Kelly Clarkson- Chemistry
Label: Atlantic
Producers: Jane Black, Jason Halbert, Eric Serna, Jesse Shatkin
It’s been well-documented that the tenth studio album from Kelly Clarkson was crafted amidst the emotional wreckage left in the wake of her 2020 divorce. Combining that with the fact that she remains one of the most powerfully soulful vocalists of our time, it should come as no surprise that Chemistry emerges as one of the most gut-wrenching break-up albums to be crafted in the pop sphere in recent memory. The powerhouse certainly doesn’t shy away from the specific pain that she experienced in her own situation, but she also paints in broad enough strokes throughout the album to create a universal record that offers moments relatable to a wide net of listeners, regardless of their own experience or the stage in their individual relationship. Chemistry is indeed an examination of the heart as a whole, both its fragility and, ultimately, its resilience. Moments like the raw opener, “Skip This Part”, which walks us through the painstaking details of an actual break-up conversation, cut bitterly sharp, while redemptive proclamations like “Me” feel like a spiritual rebirth, while also providing some of the best vocal showcases of her impressive canon. While the straight-forward pop production throughout certainly is wise in its wherewithal to stay out of the way of Clarkson’s peerless vocals, the bulk of the album does at times feel somewhat monotonous in flavor and sound. This leaves one to daydream about what this album would have sounded like if dressed in the rich, retro soul tapestry of its proper predecessor, 2017’s Meaning of Life. With that said, when you’re being steadily fed slices of power pop balladry as flawlessly sung as tracks like “Lighthouse”, it’s difficult not to become completely wrapped up in it. And then the closing trifecta of the album arrives, and we’re suddenly dropped from a cloud of pop drama into a dizzyingly joyous variety-show of sonic pivots. From the mariachi-dipped sass of “Red Flag Collector” to the fabulous banjo-buoyed power-pop of the Steve Martin collab, “I Hate Love”, and the brassy, percussive bounce of the Sheila E feature, “That’s Right”, these tunes elicit smiles throughout. This final set of songs almost sounds like a completely separate album, but it provides a spicy and uplifting finale that assures listeners that Kelly Clarkson isn’t going to have a problem thriving after her breakup, and neither will you after yours.
Track Listing:
- “Skip This Part” (Kelly Clarkson, Jason Halbert)
- “Mine” (Clarkson, Erick Serna, Jesse Shatkin)
- “High Road” (Rachel Orscher, Justin Womble)
- “Me” (Clarkson, Taylor Rutherford, Josh Ronen)
- “Down to You” (Clarkson, Shatkin, Maureen McDonald)
- “Chemistry” (Clarkson, Shatkin, Serna”
- “Favorite Kind of High” (Clarkson, Shatkin, Carly Rae Jepsen)
- “Magic” (Clarkson, Shatkin, Randy Runyon)
- “Lighthouse” (Clarkson, Shatkin, Aben Eubanks)
- “Rock Hudson” (Clarkson, Shatkin)
- “My Mistake” (Shatkin, Alex Hope, Sean Douglas)
- “Red Flag Collector” (Clarkson, Halbert, Jaco Caraco)
- “I Hate Love” featuring Steve Martin (Clarkson, Shatkin, Nick Jonas)
- “That’s Right” featuring Sheila E (Clarkson, Shatkin, Serna)
The 706 
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