Customer Reviews

My December

5 star:		(216)
4 star:		(72)
3 star:		(30)
2 star:		(22)
1 star:		(29)

 

 

I was never a Kelly Clarkson fan until this week. I didn't watch her on American Idol. I bought her first CD because I liked the single "A Moment Like This," but wound up disliking the rest of the CD. Sure, I found all those Top 10 hits from Breakaway catchy, but they were just so sugary. There was no real emotion in them; it was blatantly obvious that they existed solely to become hits and sell CDs. After a while, "Since U Been Gone," "Breakaway," "Behind These Hazel Eyes," and "Because of You" melted into one big, mindless pop song trying to cash in on the emo craze and simultaneously retain pop radio appeal. And while they did get stuck in my head, I refused to listen to them because they seemed so obviously manufactured.

Not so with this disc. I downloaded it when it leaked on the Internet, just to see if it was any better than Breakaway. At that time, I hadn't heard about the controversy surrounding the album, so I wasn't biased in Kelly's favor; if anything, I had exceedingly low expectations for the album. Instead, I fell in love with it at first listen.

These songs are overtly different. They're not trying to be bouncy summer radio sing-alongs. They're not trying to reel you in with catchy hooks and keep you satisfied with lightweight melodies and inconsequential lyrics. These songs are heartfelt and, at times, downright hardcore. The lyrics aren't world-changing, but they ring true, and their titles are blessedly devoid of cutesy intentional misspellings. My December may not be steak, but it's certainly more filling than Breakaway-esque cotton candy.

In fact, when I first listened to the album, it reminded me of nothing so much as Origin-era Evanescence: pre-Fallen, pre-fame, pre-studio gloss. Those songs were much less polished, and would never have survived on contemporary radio, but they were more raw, more real, and they possessed an emotional incandescence that was never matched by any of Evanescence's later material. One could conjure a mental image of the band actually writing, channeling, experiencing them. So it is with this disc.

After falling for this album, I watched Kelly's CMT special with Reba McEntire, and for the first time, I realized how immensely talented Kelly truly is. I never would have noticed had I not listened to this disc. I can now say that I am a true Kelly Clarkson fan, and I will be buying this CD on my next trip to Wal-Mart. There are very few artists whose albums I deem worthy of buying after sampling them online, but I believe that Kelly has earned my money and my support with this album, and I hope that it does extremely well for her.

Everyone knows by now the problems that Clarkson has had with this disc -- well, the problems the higher ups have had with letting Clarkson have her own voice on record. But this is nothing new. In the world of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Clarkson had the guts to tinker with what worked. A poppy, melody written style that sucked in everyone who had ears. Did the change do her good? Yes-yes-yes. Is her album perfect? No. Who has made a perfect album? Not a dang soul out there.

What makes this album work so well. Is that Clarkson is TRYING!!!! Trying so hard not to be some cookie, cutter waif, with bleach blonde hair, kohl rimmed eyes, and a snarky attitude. The woman has substance. Songs like "Sober," with it's build up to an almost necessary rant is just plain talent!!! The disc pops with tracks that show a woman in transition. The contemplative "Irvine" with its hollow melody and Patty Griffin like simplicity is marvelous and Clarkson can drudge out a sour note like no other popstar on the market.

Clive Davis offered her a truck load of money to put more "sellable" songs on the disc and she chose not too -- again, guts! Clarkson is growing as a sonwriter. And its bumpy for her. Her lyrics, at times, are too simple, but when they hit the right mark -- she tells a relatebale story. A girl/becoming a woman in a world where she's feeling a lot less secure. When Clarkson sings: "Let it go ..." on "Be Still" there is a quiet pain in what she sings, a great connection to the lyric.

Guts alone to take a chance on your own vision as an artist should merit you credit. But when you work at it and it comes out as solid as Clarkson's "My December," you want to stand and cheer for the girl. She nails it. Daivs must also be a little deaf, if "Yeah" with its shout-back chorus and "One Minute" aren't radio friendly hits -- I don't know what is.

