The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page E10

PagelOE Wednesday, October 24, 2012 Metro Edition The Des Moines Register Music Review Taylor Swift's 'Red' fades to mediocrity I LAST WEEK TO DONATE! Taylor Swift, "Red" (Big Machine Records) Taylor Swift's "Red," the Grammy winner's fourth album, is a 16-track set that has the singer continuing to step away from her country roots to take on a more rock and pop sound. The album features songs that are big and stadium ready (she has a U2-like moment on album opener "State of and others that are soft and slow. But while "Red" contains its share of winners, many of the songs lack the colorfulness and vitality the album title suggests, leading to an overall letdown. Lyrically and soni-cally, the album lacks oomph and feeling: It sounds like we've heard it all from her before (check Hooking up with some new and popular producers seemed like a good move for Swift, who has worked with a supertight group of writers and producers on her first three albums (half of "Red" is produced by her longtime producer Nathan Chapman). Unfortunately, stepping out of her comfort zone doesn't always work.

Max Martin and Shellback, who have helmed No. 1 smashes for Maroon 5, Pink, Kelly Clarkson and others, have given Swift her first No. 1 pop hit with the juvenile-sounding anthem "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," which echoes Avril La-vigne in her teen years. "22," another Martin and Shellback collaboration, is an improvement, but not by much, with weak lines like: "Everything will be all right if we just keeping dancing like we're 22." The producers fare better on "I Knew You Were an adventurous track with Swift taking the bull by the horns, sounding aggressive over an electrified and electronic beat. Jeff Bhasker, best known for producing the breakout album by fun.

and songs for Kanye West, Alicia Keys, Beyonce, Lana Del Rey and others, is behind average songs like "Holy Ground" and "The Help Keep Our Kids Warm. Donate a coat. On the coldest days of winter in Iowa, with wind chills pushing temperatures well below zero, it would be unimaginable to step into the dangerous, freezing conditions without a warm winter coat. Yet, thousands of students here in the Greater Des Moines area do just that. They don't have a coat.

But you can help them stay warm and safe outside on their way to school. As part of USA WEEKEND Magazine's Make A Difference Day you can help Keep Our Kids Warm by donating a coat for students in need in the Greater Des Moines area. Just bring a new or gently used coat to one of the drop off locations listed below We'll take care of the rest getting them to the local children who need them the most in our community Taylor Swift, ap Lucky One." Swift also works with Dan Wilson, a singer who has co-written two of music's best songs with the Dixie Chicks' "Not Ready to Make Nice" and Adele's "Someone Like You." His song with Swift, "Treacherous," is a good one. The main issue with "Red" is that it sounds empty. There's nothing close to the country-soul ballads like the heart-wrenching "You're Not Sorry" and "White Horse" from her "Fearless" album, or even the emotion and magic on songs like "Never Grow Up" and "Enchanted" from 2010's "Speak Now." She gets close to reaching those touching heights on "I Almost Do" and the album's duets.

English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran and Swift's falsetto shine on "Everything Has Changed," produced by Butch Walker (Lavigne, Pink, Dashboard Confessional). On "The Last Time," Swift takes a back seat to Snow Patrol lead singer Gary Lightbody, whose heavy and gravely vocals ride beautifully over the haunting beat. Too bad there's not more where that came from. Mesfin Fekadu, Associated Press FRIDAY OCTOBER 26 Downtown: Look for the donation truck in front of the Des Moines Register starting at 7 a.m. Volunteers will be available to assist you! SATURDAY OCTOBER 27 Valley West Mall: Look for the donation truck in the southwest corner parking lot starting at 9 a.m.

Volunteers will be available to assist you! For your convenience, coats may still be dropped off at The Des Moines Register, Caribou Coffee at West Glen Town Center, Merle Hay Mall, inside Valley West Mall and the West Glen Town Center Office. See DesMoinesRegister.comCoatDrive for more details. Get Healthy Simple techniques manage stress level While small amounts of stress can be beneficial in keeping the mind alert and senses sharpened, most experts agree that too much chronic stress can cause serious health problems such as depression, hair loss, anxiety and heart disease. Manage stress before it gets out of control with these stress relief techniques: Get organized by mak- ing a to-do list every morning and crossing items off the list as they're accomplished. Exercise, for at least 30 minutes, every day.

Limit cellphone and email use to working hours only. Take at least 10-15 minutes each day to take a walk or sit alone in a quiet place. Familiarize yourself with relaxation techniques such as massage, meditation or yoga. Kristin Porter l) iDes Bloines Register Make A Difference day National Day of Doing Good 4 FREE screenings fyr tjypse 50 over! DES MOINES UNIVERSITY Senior Health Fair Saturday, November 3, 8 a.m. noon KRISTIN PORTER blogs at www.

iowagirleats. com. Read her recipes for fall squash in magazine, the Register's monthly health magazine, out now. Read her blog and more healthy living stories at www.Des MoinesRegister HEALTHIEST STATE INITIATIVE lowans need to eat more healthfully and get moving, according to state and business leaders. To encourage this, they have launched a campaign called the Healthiest State Initiative.

The goal is to improve Iowa's health ranking among states. To help, we run tips on overall health here each week..