Customer Reviews

Thankful

5 star:		(610)
4 star:		(183)
3 star:		(79)
2 star:		(49)
1 star:		(82)

 

 

The "pop fluff" accusations are unfounded. Anyone that has dimissed Kelly's album as pure "fluff" has clearly not listened to the entire album. In fact, they probably dismissed it before even listening to the two or three songs that they actually heard. The fact is that for a pop star (ahem, "POP star"... get it? as in an American Idol, or Pop Idol... as in, what that whole contest was about) her CD is quite listenable and enjoyable. Of course it's pop music. What were you expecting? Rock-rap? Country? Opera? Come on, folks. I will admit that I had to listen to the CD a few times to get into it, but like I always say, really good music is not immediately accessible. It's SUPPOSED to take a few times around. Here's my song-by-song analysis:

1. The trouble with love - 4/5 - Nice, soulful song that displays her vocal range.

2. Miss Independent - 2/5 - A HORRIBLE first single. Who makes these decisions anyway? The song itself is ok, even those it operates only on "talk" and "shout." It just doesn't fit here and there are way better songs that could be first singles. There's a reason Christina didn't use this song.

3. Low - 5/5 - One of the best songs. Has a rock-pop edge to it. Very Sheryl Crow. Plus, Kelly just sounds great on this.

4. Some kind of miracle - 3/5 - Not one of Diane Warren's best. But it's decent and it gives Kelly something to sing solidly.

5. What's up lonely - 4/5 - Great R&B-pop song. This is the type of song I was hoping to hear on Kelly's CD. And thankfully, instead of filling the album with songs like this, this is the only one of its kind. (okay, maybe the first song sounds a bit like this)

6. Just missed the train - 4/5 - Another rockier edge. Good tune.

7. Beautiful Disaster - 4/5 - Guitar-driven pop. This song, "low," and "just missed the train" are not songs I would have expected to be on here, but they're great and they're perfect for Kelly.

8. You Thought Wrong - 5/5 - Definitely a pop song, but even this has both rock and r&b influences. Tamyra Gray appears here in a song about a boy that's done two girls wrong. At first I had a problem with the fact that it's hard to distinguish when Tamyra is singing and when Kelly is singing. But the song is so great it doesn't matter. Tamyra sounds great. Very "the boy is mine."

9. Thankful - 4/5 - Although Kelly sounds great on those pop songs with a rock edge, this is the type of song that was made for her to sing. Slower tempo, r&b influenced.

10. Anytime - 5/5 - This should be a single. Because it would go to #1. Another song that's perfect for her, and she's sounds great. Almost a gospel feel to it, but very much staying within its pop powerhouse kind of range.

11 & 12 - A Moment like this & Before your love - both 4/5 - I was going to give these a 3 out of 5 just because I'm so sick of them. The "new mix" isn't much of a mix (people have been expecting dance remixes... come on people, that's ridiculous, they'd never do that). But it's enough of a new mix that her voice can breathe a bit without being locked into that slick oily kind of pop sound. If you didn't like them before, you won't like them now... but if you did, they're still enjoyable.

Although similar, each song has it's own sound. Give it a try. And then another.

Kelly Clarkson's debut effort blows her competition out of the water. With a mix of R&B, Blues, Jazz, Dance, and even some Alternative, this girl is the definitive pop star, and she can be damn proud of it. She is NOT to be compared to the likes of Avril Lavigne or Britney Spears, for her voice reaches astronomical levels not normally heard from young artists in mainstream pop music. Her strong, emotional voice brings to mind a young Celine or Whitney, only with it's own distinctive qualities, and the songs on this album are all worthy of her astonishing pipes.
Highlights of this album include: "Miss Independent,"the first single; "Anytime," a Celine-worthy, emotional power-ballad; "Just Missed the Train," a guitar-driven pop song with great, meaningful lyrics; "Thankful," the title track, which brings to mind Alicia Keys; "You Thought Wrong," Kelly's collaboration with fellow American Idol Star Tamyra Gray; "Beautiful Disaster," another guitar track that is reminiscent of Sheryl Crow; and my personal favorite, "Some Kind of Miracle," a beautiful, midtempo jazzy number.
Other great songs include "The Trouble With Love Is," "Low," "What's Up Lonely," and of course, making an encore performance, her stickily sweet, yet strong, AI ballads, "Before Your Love," and "A Moment Like This."
With her debut album, Kelly Clarkson has established herself as a true artist. She has not been molded by her management, but has followed her own instincts to create the most amazing debut album in years. I am looking forward to hearing from her for many years to come.

