Album Reviews

Kelly Clarkson - Stronger (3.5/5). "Stronger" as a title for this album is fitting if describing the singer behind it but unfortunately not its songs. Kelly's never sounded better, but the songs on this albums, while generally well-crafted, lack the strong pop hooks she's known for. This is evident on the album's first single "Mr. Know It All," which has managed to reach the top 20 but not the top 10 on the back of its decent melody and delivery but weak chorus.

The zippy second track, "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)," sounds like it would have made a better lead single, although its lyrics can be a mouthful too, reminding me of the problem Alanis Morissette had on her second album. Lyrics are a problem throughout, particularly on "You Can't Win," during which Clarkson sings "if you're gay, why aren't you waving a flag?" Well, Kelly, maybe I have other things to do with my time, thanks. One song that actually manages to deliver a memorable chorus is "I Forgive You," a charged track that comes about halfway through.

Since most of the album posits Clarkson in that fast-and-angry mode she's become known for, I appreciate its few slower, effective moments, like the lovelorn "Honestly" and the tender "Standing in Front of You." Also welcome are the forrays into country--a genre Clarkson is showing increasing interest in. Although nothing here is full-on country, there are hints, like the shuffle of "Hello" and the slow song finale "Breaking Your Own Heart."

Max Martin was the producer responsible for many of her biggest hits, so it's surprising he doesn't show up in the liner notes, with Clarkson instead turning to a mostly new slate of pop producers, such as Greg Kurstin and Brian Kennedy. Despite it being a commercial flop, I'd love to see Clarkson do something as gutsy as My December again. I think it would be a lot more interesting.

Best: What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger), Mr. Know It All, Honestly, I Forgive You, Standing in Front of You


Kasabian - Velociraptor! (4/5). Q Magazine named West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum their favorite album of 2009, but I wasn't sold on it. This isn't that much different, but for some reason, it works better this time. I'm hearing a strong '60s influence again, particularly on the album's three opening tracks, which I think are its strongest. They've moved from psychedelia into '60s spy movie territory on "Let's Roll Just Like We Used To," an energetic and slightly sinister track that reminds me of U2's "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me." "Day Are Forgotten" is an even more muscular rock track, contrasting with the sweeter Beatles-esque romanticism of "Goodbye Kiss." The rest of the album isn't as strong, but its never weak either, mixing in some surprising sounds like the Middle Eastern touches on "Acid Turkish Bath (Shelter from the Storm)" and '80s synths in "I Hear Voices." Best: Days Are Forgotten, Let's Roll Just Like We Used to, Goodbye Kiss, Re-Wired.

Kelly Clarkson - Mr. Know It All

Today, Kelly Clarkson released "Mr. Know It All," the first single from her upcoming fifth album, Stronger. What do you think? I quite like it. Very tuneful. It's produced by Brian Kennedy, who produced Rihannna's "Disturbia" and co-produced Chris Brown's "Forever," which are both great songs too. He also did Joe Jonas' recent single, "See No More"

This and That

Sugababes' 7th album Sweet 7 came out yesterday, and its looking to be the first Sugababes album I don't buy. The reviews are not great, the singles have been ho-hum--they aren't what they used to be--quite literally actually. Such a shame. Last week walking home one day I was listening to their 2003 album, Three, and thinking about how many great album tracks it had that would have been great singles--"Million Different Ways," "Conversation's Over," "Whatever Makes You Happy." How far they have fallen.

Making up for this bit of sadness are the tracks I've heard from Goldfrapp's new album out next week, Head First. I'm really enjoying what I hear, and I think this will make up for Seventh Tree, which was okay, but not as good as any of their prior albums.

Apparently, "Talk Me Down," isn't going to be Westlife's next single. Too bad. There isn't anything on the new release calendar from that at the moment. This is very strange. "What About Now" was a #2 hit and hang around the chart for quite awhile. So why isn't their album being promoted?

