Upon the first glance at "All I Ever Wanted", you soon realize that its airbrushed and high-gloss cover isn't what Kelly Clarkson wants, it's what the mainstream wants. Unfortunately, the sell-out cover is necessary since her 2007 disaster "My December" was given the cold-shoulder from critics and audiences alike. It may have gone platinum, but it yielded only one top ten hit and it could not live up to the success of her 2004 artistic and commercial breakthrough "Breakaway". So, come 2009, after sorting through all of her emotions, Kelly returns to her pop roots and delivers the atonement for "My December". Granted, it's not a complete departure; the bubblegum punk of "Whyyouwannabringmedown" and the sleek, rock groover "If I Can't Have You" prove that Kelly has still retained the rough edges of "My December". But this time, there's a more delectable center.
Instead of hard rock and steely guitars, "All I Ever Wanted" presents us with synths, sugary drums and bubbling electronics. Mostly present in "My Life Would Suck Without You" and "Ready", this album proves that the spunky singer who delivered "Since U Been Gone" is back. And even though their is a palpable absence of warmth this time around, it's nice to see Kelly finally break from her depression and creating a sunnier record. Even the slow, Ryan Tedder collaborations "Already Gone" and "Save You" sound good, even if they are unoriginal (the latter could have been featured on a OneRepublic album with no audible differences, and the former is a carbon copy of Beyonce's "Halo"). Still, underneath the cold synths and calculations, Kelly manages to maintain her genuine appeal, as she delivers each song with conviction, but also a tad bit of discomfort. You see, A pop star as real as Kelly Clarkson knows that alot of the content on "All I Ever Wanted" doesn't suit her. As compelling as "Save You" and "If I Can't Have You" are, Kelly is at her best when she's belting out huge, multi-purpose hooks that make "My Life" and "I Do Not Hook Up" that are the perfect slices of power pop. And the rest of the album basically structures itself like this: a constant battle between her comfort zone and her experimental material. Most of the time it works, and to be honest, only Kelly Clarkson, a singer with sensational skills and genuineness, could breathe life into those dreary Tedder tunes. Even though "All I Ever Wanted" plays like a project in which Kelly was forced to do, it somehow contains an inexplicable addictive-ness. And given the fact that Kelly's spirit will always shine through anything that her pop produces will make her do, it's an aspect that's easy to appreciate. And with all of its pop-machined calculations, "All I Ever Wanted" is a considerable record that reaffirms Kelly Clarkson's presence as a pop survivor, one that can rise above any challenge (but save "My Life" for the end, it works much better as a triumphant closer).
Recommended Tracks in Bold:
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. Whyyouwannabringmedown 10. Long Shot 11. Impossible
12. Ready 13. I Want You 14. If No One Will Listen
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