Kelly Clarkson All I Ever Wanted
Review of New CD Including No 1 Hit My Life Would Suck Without You
Whereas most of the Idols that followed her (Fantasia, Ruben Studdard, Taylor Hicks) have fallen into the 'Where are they now?' category, Clarkson remains an enduring force in today’s popular music.
In her short career, she’s released a high-schoolish debut record, multimillion selling second album, third difficult disc and now her fourth long player All I Ever Wanted – an overblown attempt to reclaim the airwaves.
My Life Would Suck Without You
After her last album, the disappointing My December, Clarkson needed a hit and so delivers this collection of radio-friendly tracks destined to make her star shine brighter. The formula works on lead single, “My Life Would Suck Without You”, which kicks off the album and has already topped the charts.
That it sounds similar to her biggest pop hit, “Since You’ve Been Gone”, comes as no surprise since both were written and produced by Swedish uber-producer Max Martin who also penned and produced a few other tracks on the album.
New Album Wouldn’t Suck Without These Tracks
Clarkson’s personality awarded her the title of American Idol as much as her rich, powerful voice. But on this record, she tries too hard to be Katy Perry (“I Do Not Hook Up”), Pink (“Tip of My Tongue”) and Avril Lavigne (“Already Gone”) all rolled into one love-scorned rock chick with pop edges.
But for a few shining moments the album under whelms. On the awful cheerleader rant “Whyyawannabringmedown” Clarkson brings new meaning to the words ‘album filler’. Worse than the worst of b-sides, it sounds like Clarkson got together with a couple of pals after school and decided to do a karaoke version of Pat Benetar – the perfect excuse to use the skip button.
Tip of My Tongue
While most of the album drags between hookless ballads and half-baked pop-rock throwaways, All I Ever Wanted picks up midway. The album’s title track hits with a hard dance beat and roaring guitars, placing Clarkson at the top of her game. The song contains the reoccurring message of “lover-done-wrong-by” threading through most of the CD, but does away with the melodrama in favour of a good beat and a fun sing-along chorus.
“Tip of My Tongue” sizzles, “I Want You” bathes in 60’s Girl Group fun and “I Can’t Have You”, drips in 80’s influenced dance-pop - a stand out track with its jigsaw beat and healthy yelps from today’s angry guitar chick. She channels her best Alanis Morissette on the sparse ballad “If No One Will Listen” and the desperate “Save You” with its sombre lyrics, piano interlude and marching band drum outro.
Kelly Clarkson All I Ever Wanted Deluxe Version
On All I Ever Wanted, Clarkson continues to forge a musical identity, caught somewhere between sugar gum pop and rocker chick. Though she experiences a few growing pains with this album, when she shines, she burns bright.
Kelly Clarkson’s All I ever Wanted is available in several different packages including an iTunes Deluxe Version that includes bonus tracks, the video to “My Life Would Suck Without You”, and videos of making of the album and the promotional video.
Kelly Clarkson All I Ever Wanted
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