Kelly Clarkson "My December"

[Jonny B]

...I'm never sold on any contestant of American Idol. I believe the show is nothing more than the opportunity for fans to vote in the puppets who will dangle on the strings of the big monicker record companies.

Nikki McKibbin was able to cut her strings before any album could be cut out, but her solo stuff didn't impress me one bit. After that, I had little hope that decent rock could come out of the show.

But now Kelly has taken a similar route, in that she is no longer dangling on strings. I borrowed her new cd to check it out, but still I'm not completely sold. There is definitely indication that she is no longer singing to what she is told to sing. But I feel this is more of a transitional album. There are still a few Avril Lavigne-isms that I don't particularily care for. But there are also some great pure rockers that makes me want to listen to her.

I especially love 'Haunted.' This is probably the closest to an American-bred Evanescence-style song I've heard so far.

Perhaps there's hope for female rock in America yet.

[aggieangelcrys]

...I'm never sold on any contestant of American Idol. I believe the show is nothing more than the opportunity for fans to vote in the puppets who will dangle on the strings of the big monicker record companies.

Nikki McKibbin was able to cut her strings before any album could be cut out, but her solo stuff didn't impress me one bit. After that, I had little hope that decent rock could come out of the show.

But now Kelly has taken a similar route, in that she is no longer dangling on strings. I borrowed her new cd to check it out, but still I'm not completely sold. There is definitely indication that she is no longer singing to what she is told to sing. But I feel this is more of a transitional album. There are still a few Avril Lavigne-isms that I don't particularily care for. But there are also some great pure rockers that makes me want to listen to her.

I especially love 'Haunted.' This is probably the closest to an American-bred Evanescence-style song I've heard so far.

Perhaps there's hope for female rock in America yet.

WOW! What a post there Jonny B! I have always been a Kelly fan, and no one who really listens can deny the fact that she's willing to take chances, do her own thing, and be her own person. The new album, as well as the previous album present so many facets of style, range, ability, and emotion.

As for Avril-isms? Ummmmmm....WTF is that?!? Have you listened to Avril's new CD? It's full of cute, upbeat songs that mirror some ska/garage punk bands we used to go see when I was 12 and never left the house without my etnies, some rubber bracelets, and a whole lot of eyeliner. Even the balads are not deep or laced with any emotion to speak of...........she's happy! She's still doing the things the industry wants her to do, and she's still the semi rock, glam girl princess.

Kelly could sing circles around avril, hands down! There is female rock in America, i can assure you..........but you probably shouldn't look to pop artists for it!

[Jonny B]

As for Avril-isms? Ummmmmm....WTF is that?!? Have you listened to Avril's new CD? It's full of cute, upbeat songs that mirror some ska/garage punk bands we used to go see when I was 12 and never left the house without my etnies, some rubber bracelets, and a whole lot of eyeliner. Even the balads are not deep or laced with any emotion to speak of...........she's happy! She's still doing the things the industry wants her to do, and she's still the semi rock, glam girl princess.

Actually, Avril Lavigne had written songs for Kelly Clarkson at one point, and even though 'My December' is primarily Kelly's songwriting, I sensed that she had been influenced just a little bit from her previous contributors. I'm hoping it's just a bad habit she's trying to break out of.

Heck, even Ben Moody wrote for Kelly Clarkson in the past, but those songs were a far cry from anything he did in Evanescence.

...

Still, my standard for female rock in America is Evanescence. They are the reason why I discovered the goth scene in Europe. My female rock collection doubled since that discovery, and there have been quite a few indie artists in the states who write that style as well. If I truly want something that kicks me in the nuts, I'll look there.

Funny, now that I think about it. Avril Lavigne and Evanescence came out within half a year of each other. I wonder. If Amy Lee dressed like every other girl in the pop scene and not like a goth, I wonder if the 14 million sales would've had a greater impact on what direction the monickers of the music industry labeled as 'pop?'

[Penny]

I'm not much into those Idol shows either, but.... Ari Koivunen won the show in Finland and he is very good. He's had a heap of very talented guys writing songs for his debut album and from what I've heard so far it will go to number one pretty fast in Finland.

[Jonny B]

I'm not much into those Idol shows either, but.... Ari Koivunen won the show in Finland and he is very good. He's had a heap of very talented guys writing songs for his debut album and from what I've heard so far it will go to number one pretty fast in Finland.

Regardless of which Finnish bands tour the states this year, they need to make this guy the opening act. I envy the Finnish. Their music scene just gets better every year.