A fan of Kelly since the moment I first heard her, I have been waiting for this CD since September when she won American Idol. I can say that Kel sure did not disappoint me! This album is completely eclectic and every single song sounds different than the last. Except, of course, for the "supposed" mixes of AMLT and BYL.

01.) "The Trouble With Love Is" starts the album off with a familiar sound. Kelly's singing a bluesy ballad much like those she did on AI. The song focuses on the aspects of love and is awesome. {9/10}
02.) "Miss Independent" is the album's first single and is a completely new R&B sound for Kel fans. The song is off the hook, there's not much else to say! {10/10}
03.) "Low" talks of a guy that let Kelly down and has a rock feel to it. It doesn't really stand out, but is a solid track. {9/10}
04.) "Some Kind Of Miracle" is another ballad...possibly the weakest but in no way bad. The vocals are amazing, it's just the background music that's kinda ugh. {9/10}
05.) "What's Up Lonely" talks about how she's lonely and wishes heartache would find someone else to keep company. It's a more mellow song. {9/10}
06.) "Just Missed The Train" sounds kinda like a Michelle Branch song. The background music only adds to the flawless vocals. {10/10}
07.) "Beautiful Disaster" is the weakest song in my opinion. Something about the 80s feel and the lyrics kinda put me off. I like the song, but not as well as the others. {8/10}
08.) "You Thought Wrong" is my favorite song off the album. It features Tamyra Gray and has a plot similar to "The Boy Is Mine". This guy has been playing Kelly and Tamyra and they found out. The verses are kinda like R&B and the choruses are definitely ROCK. This song is perfect and should be the next single. {10/10}
09.) "Thankful" is kinda self-explanatory. It's unique and I've never heard a song like it in my life. It sounds like an extremely long interlude! {8/10}
10.) "Anytime" is the last new song on the album and is also in From Justin To Kelly. This is the strongest ballad and expresses how she feels about that special person in her life and how she wants him to know she'll be his endless support. {10/10}
Now to the pointless "mixes" of "A Moment Like This" and "Before Your Love"...personally I hear no difference. I still love both songs, but they are certainly not new mixes.

This album shows that Kelly is very versitile and has absolute staying power. It's quite the debut and is the best album I've heard in a while. It is easy to listen to and transitions smoothly. She has the voice of an angel and the songs show that off. If you don't already have this album after 19 hours of it's release...I don't know what you're waiting on!

I usually agree with Simon Cowell that the two biggest problems for the finalist on "American Idol" are that these kids have trouble selecting songs that work to their vocal strengths and that their performances are usually on a par with cruise ship entertainment. So in looking forward to "Thankful," the long awaited debut album from the Kelly Clarkson, the former cocktail waitress from Burleson, Texas who became the first American Idol, I was interested to see what series creator Simon Fuller and the rest of the producers would come up with in the way of songs. We already know the woman can sing (I did not join the bandwagon until after the controversy about Tamyra Gray being voted off at which point I watched the final three and immediately said, "I'm sorry, is there a question about which one of these three people can really sing?").

If the selection of the first single is any indication then the decision was to move Clarkson's musical career in the direction of Christina Aguilera. That would be because "Miss Independent" was started by Aguilera and producer Rhett Lawrence (the song was leftover from the "Stripped" album), and finished with Clarkson. Those who thought there would be more ballads in the wake of the record breaking single "A Moment Like This" need to remember that the show's producers had to come up with a song that could be sung by the other finalist, Justin Guarini, as well as Clarkson. Unfettered by this common denominator approach, Clarkson gets to totally let loose on this funky, up-tempo song with the mondo attitude that should appeal to her female fan base. Other producers on the album have worked with No Doubt, Jessica Simpson, and Avril Lavinge, which gives you an idea of the musical direction being mapped out here.

Clarkson co-wrote another pair of songs on her album, "You Thought Wrong" and "Thankful," both in collaboration with Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and the Underdogs (Justin Timberlake). Both of the songs focus more on melody and harmony than power, especially "You Thought Wrong," which is a duet with Tamyra Gray, whose recent star turns on "Boston Public" were threatening to make people forget who won the concert (be honest: have you heard anybody on the second go round of "American Idol" sing anything as well as Tamyra did "I Will Also Love You" on the Fox school drama?). In other words, these songs not only play to Clarkson's strengths as a vocalist, they are showing some growth in that regard as well.

