REVIEW #1: 87/100

FINALLY!! The moment we’ve all been waiting for… Miss Kelly Clarkson has decided to bless us with her new album, Broken Heart Jukebox! Preceded by GRAMMY nominated SMASH hit DYSTOM? (perhaps the original keyboard smash title) and collaboration with relatively unknown artist Mariah Carey, this album has been built up and built up for…. Like ever! And now we finally have it! I’m not even going to waste time writing more for this introduction. I want to LISTEN!

First up we have Runaway… am I on Spellbound again?! But seriously, the minute this kicks in you can tell Kelly means BUSINESS. The footsteps, the street sounds, the ominous music all sounds like Kelly is walking to this little motel she’s talked about. And THEN the track kicks in. I really love this! It has a very kind of dramatic feel at points, and it’s absolutely gorgeous. The writing is really sweet too, but the production is the real stand out here. I will say the track does kind of draw itself out a bit? I mean, at 6 and a half minutes long I suppose that’s to be expected but it’s just an observation. However, once the saxophone kicks in… I am floored! I feel like i’ve finished the whole album but there’s still so much more to go! This is probably one of my favourite opening tracks i’ve ever heard which makes me incredibly excited for the rest of the album (as if I wasn’t already)!

Alright, Let You Go now! My first thought is this is.. intense! I kind of love it though! It’s an incredibly catchy beat though which is really nice. The verses are written really well too, I like them! I love Kelly’s way of writing that just feels really… natural I suppose. It’s a real highlight to me! I know I started this one off saying it was intense but it’s like… INTENSE intense! The minute I finished I was like, ‘what just happened?!’ I really love this one but at points it maybe feels a bit too much? Like the actual production starts to overshadow Kelly? The production is phenomenal so it’s not a terrible thing at all! Just something that stood out to me I suppose.

Ahh yes, the GRAMMY nominated smash hit and original keyboard smash title, DYSTOM? Is next! We’ve all heard this one so there’s not much I can say that we don’t already know! I will say, I think this was an incredible single choice. At least so far, it feels like the track that perfectly encaptures all the things Kelly’s been attempting with the album. The production is fun and catchy, the lyrics are well written and it just has this incredible atmosphere in it. I have to mention that Mariah lyric of course, because I really love it! It’s kind of quirky but adds a nice bit of character to the song? I don’t know, it’s a small thing but I think it adds a bit of charm to this track.

Now for Distant Lover! It seems a bit more subdued than the previous tracks which I am 100% here for! Kelly needs to give us a minute to cool down here! Honestly I think this might be my favourite track so far. The production doesn’t feel overbearing and gives Kelly a real moment to shine! That being said, it’s still really catchy and works with the elements of previous tracks to help it fit in naturally. Lyrically, this one is beautiful. It’s not overly complex to the point where it brings itself down but it just flows really well and feels very authentic. All around just an incredibly solid track!

Onto the single that gave Mariah Carey a career, Lonely! We’ve all heard this absolute smash so there’s not a whole lot more to say. The beat is INFECTIOUS! Like, I really love this one. Again, it’s not trying to do too much but it just works! I think the chorus/hook is the stand out for me here. They’re just masterfully written to be so damn catchy! And paired with the phenomenal production… wow! The verses are strongly written too of course, but the chorus and hook are the real shining stars of this one for me.

Alright, Stay The Night! Immediately, this one feels a little different. Not in a bad way at all! It’s still very cohesive with the rest of the album so far but seems to be setting itself apart a little bit which is very appreciated. I’m finding myself unironically tapping my foot while listening to this which must be a good sign! Kelly just knows how to work these really catchy beats into this which i’m loving! Lyrically, it’s not my favourite but it has its moments! The bridge especially is one of the highlights of the track for me. Probably not one of the stand out tracks for me but i’m still really loving it! I really appreciate Kelly having a more toned down track in here, I think it really helps the album to flow more seamlessly.

