While most of the current pop music chart is filled with synth-pop tracks or repetitive lyrics, American Idol veteran Kelly Clarkson has found a way to stand out amongst the generic sound that has taken over radio stations across the country.

The new album Piece by Piece showcases what Clarkson does best: finding a way to incorporate her soulful voice into songs that still appeal to pop listeners. The album has more ballad-like songs than a usual pop album, but with her unique blend of vocals, Clarkson is able to pull off an 80’s sound with modern twists.

One of the biggest hits off the album is titled “Heartbeat Song” in which Clarkson has fused her soulful sound with catchy lyrics to create a hard hitting track on the pop charts. The song resembles a more mature version of “What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger,” while at the same time adding on more computerized sounds to compete with other chart topping hits.

“Aside from being An All-Around Good Song, “Heartbeat Song” does the job required of a lead single by an established pop star: It’s a solid, catchy reintroduction to the pop world and a pretty spot-on representation of Kelly’s sound, given a fresh gloss for 2015,” Bradley Stern, admin of MuuMuse, wrote.

The album can be seen as Clarkson’s attempt to modernize her sound in the ever-changing pop music scene, but she didn’t take the idea of synthetics too far. Piece by Piece shows not only a new, carefully crafted sound, but also proves that Clarkson can adapt to new style years after she broke into the charts.

Some of the best songs on the album happen to be the bonus material for ordering the deluxe version, which is somewhat strange, but they are worth the extra few dollars. The only song on the album that is questionable is “I Had A Dream,” which seems to be trying too hard to be an inspirational track with it’s lyrics and powerful background instruments.
Overall, Piece by Piece manages to mix Clarkson’s signature soul vocals and synthetic pop to create an original sound different from that of the constant radio remixes, while also proving that despite being a top artist for decades, Clarkson is nowhere near finished with her number one hits.