Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Album Review: Kelly Clarkson's Stronger

Mode of distraction: Listening to Stronger on repeat. 
Distracting me from: Life.

 
Kelly Clarkson settles us into her fifth studio album, Stronger, by sassing and spitting the verses to mid-tempo grower "Mr. Know It All." Her delivery transitions from bratty and indignant to full and secure as she enters the chorus, substituting a rock-ish tinge for a more soulful, full tone.

That vocal transition can act as a microcosm for the entire album. Clarkson's pop/rock pseudo roots are integrated with her Aretha-obsessed American Idol roots to create a more soulful, more R&B-leaning sound. The album is also far more up-tempo (with welcomed bursts of 80s glory) than her previous albums, featuring only two true ballads on the standard edition of the album. It's a sonic progression that rivals the transition from Thankful to Breakaway, highlighted by a vocal strength that comes from her ever-improving instrument (the best in the mainstream pop landscape) and the producers letting that instrument actually shine and come to life.

And it does. In the midst of a largely cohesive production quality (remarkable considering the varied--and occasionally unproven in the top 40 landscape--producers attached to the record), Clarkson tells a variety of stories with her voice. She's settled and above it all in "Mr. Know It All" and the slow-jam "The War Is Over"; vulnerable and pleading in "Dark Side" and "Honestly" (the album's highlights are, unsurprisingly, amongst the darkest offerings); feisty and powerful in "What Doesn't Kill You," "Einstein," and "Don't Be A Girl About It" (ignore the dumb-ass "dumb + dumb = you" line  and potential sexist implications in the latter two, respectively, and give in to the excellent melodies and production); warm and open in "Standing In Front Of You"; yearning and tired in the beautiful standard edition closer "Breaking Your Own Heart"; and full of almost-30 cynicism and bite in "Let Me Down" and especially "You Can't Win," a lyrical highlight that Clarkson wrote herself.

Instead of seeming schizophrenic, the album feels very of-the-moment for Clarkson, a stark contrast to her previous album, All I Ever Wanted, a recipe book for what was on the charts as the album was being developed (not, sadly, when it came out--but such is the nature of radio baiting). There's a handful of hits to be found here, but the album doesn't feel designed for radio--it feels designed for Clarkson (whether she had a hand in writing the song or not). That might not make for the commercial success of Katy Perry's Teenage Dream or Clarkson's own Breakaway, but it does make for a great album. Even the most derivative track, "I Forgive You," reads at the very least as a cute and fitting sequel to her monster hit "Since U Been Gone."

It only takes a few listens of Stronger to realize she's ditched being hurt by and bitching about Mr. Wrong and is simply taking on all things wrong--label executives, friends, family, the media, and, yes, a foolish ex or two--in the name of new-found strength, empowerment, and experience. That expanded point of view is a welcome relief from our Breakup Queen, and reads genuine coming from someone who's fought against the pitfalls of the Idol machine since the beginning. She's older, wiser, and stronger--and now she has a new best album to boot. One that (finally) shows that growth in sound, experience, and vocal ability we've seen from Clarkson in person for years. 

Favorite Five:
  1. "Honestly"- A haunting, wailing track that begs for the truth at any cost with Clarkson's most evocative studio vocals to date.
  2. "Dark Side"- A creepy-yet-dance-y plea for a lover to accept all sides of her.
  3. "You Can't Win"- In throwing back every jab ever thrown at her, Clarkson makes an intensely personal song utterly universal. And a lot of fun.
  4. "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)"- New gay anthem! *jams*
  5. "Breaking Your Own Heart" - A drained warning to someone she still believes in, but not for long. An emotional high point of the album.

Grade: A


 

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

The Wasteland

Mode of distraction: A.D.D. and apathy.
Distracting me from: All productivity.


So. I'm trying this again.

It's not my fault I've been so bad at posting. I've been too busy reading Karen's deliciously cute and crafty blog while simultaneously hiding from its superiority. Plus, I've been really lazy lately.

Post-MFA graduation has found me first celebrating my new-found freedom and free time, and then found me wallowing in it. Melting into it. Submerged from toe to nose. Etc.

Not that I've been a total slob. I work full time, I joined 24 Hour Fitness in the wake of losing my student gym membership (and I'm actually going), I'm still in a fully function and even more fully satisfying relationship, and I'm still reading (currently Franzen's The Corrections). But still. Something about the last month has felt like trudging...fun trudging, but trudging.

I think October is going to change that, mostly because I've decided it will. I'm at the brink of getting myself into a small, lovely workshop situation again, with a peer's manuscript crisp from the printer ready for a review, another peer's thesis to review, and my own novel to work on for said workshop.

October will be feature a welcomed integration of new to kick my ass out of Neutral, including (but not limited to):
  • Draft 2 of Muscle Memory - I have started on this, but not much. There is a big new scene I have in mind that will come pretty early, and while it won't shift the book's overall plot, I think it will set me on a more character-enriching path that should color the rest of the story. In theory. 
  • A new writing community - I've missed this being a part of my life, and I think being with like-minded creative folk will do me good. 
  • Oscar time - With the unveiling of the Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close trailer, Oscar season has officially begun. This gets my blood going. I've already seen The Help (great) and Contagion (pretty good), and there are a host of movies I'm ready to bus over to Kabuki for, dragging whoever is willing to join me. Time to start brainstorming Oscar party prizes...
  • Kelly Clarkson's new CD, Stronger - Can't. Even. Wait. It's been two and half years since her last studio album, which--to be honest--was more a collection of solid, of-the-moment pop tracks, leaving the album feeling a bit more like a collection of current sounds than a fully conceived album. With 75 demos and old songs leaking courtesy of thieves and fans even more intense than yours truly, I've heard about half the album in demo form and...it's fabulous. I did the superfan pre-order thing which provides me with a deluxe CD and a bonus EP...all in all, 23 new Kelly Clarkson tracks to spin the shit out of come October 24 (or whenever it leaks). 
  • Even more reading - On the list: The Elegance of the Hedgehog, Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned, The Help, Dangerous Laughter, The Handmaid's Tale, and Bastard Out of Carolina...or whatever comes my way. 
  • Halloween - I still have no costume in mind, but I always kind of rock that part, so I'm sure something will come up. (I really am getting anxious about this though). 
And now I'm off to get started.