Quick Review: Kelly Clarkson- My December

We’ll try to return to regular programming today with a brief look at Miss Independent’s return to the charts. Clarkson’s 3rd album dropped yesterday and I admit I preordered it on the basis of faith in her last work and the single “Never Again”. Not to pat myself too hard on the back here, but that was a pretty risky move if you’ve been reading any of Kelly’s press lately. At the center of everything was an apparent battle with label head Clive Davis over the albums content and even its release. Good old Clive was worried that the darker tone on the album would scare away the teeny boppers who still think of Kelly as American Idol’s Kelly Clarkson. Truth is Kelly stopped being that on the last album. With the success of that disc she vaulted her self out of the teen pop princess world and into an artist that appealed across genres and generations. Anyway the worry is for nothing here as once again Kelly finds the perfect mix of pop and art. As a co-writer the lyrics Clarkson pens are a bit darker but the music is still guitar laced pop. There might not be a “breakaway” hit on this disc like “Since You’ve Been Gone” but I’ve got to admit after 3 listens that the only weak tracks on the disc are 2 remixes of “Never Again”. The best track on the album is “Haunted”, which except for a sound effect gimmick at the beginning and end of the song, is a perfect example of how much soul Clarkson’s voice has and how she pours all of it into every note. Also of note are “Maybe”, “Yeah”, and “Can I Have a Kiss” but then again like I said the whole album really shines.