The original American Idol Kelly Clarkson shot to major superstardom after a certain movie (um, shall I say `The Princess Diaries 2') used her song `Breakaway' as their theme song. While `Breakaway' is, dare I say, the weakest track on the album, it is, by all means, pure radio bliss. `Breakaway' made her a household name and the album bearing it's name made her a superstar. Sure, she was already mildly popular. Her debut album `Thankful' was decent and tracks like `Miss Independent' and `A Moment Like This' made their rounds on radio station after radio station but it wasn't until `Breakaway' that the general public embraced this songstress and realized that her talent exceeded some crazy TV show.

`Breakaway' the album spurned single after single. `Since You've Been Gone', her sophomore answer to `Miss Independent' blazed the pop charts and proved that Clarkson had spunk to accompany that voice and would later pave the way for her misunderstood and ill-received third album `My December'. `Behind These Hazel Eyes' was by far (in my humble opinion) the best of the singles released off this album. It's such a complete pop song and is the pure definition of memorable. `Because of You' was very well received (and have you seen that music video!?!?!) and rightfully so. It's a beautiful song. It's too band she allowed Reba to destroy it. Then we have `Walk Away', the fifth single off the album. This song has grown on my so much since it's started receiving loads of airtime. It's a very fun song that demands your accompanying vocals. In other words, be prepared to sing along.

`Gone' follows the format of pop track. It's bouncy and catchy and serves as a nice canvas for Clarkson's strong vocals. It's a very carefree track that will induce plenty of smiles. One of my favorite tracks on the album would have to be `You Found Me' which opens so gracefully and elegant before breaking into a wonderfully constructed chorus bent on getting stuck in your head.

`I Hate Myself for Losing You' would probably be the best way to describe where Kelly Clarkson was headed. `Since You've Been Gone' proved she could handle pop/rock well but `I Hate Myself for Losing You' proved that she needed to keep the pop an essential part of her music. When you strip away the pop appeal you have a song that appears somewhat misplaced and incomplete. `I Hate Myself for Losing You' is just that, misplaced and incomplete.

There are three tracks on this album that solidify Kelly Clarkson as a force to be reckoned with in my eyes. The first of these is `Where is You're Heart'. The song is a beautifully constructed ballad that showcases Kelly's impressive `contest winning' vocals, showing off her control and temperance as well as her power. The second of these is `Addicted', which is quite frankly my favorite track on the album. It's seductive and (I can't help it) addictive. I would listen to this song over and over without hesitation. The third song is the closing track `Hear Me', a song that embellishes Clarkson's fragility and delicacy and is, in the end, so infectious and memorable that it moves the listener to start the musical journey all over again. I talk a lot about the importance of the closing track, how it has the ability to either make you want to listen to the album all over again or make you glad it's finally over. `Hear Me' is a perfect example of how to select the perfect closing track. Yes, I know, `Beautiful Disaster' is actually the closing track (the live version that is) and it too is a splendid way to close this album out, but I consider `Hear Me' the actual `closing' track since it is an original track as apposed to a live cut.

`Breakaway' is a near perfect pop album. Sure, it has one snafu found in one misplaced song but that one snafu is barely a reason to complain. This is Clarkson's shining moment, a moment where she finally broke away from the restraints of a certain singing contest and proved that she is more than just some girl who won a title but a girl who deserves the title. The magnificent Carrie Underwood aside (who, in my opinion trumps Clarkson...but marginally) Kelly Clarkson can feel confident that she is one of the only `rightful' winners of the American Idol crown, and she has proven that her talent is far bigger than the show from which she spawned.