All I Ever Wanted
by Kelly Clarkson
  • Record Label: Sony
  • Release Date: Mar 10, 2009
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. Los Angeles Times
    88
    All I Ever Wanted is a masterful rapprochement with the mainstream, full of cheerfully ear-snagging tunes, inventive production, exhilarating vocals and enough inherent Kelly-ness to put aside fears that her label bosses implanted blond electrodes in her brain to make her behave.
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    She just tries it all, co-writing six of All I Ever Wanted's 14 tracks-- and stumbles only rarely
  3. Boston Globe
    80
    No matter the stage of the romance, it's always DEFCON 1 in Clarkson-ville. And on All I Ever Wanted, out Tuesday, that melodrama translates into a delightfully incongruous good time.
  5. Billboard
    80
    Clarkson's always had the best throaty yell in the business. But now she's becoming a masterful interpreter too.
  6. Blender
    80
    On her third album, Clarkson finds a Third Way: She makes nice with the pop machine and takes back the mall while keeping her integrity and personality intact.
  7. The New York Times
    70
    The most immediate parts of All I Ever Wanted read a bit like Kelly Clarkson karaoke: back are the Swedish writers and producers and their laser-guided arrangements, with dynamics that are particularly well suited to her voice, broad, nimble and gale-force strong.
  8. AllMusic
    70
    This is a rare talent and while it's not perfect, largely due to those dreary Tedder tunes, much of All I Ever Wanted does justice to Clarkson's considerable skills.
  9. Dot Music
    70
    All I Ever Wanted, which though always singable swings wildly from bruised to bubblegum, sounds like a team of hired hands writing hits to order. Still, the increased chorus count is welcome and will put a smile back on Clive Davis's face.
  10. The Boston Phoenix
    63
    I had to make several return trips to the lyric sheet to clear up which songs were love letters and which were screw-yous. But this sort of tone-deaf emotional bludgeoning tends to work in her favor on monstrous power ballads.

Awards & Rankings

49
#49 Most Discussed Album of 2009

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 156 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 111 out of 156
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 156
  3. Negative: 41 out of 156
  1. dreammusic
    Dec 21, 2012
    10
    All I Ever Wanted is probably THE standout of Kelly Clarkson's carreer. With her stupendous and rustic voice alongside the awesome lyrics andAll I Ever Wanted is probably THE standout of Kelly Clarkson's carreer. With her stupendous and rustic voice alongside the awesome lyrics and amazing production, this albums has left its mark in the history of pop music. The songs describe heartache, love, breakups, but what really makes this album great are the songs My Life Would Suck Without You, If I Can't Have You, All I Ever Wanted and Already Gone. these four songs are the main highlights of this album and if you are a true Kelly fan, you MUST buys this.… Full Review »
  2. paul_strong
    Apr 5, 2019
    0
    Appalling that people still laud an admitted child abuser. Kelly Clarkson should be locked up in prison for beating up her children.Appalling that people still laud an admitted child abuser. Kelly Clarkson should be locked up in prison for beating up her children. Unbelievable! #MuteKellyClarkson… Full Review »
  3. EzekielLewisCEO
    Oct 31, 2018
    0
    A tiring and generic album coming straight from America's favorite racist. Yay.
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