Stronger: Standard Version

The Queen of American Idol is back with "Stronger". Kelly Clarkson has been giving her fans quality music ever since her first album "Thankful". As a long time fan, I was expecting another "My December". I thought this album would be "Breakaway" & "My December" put together. But it's more of a fun album like "All I Ever Wanted", which is not a bad thing. I think this album will definitely give Kelly Clarkson continued success. Even though demos of the songs were leaked it still didn't take away the good of the album. 

The album starts with the albums' first single 'Mr Know It All'. I feel this single wasn't the best single to start the album with but it's still a great song. In addition, I wanted Kelly to really give me more adlibs at the end, but other than that the song is cool.  The second track in my opinion should have been the first single. But I understand that it was leaked, so she and the label felt they had to go with a song that wasn't. But 'What Doesn't Kill You' (Stronger) is an anthem for everyone. Her vocals on this song makes the song so much better. When I first heard this song in July, it became my favorite song of 2011. If you want an anthem like 'Since You Been Gone', 'What Doesn't Kill You' is it. The third and fourth tracks 'Darkside' & 'Honestly' gives me that "My December" vibe. 'Honestly', Kelly is singing her heart out especially when she says "Listen to the truth if it breaks me...if you hating me do it honestly". I can feel her when she sings that. The fifth track is entitled 'You Love Me', which I understand is the reviewer favorite song. Clarkson explained that she was in a dark place when she wrote this song and this song was her way of getting all that pain out. In my opinion, this song is an for anyone that experienced a bad breakup. Track six is another song that leaked entitled 'Einstein' (Previously 'Dumb+Dumb=You'). When I heard this song when it leaked, it became my ringtone because I liked it so much. This song you sing to a person that really hurt you and you are yelling this song to them. I love Kelly's emotions on this song you can tell she is angry but she seems happy to get all the pain out. Another leaked song 'Standing In Front Of You', I love this song as soon as I heard it. But I like the demo and little better than the album version. It seems that the added music takes away from the emotion and rawness of the demo. But the words are beautiful and Kelly's vocals are great as usual. The eighth track 'I Forgive You' was also leaked. This song was produced by Rodney Jerkins(Brandy, Beyonce, and Whitney Houston). I was surprise that Jerkins did rock music, but his sound and Kelly's voice shines on this song. This song give me a 'Walk Away' vibe, very soulful rock. 'Hello' is the ninth track, which I loved when I first heard it. This is song gives you a reminder of "Breakaway", this song gave me the song 'Gone' vibe. I love her vocals on this, when Kelly adlibs it sends chills up my spine. Now, my favorite song on the album has to be the tenth track 'The War Is Over'. This song gives me 'Hear Me' part 2. 'Hear Me' is my favorite song from her, but this song does something to me. The words to me applies to a situation that I experienced and this song tells it all. You know that person has a hold on you, but sometimes you have to let it go. When she sings "I won't let you pull me in because I know you gonna win, but the war is over and I won't fight you anymore, I never been so sure", it speaks to me so much. The next track is 'Let Me Down' which is a classic Kelly Clarkson song, great vocals and rocky. Another favorite of mine is 'You Can't Win', this song is for anyone that feels like that can't shine at anything. When I heard this song for the first time, it made me think of Barack Obama, because he can't win at anything with Congress. 'You Can't Win' is definitely another anthem for everyone. The last track on the album is called 'Breaking Your Own Heart' definitely goes back to Kelly's country roots. When I first heard this song, I cried because it's such an emotional song. This song really gives you that Patsy Cline's 'I Fall to Pieces' vibe. Kelly's vocals are extraordinary on this song. When I heard this song, it brought back memories of my mother and I on the road with my father and hearing country music at the truck stop.  


In all "Stronger" is a good album. Kelly vocals are extraordinary and the song contents are great. She definitely gives you a little bit of each of her albums, but it channels "All I Ever Wanted" because when through she gives you a memories of her older albums, Kelly seemed 
to have fun with this album like "All I Ever Wanted". (8/10)

STANDOUT TRACKS

The War Is Over

What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)

You Can't Win

Breaking Your Own Heart

You Love Me

Happy Birthday "Grindaddy"

ERVIN LEE WASHINGTON 

(OCTOBER 6, 1942- NOVEMBER 24, 2010)

This is the first year that my couldn't spend my grandfather's birthday with him, I miss him so much. When I went to South Carolina to my aunt's funeral was really when I felt his presence absent. I had to shed a few tears privately because I miss him so much. It's like when he left, I feel like something is missing from my daily life. I owe my "grindaddy" so much because he is the reason for my love of music. He was the reason for my mother knowing and loving so much music. My grandfather used to buy a record (45s) everyday. But his favorite artists included Joe Simon, James Brown, Sam Cooke, and Jackie Wilson. I felt for his birthday I need to play his favorite artist he would really like that. "Grindaddy if you are listening Happy Birthday, I love you and miss you very much. I am trying to hold down the folk for you, meaning I am watching grandma making sure she's behaves. (Had to laugh at that one)."

