All I Ever Wanted review

Kelly Clarkson fourth album reminds of the very beginning of her career

After Kelly Clarkson almost conquered her right to select the songs for her 2007’s third creation My December she became significantly more experienced as a professional and proved to the whole world that she knows what she is worth. Of course the scandal has cost her a lot of nerves and it has taken some time to collect herself. Canceling the tour in support of the record Kelly did get back to performing and restored her balance quite soon as she was doing what she enjoys doing but she still wanted to try something new. Therefore getting down to her next album she decided to collaborate with a new production team this time headed by OneRepublic front man Ryan Tedder. Besides Max Martin (Britney Spears), Dr. Luke and Howard Benson joined the musicians. Being aware of Kelly Clarkson’s story one can have no doubt that her fourth album All I Ever Wanted has resulted to be stylish, soulful and wonderfully sincere as all of her previous albums but unlike the last rock record this work offers much more soulful pop rock ballads reminding of the very beginning of the talented artist’s career.

The songs on All I Ever Wanted are written by different authors

Offering both mid-tempo emotional compositions and slow ballads All I Ever Wanted consists of 14 tracks written by different authors including Kelly Clarkson herself. The album opens with the first single My Life Would Suck Without You. The fact that this song leaped from number 97 to number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart setting a new record tells of the song’s pluses better than any words. Besides this is Clarkson’s only second single leading on that chart after 2002’s A Moment Like This. The song co-written with Katy Perry I Do Not Hook Up suits perfectly to Kelly’s vocals whereas a heartfelt and very beautiful ballad Cry has become the most personal on the album according to the singer herself. The breakup theme is represented by such tracks as Don't Let Me Stop You – the example of the drummer and guitarist’s splendid work, and also a most beautiful Already Gone on which Ryan Tedder himself sings the backing vocals. The title song tells how difficult it is to forget an old love while the up-tempo track If I Can't Have You pleases with the most contagious singing. The cover of Aranda’s song Whyyawannabringmedown proves to be an excellent rock number whereas another composition co-written with Katy Perry Long Shot also does not disappoint. An example of Tedder-Clarkson co-writing is track Impossible and here the singer demonstrates her best vocals and an easy-going song I Want You is the lightest on the album. The record closes with the most soulful piano ballad If No One Will Listen about real love able to touch the most cynical listeners.

Kelly’s career continues to go up in the world

Kelly Clarkson’s music is not meant to relax while listening – it wakes one up, disturbs and troubles one’s feelings. Despite that her main audience is young people her songs cannot be called light and simple. Nevertheless they are heavy as much as the feelings expressed in them demand that because this is first of all pop music. In this connection the album All I Ever Wanted the best suits the definition as it unites the rock elements with pop tunes so the singer’s fans are sure to be content. As for the lyrics all the tracks are traditionally devoted to the various aspects of relationships so in this respect Kelly remains faithful to herself although in comparison to the previous work there is much less of negative emotions on All I Ever Wanted. Certainly Kelly’s career continues to go up in the world: without listening to anybody, relying only on her own vision of music the artist once again gives us a collection of memorable songs most of which are definitely going to become hits.