Kelly Clarkson‘s latest record, Chemistry, was written after her divorce from Brandon Blackstock three years ago. Because she feared the publicity associated with releasing the album would stir up drama, she decided not to release it then. With her break-up now in the rearview mirror, Clarkson is ready to spill the tea on her 10th album.
Clarkson co-wrote most of Chemistry. And damn, does this Texas girl have pipes! She delivers anything put in front of her, including soothing ballads, straight-ahead rock, and rhythmic girl power anthems.
And speaking of girl power, Ms. Clarkson is out for blood!
When the singer announced she was recording a divorce album months back, she promised to cover “the good, the bad, and the ugly” to represent “the arc of a relationship.” Think Fleetwood Mac‘s Rumors.
Chemistry really delivers on the ugly. Kelly’s ex is portrayed as a soul-sucking, secretive spouse determined to bleed the life out of her after they split up in 2020.
To her credit, Clarkson initially kept details of the divorce a secret. However, once the dirty laundry in the couple’s court filings spread “all over town,” as she says in the album’s tragic opening track, “Skip This Part,” she came out with guns blazing to defend herself.
She asks in the song’s opening lines, “Can I skip this part when I fall to pieces?” and you immediately sympathize with her. We’ve all been there, right? It’s uncharacteristic for a Clarkson record to start on such a sad note. However, the girl has something to say, a letter she wishes she could send, and it’s heart-wrenching.
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The burns persist on the singles “Mine” and “Me.” Kelly confesses she “can’t believe” she stayed in her marriage for so long on Mine and reveals Blackstock’s “insecurity” and “secrets.”
Clarkson’s singing stands out on “Mine,” a ballad that showcases her incredible range. The song delves into the singer’s emotional journey, expressing her doubts and uncertainties while contemplating how she ended up in her current state. In the lyrics, she reveals she can’t believe she stayed in the marriage as long as she did and hopes karma will be her revenge. /I hope someday someone will take your heart and hold it tight/ make you feel like you’re invincible deep inside/and right when you think that it is perfect they cross a line and steal your shine like you did mine./
She does the heavy ther lifting here with very little supporting music.
Like “Mine,” the deeply personal ballad “Me” leaves the accompaniment understated, letting her voice shine. /I don’t need somebody to hold me/Don’t need somebody to love me/Don’t need somebody to pick these pieces up/ she exclaims before launching into her finest Alanis Morissette impression. She doesn’t take it as far as saying, “every time I scratch my nails down someone else’s back, I hope you feel it,” but Clarkson snarls, “I bet you feel the absence of my love every night.“
According to Kelly, Chemistry is a blend of Breakaway and Stronger, clearly reflected in “High Road,” an upbeat pop rocker anthem. She has been frustrated by the lessons she’s learned along the way, but she’s introspective and not necessarily in a good way. She always feared repeating her parents’ mistakes since she was a product of divorce (her absentee father famously inspired her 2005 hit “Because of You”). But now Clarkson’s fears have been realized:
/ I’m getting tired / Always trying to do my best / When I don’t feel it / No, I don’t feel it /
Interesting how things change, huh? On the addictive “Rock Hudson,” she ponders how she was “fooled” by her ex’s charisma before realizing she’s on her own:
/ Piece by piece / I found out my hero was me/.
This is a nod to her 2015 song “Piece by Piece,” in which she celebrated her ex for restoring her faith in men! The track embodies the fuck-off swagger that’s powered some of her most compelling work.
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On the aptly titled “Red Flag Collector,” Clarkson’s fury is apparent. The piece is a pop take on an old Hollywood western movie and the most aggressive on the album: / They say the worst parts of someone / Come out to play / when shit goes wrong/ So shit must hit the fan with you all day, hey / As you run your mouth, puff your chest / Play cowboy in the wild, wild west / I don’t mind, you know best / Keep on ridin’ ’til you can’t see us … /
However, the song that packs the most emotional punch is “Lighthouse,” Her powerful voice resonates as she grieves for her “crumbling” marriage and struggles with days that are “harder than they used to be.”
The record isn’t all “crying, loving, leaving, and hanging your ex’s balls from your rearview mirror,” however. The upbeat “Favorite Kind of High,” co-written by Carly Rae Jepsen, is a much more positive song that feels like a return to classic Kelly. In her words, it’s a “sexy-ass song” about “that high when you first meet someone, and you’re like ‘Oh, shit.’
Likewise, on the Nick Jonas-co-written “I Hate Love” she sings, “You can keep Gosling, and I’ll take Steve Martin.” And, yes, that’s actually Steve Martin playing the banjo!
“Down to You” is an intriguing track where Kelly sings in a rhythmic pattern like Beyoncé. It combines her pop/rock roots with an R&B sensibility.
Last but not least, is ‘That’s Right,’ a collaboration with Prince protege Sheila E. This Latin-infused ditty revisits Chemistry’s dominant theme – the ultimate kiss-off of a former lover. / I ain’t your little girl / You’re confused and I’ve lost patience / Take your hurtful words / They won’t stick and I won’t chase them / I won’t have your ghost runnin’ all my revelations / My heart matters most / Keep the money, I’ll take freedom./
Chemistry is the most mature and emotional collection Kelly has released. It’s not the hit-making machine Breakaway was, but it doesn’t have to be. This was about exorcising demons. Kelly’s songwriting is prominent, and her vocals show no wear after 20 years of belting out hit after hit. Stream it below.
