Kelly Clarkson is back with her eighth studio album, following on from 2015’s ‘Piece by Piece’. But what have critics made of it? 

The Guardian: *** “the strong, 90s diva-ish mood suits Clarkson’s belting vocal style, as she ushers in a more soulful phase with class.”

The Atlantic: “Clarkson connects the revival-church sound to her biography, playing up her Texan bona fides.”

The Times: **** “Clarkson makes the most of her wide-ranging and powerful pipes, which are capable of expressing emotion without resorting to the vocal gymnastics on which lesser singers rely.”

Variety: “The album is at its best when it’s less about making the attitude as huge as the voice and more about finding the sly side of soul singing.”

Express: ***** ” This first album of her new chapter is a remarkable ride.”

Pop Crush: “On Meaning of Life, Clarkson is — as we hoped she’d someday be — as good as her Idol inspirations, and then some.”

Slant Magazine: *** 1/2 “Meaning of Life doesn’t reinvent the genre, nor does it try to, but it portrays an artist continuing to redefine herself.”

All Music: **** “Meaning of Life is one of her most satisfying albums: it feels like not just a collection of good tunes, but a statement of purpose.”

Renowned for Sound: *** 1/2 “If nothing else, Meaning of Life illustrates Clarkson’s desire to push her musical boundaries and establish the foundations of the next fifteen years of her career.”

Press Play OK: *** “It’s a remarkable surprise for pop in 2017; Kelly Clarkson may not give us any great answer to the Meaning of Life, but she certainly provides a solid account of her own.”

The FT: *** “Having chafed at the creative restrictions she claims to have faced during her successful post-Idol career, the Texan singer unleashes the full force of her voice on her new songs.”

The Daily Mail: “Her last album, 2015’s “Piece by Piece,” was almost mournful in contrast to the 14-track “Meaning of Life,” which is brimming with humor, sass and light.”

Meaning of Life is available to buy now.