These are for you!!!

Sam Cooke- A Wonderful World

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF6JMotbHYM

Joe Simon - A Chokin Kind

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk-kFUDT6IM&feature=related

Jackie Wilson - Lonely Teardrops

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nEfuE8Pw4U

James Brown -Sex Machine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ajzpd-ONOdo&feature=related

I LOVE YOU "GRINDADDY"....HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Adele vs. Joss Stone

AWESOME UK ARTISTS

It seems that the UK artists are really crossing over in America. The artists include the late Amy Winehouse and Leona Lewis. But in my opinion there are two artists that stand-out which are Adele & Joss Stone. These two artists' voices are awesome, not disrespecting Amy Winehouse but these two are great. Today, I was listening to Joss and Adele and I felt that I should compare both artists and at the end chose which artist, I feel is better.

Joss Stone, I was introduced by mother. Even though, my mother forgot how she discovered her. I can recall my mother saying "We have to get this white girl Joss Stone album because she sounds black, and Betty Wright discovered her." So, I went to Best Buy and purchased "The Soul Sessions" after listening to this album, it became one of my top 20 albums of all time. Every since Joss Stone has become one of my favorite singers. Her voice is so soulful, which is what I can respect about her. Joss has that voice that can make me cry, which in my eyes is what a soul singer is.

Adele, I was introduced by one of my twitter followers. The only thing I knew about Adele was that she won the grammy for best new artist, but I didn't know her music. March of this year on twitter a lot of my followers was talking about her new album "21". So, I thought that I would ask one of my followers about her. He told me just get her album "21" and the rest speaks for itself. When that album finish, I thought to myself "why didn't know about this girl". Her voice was so heavenly and smooth, but it has a little soul to it. Then another one of my twitter followers told me her first album "19" is better. When I first listened to "19" it was more "bluesy" than "21" so I wasn't into it. Until one day I was home listening to music, and finally I gave it a full listen, I have to agree "19" is better because it a lot more raw. 

Contrast

Joss Stone voice is a lot more soulful than Adele. Joss Stone voice is more aggressive than Adele. I can't see Adele singing a song like 'Spoiled' while having the same soul as Joss. In contrast, I can't see Joss singing a song like 'Someone Like You' and have the same smoothness that Adele has on the song.  Adele has more of a crossover voice than Joss. Adele voice is smooth that can crossover to the mainstream world. Joss Stone's voice is too soulful, she has been out longer than Adele, Adele already has more hits than Joss. Adele writes her own music, Joss Stone didn't start writing her own music until her 3rd album. In my opinion, Adele gives me more of that Motown (Supremes, Martha Reeves, Mary Wells) soul and Joss gives me more of a Stax(Otis Redding, Carla Thomas, Sam & Dave) soul. But both, Adele and Joss have different voices that go well with the music they make.

Similarities 

You can tell by the their styles of music, both artists were influenced by soul music. I feel that both artist can tell a story with their voices. Joss and Adele voices definitely sound like each of them have been through heartbreak and pain. Both of Adele's albums are about heartbreak, which shows in each song. Joss's songs like 'Spoiled' and 'Killing Time', a personal favorite of mine are about heartbreak and you hear it in her voice. These women are very known to heartbreak and they both sing themselves out of it.

My Pick

As much as I like Adele, I think Joss Stone is a little better to me. I love her soulful voice, she can sing anything to me. I can see her doing a duet with the soulful divas that include Aretha, Patti, and Gladys. Joss and one of these divas can definitely "get down" in a duet. But Adele could definitely write a great song for them. Adele makes great music about heartbreak, but when I hear a song about heartbreak, I want aggression not smooth, and that's what Joss Stone gives me. Surely, not taking anything from Adele because she has a beautiful voice, but Joss just bring out more soul to me. 

Live Performances

Joss Stone Spoiled
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utKqlPwDkFo


Adele Someone Like You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qemWRToNYJY

WHO IS YOUR PICK: JOSS OR ADELE

(Comment & Tell Me Why The Artist you choose is better)