KELLY Clarkson jumped out of obscurity in 2002 after winning the first series of American Idol: The Search for a Superstar in the United States.

Her first single, A Moment Like This, was released only days after she won the singing contest and it soon notched up platinum sales.

After two very successful albums, Kelly's third record, My December, has hit the shelves to try and match her earlier efforts.

During the making of the CD, Kelly wanted to move away from her pop roots towards a more rock-based sound and - to her credit and despite the opposition of her management - she stood her ground.

My December is easily the most aggressive and angst-ridden CD she has produced and that's more than apparent in the first single Never Again, in which she tears into an ex-boyfriend.

She handles the new vibe pretty well and while the songs are a lot heavier, they still remain easy to listen to and have enough credibility to stand up against more established rock bands.

Those that enjoyed the radio-friendly hits of Kelly's previous work may be a bit concerned about this new direction, but it's just what was needed to keep her sound fresh and exciting.