I know what you’re thinking, and yes, I’m going there. This is not a tongue-firmly-planted-in-cheek review. Deferring to the little voice in my brain that cheers for pop music, plain and simple, I have to say: Clarkson has chops. I have always had a soft spot for the first American Idol - I have all of her albums and I’m not embarrassed about it. With a crack team of songwriters (including the newest fourth judge on Idol, Kara DioGuardi, cheeky “it” girl Katy Perry, Alanis Morissette’s hitmaker Glen Ballard and songwriter to the stars/OneRepublic front man Ryan Tedder) the album only stalls on a few clunkers. All I Ever Wanted is a welcome return to form for Clarkson after My December threatened to end her career. Yay for pop! - Susie Ulrey