Five years ago, the music gods smiled on Kelly Clarkson and the American public’s desire for a more palatable Alanis found its apotheosis in an awesome little song about dumping your loser boyfriend. Ever since, Kelly’s carried a Chip-U-Been-Gone on her shoulder. In an effort to be “like, deep and stuff,” she spent some time writing her own songs. But with All I Ever Wanted, our Idol came to her senses and enlisted Swedish hit-maker Max Martin to restore her to her rightful place in the pop pecking order.
Although it contains all the necessary elements for billboard glory, “My Life Would Suck Without You,” the first single off the album, lacks a certain wanna-bounce-up-and-down magic.
The catchiness of “I Do Not Hook Up” is stilted by the heavy subject matter and the fact that no one wants to think of Miss Independent falling for an alcoholic. The passive aggressive turned aggressive “Don’t Let Me Stop You” and the ballad “If No One Will Listen” might have sleeper hit potential, but an album title like Since U Have Been Gone For Like 5 Years Now and I’m Still Not Over U might be more suitable. Kelly, we’re only saying this ‘cause we love you: man up and move on!