If I were going to predict the next two singles to come off of "Thankful" it would be "Anytime" (which she has already done live on "American Idol") and "Just Missed the Train," although I would not be surprised if the title track was thrown out there instead. "Low" is one of the better tracks as well. There are also new mixes of "A Moment Like This" and "Before Your Love," which should satisfy both those who picked up Clarkson's single or neglected to do so. The bottom line would be that this is a solid album and not a great album, but Kelly Clarkson is still relatively new to the big leagues. There have been too many recording artists in the last couple of decades who had great debut albums and never came close again. I would rather see somebody put together a solid foundation and build on that onward and upward. On that score we can be "Thankful" this album provides the next step up the ladder for Clarkson.

Track listings for "Thankful":

1. The Trouble With Love Is
2. Miss Independent
3. Low
4. Some Kind of Miracle
5. What's Up Lonely
6. Just Missed the Train
7. Beautiful Disaster
8. You Thought Wrong (with Tamyra Gray)
9. Thankful
10. Anytime
11. A Moment Like This (new mix)
12. Before Your Love (new mix)

Anyone who bashes this CD for lack of creativity or talent must never have seen Kelly perform on AI (which leads me to wonder why the heck they bought the CD in the first place?) Since when do most young performers today write all of the songs on their albums, let alone their very first album? Let's look back at the 1960s as a previous reviewer noted and remember that many MANY "Idols" of yesterday were pre-fabricated and had successfull careers being just that. Since when is that a crime? Give the girl a break! Going into this project the whole world knew darn well what kind of CD this would be. Kelly wasn't chosen the winner for her writing abilities but for her vocal abilities. I must admit I was hesitating buying this CD. I didn't buy into the whole American Idol thing that much the first season but when I did happen to tune in and hear Kelly sing I was blown away and I kept going back. There was something about her voice that captured me and made me want to hear more. Her first album doesn't disappoint. If you're familiar with her style during AI and you actually did watch the show you'll already be familiar with "Moment Like This" and "Before Your Love" which were the 2 main reasons I bought this album. I didn't spend the dough for the single and was glad to see them on this album since that's what initally drew me in. When I heard "Anytime" during one of her appearances on AI2 it instantly became a favorite of mine and sealed the deal for me since it is also on the disk. True, Kelly will need to decide which way she goes on her next album - R&B or Pop - but the mixture of both on this one sounds okay. I feel that Clive Davis is trying to showcase Kelly's vocal diversity which is a welcome change from the popular hits that all sound the same. "Just Missed The Train" blends an intriguing sound of vocal harmonizing to make a train whistle sound for dramatic effect a few times during the song and the whole time the drive of the song is reminiscent of a train's movement. I'm a big fan of music that involves some creativity. I didn't care for the R&B tunes, not because Kelly didn't do them well, but because I'm a bigger fan of pop and hope that her next album will feature just pop. However, I do appreciate the risks she took and feel that those who know who Kelly is and what she brought to AI will be as "thankful" as I was that this CD surpassed my expectations!

Kelly Clarkson is alot of things. Mariah, Whitney or Toni Braxton she isnt, and thats absolutely wonderful. At a time when singers like Mariah, Whitney and Toni Braxton fail to score a hit song its refreshing to find someone who can sing, and not overdo it. We arent punished with Celine and Christina's never ending screeching. Instead we are treated to a mixed bag of potential hits, and not-so-bad filler material. Definite hits are "Miss Independent", "Beautiful Disaster" (why wasnt that the first single?), and the over the top, Whitney should be ashamed for not trying hard enough gem called "You thought wrong". Seriously. Kelly and guest vocalist Tamyra Gray wipe the floor with anything Whitney Houston has done in the last 5 years. And if youre looking for love songs,, theres a real classic called "The trouble with love". Reminds me of when Mariah sang, instead of whispering. Get this one while you can. And when Tamyra releases her album, get that one too.

Kelly definetly proves why she is the American Idol with this album.
This album is a nice blend of R&B and Pop music.
I'll go into an analysis of the different songs.

#1. The Trouble With Love Is
-R&B.
-Lots Of Emotion Vocally.
-The Beat and Rhythm don't seem too new.