Now for another track which Kelly names after a question, we have ‘What If I Never Get Over You?’ up next! Probably a really small thing but I really like that kind of title thing. I don’t know, it’s kind of cute. Anyways! Kelly seems to be picking up the pace a little bit here but still doing it really naturally. It’s a really nice mid-point for the album. This has an incredible atmosphere around it for a start! I adore the production on this. Lyrically I think this is also one of my favourites! It has that really seamless, natural storytelling kind of style which I love and Kelly pulls off really well. The ending really stuck out to me too! Overall I really love this track!

I don’t know why but, as soon as I saw the tracklist, For My Broken Heart was one I was really excited to hear. And now we’re here! Right off the bat, I'm loving this. It’s almost kind of… mystical? And then the GUITAR! Yeah this is one of my favourites so far for sure. I also love the concept of Kelly singing to her own broken heart, it’s really unique and she pulls it off really well! It’s not my favourite lyrically, but it gets the job done. Alright, that saxophone build up just BURST out. I definitely wasn’t expecting that. I wasn’t sure about it at first but, by the time the second chorus comes around, i’m sold! I’m not sure about the kind of fake-out ending honestly. It’s a really cool idea but part of me wishes it had ended just there? That would’ve made it perfect for me! The track is already really long! If the track wasn’t already 5 minutes long by that point I think i’d be totally here for it. It doesn’t hinder my enjoyment of the track though! Just something I could live without.

In The Night was another track I was really interested to hear, so i’m excited for this! Instantly this feels intense like some of the tracks nearer the start but it doesn’t feel overbearing? Like, I think it works a lot better than some of the tracks nearer the start. I LOVE the use of guitar and synths! This track is phenomenal. The production is absolutely flawless without feeling like too much and it’s insanely catchy! I adore the lyrical style with this one as well. Just flawless all around! This feels like the epitome of what Kelly’s trying to do with this album and i’m all for it. And it has a slightly similar fake-out ending thing to For My Broken Heart but it just WORKS here! Easily my favourite so far. Next single please Miss Kelly!

I’m not sure about the lyricism in Tightrope. “Please go to the Google Drive link” is a nice line, i’ll give her that but it feels very on the nose. And calling us “fatty”?? Cancel her!! Anyways, the track starts off and appears to be one of the slower tracks on the album which I do enjoy. I think they add a nice, much needed kind of break! This one especially I think really allows Kelly a moment to just sing her heart out without competing with the production. Which is still really solid! I enjoy it a lot, potentially even more so because it’s not so prominent. The chorus especially stands out to me as a highlight! The whole track is a highlight to me honestly. It’s another long one but it doesn’t feel like it at all!

Now onto “Worth The Wait” which better have been worth the wait! The intro sticks out to me a lot. It’s very different from the rest of the album but i’m liking it. It reminds me of the Jolly Roger Bay theme from Super Mario 64 so that Unagi thing better have some writing credits here! But yeah, the track stands out a bit from the rest of the album to me which isn’t a bad thing at all. It feels distinctive which I love. Lyrically, it’s pretty good! Not my favourite from the album but it’s still strong. They just don’t carry the song as I'd hoped they would. The line about writing love songs and finally finding her inspiration is really sweet though, I love that one! Not one of the stand-out tracks for me but I still really like it!

Someone To Hold On To is next and I think I really like this one! Lyrically, I love the repeated use of “someone” throughout verse 1 and the chorus. It’s a small thing that stood out to me but I like it! Production wise, it’s another track where Kelly is starting to master the balance between having a strong production that isn’t too intense? It’s not one of the massive intense bangers or anything but the production really enhances it and makes it a stand out track in my eyes. The guitar kicking in elevates the track even more! This is for sure a favourite. It feels very conclusive though, especially with that ending, so I am very curious what she’ll bring out for that actual conclusive track. I will say though, the track does drag out just a little bit. Not as obvious as some of the earlier tracks but just a little thing I felt while listening.

