Kelly Clarkson -- Breakaway
By ValerieDavid on
Kelly Clarkson's Breakaway is everything a pop album should be. With clear vocals, great dance beats, and soaring ballads, Clarkson delivers a solid CD that spawned four top hits. Like Christina Aguilera, Clarkson hits conventional pop notes while still showcasing her excellent singing abilities and a girl power edge.
"Breakaway", "Since U Been Gone", "Because of You", and "Walk Away" are strong singles that never get old. "Because of You" is sung with real heart and makes for a powerful, angsty ballad. The album is front-loaded with good tracks, with "Behind These Hazel Eyes" lending a Avril Lavigne-like feisty edge, while "Gone" clips along with great staccato charm.
You'll no doubt prefer the released singles to the other material on the album, but there aren't any stinkers here. You can listen to this in the car and there's no need to keep hitting the "next track" button. The album finishes off strong with a live track of "Beautiful Disaster", which wisely reminds us of how Clarkson won her American Idol title--a powerful voice that sounds just as good without the cover of studio polishing.