Kelly Clarkson's "All I Ever Wanted" just entered the pop radio top 50. I was concerned it was going to flop, as I'd have expected it to show up by now. My fears are thankfully for naught, as it rockets up from #82 to #50. Should be in the top 40 next week.

Best of 2000s: Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway (5/5)

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

Album review: Kelly Clarkson - All I Ever Wanted (4/5)

With All I Ever Wanted, Kelly Clarkson makes an all-holds-barred push to return her music to top 40 radio, following the relative failure of the darker, edgier and more personal material from My December, which was tarnished by her public spat with record exec Clive Davis over the direction of that project. He wanted her to work with the hottest songwriters and producers and produce another Breakaway; she wanted more control and to do something more personal. She got her way and delivered a set with only one hit ("Never Again"). Now Davis gets his way, assembling an army of today's greatest pop craftsmen, and all the right ingredients to get your songs on the radio are here:

Max Martin? Check. He's behind Clarkson's bubbly hit "My Life Would Suck Without You," currently riding high at top 40 radio (it's #3 and rising), and recently was #1 in both the US (her first since her first single) and the UK (her first ever). Pedigree and chart placings aside, it is a great single, repeating the winning formula of Clarkson's previous Max Martin-produced hit, "Since U Been Gone," but with even more energy and a poppier beat.

Kara DioGuardi? Check. The American Idol judge, who until that TV gig was better known as one of pop's hardest-working songwriters, is co-writer on "I Do Not Hook Up," a charging up-tempo, guitar-fronted pop song that finds Kelly declaring to her potential suitors that she is not an easy lay. DioGuardi is pretty much the only person invited back from My December, on which she co-wrote that album's most uptempo moment, "One Minute"--probably because she was also on board for Clarkson's wildly successful second album, Breakaway, for which she co-wrote half the songs, including the hit "Walk Away."

Ryan Tedder? Check. The songwriter and OneRepublic frontman responsible for his "Apologize," Leona Lewis's "Bleeding Love" and Beyonce's current hit "Halo," co-writes and produces four of the tracks here. Tedder's been getting a bit of flack lately since a lot of his songs sound alike, but is that really fair? That's a pretty common trick in pop music--Tedder just happens to do it well. So Clarkson gets slick ballad "Already Here," which yes, sounds a lot like "Halo" with its amped up drumset and layered strings backing, but that doesn't mean it's a bad song, allowing Clarkson to dial back her vocals a bit to a more restrained and higher register. Tedder deserves credit for stepping outside that "Bleeding Love" box on "If I Can't Have You," a frothy, in-your-face dance pop cut that finds Clarkson strutting around like Lady GaGa. Then there's "Save You," which halfway through turns back the knobs for a piano and strings interlude after which Clarkson turns up her pipes full blast, delivering an effectively emotional ballad. My favorite Clarkson/Tedder match up is "Impossible," an effectively moody upbeat piece backed by piano, synths and electric guitar with a beat reminiscent of Rihanna's "Umbrella."

On three songs, Clarkson works with the production-songwriting team of Louis Biancaniello and Sam Watters, with whom she hasn't been paired since her debut album's "Anytime." Their best effort is the title track, which, after the lead single, is my favorite song here. "All I Ever Wanted" has a great rock stomp and a powerful chorus with the electric guitars and Clarkson's voice at full throttle. While I'm expecting "I Do Not Hook Up" and at least one of the Tedder tracks to be future singles, I hope this gets a a shot. It's far superior to the other two tracks they collaborate on. "Whyyawannabringmedown" attempts a pop/punk style, which Clarkson doesn't quite nail. Sixties-inspired "I Want You" is too cutesy, a mismatch with the album's mostly rocky girlpower feel.

