Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Kelly Clarkson
“All I Ever Wanted”

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 Listen
15. Tip of My Tongue
16. The Day We Fell Apart

The reviews are pouring in, and it looks like the original Idol might have a hit on her hands.

Course we already sort of knew that, with the way “My Life Would Suck Without You” soared up the single charts.

The single was released weeks ago; the album featuring the single hit stores today.

Judging from the reviews, “All I Ever Wanted” harkens back to Kelly’s pop-heavy “Breakaway” days. That 2004 album yielded four top 10 hits — the title tune, “Because of You,” “Hazel Eyes” and “Since You’ve Been Gone” — and sold something like 6 million copies.

Kelly followed up “Breakaway” with “My December” in 2007. It was the album she wanted to make as opposed to the type her handlers would have preferred to make. The result: great album; modest sales, at least by Kelly Clarkson standards.

So it’s back to safer pop tunes, but pop tunes done well, according to the reviews I’ve read. See the links below.

Meanwhile, Kelly will be back on Idol Wednesday night, singing “My Life Would Suck Without You” during the results show. Also appearing will be Kanye West, singing his hit single, “Heartless.” And, don’t forget, Kelly kicks off this year’s grandstand acts at the York Fair with a concert Friday, Sept. 11.

The reviews:

Houston Chronicle: 3.5 stars

Newsday: Gives Kelly an A

Boston Herald: Gives Kelly a B

San Francisco Chronicle: Gives Kelly wild applause