The initial song, “My life would suck without you,” is a strong reminder of what we take for granted in relationships. The intensity of Kelly’s vocals cut right through to the soul, yet the music makes the song comfortable and easy to sing along with (if you can hit those notes!). What is interesting about it being a pop-single is the blend of multiple music styles. It is easy to identify a sort of trancy baseline, yet Clarkson has made the song into what is clearly a type of pop-power ballad, or perhaps a sort of minuet where the couple holds each other and bounces up and down franticly. The energy of the music is undeniable. Also the undercurrents of the synthesizer / keyboard parts are bordering on a sort of electro, but are played underneath the melody elegantly. There are so many aspects to this song it’s remarkable that it even works, let alone is number one on the charts. Also fabulous is that the song knocks down Britney’s “Womanizer” (a barely in tune rant about ego) from the top spot, so that “My life would suck without you,” goes from #97 to #1! This is the second time Kelly Clarkson has broken the record at Billboard for moving the most spots on the chart at once, her previous record for “A Moment Like This” which went from #52 to #1. It is great to hear songs of confidence and hope outshining the other depressing mainstream nonsense usually found on popular radio.
Many of the songs, such as “The Day We Fell Apart,” or “I Do Not Hook Up,” speak more to the sense of independence we’ve all seen growing in Kelly Clarkson. She is strong, she thinks about relationships & problems with a much clearer mind then the first couple of albums. Though a bit risky to her huge pop fan base, these songs are real and very important. It is refreshing to see such a popular artist working so hard to talk about real issues of humanity, even if it is still on the level of personal relationships, these instances can be used as extended metaphor to help anyone with the problems in life we all must overcome.
Some of these more serious songs, such as the title song “All I Ever Wanted” and “Whyyawanabringmedown” are much more critical, even sounding a bit punk with blazing guitars and a screaming Kelly. This new attitude is a bit frightening at times, but at the same time mysterious and tempting. The songs may fall harsh on the ears at first, but after a few times through the album, they fit perfectly. In “All I Ever Wanted” we get a sort of minor, treacherous build in the verse to a gritty transition that resolute in a major chorus end that seems to apologize for the real hard facts of mentioned difficult relationships to a sort of compromised determination.
The biggest difference on the album & where the flow seems to break up a bit is in songs like “Impossible” where the sense of depression almost overrides. But then you discover that the negative energy is coming from another person and Kelly is arguing that nothing is impossible. It is a bit of a rough swallow, perhaps because it hits close to home. This is a time when many are pessimistic and believe that many things are unchangeable. So even though this song was rough at first, there is a big payoff for really listening. “I Can’t Have You” strikes a sort of similar tone. The event has past, nothing in the song seems salvageable, yet Clarkson punches through the problems to once again show us a subtle yet undying confidence. Claiming “We can break the rules if you want to have some fun, think of all the fun we’ll lose, if I can’t have you.” This song however, is not personally specific, as on the most recent American Idol performance Clarkson confessed that there is indeed no particular love interest that these songs are about, as she was and still is single. All these songs should be taken with a grain of salt. They are advice more then experiential recollections of history. Though one gets the sneaking suspicion a lot of this actually happened.
My personal pick for next single was “Don’t Let Me Stop You,” for its strong build and ringing chorus (title), that feels somewhere between pop-rock and country. But instead the next single will be "I Do Not Hook Up," sure to be another chart topper. What is refreshing about Clarkson is a country style that doesn’t crack the voice because of range issues or some inability to hit high notes. Kelly nails every high note to your brain so you can see it, remember it, feel it. Her ability far transcends other popular singers across multiple genres of the music industry. Another pick could be “Already Gone,” simply for the amazingly singable chorus. The new album could even have a few single surprises, as it is do dynamic and complex.
“All I Ever Wanted” the album is a beautiful fusion of Clarkson’s old relationships as much as it is a work of pastiche, fusing classical and pop music, techno & rock, contemporary and country. The only thing she doesn’t do is rap! The end result is a surprising new original album that attempts to do tribute to many old styles while Kelly still somehow manages to make them her own. Her voice is unmistakable as so few popular singers have this sort of range and technical ability paired with a sweet tone & honesty. This work is truly soul-searching through her music. It is a rare that an album this powerful and well-done comes about, especially with this sort of positive energy. It was harder to find things to criticize then it was to just simply love it. Do yourself a favor if you enjoy Kelly Clarkson or American Idol & pick up this wonderful album.
Kelly Clarkson – All I Ever Wanted
2009 RCA
Kelly Clarkson, Ryan Tedder, Howard Benson, Max Martin,
Lukasz Gottwald, Dre & Vidal, Sam Watters, Louis Biacaniello
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