The album's showcase ballad is "Cry," a dramatic lament that effectively goes through the typical strings and electric guitar chorus highs and acoustic guitar verse lows you would expect from this kind of song. It will probably be a single too (the third I'm guessing). It's produced by Howard Benson, who with five of the songs here to his name, is the album's most-used producer. Another winner under his belt is "Long Shot," a very in-your-face piece of power pop verging on alternative rock. "Don't Let Me Stop You" is fine, but unexceptional, and I'm not really feeling the album's other '60s throwback, the lightweight "Ready." The album closes with gentle ballad "If No One Will Listen," which Clarkson produced all by herself.

In general, this is a very good pop album, which will achieve its purpose: returning Kelly Clarkson to a massive mainstream fan base. While I'm all in favor of that (if that's what she wants), I can't help but feel a bit bothered by how this is a retreat to the familiar. I was one of those who applauded Clarkson for taking a risk on My December, which I thought effectively proved that she was an artist and not just a product, a difficult label to shake given her origins on reality TV--one of the most manufactured forms of entertainment around. And I liked My December, which was wrongly accused of not having any fun songs (did they not listen to "One Minute," "Don't Waste Your Time," "How I Feel" or "Can I Have a Kiss?") and delivered some effective personal moments like "Maybe," "Be Still" and "Sober." I hope Clarkson isn't afraid to someday probe those dark elements of her personality again. Until then, I'll be content to rock out to All I Ever Wanted with the rest of them.

Best: My Life Would Suck Without You, All I Ever Wanted, Cry, I Do Not Hook Up, Impossible, Already Here, Long Shot

Kelly headed to UK #1

Kelly Clarkson looks set to score her first UK #1 hit this weekend with "My Life Would Suck Without You." All week she's been outselling Taylor Swift's "Love Story." Both are ahead of Lily Allen, who's been #1 for weeks with "The Fear."

Kelly to top Hot 100, break record

Billboard has let us know early that Kelly Clarkson will top tomorrow's new Hot 100 chart with "My Life Would Suck Without You," the first single from her upcoming fourth album, All I Ever Wanted. The single, which was #1 at iTunes all last week and is gaining very quickly at radio, makes a 96-spot leap to #1 from last week's #97 spot, breaking the record for biggest jump to #1 (set recently by Britney Spears, who jumped from #96 to #1 with "Womanizer"). Eventually, as J.Mensah points out, someone will jump 100 to 1 and this whole "biggest jump to #1" record business will be moot.

This is Clarkson's second #1 hit, following her debut "A Moment Like This," which incidentally also broke the "jump to #1" record in 2002 when it moved from #52 to #1. While "Miss Indepedent" and her Breakaway singles (particularly "Since U Been Gone") are surely regarded as bigger hits, they all came out before the recent resurgence in singles sales (thanks to iTunes) and at that time would have had a hard time hitting #1.

Speech! Speech! has a different take on the significance of this #1 hit.

Kelly's "Suck" off to a good start

"My Life Would Suck Without You" has become an instant hit. The track was made available for sale iTunes yesterday, and it's already #1 on the iTunes chart. The track has been at top 40 radio for just a week now, and it's already #26 on the Mediabase top 40 airplay chart.

Although her last single, "Never Again," jumped up to #24 by its second week on the top 40 chart--and never went higher than #22--something tells me this time will be different. No video yet.

Clarkson reveals life sucks

Kelly Clarkson has revealed the cover of her upcoming single, "My Life Would Suck Without You." Rolling Stone reports that the single and other tracks from her upcoming album, reportedly titled Masquerade, are pretty decent. The track hits radio in 2 weeks.

New Clarkson single on the way

Billboard is reporting today that Kelly Clarkson's first single from her fourth album will hit U.S. radio January 19 in advance of the album's March release. The single is eloquently titled "My Life Would Suck Without You." Perhaps she is referring to Clive Davis, and this is a major attempt to kiss ass.

Fall Music Preview - November/December

November:

Release of the Month: Dido - Safe Trip Home (11/3) Finally, after 5 years, Dido is finally ready to release the follow-up to Life for Rent, Britain's biggest album of 2003. Her downbeat-influenced pop made her one of the world's most successful female artists early this decade. First single "Don't Believe in Love" debuts at radio next week, and her Web site is currently offering a free download of the track "Look No Further."

