Kelly Clarkson's second album achieved a similar hat-trick for the artist as Jagged Little Pill did for Alanis Morissette--turn a pop starlet known mostly for her TV work into a credible pop artist. While Thankful had its moments, Breakaway was a stunning pop album that delivered the promise of American Idol while effectively showing that the singer was so much more than that pageant. Any of the first eight tracks could have been hits--and more of them were, particularly "Since U Been Gone," which became one of the decade's classic pop songs. These songs all sound great together, but each one is also very distinct, from the energetic rock of "Behind These Hazel Eyes" to the affecting balladry of "Because of You" and "Where Is Your Heart" (which really should have been a single). Also not unlike Jagged Little Pill, Breakaway is pop to the core with rock around the edges. Credit goes to the bevy of top-quality collaborators on hand here, including Max Martin, Ben Moody (Evanescence), and Kara DioGuardi (ironic that DioGuardi was one of the talents to help Clarkson "break away" from Idol and then ended up as one of its judges). If the album falls a little short in its final third, it's only because the first two-thirds are so perfect. While Avril Lavigne and Pink made similar rock-leaning pop albums this decade, Breakaway was the best of this sub-genre.Best: Since U Been Gone, Because of You, Breakaway, Where Is Your Heart, Behind These Hazel Eyes, Gone, Walk Away, Addicted
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