Stronger
by Kelly Clarkson
  • Record Label: RCA
  • Release Date: Oct 24, 2011
Metascore
62

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 11
  3. Negative: 1 out of 11
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  1. AllMusic
    Oct 24, 2011
    80
    Certainly, part of the variety is down to the multitude of producers and writers on Stronger, but the album's success is entirely due to Kelly Clarkson, whose personality and professionalism turns it into her best album since her Breakaway breakthrough in 2004.
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    Oct 21, 2011
    83
    Clarkson's older-better-tougher-smarter album.
  3. Slant Magazine
    Oct 24, 2011
    70
    With the exception of the obvious electronic manipulation used on "Mr. Know It All," Clarkson's performances on Stronger are more consistently lived-in and evocative than on any of her previous efforts.
  5. Spin
    Oct 21, 2011
    70
    She's not Katy Perry, not yet Carrie Underwood. But look out.
  6. The New York Times
    Oct 24, 2011
    70
    Essentially everything here involves Ms. Clarkson's clobbering her subject while getting clobbered with guitars.

Awards & Rankings

41
#41 Most Discussed Album of 2011

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 149 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 92 out of 149
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 149
  3. Negative: 46 out of 149
  1. Apart
    Feb 8, 2012
    1
    Unoriginal and unflavoured pop music. Sure, she is a good singer, but is her music good, does it inspire people? No. There's no charisma orUnoriginal and unflavoured pop music. Sure, she is a good singer, but is her music good, does it inspire people? No. There's no charisma or personality.… Full Review »
  2. darryltrini
    Oct 24, 2011
    1
    What a boring collection of bland, generic, and sleepy pop music. There's no diversity whatsoever and the entire album sounds like one long,What a boring collection of bland, generic, and sleepy pop music. There's no diversity whatsoever and the entire album sounds like one long, dragging song. Everything sounds the same. Only song that is probably tolerable is "Mr. Know It All," which also is kind of bland and typical Kelly Clarkson. Overall very disappointed. Seems like she'll never top "Breakaway"… Full Review »
  3. Glitter
    Aug 30, 2013
    3
    Continuing her progression from individual to manufactured pop artist, Clarkson sheds almost all emotion and control in her second consecutiveContinuing her progression from individual to manufactured pop artist, Clarkson sheds almost all emotion and control in her second consecutive album to eliminate her personality. Marketed best as the pop-friendly stepsister of P!nk, Stronger has elements of her previous self, sacrificed and diced into fragments of could-have-beens. Tracks such as Dark Side attempt to imitate her Breakaway/My December hybridization. While Einstein and What Doesn't Kill You follows said formula with the aforementioned, married to her debut sound on Thankful. Once again we're suffered to be alienated from Clarkson's powerful vocals, and forced to bear through shrills and shrieks that pollute the album. If this album is an allusion to Clarkson becoming Stronger, than I suspect her next album will allow zero creative control from Clarkson, and consist of more chart fodder, with lyrics akin to a Katy Perry reject.… Full Review »
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