Track Listing

1. My Life Would Suck Without You
2. I Do Not Hook Up
3. Cry
4. Don't Let Me Stop You
5. All I Ever Wanted
6. Already Gone
7. If I Can't Have You
8. Save You
9. Whyyawannabringmedown
10. Long Shot
11. Impossible
12. Ready
13. I Want You
14. If No One Will Liste

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #645 in Music
• Released on: 2009-03-09
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: CD

CD Description
All I Ever Wanted is the fourth album from American songstress Kelly Clarkson. Since winning TV talent show American Idol in 2002, Clarkson has gone from strength to strength and continues to flourish and develop her style. Taking influence from the likes of Garbage, The Killers and The Eurythmics as well as other pop contemporaries, All I Ever Wanted is a superb follow-up to 2007's My December. Singles include the US number one "My Life Would Suck Without You".

Customer Reviews

4.5 Stars - The Return of The Clarkson...With Avengence
The infallible voice of Kelly Clarkson is back in the pop/rock format, for the better. Although 2007's 'My December' was image genius, it drooped in places with sloppy production; over-emphasis on bass-lines, and it generally restricted Clarkson's vocals. But here in 2009, Clarkson has released an album of sheer substance, with at least half the tracks being artistic genius.

Although a tad blown up in places (I blame chorus smackhead Ryan Tedder...), the songs are arguably Clarkson's best collection yet. From huge, haunting ballads like 'Cry' and 'Already Gone' to stompers 'Don't Let Me Stop You' and 'Whyyawannabringmedown'; the album covers a variety of tempos and themes, and places Clarkson ahead of her many contemporaries.

Production on the whole is a change of direction for Kelly, as a more 'techno' style is introduced, with sweeping background vocals and ultra-busy drumming creating an interesting format. The vocal displays are beyond belief on certain tracks (Cry, Don't Let Me Stop You, Already Gone). But...there are some off-beat tracks that Clarkson should have ran to the hills from. 'If I Can't Have You' is the album's weakest. It's techno-vibes and pulsating rhythm is inferior to 'My Life...' and 'I Do Not Hook Up' which we have already experienced. 'Save You' and 'Impossible' are just too 'Tedder', and Clarkson's voice overpowers the melody...she's too good for the song. 'If No One Will Listen' is also weak melodically, and lyrically too blah.

The best songs on this album:

My Life Would Suck Without You - devastatingly catchy and driving song; the lyrics are so Clarkson, the voice is amazing, undeniable hook, one of the best songs she's recorded.

I Do Not Hook Up - Sheer stadium filler; one you'll scream at the top of your voice, amazing melody, impeccable lyrics. Soaring Vocals.

Cry - Although a tad cliche, the vocals and melody are undeniable...superb.

Don't Let Me Stop You - Huge, stomping, spunky - everything wonderful in the world.

Already Gone - Haunting, inspired, sophisticated delivery of huge heartbreak - touching.

I Want You - so catchy, upbeat and flirty. Will make you say: 'Is that Duffy in the background?'

Although this album varies so much in theme, tempo and delivery, one thing remains constant - an attitude towards life that is healthy: accepting heartbreak, accepting dysfunctionalism, and most importantly, accepting yourself. A Must Have.

What Her Fans Have Been Waiting For
I am pleased to say that Kelly returns to form on this new offering sprinkled with the powerful vocals and feisty attitude that makes her music so interesting and great to listen to. Whilst I would hardly call My December a flop, in terms of artistic integrity and very reasonable sales, it was not to my taste as many other fans and music critics seem to have asserted, some in rather harsh ways. I understand that an artist should be allowed to make music they feel comfortable performing, but pleasing the fans is also important, and All I Ever Wanted delivers the attitude packed pop that made her a star, and made Breakaway a sensational record.

New single My Life Would Suck Without You has already hit the top spot on the Billboard charts, and looks likely to beat Taylor Swift to number one in this weeks chart battle of the American superstars. The opening chords sound suspiciously like Since U Been Gone, but once you shake off the feeling of déjà vu it becomes apparent that Kelly has found her stride again and provides her best single since her aforementioned worldwide smash. I Do Not Hook Up and Don't Let Me Stop You are great up tempo numbers with catchy choruses and Kelly asserting her feisty side. I Do Not Hook Up affirms her moral nature, wanting to be wined and dined by her partners and not used a cheap thrill. Don't Let Me Stop You is another man bashing riot, and a sure fire single choice with a power chorus about cutting a wandering boyfriend loose.

Cry and Already Gone are great ballads with stunning vocals (especially in the former) that blow the listener away, which just makes her success even more of a revelation coming from complete obscurity, and nullifies the criticism of reality shows of never finding talent. All I Ever Wanted has an anthemic chorus about getting over an ex-boyfriend and an attempt for an easy solution for heartbreak. If I Can't Have You is very eighties electro, but whilst being a good track it falls short of the album's high standard and sounds like a limp version of Miley Cyrus's new single Fly On The Wall.

Save You brings the standard back and is simply beautiful in its yearning and emotional vocal delivery; one of the album's best ballads. Whyyouwannabringmedown sounds like Avril Lavigne's new bratty style of vocal delivery, but its rock style and shouting vocal delivery, whilst giving the album variety, doesn't fit with the other tracks and is my least favourite. Long Shot seems to embrace this rock edge for more successfully, fusing it with a great melody and power chorus making it another of my favourite tracks.

Impossible continues this high standard about how some dreams are possible, as she sings `I will stumble and make my own mistakes' showing her more vulnerable side and possibly a reference to her My December career choice. The album's final ballad If No-One Will Listen also refers to her being stifled as person and an artist, advising to not bottling up your feelings and to stand up to your demons. Ready could easily have been on Breakaway, and I Want You has a mellow sixties shimmer and is another stand out track for its playful nature and individuality.

Overall, Kelly has definitely returned to form and has given her fans the album they have been waiting for. Tracks to skip to: Don't Let Me Stop You, I Want You, Long Shot and My Life Would Suck Without You. An amazing record.

Fantastic album from a brilliant singer
Kelly Clarkson's fourth album is a superb run of great song after great song, several of which would make great singles. There's a wonderful energy to the songs and it's almost as if she's showing the recent crop of young pretenders exactly how it's done. Overall, as a complete album I think it's better than Breakaway. Difficult to imagine that Katy Perry wrote I Do Not Hook Up and didn't take it for herself - it's just so good, and when you hear it on the album after My Life Would Suck Without You, you just know that you're in for a good listen.

Kelly was amazing singing live on American Idol the other day, and has my respect for that. Other past contestants have come on before and mimed, but she really showed everyone why she was the first and still is the best of the American Idol winners.