Congrats on, so far, having the best album of the year, Ms. Clarkson!

This album had so much negativity surrounding it, that some people wouldn't even give it a chance. I am SO happy Kelly took a chance and put HER album out there. I am so happy she didn't record based on anything being "radio friendly," and I am even happier she didn't feel the need to release a more positive album. In my opinion, the album is not negative. It is refreshing and inspiring. It tells us that we can have the worst of times and get through it. We aren't alone. It is truly amazing.

Her vocals are amazing as always and her lyrics are beautiful. The emotion she has in her songs is remarkable.

I tend to like rock and punk over other music genres. But I do find myself liking Kelly Clarkson every time I hear a new single on the radio. I actually went back and bought the first 2 albums and picked this one up on the day of release. I like her darker/edgier side. She does have an incredible and beautiful voice for the ballads, and I like those songs almost as much as the rocker chick stuff. This album is much deeper than the first 2 with Kelly doing her own writing. I don't know if it will produce the huge smash hits of the first albums, but she certainly is a talented writer. I heard Never Again when it was first released as a single and I still enjoy it. I actually find Haunted to be my favorite track on the album. How I feel is like Kelly channeling Pat Benatar with the Go'Go's doing backing vocals. Then the very next track she has a real funky sound. The album is Kelly feeling her way around on her own for the first time. She will only get better and better from here. I personally think it is already top notch stuff.

I hate to admit it, but I was hesitant after hearing how "uncommercial" this album was. I wondered if Kelly had become spoiled after becoming so successful with her "Breakaway" album. Then I thought, maybe this is one of those albums that really grows on you after a while, but it might take a few listens to really appreciate it. Then I bought it, listened to it, and was completely and utterly blown away by it. I honestly can't believe Mr. Owen didn't like this album. Yes, it's different from Breakaway, but songs like "One Minute," "Hole," and "Yeah" have plenty of hooks on them, and other songs are so vocally impressive that I automatically hit the replay button. ("Sober" starts out so slow and moody and grows into an explosion of emotion that i was completely unprepared for). All in all, you won't find another "Since U Been Gone" on this album, but all this talk about it being a total flop and uncommercial is ridiculous. After only two listens, I like this album WAY more than Breakaway, and Kelly Clarkson has become the first official American Idol winner to show true artistry.

Simply ... Amazing!!!

Okay so I bought this cd the very first day it came out because I simply LOVE Kelly. She was amazing on Idol and is MY favorite idol so far. Her voice is simply beautiful and her first 2 cds I love. I heard this crap talk about Clive and her fighting and was scared to hear what she would put out, at first listen, I thought `damn this cd is just ok, I do like Breakaway better' but now after many listens, after listening 2 the beautiful lyrics, the nice melodies and her haunting voice, this cd is amazing! I cannot get enough of it, its in my car, on my desk at work, my ipod and next to me at night for bed.

Never Again- Love it- love the words- 5 out of 5 Stars
One Minute- Didn't love at first but I find myself singing along to it- 5/5
Hole-Same as OneMinute, this is currently the song on repeat- 5/5
Sober-LOVE it, amazing, haunting! 5/5
Don't Waste Your Time- Fun song, 4/5
Judas- Love it! Great lyrics great beat 5/5
Haunted- Never caught on but still a great song 4/5
Be Still- One of my favs! Just great! 5/5
Maybe- Possibly my top 3, amazing! 5/5
How I Feel- Good song but not my fav I also find myself singing it when its not on 4/5
Yeah- Same as before, good song 4/5
Can I Have A Kiss- Love this song love the lyrics 5/5
Irvine- amazing! Just haunting- 5/5
Chivas- funny great her voice is amazing! 5/5

Buy the cd you will not be disappointed! BETTER, yes BETTER than Breakaway!
Kelly is one of the best today if not top 3 singers of the newer generation! Here to stay and I cannot wait for future music! Kelly is original, her voice is amazing and her songwriting is just as good! GO KELLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! COOL BEANS :)

I could go on for pages about this album but in a nutshell: This is not an easy album to listen to at first. It's noisy (for lack of a better word) and painful. But as with all the best music, the tracks start to take shape with repeated listenings. If the album tanks, it's because Clive Davis was most concerned with being right and he has sabotaged it every step of the way.

