Andy Richardson casts a critical eye over this week’s album releases.

Pop

Taylor Swift: Fearless (Mercury)

At the tender age of 19, Taylor Swift is already inspiring bloggers to debate whether she’s the greatest female artist of all time. There’s a simple answer to that: No. She is, however, one of the most successful. Fearless has already spent nine weeks at number one in the US. The country-pop singer-songwriter shows great promise and lyrical dexterity but she’s far from being the finished article. ***

Punk

Black Lips: 200 Million Thousand (Vice)

Hailing from Georgia, USA, Black Lips fuse garage punk, psychedelic rock and flower punk to dazzling effect. Formed while still teenagers, in 2000, the band has already experienced its fair share of tragedy. Their music fuses genres of all sorts – rock, county, punk, doo-wop and blues – and have a reputation for being wild men. Much of their irascible and irrepressible nature is captured here. ***

Rock

Red Light Company: Fine Fascination (Lavolta)

It’s no surprise that Red Light Company recorded this fine offering with producer Adrian Bushby. The man responsible for cds by U2, Placebo and Foo Fighters was the perfect foil for their grandiose, uplifting and decidedly intense rock sound. The songs are elegiac and deliver an Arcade Fire-like blast of heavy duty emotion. Red Light Company will have the likes of Editors and White Lies casting nervous glances over their shoulders. ****