And finally, the closing track, Without You! A Mariah lyric, a Mariah feature and two songs that share titles with Mariah songs (this & Stay The Night)... Kelly is really supporting this up and coming artist huh! Seriously though, looks like we’re getting a little piano ballad to wrap things up which is cute! The idea of a piano ballad on this album may seem kind of out there but it actually works quite well. Kelly uses lots of elements from throughout the album that help it fit in nicely but still keep it different enough to be a nice conclusive track. Lyrically while, again it’s not overly complex, I think Kelly makes it work with this? Especially on the pure piano parts, the lyrics she’s singing feel very raw and authentic which I love! Thematically it seems like a strange note to end on though? I get that the whole album is about heartbreak and Kelly’s experience but ending on a song about how she misses someone isn’t the most… empowering? It doesn’t affect my enjoyment of the album much but it’s just something I noticed!

Overall, this is an incredible album from Kelly! The production is the obvious highlight of the album for me, which Kelly has seamlessly put together to create a beautiful, cohesive project. It’s a breath of fresh air for sure! However, there are times where the production becomes a bit too overpowering and the track becomes a bit engulfed, but these moments are few and far between. Some of the more subdued, mellower tracks are highlights for me since they give space for both the production and Kelly’s lyricism to shine, which has a stunning authentic style to it without dragging itself down for being overly complex. All this is without even touching on the VISUALS which are simply drop dead gorgeous. I’m so happy to see this album out, and it’s been a pleasure to finally listen to! May it debut with 671254 Million copies and occupy the entire top 13 for weeks to come.

​

​

 

 

REVIEW #2: 82/100

It had been a while since anyone had heard anything from Kelly Clarkson. That was until she released her most recent and biggest hit to date, “Do You Still Think Of Me?” this year. The single was met with tremendous success, despite the brief and very quickly shut down rumors of being inspired by other artists for her found and imagery this era. Now we’re well into the summer months, and Clarkson just dropped the mother album to that lead single, “Broken Heart Jukebox”. The main theme of the album is learning how to pick yourself up when you fall, or “learning to dance through pain”. While Clarkson retains her more emotional side on BHJ, it is definitely miles more positive and hopeful than some of her past work. 

 
Kelly shows that she has not missed a beat when it comes to penmanship. If listened to closely enough, Broken Heart Jukebox tells a story of love, heartbreak, and acceptance from start to finish. The strongest showings would have to be the title track, Distant Lover, For My Broken Heart, and In The Night, all of which make up the songs I would personally name as my favorites. In The Night in particular could be released as a single, because of its catchy hook and infectious production. There are very few (if any at all) actual missteps when it comes to lyrics, every word written with clear intention and care. While I am impressed, in moments I did find myself hoping that Clarkson would push the envelope a little bit more past the carefully crafted pop writing, and show something a little grittier and less refined to show off some of the more melancholy subject matters discussed on BHJ. It sometimes sounds a tad too “perfect” at times when the opposite approach could have been taken in order for it to have more emotional impact.  But that is really nitpicky and more of a personal preference thing, since that only applies to about three or four lines here and there, so it is not something that affects the quality of the album. Perhaps I’m just too keen to hear the mother spit out a few curse words for the fun of it. Kelly did what she needed to do, which was write songs that were well-constructed, sometimes witty, mostly great, and got the point across! A lot of time was put into this album, and it shows. The production ties it all together, following a modernized sound that was inspired by the 1980’s and the sub-genres that came from that era. While it seems that this sound has been a trend for a while in the music industry, Kelly Clarkson’s approach stands out for all the right reasons solely for the fact that she went all out with it, no regrets. It is not everyone's favorite era of music, or everyone’s cup of tea, but the risk paid off and she ended up with something special. 