#2. Miss Independent
-R&B and Pop mixed into one song.
-Excellent combination of fast and slow beats.
-Really tests the flexibility in Kelly's voice, and she pulls it off.
-Very Catchy Song.

#3. Low
-Nice Pop sound to it.
-Excellent Lyrics.
-Incredible Vocally.

#4. Some Kind of a Miracle
-Obviously fits under the R&B Category.
-Very Slow.
-Short In Terms Of Length.
-Good Lyrics and Vocals.

#5. What's Up Lonely
-R&B.
-Very Emotional Vocals.
-Catchy Beat

#6. Just Missed The Train
-Pop/R&B
-Odd, new, and excellent rhythm.
-Perfect song for Kelly's voice.

#7. Beautiful Disaster
-R&B
-Good Lyrics
-Good Vocals, as always.
-Won't be a catchy beat for everyone.

#8. You Thought Wrong
-Pop.
-Very nice rhythm.
-Differs from every other song on this album.

#9. Thankful
-R&B.
-Nice Rhythm.
-Once again showcases the flexibility in Kelly's voice.

#10. Anytime
-R&B/Pop.
-Excellent transitions in terms of vocals.
-Excellent Lyrics.

#11. A Moment Like This
-Ballad/Pop.
-Excellent meaning in the lyrics of this song.
-Excellent Vocally.
-Excellent for a Wedding Song.

#12. Before Your Love
-Ballad/Pop.
-Once again, beautiful meaning.
-Excellent lyrics with a great voice behind them.
-Slow Song.

And that is it. Overall, I thought the album was great. The combination of Pop and R&B can easily suit two different categories of listeners.

Overall, 5 stars. Good job with this, Kelly.

Kelly Clarkson has surpassed all expectations on her debut album Thankful. For everyone who thought this was gonna be another teen-pop album filled with ballads like A Moment Like This and Before Your Love, you will be disappointed. Kelly Clarkson proves why she was chosen the American Idol and puts out a very sophisticated pop/rock/r&b album. Her voice is incredible as we all know, and she proves she can sing any type of music. Starting off the album is the stunning jazz/blues ballad The Trouble With Love Is. Next comes the funky, edgy Miss Independant, something we would not have expected from her. Low is the best song on the album. This one is more of a rock power ballad in the likes of Sheryl Crow. Her vocals are breathtaking here. Some Kind of Miracle is another beautiful ballad which showcases Kellys powerful pipes. Whats Up Lonely is smooth R&B. Just Missed the Train and Beautiful Disaster gear more towards adult comtemporary/rock ballads. She truly shines vocally on these 2 tracks. This is where she sounds the most at ease. You Thought Wrong is the powerhouse duet with Tamyra Gray. All I can say is that this song is HOT! The 2 are powerful together and each give fierce vocal performances. Thankful is a fun, mid tempo track written by Kelly, and then she ends with Anytime, a dramatic power ballad. Kellys voice is in full force on this one, hitting high notes all over the place. We are then treated to, as they say, new mixes of her 2 AI ballads, and honestly, I dont know whats so new about them. Kelly Clarkson is no one hit wonder. She is a phenomenal performer, with a diverse taste in music that will gain her praise and longevity in the music world.

Kelly Clarkson is truly a radiant singer. After watching the American Idol series, watching her develop through each week's performance, there has been much growth of talent and maturity from Clarkson. This CD has become one of my favorites that I frequent wherever I am, either my car, at work, wherever. "Thankful" is something that I would recommend not to easily overlook.

1. The Trouble With Love Is: honestly, this song was not initially one of my favorites. It took a while for me to get used to listening to it, and to eventually to like it. This song, currently Clarkson's third single, top 10 MTV TRL, does showcase her vocals. Her strong clear vocals are clearly demonstrated within this song. Not only that, but having co written this song, shows some of her aesthetic talent. Will eventually get good.
"My heart keeps calling, and I keep on falling..."
4/5

2. Miss Independent: the first single that was released and was highly successful as it was the song that started the success of "Thankful". This song's lyrics are very catchy, as the chorus is very edgy and 'rockish'. Having Co-Written this song with Christina Aguilera, Kelly has made this song one of her trade marks. Very catchy bass and great bridge.
"When Miss Independent walked away, no time for love that came her way..."
5/5

