Kelly Clarkson is "Stronger" Than Ever!

Kelly Clarkson is the "American Idol." This first season winner as of 2011 reigns in my mind as the one with the most talent. I am not a fan of her music in bulk, but give her kudos where kudos are due. Her 2011 album "Stronger" sounds like an album to put her back on top of the mountain and remind everyone that she has radio ruling star qualities and can do it without just writing four lines about dancing and adding some techno music.

I think "Stronger" is mostly good stuff and a definite buy for pop music fans. Even with the tracks that don't stand up I think the album is worth owning as whole, because if it is your preferred genre and you listen to it enough, Kelly Clarkson might seduce you into even enjoying the weaker tracks. This is how I ended up giving the album a positive review overall. It started out weak to me, but it kicked into gear and Kelly Clarkson sold me on her Kool-Aid.

"Mr. Know It All": It feels like a song I have heard on the radio and not the song "Mr. Know It All." It feels like one of those other pop acts, Bruno Mars or somebody. There is a very familiar element in it that I can't put my finger on. Radio friendly pop isn't always Wes the reviewer friendly and though I can stomach this as ride in the car background noise, most likely I would choose a different station. Nice female empowerment type anthem though for those who care.

"What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)": The music itself was a little distracting/ annoying to me when not in the Kelly superstar chorus bits. Her voice sells this pop song as it flirts with a little rasp, it's a nice tickle. Kelly Clarkson is a good singer, great voice, and she defies the generic pop trappings and shows off this fact off on this track. An upbeat, wave your arms over your head on your way to the dance floor because life is going to be all right. Possibly you are doing this in a movie in New York City, why that's what I feel from it, I don't know, but hey, at least she took me somewhere.

"Dark Side": A pop, not quite ballad song, that felt like it was meant to be haunting over a trance/rave track, but instead is an awkward dingleberry.

"Honestly": She should pour the drama, theatrics, the emotion hinted at in the vocal delivery of this song onto something of a less plastic, hooked on a word, a rusty hook, feeling nature.

"You Love Me": Her vocals are to fall in love with on this song, thanks to her special Kelly Clarkson tone. The song itself is not one I'm going to listen to and admit to liking, but would sneak into my play list from time to time just to crush of Kelly Clarkson's voice. This one has some earl Kelly Clarkson fire!

"Einstein": I usually make fun of pop songs that count or do math, but this one is funny. "dumb plus dumb equals you." I can't hate on that like most. Aside from the chuckle and the chart success I reckon the song has earned off of that line alone, I did not really find it all that interesting.

"Standing In Front Of You": This song feels more like a girl group from the late 90s / early millennium piece. More of a teen, old school Mandy Moore track or something.

"I Forgive You": This time the quirky background music sound effect is a good kind of distracting because it is more interesting than the song. A bland power pop track about forgiving someone for wronging them when they were younger.

"Hello": Tap your foot while not paying attention to it music.

"The War Is Over": Pop empowerment perfection. I can hate pop music that gets replayed a million times a day on the radio, but some of it gets stuck in your head and accidentally stabs through to some memory in your heart. This song ending a war of emotion with lines such as "you don't deserve me" is already nestling in to be stuck in my head before I've heard it on the radio. This means to me: it's a good song, that should be popular, and will then get ruined for me.

"Let Me Down": Kelly Clarkson is in her element once again, unfortunately her element is commercial pop music, and then fortunately she can take drivel and make something more of it. This is another great pop song that rises above thanks to Kelly's X Factor ala the magic in her voice and the spirit she attacks the emotions with.

"You Can't Win": It's a silver medal winner. Kelly Clarkson belts out the vocals in spots that just reek of her infectious cuteness, but overall it's more forgettable than the others that struck a chord with me. This time it is a pop song about how no matter what you do you can't please everybody ala can't win. Guess the message may be: be yourself and that's all you can do.

"Breaking Your Own Heart": It's a country song that is neither here nor there for me as a non-country fan. It's good for what it is, but I've gone off to check out the t-shirt stand while others may be pulling out their lighters.