Favorite line: 
“I’ll brave a hundred storms / For you I’d fight a thousand wars / I can’t do this distance anymore / Please remember what we fell in love for” - Clarkson on “Distant Lover” 

 

​

​

REVIEW #3: 85/100

Broken Heart Jukebox. The album we all thought we’d never hear. It’s been three aderous years for Kelly Clarkson to arrive at this moment.  False starts, delays, and total retoolings of the whole package meant that this album gestated for longer than any pop album of recent memory. The plus side to that is that it’ll no doubt ignite a spur of the moment love affair upon it’s release to the world, but the downside is that once it’s thought over for some time, expectations may detract from the general consensus. The hype that rose to meet the album indeed created a set of expectations that few artists have ever had to stare down, but Kelly’s no stranger to staring down the odds. Mind you this is Miss American Idol, Miss Independent, Miss Hazel Eyes herself. She’s been around the block a few times and she knows her way around an album. Even still, this album feels like new territory. A love letter to the 80s and a spin on the traditional breakup album, Kelly decided to dive headfirst into her bravest idea yet. Does it work? Let’s find out. 

The albums on an exceptionally dark sounding track, “Runaway”, but one that’s backed by tonally ambiguous lyrics. On the one hand it seems as if there’s an air of liberation to the lyrics, but hiding beneath them is the possibility of danger and it creates a really interesting experience for an opening track. Production wise the song is incredible, blending together melody and atmosphere to make something that sounds both fresh and retro. Lyrically, the song is solid but far from the best thing that Kelly’s ever put to paper. It’s not that she stumbles, she really doesn’t. It simply just doesn’t have a smooth flow and is a bit rough around the edges. But Kelly still maages to make the track an amazing and ambitious (at over six minutes in length) opening that does stick in mind. “Let You Go” hits the ground running with the momentum from the first track. With one of the most purely 80s vibes, skyscraping guitar and all, the song is a rousing good time. It’s the kind of song that can adapt to any mood whether you’re feeling like you’ve broken free or something or just plain broken. Kelly’s writing exudes a lot of confidence, which makes it a shame that it isn’t a little more lyrically extensive as she really had some momentum going. “Do You Still Think Of Me?”, the almost year old lead single from the project, still manges to keep our attention and blood pumping just as it did when we first heard it. The song’s a damn good time and has a really infectious production that propels it forward. Lyrically the song is pretty standard break up fare, albeit with some shining personality moments that manage to make it distinctly Kelly, something that a lot of artists tend to struggle with. “Distant Lover” is a song that takes a minute to vibe with, but when it hits, it hits. The song’s production is a little more streamlined than the songs that preceded it, but it lends the song a sense of urgency and gives it a very of this moment feeling. Kelly’s writing is rock solid as well, with clear intention and conviction in every line. It’s a great song that needed a little production polish, but even considering that, it’s not skippable. “Lonely” hasn’t lost any of it’s punch since we heard it last. The song is pure attitude and domination, and a hell of a lot of fun. The production is lively and exciting, the lyrics are full of an empowerment message that doesn’t beat you over the head with the fact that it’s empowering, and you can’t help but walk away from the track feeling anything less than energized. Plus, Kelly got to be on a track with her idol and that’s a really special thing to get to witness. 

