Breakaway; Clarkson shines on sophomore outing. (Breakaway - Kelly Clarkson)

Member Name: ManUtdBoi

Product:	Breakaway - Kelly Clarkson
Date:	03/11/05 (251 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: vocals, lyrics, production aids

Disadvantages: n/a

It's easy to look at Kelly Clarkson for what she supposedly is; a manufactured pop puppet. The winner of the original American Idol, Texan native Clarkson showed enough diversity (and more importantly, quality) to burst the reality bubble and produce a rather decent debut album, entitled 'Thankful'. Despite leaning heavily on the idea of the infamous 'ballad', the album showed her vocal strengths, and more importantly, enforced the fact that her American Idol victory was no fluke. 2 years on, and still going fairly strong in peoples opinions, Kelly returns with her sophomore album 'Breakaway'; an apt title if ever I've heard. Fusing up-tempo guitars with her own strong vocals, the album acts as the title suggests; it's a breakaway from the past, from her first album, and more importantly, from her time on American Idol.

Opener 'Breakaway', a track penned jointly with (of all people) Avril Lavigne, gives Kelly her introduction to the rock niche - talking of getting up off your ass to go chase those dreams in the big city, it's a decent introduction to both Kelly herself, and the album as a whole. Lyrically, it could be said that she relies on others a little too much; in fact 6 of the albums tracks were co-penned, but when she takes the reigns herself, boy does she get it right. 'Because Of You', a track written when Kelly was the wee age of 16, is undoubtedly the finest song here - "Because of you I never stray too far from the sidewalk. Because of you I learned to play on the safe side, So I don't get hurt" - it talks from the perspective of a lover/friend/relative (no-one quite knows) that led Kelly to not trust others, to be afraid to open up. It's personal, and damn honest.

One thing that can't be overlooked, is the risk Kelly took in writing the record. Co-written or not, a lot of the album is immensely personal to her and open to differing interpretation from media and general public alike. 'Since U Been Gone' sees our fair lady lambaste an ex-lover for smothering her and toying with her emotions ("since you been gone, I can breathe for the first time"), whilst the cracking single 'Behind These Hazel Eyes' talks from her own perspective of being let down by someone she felt so much for ("Here I am, Once again. I'm torn into pieces. Can't deny it, Can't pretend. Just thought you were the one"). The track itself could easily have been done by an Avril Lavigne type; a middle of the road rocker, it's another of the albums strongholds.

Rock aside, Breakaway displays a few other sides of our Ms Clarkson; 'Gone' is something of an up-tempo pop song, with a slight R'n'B injection to boot - "Sometimes shattered, never opened. nothing matters, when you're broken. That was me whenever I was with you" - again delivering the proverbial low-blow to a former lover, Kelly shows both her defiance and quality on another impressive track. 'Addicted' sees a relationship getting all to much, leaving more questions than answers - "In my thoughts, in my dreams, You've taken over me. It's like I'm not me, It's like I'm not me" - produced by ex-Evanescence guitarist Ben Moody, it carries a certain likeness to his former employers, one which is all to welcome on the albums customary rock ballad.

In fact, Moody played a pivotal part in the album as a whole, producing both the previously mentioned 'Addicted' as well as the fantastic 'Because Of You', his contribution can't be overlooked in the slightest. 'Where Is Your Heart', a track both written and produced by Canadian songstress Chantal Kreviazuk, sees another ballad, one much alike Addicted in fact, but one that also leans a little toward the filler side of things - "Where is your heart? 'Cause I don't really feel you" - It's a nice song, but when you take into consideration that it's situated directly after a track that sounds almost identical, it feels somewhat redundant. The breezy 'Walk Away' follows next; a pop song more than anything, it shows that the American Idol roots are still firmly planted, if not growing much.

'I Hate Myself For Losing You', another of the albums more accessible radio-friendly moments, could easily have come right off an Avril Lavigne album. The "oh oh oh's" of the intro alone would fuel that, and the regretful, lonely lyrics simply back it up; a nice pop/rock track, it keeps the album going in the right direction ("Now I dread each day knowing that I can't be saved, from the loneliness of living without you"). That said, 'Hear Me' is trademark Clarkson. One of the rockiest moments on the album, it speaks of wanting someone, anyone to free her from the loneliness that she feels, free her from the loneliness that she no longer wants ("Find me, I'm lost inside the crowd, It's getting loud, I need you to see"). The theme's been done all too many times before, but it's still a great song.

Kelly Clarkson is an individual for whom the future is very bright. Where her debut cashed in on the success of American Idol, her sophomore release earns it's own applause; chocked full of effortlessly breezy pop/rock songs, she displays an openness toward the general public that is in return respected. Whilst concentrating largely in the realm of pop/rock, Breakaway dips into other genres just enough to avoid becoming stale and repetitive; in short, it's a massive success and a huge thumbs up to the little Texan with one big mouth (vocally I mean). Contributions from the likes of Avril Lavigne and Ben Moody aid only to give the album a more professional seasoned feel, one that wouldn't leave you knowing this lady had come from the dark depths of reality television.

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Track Listing;

Breakaway
Since U Been Gone
Behind These Hazel Eyes
Because Of You
Gone
Addicted
Where Is Your Heart
Walk Away
You Found Me
I Hate Myself For Losing You
Hear Me
Beautiful Disaster

Summary: Kelly's come a long way since American Idol; for the better !