Kelly Clarkson could have played her American Idol-propelled career much differently, languishing in the role of dippy ing??nue or shunting her musical development by leaning too heavily on overnight stardom. Instead she dug in her heels and allowed good sense (or a good manager) to steer, and somewhere Simon Fuller and the rest of the TV gang ought to be smiling. Credit Breakaway, which couldn't be more aptly titled--the sophomore set represents a seismic split from the thin if pretty stuff debut Thankful set forth. Here we encounter Clarkson as superstar, with the humility that made her likable on the first disc tucked tightly under her arm. First single and leadoff track "Breakaway" topped the pop charts on arrival, and its rock-friendly thumps, dips, and rolls don't wear out their welcome; they blend, instead, into the firestorm of beats and guitars that is "Since U Been Gone," another shout-it-out rocker. Those songs set the tone for the rest of the disc in all its fury: The innocence is long gone, numbers including "Addicted" and "Hear Me" say collectively, and Clarkson's of a mind to kick it. The big, expressive voice ringed by the occasional high-pitch trill--the one that prompted millions to get behind her on Idol--doesn't dip entirely off the radar, though. On "Where Is Your Heart," and the stunning live closer "Beautiful Disaster," it's there in full force--a hint, maybe, that despite the wide, smart career step Breakaway represents, her fans come first. --Tammy La Gorce

I first heard this album years ago and have only just recently decided to purchase it. However I wish I had done so sooner! Kelly Clarkson's voice is so amazing that anything she sang would sound good - but the writers on this album did a brilliant job and each song is as good as the others.

I bought this album around the same time as a particularly awful break up and it became the soundtrack of my summer with belter "i don't need him" style songs such as Since You Been Gone and Behind These Hzels Eyes along with more poignant sonds such as Addicted and Because of You. It felt like everysong expressed something i was feeling at that time.

Highlights i would recommend are Beautiful Disaster, Walk Away, Gone & Addicted and really thw whole album is just fab!

I would recommend it to everyone.

Fantastic follow up to "Thankful", this more rock style album is full of killer tracks. I don't think that I can name a weak one amongst them. They've also included a live piano version of Beautiful Disaster which in my opinion trumps the original. This album is certainly worth buying as you'll be playing these songs for years to come. Taking a different direction to that predicted for her after winning the first American Idol, Kelly Clarkson is certainly here to stay, and the rock sound really suits her!

I first heard Kelly Clarkson singing (A Moment Like This) on American idol and was blown away by her vocals so i decided to buy the album when it was released. All the tracks are well written and Kelly sings them all so beautifully. This album is by far the best female solo artist album of the year when it was realeased and for me still is the best female solo artist album to date.

I was blown away by this album, so much so that it has caused a landslide obsession with Kelly Clarkson on my part.

Breakaway does exactly what it says on the case. Symbolising her tearing away from the American Idol image "Thankful" created and embracing a whole different rock orientated sound which works profoundly well with Clarkson, performing as though she has done it for years in her bedroom mirror.

Amazing and unmissable, don't let your preconceptions take over. It may be Kelly Clarkson, but Kelly Clarkson is fantastic.