ETA: Hear Kelly Clarkson and her band on AOL Sessions
Kelly Clarkson’s third album “My December” finally drops today. After all the controversy about this album, I listened….and…
I like it.
It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s a step in the right direction. She’s singing pop with a harder edge here, and she pulls it off. Her vocals are terrific. She’s not a great songwriter–her lyrics verge on the sophomoric at times–but as a budding songwriter and considering her youth, I think she’s got room to grow. More importantly, she is growing, and changing.
Unfortunately for Kelly, she came out of American Idol, whose graduates are expected to create commercial product that sells. A lot. Kelly’s “Breakaway” was one of the few bright spots sales-wise in an economic landscape where it became increasingly difficult for record labels to make money. I’m sure Clive Davis was counting on Kelly to create pop magic once again–selling millions of records to bolster the sagging bottom line of BMG/Sony.
While My December should sell well, it’s an ambitious record with no sure-fire hits on it. Unfortunately for Clive, it probably won’t sell 6 million units. But fortunately for her fans, Kelly has her eye on the big picture. She may sell fewer records now, but have a career that continues as she matures.
Some Favs: ”Sober,” ”Hole,” “Don’t Waste Your Time,” and ”Irvine.”
Rock on Kelly.
Don’t miss Nevada’s Kelly Timeline. It’s the most detailed timeline of the “My December” saga you’ll find on the internet.
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Glad today is finally here!
Now, how can we find out exactly which songs Clive woulda kept?
Good Luck Kelly.
OK so we’ve done nothing for the past several days but discuss Kelly’s CD and now…..2 comments???
I for one am actually considering buying it. If I do it will only be the third AI CD in my collection.
Her first two were way too poppy for me. Manufactured dreck ugh.
I’m kind of tired of reading about the cd. I haven’t listened to it yet but will probably download the songs I like just like I did her last one. I think the ones I bought were probably the manufactured dreck, Hezzer.
Okay, so I got my copy. There were only about 5 left on the shelves at my local Walmart when I snatched mine after work today. Heh. Of course, I’m sure there were more in the back. :)
Anyway, so I’m listening right now… I still LOVE “Sober” (it’s seriously my favorite from an AI alum’s album, period. It’s gorgeous and haunting.). I’m really liking the rest of the album too. Her voice sounds gorgeous… especially on the slower tempo songs. This is a good next step for her. I’m proud of her for fighting for this album.
I know what my background music will be next Friday on the drive to Tampa.
Oh, and as far as hits go… “One Minute” sounds like a top 40 hit if I ever heard one. It’s very similar to a couple of her hits from Breakaway.
Poppy, yes. Manufactured dreck, no. I consider “Since U Been Gone” the perfect pop confection of a song—great vocals, killer hooks, and fun, relatable lyrics. I think the NY Times reviewer referred to it as emo bubblegum which isn’t a bad thing in my book. “Since U Been Gone” ranks up there with The Fine Young Cannibals “She Drive’s Me Crazy” as a song you just never get tired of and makes you want to turn up the volume on your car radio to 11.
As mj puts it, she has her eye on the big picture and
I see Kelly’s canvas growing bigger with each stage
of her career. Hubby says Kelly has her own ear and
I think that we really hear that with this cd. She
is expressing emotions from somewhere we will never
know. She has a personal conflict that she needed
to release and we will never get close to knowing
what that is but we can hear it in her voice that
it’s coming from a deep private place. And I don’t
think it’s in the lyrics. It’s in her voice.
Kelly has a huge career still ahead of her and although
My December is not my favorite to date, I see her growing
and maturing and finding her soul. And I think we will
hear much more of that (her soul) in later work.
I applaud her for standing up to the “suits” right or
wrong. She is standing up for her beliefs in an industry which is difficult for women anyway
like Pink did and Streisand.
I look forward to seeing the numbers (I’ve bought 3)
and hope this cd sells in the millions. I will always
support Kelly because I believe in her. I do not expecct
to love everything she does.
ps…… You can catch Kelly and Reba again tonight on
Crossroads on CMT. Check local listings. So good.
Bee the volume on my car is always set to at least *looks around for Nevada* 20. To be fair I only listened to her first two CDs once each. My boss lent them to me. I honestly was not impressed. From what I’ve heard of this album it’s more my cup of coffee.
ETA I’m listening on AOL sessions as we speak..er…type (Thank you MJ) and I quite like it so far.
Okay, so the first time I listened to Irvine, I didn’t realize there was an Easter egg on the track… “Chivas” I think, and WOW! Those are my two favorites right now. Simple, cracklin’ acoustic and Kelly reminds me a bit of Ane Brun vocally.
There are artists that I will always support, no matter what they do.
For my sister-in-law, it’s Gwen Stefani.
For me, it’s Kelly Clarkson.
I am not a huge Kelly Clarkson fan (actually, am more ambivalent about her than anything) and have not been able to listen to her earlier albums from start to finish—too much craptastic pop stuff for my liking. However, on an initial listen of My December, I generally like the raw moodiness of much of it—even downloaded a couple of songs (Sober and Haunted) and have listened to them a few times already. Will listen to it on AOL sessions after I am done listening to Paul Potts on youtube again (LMAO) and after another spin of my new copy of the Traveling Wilburys.
ETA:
Like Hezzer, if My December is purchased, it will be only the third Idol album in my collection, joining Taylor’s and Clay’s Measure of a Man.
If nothing else, I have eclectic taste in music.