Where Clarkson hits us with her best shot is in the confessionals in which she ditches the blame game and draws her own blood. She's not as close to catching up with her songwriting idol, Patty Griffin, as she is to her belter heroine, Benatar. Nonetheless, Clarkson's most vulnerable moments are accomplished and affecting — from the frisky pleadings of ''Can I Have a Kiss'' to the near-suicidal despair of ''Irvine.''  Full text...

The album, on which Clarkson contributes as a songwriter on each track, opens powerfully with "Never Again," a sturdy, dark rocker that seems linked to her record-breaking '05 hit "Since U Been Gone." Through the rest of the disc, high-energy tracks like "One Minute" and the sparse, pleading "Maybe" help make this a fully satisfying effort.  Full text...

Though My December cuts much of the adult contemporary-style balladry that marred her first two releases (but also displayed more than just her shouting vocal range), the album still finds Clarkson further exploring different facets of her voice, which is capable of much more than just cookie-cutter pop/rock: she injects a little funk swagger into the brassy "Yeah" and offers up some acoustic soul on the hidden track "Chivas."  Full text...

That's not rock as in "ROCK", obviously, but the wipe-clean kind that begs your pardon for making noise.  Full text...

A career in crisis? For someone as successful as Kelly Clarkson it may seem an odd question. Unfortunately Clarkson has had a troubled time of late. A cancelled headlining tour and a very public spat with her record company about the direction of her career has resulted in a mini crisis. She has held her nerve and pushed ahead with the record she wanted to make.  Full text...

“Don’t waste your time on me” sings Clarkson on “Don’t Waste Your Time.” We might as well take her advice.   Full text...