“Stay the Night” comes in as another solid gold offering. The production is the star of the show here with a hard beat and a funky bass led grove, giving this a very California 80s dreamland vibe. Lyrically Kelly doesn’t struggle to keep up either, turning in another set of sassy and confident lines that really draw you into the world of the song. The final minute and a half or so of the track is one of the album’s absolute highest peaks to match, making this a clear standout and one with a ton of single potential. “What If I Never Get Over You?” delves headfirst into 80s pop ballads and we’re all blessed for it. The production is much less hectic and a little bit more straightforward than what we’ve gotten so far and it’s a perfectly positioned shake up. The subtle melodic changes as the song inches forward make the song somewhat unpredictable but in the best way. Lyrically the song is nearly just as flawless save for the two factors of it retreading some already trodden over ground topic wise and some rough lines here and there that could’ve stood to be smoothed out some. But those two things cannot come close to making this any less of a spectacular song and one of the album’s most vital cuts. “For My Broken Heart” is another track that shoots for a pretty ballsy length, only this time it doesn’t entirely justify the approaching six minute runtime. Certainly the production is solid and never ceases to be entertaining, but it does feel that it starts to drag some in the back half. Lyrically the song is still strong and remains consistent with the bar of quality set by the earlier songs, this one wrenching a genuine emotional response from the listener. You can never call Kelly less than a genuine writer and this song displays that well. “In the Night” is a song that’s also heard a long while ago and it appears that it comes from an early incarnation of the album. Not that it sticks out in a way that detracts from the project, but it clearly was made before a majority of the rest of the record. On it’s own merits, the song is a different kind of track than what we’ve gotten up to this point. Rather than being explicitly about the end of a romance, it’s about powering through pain and staying in control of one’s self and mind and body. The production is once again solid and overall does fit into the album’s tapestry but it is noticeable as something of a different era of this album’s lifecycle. “Tightrope” is indeed a balancing act. The production here does most of the heavy lifting, especially a stunning sax solo in the back portion. Kelly’s lyrics are still pulling weight, but the chorus does more tugging than the verses. The chorus is exceptionally strong, while the verses are still great but don’t pack as much of a punch which does give off a little bit of a push and pull feel to the overall product. But that chorus and the production will keep you coming back for more, that’s to be sure. 

“Worth the Wait” lands as the weakest track on the album, but it’s still one that you can find enjoyment in. The album is pure retro R&B and feels as if it could’ve been ripped from the Whitney/Mariah handbook. The song is a very smooth one and the instrumentation does fit the mood well, but the song feels somewhat underpolished in both sonic and lyric terms. It serves a purpose, absolutely, but a few more drives around tbhe block could’ve made the rougher edges that much sharper. “Someone to Hold Onto” really picks things back up however. The production is absolutely immaculate and features one of the strongest melodies that we hear across the whole album. Lyrically the song is genuinely beautiful and clearly from a very real place in Kelly’s heart. It’s a lovely track that sticks with you for a few moments after it concludes to allow you to really get absorbed by it. An amazing addition. The album closes on it’s most emotionally resonant offering. It’s nothing to do with heartbreak of a romantic kind, but heartbreak of a loss kind, clearly about someone dearly departed from Kelly’s life. It’s production is great, but the lyrics and emotion take center stage making this a wonderfully rounded out closer to the album. 

Broken Heart Jukebox isn’t the album that anyone expected Kelly to make, but it feels like the album that Kelly needed to make. By looking to the past sonically, Kelly has managed to make her present feel once again alive and vibrant. The album isn’t perfect, but there are very few examples of perfect albums out there. Some of the songs go on a little longer than they should, some lines of the songs aren’t polished. But that adds a lot to the character of the album. It feels genuine, it feels lived in, it feels like it’s been in and out of Kelly’s mind so many times that it’s second nature and that ultimately seems to be her intention here. This is Kelly at her most adventurous musically and her most genuine. Kelly managed to blend together her influences, apply a retro filter, and turn in something that feels as it if exists somewhere floating freely in the vacuum of time. It’s a unique experience of an album, an impressively constructed statement, and genuinely the most interesting, diverse, and solid offering she’s turned in to date. 

 

Runaway 8/10
Let You Go 9/10
Do You Still Think of Me? 8/10
Distant Lover 8/10
Lonely 10/10
Stay the Night 10/10
What If I Never Get Over You? 9/10
For My Broken Heart 8/10
In the Night 8/10
Tightrope 8/10
Worth the Wait 7/10
Someone to Hold Onto 9/10
Without You 9/10