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> KELLY CLARKSON: THANKFUL |
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Kelly
Clarkson:
Thankful Okay, let's face it America, there were HUGE expectations for this release. Not only was our very own American Idol, Kelly Clarkson, 21, dropping her first album, but take into account the production team she was working with - Diane Warren, Desmond Child, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, and Christina Aguilera all share writing credits, while the Executive Producer is none other than music big-shot Clive Davis, head of Arista Records. Yikes! Luckily, Thankful gives as well as it has received. Long gone are the days when Randy, Paula, and Simon were Clarkson's biggest critics, and the pop diva acknowledges this by kicking it up a notch. You won't find her covering any Aretha Franklin songs here; all twelve tracks on the album provide an eclectic fusion of pop, R&B, and even acoustic rock. The album's strongest track is perhaps The Trouble With Love Is, an almost doo-wop inspired blues number about, you guessed it, the trouble with love. The funky Miss Independent, also the debut's first single, gives Trouble a run for its money by mixing up Clarkson's strong, raspy vocals with unique lyrics about a free-spirited woman's journey into romance. Other gems include the rock-driven duet You Thought Wrong, featuring Ms. Clarkson riffing with fellow Idol contender Tamyra Gray, and the disc's title track, Thankful, which delivers a sweet spoonful of Clarkson's smooth singing backed by catchy R&B beats. Weak spots on the album include the mind-numbing Low, the overdone Anytime, and Beautiful Disaster, which proves to be exactly just that. Tracks 11 and 12, pitiful remixes of Clarkson's early efforts, A Moment Like This and Before Your Love, are about as needed as a hole in the head. With Thankful,
Kelly Clarkson successfully seals her departure from the American
Idol stage while signaling her entrance into the ever-fickle music
industry. Her high notes and impressive belting abilities are awe-inspiring,
while her low growls are deep and soulful. It's easy to see why the
nation loved her; question is, will you?
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