The given coming into this album is that Clarkson is one of the greatest female singers to come to the forefront in the last 25 years, maybe the greatest. There is nothing she can't do. Yet she avoids showing off and just sings from her heart on every track. Is it a perfect album? Not at all. Is it the work of a great artist? Absolutely.

Had there been no fuss about the feud with Clive Davis to cloud things, "My December" would be viewed as the work of a confident, maturing artist. The material on this album is darker than "Breakaway," but more expressive, intelligent, and fully realized. It's not all "Never Again": songs like "Sober" and "Irvine" are as gripping as any of Clarkson's previous hits, and have much more of value to say to her audience. Most impressive are the performances themselves; the musicians are solid and the vocals intense and incisive. Over time, when people are able to appreciate the album on its merits, "My December" may come to be perceived as Clarkson's best, most personal work -- and the realization of a "voice" all her own. Try it.

Kelly won American Idol. Them came "Thankful" and "Breakaway". Now Kelly is on her way to become the best singer in the wolrd (I think she ist it at all). This album is absolutely wonderful !!! May be that there are some songs on this album which are not "radio friendly" but who cares. The storie told by this album ist fantastic and Kelly was so honorable to refuse a lot of money from here record label to put some itchy pitchy pop songs to it. Kelly - I will let you know: There are a lot of fans all over the world and here in Germany, too. Kelly ---> WE LOVE YOU!

While different from Breakaway, My December is the best CD of Clarkson's career, without a doubt.

Never Again - 3/5. Obviously the weakest track on the album, not bad.. but not one to listen to repeatedly
One Minute - 4/5. Very upbeat and poppy, not the strongest, but a good song to kick off with. The chorus is particularly memorable "one minute you laugh//i get the feeling that nothing lately ever really lasts// and you love and you hate and you wait//cuz one minute goes fast"
Hole - 4/5. A very heavy and depressed almost metalish song.
Sober - 5/5. Possibly one of the strongest and most poignant melodramatic songs I've heard. It's beautifully chilling and a favorite track among fans. "three months and i'm still sober//picked all my weeds but kept the flower"
Don't Waste Your Time - 5/5. This song is a very catchy and instrumentally excellent.
Judas - 4/5. Judas is a personal favorite of mine. The beat of the song catches your ear on first listen.
Haunted - 5/5. Another chiller here. Clarkson sings of somebody who committed suicide and she is still haunted by them. "shadows linger only to my eye"
Be Still - 5/5. Hear the signature beauty in her voice in this slow, hypnotic ballad.
Maybe - 5/5. One of the most interesting uses of repetition I've ever heard. Although she says "Maybe" countless times in this song, it has a subtle emphasis that makes it a standout track.
How I Feel - 5/5. A sarcastic and witty song that you can't get out of your head.
Yeah - 4/5. This one's a grower, at first I didn't like it much at all. After a few listens, I grew to love it, so don't give up on it at first listen
Can I Have A Kiss - 5/5. A strong balladesque song about sexual desire. "if i can't hold you can I give you a kiss" It's another grower but it's extremely good lyrically.
Irvine - 5/5. Another showcase of Clarkson's flawless vocal. I don't think its arguable that she has the best female voice out of any American Idol contestant thus far. It's magnificant and up there with the all time greats.

Although there's been a few bumps in the road, Clarkson managed to pull off this risky release. She passes with flying colors. A+