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Thankful
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Thankful Image
Metascore
62

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
5.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 110 Ratings

  • Summary: Yes, well, she does have a lot to be thankful for, doesn't she. This hit debut album is a direct result of the singer's victory on the first installment of Fox TV's "American Idol" talent competition in 2002. Judging from the album's credits, just about every musician and producer in theYes, well, she does have a lot to be thankful for, doesn't she. This hit debut album is a direct result of the singer's victory on the first installment of Fox TV's "American Idol" talent competition in 2002. Judging from the album's credits, just about every musician and producer in the industry seemingly worked on the disc, although Clarkson did manage to co-write four out of the dozen songs.… Expand

Top Track

Miss Independent
Miss Independent Miss self-sufficient Miss keep your distance, mmmm Miss unafraid Miss out of my way Miss don't let a man interfere, no Miss on her... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 7
  3. Negative: 1 out of 7
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    Her voice, at times raspy, at times beautifully sultry, is a potent reminder of why America embraced her.
  2. AllMusic
    80
    A sharp, versatile modern pop record, showcasing her voice, to be sure, but being much better than expectations, much better than the scores of flop diva records that cluttered the pop landscape in late 2002.
  3. E! Online
    75
    There is an army of producers, songwriters and guests that make Thankful's mom-approved hip-hop beats and love songs feel as contrived as Clarkson's perfectly placed highlights.
  4. Rolling Stone
    60
    Her high notes are sweet and pillowy, her growl is bone-shaking and sexy, and her midrange is amazingly confident for a pop posy whose career is tied for eternity to the whims of her American Idol overlords.
  5. Launch.com
    60
    Thankful is everything an American Idol viewer would expect from a debut album: the musical drama of Meat Loaf, Celine Dion, and the crew from Titanic, the R&B pyrotechnics of Whitney Houston, the (sub)urban melodrama of Mariah Carey and lots and lots of vocal gymnastics. That it all sounds like it came from a can is beside the point.
  6. Amazon.com
    60
    Despite Clarkson's sublime vocal talents, excessive gloss at times overwhelms the quirky charm and personality she displayed on Idol.
  7. Q Magazine
    20
    This debut has her trilling like Mariah Carey on fluffy R&B tunes. [Oct 2003, p.103]
    All this publication's reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 18
  3. Negative: 2 out of 18
  1. AndyH
    Jan 8, 2006
    10
    A superb album that shouldn't be missed by fans of great pop music and/or excellent singing. This is a prodigiously gifted young lady A superb album that shouldn't be missed by fans of great pop music and/or excellent singing. This is a prodigiously gifted young lady who deserves her success and long may she continue.… Expand
  2. Dudedude
    Oct 8, 2004
    10
    Any1 who dislikes Kelly Clarkson is crazy. Q Magazine is stupid. KELLY RULES!!!
  4. lindsaym
    Aug 25, 2003
    10
    kelly she rocks
  5. RaghuM
    Mar 22, 2005
    10
    Its a great album and Kelly has proved that she is not another dissapointing prodigy.Miss Independent is the best of all the tracks.The Its a great album and Kelly has proved that she is not another dissapointing prodigy.Miss Independent is the best of all the tracks.The others are nice and cozy.I recommend this to all folks fed up with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.… Expand
  6. [Anonymous]
    Jun 5, 2004
    8
    8 for a combo of Kelly's voice, decent material, and a diversity of sounds that is exciting and admirable, a la Linda Ronstadt. I am 8 for a combo of Kelly's voice, decent material, and a diversity of sounds that is exciting and admirable, a la Linda Ronstadt. I am holding back points for overproduction on most songs and a poor arrangement choice on "Beautiful Disaster" (and you know just how poor if you listened to her piano-only version of the song on the AI3 finale); on a happier note, I'm holding back because I believe this is only the beginning and more and greater things are yet to come from Ms. Clarkson.… Expand
  7. LuisG
    Jul 26, 2006
    7
    ...clarkson has a powerful voice ......which unfortunately fills a stellar producer album which are so focused on making hits they sell her ...clarkson has a powerful voice ......which unfortunately fills a stellar producer album which are so focused on making hits they sell her short....the album is good not great....BREAKWAY is very much closer to where she belongs.....THANKFUL is play it safe territory ....why do records execs think they know everything....its called timing and persona.....and well clarkson is so freakin adorable and well those chops arent a drawback either.....… Collapse
  8. Cat
    Aug 12, 2007
    0
    Big time crap! This girl is very overrated and this album proves my point.

See all 18 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

92
#92 Most Discussed Album of 2003
87
#87 Most Shared Album of 2003