Beyoncé - Virtuoso Intellect (11/11) Timbaland produces, but not much else is known about Beyoncé's upcoming third solo album, other than it will surely be a massive success once it's out.

The Killers - Day and Age (No date). Produced by Stuart Price, the man behind Madonna's clubby Confessions on a Dance Floor, so expect this to be more along the lines of their first album, Hot Fuss.

Kelly Clarkson - TBD (11/18) Kelly Clarkson made headlines last year for her publicized spat with record exec Clive Davis. A very bad move, and her career suffered for it. My December, while not a bad album, was a commercial disaster, scoring only one somewhat major hit in "Never Again," damaging the momentum created by her amazing second album, Breakaway. Consequently, Kelly repented, vowing to improve on her fourth album. Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic is on board as producer.

Timbaland - Shock Value II (11/4). As if he isn't busy enough producing for others, Timbaland has another one of hits own star-filled collections coming out. This time he'll be featuring Madonna, Linkin Park, Gwen Stefani, Jordin Sparks, the Jonas Brothers, Rihanna, T-Pain, Kelly Rowland and Akon. Nobody you've heard of.

U2 - No Line on the Horizon (11/18) Perhaps the biggest band in the world for the last 20 years, U2 are on a roll. Last album How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb won the Album of the Year Grammy in 2006. The band has hinted at a more experimental direction for this, their 12th studio album.

Also:

Fall Out Boy - Folie a Deux (11/4)
David Archuleta - TBD (11/4)
Brandy - Human (11/11)

December:

Ciara - Fantasy Ride
Britney Spears - 6th Album

Hopefully sometime this lifetime:

Whitney Houston - 6th studio album.

Album Review: Kelly Clarkson - My December (4.5 / 5)

How do you follow mega-success? That's the question many pop artists have faced after scoring a career-defining achievement of commercial, if not also critical, acclaim. Kelly Clarkson's first album, 2003's Thankful, landed with high expectations, and mostly lived up to them. But it was her second album, Breakaway, that cemented her status as a legitimate pop artist beyond that reality show she once did (what was it called?). Breakaway arrived slowly, its first single, the title track, slowly becoming a #1 hit late in 2004. It was the second single, "Since U Been Gone," that sealed the deal, ensuring Kelly Clarkson would forever be remembered as one of the '00s top pop artists. Three other major hits followed, as well as international success, and two Grammy Awards.

If an artist's second album is that "difficult second album," then when that second album shatters all expectations, it makes the third one the real doozy. What's a girl to do? A certain blonde pop artist faced exactly this dilemma in the mid '80s, having arrived with a solid first album, who then followed it up with a phenomenally successful second album and career-defining hit single. I'm talking about Madonna, of course, and Like a Virgin, and while My December is no True Blue, Clarkson's third album does bear some strategic similarities to Madonna's third effort: it doesn't stray to far from the winning formula of Breakaway, although it stretches those boundaries and shows more maturity.

If only it hadn't arrived with such baggage. No album this year has garnered more press, but sadly, it swirls around the story more than the music. Clive Davis reportedly didn't think it contained any hits, Kelly fired her manager, Kelly's tour was cancelled, "Never Again" wasn't a hit (It hit #8--last I checked a lot of artists would kill for a top 10 hit, but whatever). Critics' reactions have been mixed although mostly positive. Yes the album does suffer from an over-abundance of ranting woe-is-me negativity, reaching its nadir with "Haunted," ("I wish I couldn't feel at all, let me be numb, I'm starting to fall"). But honestly, that's the only song here I don't really like.

