Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Appearing on Today this morning, Kelly Clarkson told Matt Lauer she doesn’t read reviews.

Well, she could read the reviews for her new album “Stronger” — released online Monday and in stores today — and she’d probably come away pleasantly surprised.

Critics aren’t always kind to graduates from television talent competitions.

But most of the reviews for “Stronger” are at least OK, many include high praise.

Here’s the rundown so far:

EW.com (Entertainment Weekly): Gives the album a B+, saying “it’s the perfect time for “Stronger,” Clarkson’s older-better-tougher-smarter album.”

AllMusic.com: Gives the album 4 stars out of 5.  “The album’s success is entirely due to Kelly Clarkson, whose personality and professionalism turns it into her best album since her Breakaway breakthrough in 2004.”

Rolling Stone: Gives the album 3 stars out of 5, saying “Stronger” is as deft as any Clarkson album.

Billboard: “Even if  ‘Stronger’ lacks the killer radio cuts that have thus far defined Clarkson’s legacy, her latest album is still a sumptuous, tightly paced offering from one of pop music’s greatest singers.”

Washington Post: “A good album by a great vocalist who, it’s easy to still hope, is capable of a lot more.”

Reuters: “‘Stronger’ lives up to its title, trumping not just the current pop-diva competition but all of Clarkson’s previous albums, too.”

In each case, of course, you can follow the link for the full review.

And if you’d like to watch Kelly’s performance of “Mr. Know It All” on Today, go here.

Other scheduled TV appearances for Kelly this week include Wednesday on The View (ABC), Thursday on the Today show again and Friday on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (NBC).