Review
By the time Kelly Clarkson dropped "Piece By Piece" on February 27, 2015, she was hitting a significant turning point. This was her seventh studio album and the final chapter of her stint with RCA Records. Clarkson throws out all the stops here to show off versatility and some serious emotional rawness.
In true Clarkson fashion, "Piece By Piece" serves a buffet of musical styles, tearing through pop, electronic, and rock vibes, all pulled together with a cinematic flair thanks to some epic orchestral elements. Think along the lines of a mashup between "Cruel Intentions" and "Love Actually." It's a rollercoaster, but trust me, you’ll want to take the ride.
You can't overlook tracks like "Heartbeat Song," a banger that had its moment on the Billboard Hot 100, hitting number 21. The title track "Piece by Piece" hits hard, swinging you into a deeply personal story cobbled together by Clarkson and Greg Kurstin after riffing about family life. You’ve also got "Invincible" and "Run Run Run" with John Legend, which balances a slick harmony mix that Clarkson nails with ease. And then there’s "Dance with Me," a track straight out of the '80s time capsule with those nostalgic electronic rock vibes. She wraps it up with "Good Goes the Bye," channeling her inner Eurythmics.
Adding to that, the deluxe version spices things up further with bonuses like "Second Wind," "Bad Reputation," and "In the Blue," each one peeling off another layer of Clarkson’s out-there musical gamut. With this kind of lineup, it’s no shock the album saw monster commercial success, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 and scoring top ten spots globally. "Piece By Piece" isn't just a punctuation mark on her RCA journey—it's the exclamation point. - Chase