3. Low: another rock inspired song that showcases Kelly's vocal talents. This is Clarkson's second single release. It wasn't that successful with the musical audience, but I still very much like it. I enjoy the electric guitar in this piece that creates a pulsating tune. I think there is intelligence musical ornamentation within this piece, which can be small and less detailed, but if you pay attention you can hear it.
"I've walked out of this darkness, with much sense of regret..."
5/5

4. Some Kind Of Miracle: another song that took several times for me to like. Although this song was "boring" to me, it has a very catchy melody that just stuck with me until I eventually enjoyed it. The music is very soft and is given emphasis with the beating of the drum and the bass. Great vocals.
"You came and gave me the love that I need"
4/5

5. What's Up Lonely: This song, is catchy, but not as all others. Of all the other tracks, I would think this is my least favorite. The music-drum beat, bass line, etc. and the singing becomes very redundant and becomes boring after a while.
"Just when I think that you're gone, you're in the mirror looking back..."
2/5

6. Just Missed The Train: I very much like this piece. This song has a very catchy chorus. The vocal painting does help create much more dramatic pose to this piece. This song does truly portray Clarkson's vocal abilities. The instrumentation is very nice and creates a nice feel to it, like the intro with the guitar. The song starts of soft, and then becomes much edgier.
"Be quiet angel, don't make a sound ..."
5/5

7. Beautiful Disaster: this song is something I would classify as something that is more of a teen musically structured song. This song is good, but does not compare to many other songs on this track. The instrumentation though is great.
"He's as damned as he seems, and more heaven than a heart can hold.."
3/5

8. You Thought Wrong: this song feature Tamyra Gray, the fourth to last to be eliminated within the AI series. This song is rocky and devotes much vocal abilities. In this song, both showcase their talents, competing to reveal the strength of each voice. Both, Clarkson's and Gray's, vocals compliment each other as they become quite unified during the chorus, and as well as abstract during the verses and add libs. Catchy and great.
"You thought we didn't know, you thought we were in the dark..."
5/5

9. Thankful: is another track that isn't quite catchy on the first listen. It took a while before I caught onto this song, although I must admit that the melody is memorable. This song has nothing to do with being thankful for being the AI winner, but rather for that someone. This song is full of soul and showcases the strength in her voice. Okay, but I would prefer other songs over this.
" You know my soul, and everything about me there's to know..."
3/5

10. Anytime: definitely one of the best songs on this track. It is a nice ballad that isn't too slow. The instrumentation, the vocal layering, helps create great dramatic pose within this song. Originally sung by Mary Griffin, Clarkson does a wonderful job by adding her vocal strength and emphasis to creating this piece of her own. Great song.
"Anytime you need love, baby I'm on your side..."
5/5

11. A Moment Like This: this song has started her career. Although have been released as a single, this piece is surely welcome within "Thankful". This supposedly is a New Mix. The mix is very subtle, even hard to recognize. The only difference is the extra layering of instruments that help to create a more emotional feeling, although very subtle. Great track, great singing.
5/5

12. Before Your Love: is Kelly's American Idol released single, the second one I would say. This is one of my favorite song from Kelly Clarkson. Again, this is another that was newly mixed. In this piece, the changes are very subtle once again. Besides the new layered instrumentation, there is also some different vocals added, like at the very end of the piece where "Your" is re-edited. The end, "Love" is poorly edited as you can hear such dramatic different volumes. I much recommend the single version over this one.
2/5

Almost reaching the 1000 word limit, all I have to say is Buy this 2x platinum CD. It is great and shows the versatility of a great performer. Expect more from Kelly Clarkson.

I would venture to say that Kelly might even be the next Celine Dion. Her vocal ability is nothing short of amazing. For a first attempt, this album exceeds all expectations. There are undoubtedly numerous tracks on this album that could be released as singles and easily rival Billboard's top pop artists. My personal favorites are "What's Up Lonely" and "Thankful", with "Just Missed The Train" and "Miss Independent" coming in a close second. "Some Kind of Miracle" and "Anytime" are also incredible. The album effectively combines different genres of music, including rock, pop and R&B. Kelly seems to have taken a cue from Christina Aguilera, who introduced a variety of music flavors into her latest release. I'll be really excited to hear Kelly's next album, as I can see her maturing into an unrivaled talent in an industry flooded with overhyped artists with mediocre singing ability. It's refreshing to finally hear a new artist with such a raw talent.