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Piece by Piece
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Piece by Piece Image
Metascore
63

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
5.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 160 Ratings

  • Summary: The seventh studio release for the pop singer features a guest appearance from John Legend.
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Top Track

Heartbeat Song
This is my heartbeat song and I'm gonna play it Been so long I forgot how to turn it Up up up up, all night long Up up all night long You, where the... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. The Observer (UK)
    Mar 2, 2015
    80
    Only the didactic, Jessie J-esque I Had a Dream mars an album loaded with laser-guided, heartfelt pop.
  2. Billboard.com
    Mar 2, 2015
    70
    When Clarkson forges a real emotional connection--like on the raw, personal title track, another standout vocal showcase--the album transcends the hammier, more hackneyed moments in between.
  3. Boston Globe
    Mar 3, 2015
    70
    Clarkson can, of course, sell all of this and sounds great doing it. But the cumulative effect of all that bigness can be wearing by album’s end.
  4. Slant Magazine
    Feb 27, 2015
    60
    Clarkson has been mining this territory since before Swift even landed her first record deal, and songs that should ostensibly inspire nostalgia (like the pointedly titled aerobics workout "Nostalgic") instead feel like they just rolled off a conveyor belt.
  5. AllMusic
    Mar 2, 2015
    60
    These cuts ["Let Your Tears Fall," "Good Goes the Bye," and "Nostalgic"], along with the title track, manage to strike the right balance of Kelly's indomitable character and fresh electronic beats but overall Piece by Piece sounds a shade too desperate, which means it winds up having the opposite effect than intended: instead of sounding like a new start, Clarkson sounds a little bit behind the times.
  6. The New York Times
    Mar 2, 2015
    60
    Every song aims for the monumental, a strategy that’s competitive for radio play but wearying over the course of a whole album.
  7. New York Daily News (Jim Faber)
    Mar 3, 2015
    40
    Piece By Piece piles on the gloss and glop. It’s a fat sounding recording that fights with, rather than enhances, Clarkson’s to-the-rafters vocals.

See all 12 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 24
  3. Negative: 3 out of 24
  1. DadoCro
    Mar 3, 2015
    10
    One of the pop albums released this year. Kelly worked very hard on this record and she deserves a high scores for it. Highlights: whole albumOne of the pop albums released this year. Kelly worked very hard on this record and she deserves a high scores for it. Highlights: whole album sans Heartbeat Song.… Expand
  2. marin_and
    Dec 1, 2017
    10
    A quite interesting collection of songs, some quite surprising and a bit risky for Kelly but those are the ones where Kelly's big voice shinesA quite interesting collection of songs, some quite surprising and a bit risky for Kelly but those are the ones where Kelly's big voice shines and pierces through.… Expand
  4. SoLonely
    Aug 7, 2015
    9
    It's not her best album, but it is still pretty good. The production helps aid in the cinematic style. It does have a good amount ofIt's not her best album, but it is still pretty good. The production helps aid in the cinematic style. It does have a good amount of midtempos. I think it just establishes a slower, more somber feel, not drag the album down. The deluxe edition has three good tracks that really pick it up if needed. 8.5/10 as a whole.
    Also the Title Track, Piece by Piece, is just so amazing. It is so emotional. The harmonies are great, the production is solid, and the lyrics are honest and powerful. Pop artists don't make music this amazing. 10/10 track.    … Expand
  5. handstokindness
    Oct 23, 2015
    7
    She's a very good singer and that means that her album is good, a lot of tracks are goodShe's a very good singer and that means that her album is good, a lot of tracks are good hahaahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahaahahahahaahahahahaahahahaahahahaahahahaahahahaahahahaahahaahahaahahahaahahahahaahaahahahaahahahaahahahaahaha lol… Expand
  6. spongeswift
    Nov 21, 2017
    6
    Piece By Piece ends up being a below average pop album. Most of the songs were just plastered onto the album with no catchy beats orPiece By Piece ends up being a below average pop album. Most of the songs were just plastered onto the album with no catchy beats or meaningful lyrics whatsoever, and the only thing keeping me from giving this album an even worse review was the song Piece By Piece. That song was a 10/10 masterpiece. You can just feel the moments conveyed by the song. But sadly the rest of the album is meh. Not as good as it could have been.… Expand
  7. longjetty7
    Mar 4, 2015
    4
    Let me preface this by saying that I'm not a hater at all. I've seen Kelly live and her voice is just as amazing now as it was then. ThatLet me preface this by saying that I'm not a hater at all. I've seen Kelly live and her voice is just as amazing now as it was then. That being said, this album is painfully bland. At least half the songs have the same I V vi IV chord progression, the production is pretty uniform throughout, and her lyrics are just as happy and dull as you'd expect from someone who just had a baby. So basically, you'll either love it all or hate it all. To be fair, there's nothing here that's downright bad, per se, but there's also nothing edgy or creative (except the vocal sampling in Take You High, perhaps), and an hour of songs that sound like countless others you've heard before is just tiresome.… Expand
  8. SoundOfAMan
    Mar 8, 2015
    0
    I really did'nt like this... You know, Kelly is amazing, but... What the f*ck, honey? Where is your potential? Where is your creative mind andI really did'nt like this... You know, Kelly is amazing, but... What the f*ck, honey? Where is your potential? Where is your creative mind and power? C'mon...… Expand

See all 24 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

46
#46 Most Discussed Album of 2015

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