Kelly Clarkson's 4th Album Proves Your 'Life Would Suck Without' Her

Douglas Boultinghouse
Arts & Entertainment Editor

Courtesy of Kelly Clarkson

All She Ever Wanted - Kelly Clarkson released her fourth album March 10. The album follows the success of the No. 1 single "My Life Would Suck Without You."

   For her first album since the critically-acclaimed, yet publicly underrated, “My December,” Kelly Clarkson went for a more mainstream-pop sound with rock influences on her fourth effort “All I Ever Wanted,” which hit stores March 10.

   She ended up creating her best album, even with a couple extremely average tracks thrown in. When you mix the two weaker tracks with the rest of the album, they blend in, but do not stick out at all.

   The release of the album follows the heels of the monstrous single “My Life Would Suck Without You.”

   The single broke records when it jumped from 97 to one on the Hot 100 chart, according to Billboard. The jump marked the second time Clarkson has broken the record. She broke the record in 2002 when “A Moment Like This” jumped from 52 to one, beating a 38-year-old record previously set by the Beatles.

   Most importantly with this album, Clarkson makes her voice heard. She hits notes both high and low effortlessly, even hitting some notes equal to those she belted back in 2002 when she won the first season of “American Idol.” (Those notes have yet to be matched on the ‘Idol’ stage, proving it takes a lot to top the original “American Idol”).

   The album kicks into gear with the infectious “Suck.”

   “Because we belong together now, yeah / Forever united here somehow, yeah / You got a piece of me / And honestly / My life would suck without you,” she sings on the catchiest song of 2009 to date.

   The soon-to-be second single, “I Do Not Hook Up,” follows.  It along with “Long Shot,” both co-written by pop singer Katy Perry, sounded like horrendous demos when they appeared on YouTube sung by Perry.

   Though still weak tracks, Clarkson makes them sound almost perfect. It shows what a great voice can do to an average song. The songs will serve their purpose as radio-friendly hits, but artistically, Clarkson could do much better (and she does on other tracks on the album).

   To make up for “Hook Up,” the co-penned country-rock ballad “Cry” showcases Clarkson at her finest as a singer and a songwriter.

   The song features everything a rock ballad should, but she threw in country styles and the melody of a waltz. Genius.

   The country influences come effortlessly to Clarkson. She spent part of 2008 on the road with her childhood ‘Idol,’ queen of country Reba McEntire.

   She sings, “Is it over yet / Can I open my eyes / Is this as hard as it gets / Is this what it feels like to really cry.” But further into the song, she nails the line “Why won’t this just all go away,” so forcefully chills will run down your spine and back up.

   Just as incredible, “Don’t Let Me Stop You,” channels her 2005-smash “Behind These Hazel Eyes” with its drum and guitar melodies.

Photo by Douglas Boultinghouse

Belt It - Kelly Clarkson shows off her vocal range on stage. Clarkson performed in Little Rock with Reba McEntire in November 2008.

   She calmly leads into the song and then lets it rip, “This is gonna sound kind of silly / But I couldn’t help but notice / The last time you kissed me / You kept both eyes open / Baby, can you tell me what does that mean / If you’re looking over your shoulder/ Then you don’t need to me with me.”

   She shows off the mentioned “High threshold for pain,” with the spiteful “If that’s not what you’re looking for / Nice knowing you but there’s the door.”

   She included two cover tracks on the album from the Oklahoma brotherly-duo Aranda, “All I Ever Wanted” and “Whyyawannabringmedown.”

   She masters both tracks with powerful vocals and electric-rock vibes creating a fun energy. She even brings out an almost-British accent on the latter.

   Clarkson co-wrote and produced a few tracks with One Republic front-man Ryan Tedder, including “Already Gone.”

   The emotional song takes on a Sinead O’Connor style similar to 1990’s “Nothing Compares 2 U,” as Tedder sings the background vocals and provides all the instruments.

   As the song builds, she sings, “I want you to know / It doesn’t matter where we take this road / Someone’s gotta go / And I want you to know / You couldn’t have loved me better / But I want you to move on / So I’m already gone.”

   Also written with Tedder, Clarkson wrote her first dance track, “If I Can’t Have You.”

   The rhythmic beats combined with the catchy chorus go, “If I can’t have you / Then I don’t want anyone / If I can’t have you / Then only damage has been done, baby / We can break these rules / If you wanna have some fun.”

   She included the ballad “Save You,” written by Tedder with Aimee Proal, and as expected, she murders it (in a good way).

   “There were times I’d wonder / Could I have eased your pain / Why did I turn away / I wish I could save you,” she sings as the song builds and drops to create intensity.

   Clarkson also co-wrote “Impossible” and “Ready” for the album. Both tracks show off her range and ability to perfect pop-rock music like no other.

   “Ready,” one of four tracks that leaked in early 2008 that made it on the album, has been amped up from the acoustic rocker to an energetic pop tune. Both versions equally impress.

   The sexy charmer in Clarkson emerges with the ‘60s tinged “I Want You.”

   “I want you / No one else will do / No one makes me smile / No one gets me how / No one else is you / I want you,” she sings on the track she co-wrote, alternating repetitions of “I” and “you” each time she sings the line “I want you.”

   The last track on the album, “If No One Will Listen,” produced entirely by Clarkson, breathes life into the words written by songwriter Keri Noble.

   Clarkson’s vocals soar and evoke tearful emotion throughout the song. With this song and “Cry,” Clarkson’s voice has never sounded better.

   “If no one will listen / If you decide to speak / If no one’s left standing after the bombs explode / If no one wants to look at you / For what you really are / I will be here still,” she sings accompanied by the piano and strings.

Courtesy of  Kelly Clarkson

Deluxe Edition - The deluxe edition of "All I Ever Wanted" includes two bonus tracks and a bonus DVD.

   Clarkson released the album in two versions, a standard version and a deluxe edition. If you purchase the deluxe edition of “All I Ever Wanted,” you receive “Tip of My Tongue” and “The Day We Fell Apart” as bonus tracks. The deluxe edition also includes a bonus DVD on behind the scenes footage and the music video for “Suck.”

   The iTunes version of the album includes the additional track "Can We Go Back."

   She created a solid pop-rock album. In promotional conferences, she described the album as “’Breakaway’ on steroids,” and that makes sense. The sounds of her 2005 album “Breakaway” and “My December” blend to form the edgy and fun “All I Ever Wanted.”

   With the album being extremely radio-ready, there may be a familiar voice to balance out all of the songs overplayed on the radio now. After all, our lives would suck without Clarkson and her voice. “American Idol” wouldn’t be the superstar platform it has become without her paving the way.

   For more information on Clarkson or to order a copy of the album, check out her Official Web site or Fan Club site.

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