Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 1172
 Awfully hard to top this one December 12, 2004
Marcus T. Brody (Tampa Bay, FL)
443 out of 486 found this review helpful
I'll admit, my first impression of this album upon listening the first time around wasn't that good. I'll tell you why... I saw too many Avril Lavigne similarities. Especially the "woah... oh oh" sounds Avril has made popular. However, I did not let that deter me from listening to the album with an open mind.
Upon listening to the album 3 or 4 times, I concluded that this is one of the better rock/pop albums I've ever heard; especially by a solo female artist. On Kelly's debut album, she didn't use her voice like she should have. But on this new album, all I can say is, "Wow!". Hands down, Kelly Clarkson has the best singing voice in the music industry today, and hearing her hit some of the notes she hits on this album send chills up and down my body.
There are about 5 or 6 songs on this album that will likely receive radio play, as top singles. "Behind These Hazel Eyes" is Kelly's best song to date, in my opinion. "Because of You" is another fantasic song, as well as "Addicted", and "Hear Me". Let's not forget the smash hit "Breakaway".
With this album, Kelly sort of detached herself from the American Idol label that she's been sporting for the last few years. This is far beyond and cheesy bubble gum pop. This is legit, and Kelly is going to make a huge splash in this industry for years to come.
Now That's What I Call Idol! December 15, 2004
Amanda Richards (Georgetown, Guyana)
256 out of 296 found this review helpful
This is the best album to come out of the American Idol show in recent history. Conspicuously short of filler material, every song sounds like airplay material. "Breakaway" launches the album with a mighty kick and it never stops going from there, the grand finale "Beautiful Disaster" being anything but a disaster.
It's not hard to detect a little influence of Avril Lavigne on "Since U Been Gone" and "Behind These Hazel Eyes", and there's also a bit of Amy Lee, especially on "Addicted" and "Hear me" thrown in, but this impressive follow-up pushes Clarkson into the running for the best female pop album of the year.
Highly recommended for pop/rock fans.
Amanda Richards, December 14, 2004
Impressive! November 30, 2004
Coopie Doop (Central IL)
39 out of 46 found this review helpful
I was shocked by the honesty of Kelly's writing on this album.
She really put herself out there on songs like Because Of You. I thought this would be another syrupy ballad, but my heart was ripped out when I listened to it. It had me at a stand still.
Kelly uses her voice in so many amazing ways on this album. Where Is Your Heart is another great example of Kelly's raw vocal talent.
It was pure joy hearing how she changed it up throughout.
And I must also comment on the background vocals, which were ALL done by Kelly. I find myself listening to them as much as the foreground vocals.
I didn't want to skip any of the songs while listening - yes, it was that good. I especially loved Behind These Hazel Eyes, Addicted, Because Of You and Hear Me.
If Kelly doesn't get nominated for another Grammy, I will be shocked.
This cd is 150 times better than Kelly's first album "Thankful".
Great work!
From top to bottom, a superb release December 7, 2004
Jacquie T (Melbourne, VIC, Australia)
23 out of 26 found this review helpful
If it were up to me, I'd release each song of this disc as a single. Now obviously that will never happen, but in all honesty it is the best buy I have made in a long long time. As my title says, from top to bottom, there are hits stamped all over this album.
A great quality of Clarkson's music, as was evident in her debut release "Thankful", is the versatility. While "Breakaway" rarely strays from its obvious rock theme, it explores a magnificent range of rock - from rock/pop and upbeat thumpers ("Gone" and "Walk Away") to "instant hits" with hooks that will have you humming after one listen (current single "Since U Been Gone" and "Behind These Hazel Eyes"). From downright, rip-you-to-shreds rock ("Hear Me") to sweeping rock ballads ("Because Of You", "Addicted" and "Where Is Your Heart") - this album truly Has. It. All.
Personal highlights of the disc are "Hear Me", "Gone", and "Addicted".
