Kelly Clarkson Review

Bottom-Line: Lets hope Breakaway is a phase, and not the direction all of Kelly's music will take in the future. 

There are two over-riding themes on Kelly Clarkson's 2004 album Breakaway: agonizing heartbreak and heavy metal, both of which should be taken in small doses.  Now I like Kelly oh-so-cute Clarkson, and I love her voice, I just wish I could have heard more of it on this album.  After listening to this album in its entirety I came away depressed and with a splitting head ache. 

Its not the lyrics in the songs that I take umbrage with; indeed most of the tracks (some written by Ms. Clarkson, most notably Hear Me) on Breakaway are wonderful expressions of human angst, and I do appreciate angst.  It's more the gloomy, pounding, shrieking, electric guitar-laden, in-your-face music that accompanied these songs that I have a problem with.  Almost every track on this very dark album screamed at the top of its musical lungs: "look at me; I'm hurting, my heart has been shattered, broken, callously tossed aside and I want the whole world to know!"      

While I agree that in Breakaway Kelly Clarkson makes "a seismic split" from her previous debut album, I do not agree that the 180 degree turn was a course she should have plotted.  Throughout most of Breakaway Kelly's voice is lost in the thunder of heavy metal tom-toms that accompanies it.  And the human voice for some is an instrument onto itself and deserves to be nurtured and heard in all of its beautiful renditions.  After listening to Breakaway I have to wonder, is this really Kelly Clarkson, or is this the record company's attempt to brand her, to cast her in a mold far different from her contemporaries? 

Breakaway begins beautifully-and promising-enough with the title track Breakaway penned in part by angst filled rocker Avril Lavigne.  But this track is but the calm before the musical maelstrom that is about to overtake the listener.  The very next track, Since U Been Gone begins the hard rock inspired racket that lasts for pretty much the rest of the album.  Ms. Clarkson proceeds to belt out song after torturous song about broken hearts and barrens souls accompanied my music that would no doubt make Vincent Price smile if he were alive; the mood is dark and the overall effect, miserable and smothered in layers of gloom. 

That is not to say that I did not enjoy some of the song, those where Kelly's voice was allowed to take center stage.  Ms. Clarkson is at her best when the musical duet is a decibel or two lower then her very powerful and beautiful voice.  Track no. 4 Because of You shines in this regard.  The words will no doubt resonate with many women who feel diminished by a relationship with a person content to them feel small in order to be fulfilled.  Another song in this vain is track no. 7, Where is Your Heart. 

But perhaps I am missing the central point of the music; and that is to punctuate the lyrics with the darkness only this type hard rock can convey.  I understand the direction, but I do not want to follow, not on every song.  Music should (occasionally) uplift. 

Breakaway concludes with a gorgeous live rendition of Beautiful Disaster from Kelly's first album.  On this live recording Kelly's voice is at its best, infused as it is with emotive soul and accompanied by just a piano.  This is music at it finest, but it does not make up for the dismal nature of the rest of the CD.  Hopefully, Kelly Clarkson's next album will be more balanced, more nuanced, more neutral, because I am still a fan, and I want to worship at the alter of Kelly's voice.  Lets hope Breakaway is a phase, and not the direction all of Kelly's music will take in the future.