers savvy insight well beyond her 18 years.

Anyone anticipating traditional country twang from “Fearless” will be disappointed. Swift elegantly captures her audience with a polished sound that doesn’t necessarily fit into the country music genre.

The most notable change in her musical direction is evidenced by the songs “Love Story” and “Forever & Always,” which highlight Swift’s optimistic attitude on relationships.

This time around, Swift isn’t crying over her guitar or burning pictures. The lingering melodies of heartfelt claims in “Hey Stephen” show that a few years of growth and experience have been beneficial to Swift’s songwriting.

Swift’s newfound confidence and freshly positive outlook enable “Fearless” to break the boundaries of typical Nashville twang.