"Hear Me" is the Kelly Clarkson you've dreamed about (or at least I have) - from a mysterious intro and verse, the song effortlessly builds and transitions from soft piano and solid vocals into blaring and blissfully grinding guitars rivalling with the furious and frantic pace of the drumming (courtesy of famed musician Josh Freese [A Perfect Circle]), not to mention the incredible register Clarkson finds as the chorus hits, crying out in desperation "Hear me/I'm crying out/I'm ready now/Turn my world upside down/Find me".
"Gone" continues to showcase Clarkson's unique and evergrowing talent - here is a singer who was lighting up TV screens nationwide with soul classics such as "(You Make Me Feel Like) Natural Woman", "You're All I Need" and heart-breaking ballads such as "I Surrender". More than two years on, not only can she rock with the best of them, she can rock in ways you've never even imagined. The pulsing beat of guitars in "Gone" set the groundwork for some unusual and uncommon (but not unwelcome) phrasing that cruises throughout the verses before the chorus signals Clarkson's intentions - "I'm gone/To find someone to live for in this world/There's no light at the end of the tunnel tonight/Just a bridge that I gotta burn" - she's going to bust you in your most sensitive parts and without even the lightest apology. The most enrapturing feature of this song is the incredible soprano line draped over the song's climatic ending where Clarkson shows off her vocal gifts with a powerful display of control and certainly some musical courage too, peppering the listener with wailing so heavenly you might drop to your knees and start worshipping.
The final selection in this set of three is the masterpiece "Addicted". This is one of two songs that Clarkson collaborates with ex-Evanescence hitmakers David Hodges and Ben Moody, the other being another terrific showing in "Because Of You". While "Because Of You" has been setting the Kelly fan world alight, "Addicted" sings out to me because of the depth of writing, depth of musicality and incredible intensity. I could honesty spend a week analysing and expounding all my musical knowledge in exposing this song, but the best way to explore this song is through a closed set of headphones, a dark room and a cold environment. You will be moved. And listen for the bridge - it will send you for a loop.
From the mouth of an intensely passionate fan and believer in great music, buying this album is one of the most solid and worthwhile decisions you will make in your life. It will have you grinning from ear to ear. It will rip out your still-beating heart, play with it like a young child does a toy, then blast it back into your chest with the firepower of a cannon, pinning you helplessly against the wall in disbelief.
Yes, it's THAT good.
Amazing follow-up December 2, 2004
Shannon (Toronto, Canada)
15 out of 16 found this review helpful
To be honest, I thought Kelly's first album, Thankful, was over-produced, too sappy, and in some songs even prevented her from truly showing her amazing vocal abilities that made her the first American Idol. All in all, Thankful was a solid first album for an artist who was being told what to sing and how to sing it.
Breakaway, however, surpasses my expectations as a sophomore album. She warned everyone that the album was more rock, more Kelly, as she co-wrote half of the album. And she delivered. Some standout hits on the album includes the haunting rock song "Addicted" which shows us a tiny hint of the Evanescence style as Kelly collaborated with David Hodges and Ben Moody. But Kelly still sticks to what originally captivated the public to her voice and includes a few wonderfully melodic ballads like "Because of You", "Where is Your Heart" and the flawless live piano version of "Beautiful Disaster". Of course, no pop album would be complete without catchy radio-friendly uptempo numbers like "Gone", "Since You've Been Gone" and "Walk Away". Working with talents like Chantal Kreviazuk, Raine Maida, John Shanks and Ben Moody, Breakaway displays more of her versatility as a songwriter and as a musician.
Now some reviewers were quick to dismiss her sophomore album as an attempt to emulate the likes of Ashlee Simpson, Avril Lavigne, and Amy Lee, but perhaps what they fail to see is a new era of pop-rock female artists emerging. Or even perhaps they fail to realize that Avril as well as members of Evanescence penned a few songs on this album, so it is not unlikely to notice some sort of similarity. Not one artist owns one particular style but rather an artist can pave the path for others to explore and hopefully find a comfortable niche in which they can express their talents. And in Breakaway, we see just that: Kelly Clarkson in her niche. Rock on, Kelly, rock on.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 1172
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