My December - Kelly Clarkson > Reviews > My December? But its only July!

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Average
Lyrics	Standard
Quality and consistency of tracks	Mixed
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Average
Value for Money	Satisfactory

Advantages:	Good start
Disadvantages:	not so good at the end

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

As previously I had not been a fan of Kelly Clarkson but of her rockier single releases I decided that it was time I invested in an album rather than just downloading tracks or copying an album from a friend. So I made use of my amazon vouchers and bought it, and yesterday it arrived and went straight in to my car

The first single from My December was Never Again and I have to admit it was the reason I bought the cd. After hearing the trakc on several occasions on the radio usually while driving to work it appealed to me in the same whay Miss Independant (from Thankful) and Since You Been Gone, and Breakaway (from Breakaway) did.

After an initial listen I think my purchase was a good one, admittedly there are weak tracks but can anyone honestly say that they know of an album which is all of the same high standard?

Opening with the lyric 'I hope the ring you gave to her turns her finger green' (Never Again) this album from the start is clearly not one for the weak and wining among us, this seems to be a collection of songs by a strong woman aimed at those of us who believe ourselves to be strong.

One Minute continues in the same vein as Never Again, the voacls come across strong and it is definately one I'll be listening to alot.

Hole was good enough just not as good as the previous two tracks, and comes across very much like Evanescence, though it is likely to grow on me its not an initial love it song.

The first real weak link for me is the track Sober, the fourth song and first which isn't out and out rocky with a more laid back feel. For me it just isnt up to scratch following three rocky songs the transition to this is maybe too jarring, it also seems to never really get going, but I think listening to the track more it will grow on me but will never be a favourite.

Following on from this is Dont Waste your Time a faster rockier song which could possibly have been better placed before Sober, but is another I cant see becoming a feature on my mp3.

Judas is OK, not the best track but certainly not the weakest.

Haunted is a song to the lover she wants back the one who left without warning ' I miss you, you hurt me / you left with a smile' Not great but not bad either.

Be Still is a slower softer song, and it fits, this though again it seems never seems to go anywhere musically has lyrics which can be listened to and find meaning in.

Maybe, somehow seems familiar from reading the lyrics yet I cant place the song itself, it is another slower song and another which I enjoy (but theres still the nagging feeling that the lyrics are similar to something else).

How I Feel is slightly disappointing, it jsut doesnt stand out as it possbily could in fact I didnt even notice its passing while driving on a clear motorway at 6.30am (therefore had no other distractions).

Yeah also passes by with relatively little intrusion on my conciousness, but Can I Have a Kiss, resonates with me in particular the lyrics 'Ive been a mess since I've known you/ I cant promise forever/ But I'm working on it' and is the track that stuck in my head behind Never Again.

Irvine as a closing track was frankly dull and I skipped it on my second listen through, leaving me with a bad impression of the album overall.

As with Breakaway Kelly Clarkson has co written all of the tracks on the album, a feat noone would really have expected of a reality show winner.

Since the categories below ask about the inlay and packaging it is fairly standard stuff, a few moody looking photos of Kelly alongside the lyrics in the insert, the cover (as seen above) reminds me of the cover to an Evanescence album indicating a rockier edge to the music on the album.

All in all Ms Clarkson has given us a reasonable set of songs on this album, but it probably deserved its critical panning. It starts well, then Just tails away which is a shame since Clarkson has a good voice and plenty of potential, its a shame that for what ever reason (poor song choice, management, production etc) this isnt the album it could have been. I suppose it remains to be seen if a fourth album returns to the more aclaimed levels of Breakaway, and if indeed the British public will give her that chance. Then again did the British public ever expect to be buying the third album from a Pop Idol winner, and more surprisingly still a winner from the American version of the show?

For the £9 price tag it is an OK buy, certainly not one I would recommend to anyone and everyone, I would say fans will probably get this regardless and anyone else should wait and see what the next few singles are like before commiting to a purchase.