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Piece by Piece became Kelly Clarkson’s third number one album this week. (AP Photo)

But fans have made it the number one album on the Billboard 200.

Billboard reports that first-week sales of the album checked in at 93,000, more than Kelly’s last two albums — “Greatest Hits, Chapter 1” and the Christmas album “Dressed in Red” — but far fewer than her two previous number one albums.

Kelly also hit number one with her post-Idol debut, “Thankful,” back in 2003 and with “All I Ever Wanted” in 2009. “Stronger,” her last non-holiday album featuring all new material, debuted at number two with sales of 163,000 back in 2011.

Don’t forget, Kelly will be going out on tour with Pentatonix this summer, and the very first stop is in Hershey, Pa., for a Saturday, July 11 show. Tickets apparently range from $35 to $120. They go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. at Ticketmaster.

As for those critics, here’s a sampling of what they’re saying about Kelly’s latest effort. Follow the links for the full reviews.

Rolling Stone: Gives the album 3 stars out of 5, saying “another highlight, “Invincible,” is a triumphant power ballad co-written by go-to pop-diva tunesmith Sia. When Clarkson hits that money note toward the end, big hair wins again.”

AllMusic.com: Gives Kelly 3 stars out of 5, saying “overall Piece by Piece sounds a shade too desperate, which means it winds up having the opposite effect than intended: instead of sounding like a new start, Clarkson sounds a little bit behind the times.”

Time: Doesn’t provide a rating, but says “Clarkson still has some of the best pipes in pop, but she’s using them to hit the same note — over and over again.”

The New York Daily News: Gives Kelly 2 stars out of 5, saying “The singer’s latest album lacks the pay-off of a guilty-pleasure hit like “Stronger.” Worse, it doubles-down on her last album’s over-heated production. “Piece By Piece” piles on the gloss and glop. It’s a fat sounding recording that fights with, rather than enhances, Clarkson’s to-the-rafters vocals.”