I take issue with the detractors that say this album lacks "pop" moments. First off, if Kelly Clarkson wants to take control of her music (no easy feat for sure) and move beyond hooks and airplay-ready tracks, then more power to her. Second, she's got them here anyway. "One Minute" pulses with upbeat intensity and a great chorus. It's the album's best "up" track, and would make a fantastic choice for third single (are you listening RCA?). Too bad the second slot's been taken by "Sober," a somber ballad that, while being a lovely song, probably wasn't a good choice to follow "Never Again," the angry first single. It has the album's best lyric too ("picked all my weeds, but kept the flowers"). "Don't Waste Your Time" and "How I Feel," two of the other more upbeat songs are good too, although swaggering "Yeah" doesn't quite fit.

It's no secret that Kelly rocks out more on My December than on Breakaway, although from the reviews you'd think this was an about-face (remember "Hear Me?" "Addicted?" "Behind These Hazel Eyes?"). "Hole" opens with frenetic electric guitar and never lets up. Better yet is "Judas," an energetic rock song with a fantastic keyboard-drenched chorus. And "Never Again," is good too, even if it doesn't quite reach its goal of being the new "You Oughta Know." "Can I Have a Kiss," sounds like it should be a playful number by it's title, but ends up being one of the album's less distinctive moments.

If "One Minute" is the album's best upbeat track and "Judas" its best rock track, then "Be Still" is my pick for best of the slow songs. The tender song, underscored by acoustic guitar and strings, is a nice counterpoint to the rage and self pity of many of the other songs. Darker "Maybe" is also mostly a nice tender ballad, although Kelly lets out a little fury by the end. "Irvine" is the album's real surprise. It's stripped down to mostly just guitar and Kelly, who tones down her belter-ready voice, giving it a quiet, battle-worn quality. "Chivas," the album's likable scratchy hidden track follows.

Despite the fame and riches, Kelly is clearly not on happy trails these days. The bitterness does pull down the project, but it doesn't bury it, and everyone's entitled to a good rant now and then. Maybe next time she'll perk up, maybe not, but I hope she sticks to her guns and doesn't sacrifice her musical instincts, which so far have served her well. Miss Independent indeed.

Best: One Minute, Be Still, Judas, Irvine, Sober, Hole, Never Again, Don't Waste Your Time

LA Times on Kelly

Interesting story here in the L.A. Times about Kelly Clarkson:http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/music/la-et-clarkson26jun26,1,251010.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

What they say about the turmoil overpowering her record reminds me of when Madonna's Erotica got overshadowed by her Sex book and Body of Evidence.

Kelly Clarkson on MTV Leak

MTV's leaked Kelly Clarkson's new album, My December. Check it out http://www.mtv.com/music/the_leak/kelly_clarkson/my_december/.

I chatted with the Washington Post's music critic today. He said he thinks Kelly's troubled:

Me: Have you heard the new Kelly Clarkson album yet? What are you expecting? The press around it seems...strange. The whole Clive Davis doesn't like it thing seemed contrived. She's apparently fired her publicist and has been speaking her mind in the press. "Never Again" under-performed on the charts. What do you make of all this?

J. Freedom du Lac: Actually, she fired her manager. And then cancelled her tour, apparently due to soft ticket sales. Things are a mess in her world. I honestly don't think the head-butting duel with Clive is make-believe. I think there's a there there. I mean, Clive Davis would never do anything to make himself look bad.

As for the album: Kelly's publicist -- a high-powered flack whose clients include folks like McCartney and Faith Hill --just informed me that I won't be able to hear it until either the day before release, or the day of release. Of course, he assumes that I won't just go here to hear it:
www.mtv.com/music/the_leak/

Kelly Clarkson, My December

I just wanted to post the album cover because it's surprisingly striking. Out June 25 in the UK, June 26 in the US.

Kelly Clarkson "Never Again"

Listen to Kelly Clarkson's new single "Never Again" on her Web site here. Interesting. Different than the stuff from Breakaway, certainly angrier and rockier.

Kelly Clarkson "Go"

This summer's seen a great number of big female artists release new material. Next on the list is Kelly Clarkson, with her new single "Go," currently featured in a ford commercial. The only place I could find the track was on You Tube (no video, just audio):