I became a fan of Kelly Clarkson when I heard her ear-opening "A Moment Like This" some time back. Since then, I have tried to collect all her albums to listen to what she has to offer. Over the years, it's no wonder Simon Cowell looked up so highly to her during her American Idol years. Her sincerity and powerful voice has propelled her to the top spot of American Idol winner, and beyond.
Ms. Clarkson is a very versatile singer, mixing different genres of songs in all her albums. Her first,
Thankful is a mix of "Idol-pop" music and some really cool rock tunes.
Breakaway, my favorite, showcases Ms. Clarkson's true love for rock, and
My December was her darkest (and still is) album yet, filled with tense, tragic lyrics of hate and despair. It turned quite a few people off, though she must be praised for her decision to stick to what she wants for herself rather than following executive's orders.
It seems that all the emo-ness has finally subsided, as the tone of this album,
All I Ever Wanted, seems more reconciliatory, with excellent songs such as "My Life Would Suck Without You". However, I have stumbled in actually giving my full verdict on this album, as I can't decide whether it's a right step for Ms. Clarkson or not. One may well say, as AbsolutePunk.net said, "it’s an “album for everyone,” which may be true, but only in the sense that you’ll probably like a few of the tracks." Continuing her tradition, Ms. Clarkson's new album differs in tone from her previous ones, and although I was initially tempted to group this alongside Breakaway, it just sounds too different.
Still that's not exactly a bad thing, as perhaps she hasn't really found her style yet. There's no denying that
All I Ever Wanted is fun and enjoyable and (in my opinion at least) a nice break from the tragic, disturbing and immensely dark
My December. It does have a song for everyone, from soulful tunes to heavy rock, to weird bubblegum pop, it's all in here. So, in a nutshell, it is a good and fun album, and I would heartilly recommend it.