MIXING things up by blending R&B, country, dance-pop and soul with her popular brand of pop rock, the first American Idol winner, Kelly Clarkson, delivers 17 tracks on her new album, Stronger.
It's the singer-songwriter's fifth album and has her collaborating with new musicians Greg Kurstin, Steve Jordan, Rodney Jerkins, Toby Gad, Brian Kennedy and Ester Dean, as well as recording with long-time collaborator Howard Benson.
It contains the hit single Mr Know It All and Don't You Wanna Stay, the catchy country-pop ballad with Jason Aldean. The latter perhaps sits a little uncomfortably alongside other tracks on this album which has been correctly labelled by one internet reviewer as "crunchy, personal and frequently ragefull" [bar] but with as many searing pop hooks as Clarkson's Breakaway album. Highlights include You Can't Win, in which Clarkson tut-tuts over how the media are always slamming her for her fluctuating weight; the swaggering Alone. and an impressive ballad titled The War is Over. - Bill Ryan