kelly clarkson

Kelly Clarkson's fourth studio album, All I Ever Wanted, continues her streak of anthems for Miss Independent (also see "Walk Away" and "Never Again"). Combining irresistibly catchy pop-rock beats with Clarkson's uncanny ability to record the next Best Break-Up Song, the album is ambitious, to say the least.

Grounding everything is Clarkson's voice, which remains as sincere as when it was first deemed Idol-worthy. Her signature spunk adds just a bit of edge while keeping her radio-friendly sound accessibly mainstream.

Her lyrics, along with the entire album, are refreshing not because they are especially original but because they stay emotionally true to Clarkson's own down-to-earth attitude in a notoriously superficial industry.

Case in point, the album's first single "My Life Would Suck Without You" is almost a sequel to "Since U Been Gone," opening with "Guess this means you're sorry/You're standing at my door/Guess this means you take back/All you said before." "I Do Not Hook Up," which had compositional help from Katy Perry (and Idol judge Kara DioGuardi, Trinity '93), is creative only for its irony factor. On "Save You" and "If No One Will Listen" Clarkson returns to soulful ballads, where her voice is arguably at its purest.

But it's the tracks where Clarkson tries to diversify her sound that are the most underrated. Clarkson roars in "Whyyawannabringmedown," the grunge-loving teenager inside of her coming out in full force. By the penultimate song, she has made a complete 180 with the retro-sounding "I Want You," which calls for hand clapping more than head banging.

Despite these few attempts at switching things up, the album is overall a testament to Clarkson's tried-and-true formula of providing solid shoutalongs for those wanting to "break away." And given the current economy, it'll probably be one of the more stable investments you make.