Kelly Clarkson - 'All I Ever Wanted'

Kelly Clarkson is a historic landmark in the music industry. She is an extremely marketable and hugely talented singer and songwriter. And she owes her fame to the American public. We voted for her. Well... I didn't. I hate American Idol, but I love Kelly Clarkson. I didn't latch onto the tidal wave until "Since U Been Gone," but to be honest, I don't think a lot of people did. I avoided her debut album because of its attachment to the evil program, but Breakaway was just so amazingly crafted that I couldn't ignore it. It helped that the singer of my favorite band, Raine Maida, and his lovely and proficient wife, Chantal Kreviazuk, offered their songwriting talents to the album as well, notably with "Walk Away." My December, Kelly's third album, saw her "breakaway" from the producers that tried to mold her. Due to negative publicity regarding her creative differences with Clive Davis, the head of Sony-BMG, major changes were made with Kelly's staff and tours.
Surprisingly, amidst all the publicized drama, rumors of a new album in the works began to surface. I wasn't surprised, being that My December was always more of an artist album than a radio album. It took a while, but eventually the lead single, "My Life Would Suck Without You" was released from Clarkson's fourth studio album, All I Ever Wanted.

While All I Ever Wanted isn't a dance album in the strictest sense, with Kelly's consistent presence on the dancefloor (almost every single from "Since U Been Gone" and on has been remixed) makes it an album for any dance fan to check out. Of course, sometimes the material provides the inspiration, like with "My Life Would Suck Without You." Chunky synths accompany the upbeat percussion and plucky guitar melody, and Kelly's anthemic voice just tops the package off nicely.
"If I Can't Have You," penned by Clarkson and OneRepublic singer/songwriter Ryan Tedder also lends itself to the dancefloor, a dark and synth-y melody accompanying lyrics that don't let go. It is definitely a track I could see Jason Nevins taking a stab at. Speaking of Tedder, he also helped Clarkson with a couple of other tracks. "Already Gone" sounds like a Ryan Tedder track to me, percussion-heavy and melancholy. That same feel envelopes "Save You," a track drenched in emotion. But with his tracks, the album makes you wait for the best. "Impossible" is simple and beautiful, pensive piano sprinkled on layers of blues percussion, leading to a heartfelt chorus that is joined with gutsy bass guitars. Quite a good track.

Katy Perry also added to All I Ever Wanted by allowing tracks from her first unreleased album to be used. "Hook Up," as it was first called, became "I Do Not Hook Up," which actually sounds like a Perry track. It's great though, a feel-good anthem right at track #2. I see this as a great follow-up to "My Life Would Suck Without You." She also provided "Long Shot," which also sounds like Perry in the way the lyrics are written. It is a heady track, emotive in the same way a couple of tracks from Perry's debut One of the Boys is; another potential radio track. But that's part of why we love her.
The source material on the title track "All I Ever Wanted" reminds me of Franz Ferdinand, staccato rhythm guitars and "uhn-tiss" percussion punctuating Kelly's voice, making me imagine some bouncy form of remix. Amping up the energy with "Whyyawannabringmedown," Kelly's voice takes on a jagged edge over top a punky production, successfully pairing the growl of Joss Stone with the rock of Sleater-Kinney. "Don't Let Me Stop You," another surefire radio hit, actually begins in a way that made me think of Our Lady Peace, my favorite band. It has a very visceral rock feel to it, while still being accessible due to Kelly's amazing pipes. "Ready" bops along at a bouncy pace, one of the mildest tracks on the album but probably one of my favorites. It is immediately catchy with a beat that, in my mind, emulates "Happiness" by Goldfrapp. Kelly's vocals aren't nearly as ethereal though, Alison Goldfrapp she is not.

Rounding out the upbeat tracks, "I Want You" is a hand-clappy beach tune that is really way too much fun. It's so cute, and such a wonderful departure from Clarkson's regular fare. I hope she releases this!

Kelly Slows Down
On a slower note, Kelly has a few really heartrending tracks, kicking off with "Cry." Any song named "Cry" is going to be a slower, more emotional track, and Kelly doesn't let down, singing "Is this what it feels like to really cry?" And finally, "If No One Will Listen" was a serious treat to this listener. Keri Noble wrote the track and produced it in its first commercial form. Originally it was on Keri Noble's Fearless album as the closer. It is such a simple and amazing piano track and it suits Kelly Clarkson's voice so well, despite the lack of Noble's fragile vulnerability. The production is mostly the same, albeit a little heavier for such an immense pop album. Besides "My Life Would Suck Without You," I found myself singing along to only one other track on All I Wanted on first listen, and it was "If No One Will Listen". Whoever got that track on the album was a genius, because the track is brilliant and deserves the attention.

Summary

With such a bevy of radio-ready tunes and, of course, Kelly's supremely anthemic voice, we should see a steady string of potential club hits heading our way as long as RCA treats this album like they did Breakaway. Definitely one of the highlight albums of 2009. My only issue with the album as a whole is this tendency to oversaturate the production.

Released March 2009 on Sony/BMG.