Unbroken
Verve Music Group
The multi-talented Katharine McPhee (originally known as a contestant on American Idol), returns with her sophomore album, Unbroken. The album is her first for The Verve Music Group, and she makes a big statement with the platinum blonde look that graces the album cover. This is not yesterday’s Katharine McPhee. The album is full of surprisingly superb songs co-written by the likes of Ingrid Michaelson, Paula Cole, and Rachel Yamagata, among others.
There are very few albums that I would honestly say that I can “feel” where they took place but this is definitely one of them. Written and recorded in Nashville Los Angeles Boston midnight , rainy-drive lonesomeness and subtle bitterness McPhee captures here is pretty awesome. It’s got a slight Pop Country tinge that I’m usually not keen on but McPhee’s voice makes you a believer sooner rather than later. The piano-led “Say Goodbye” is another highlight and is somewhat reminiscent of her time on “that show.” It’s a song that fans that have been there since the beginning will easily connect with, as are “Surrender,” the subtly orchestrated, semi-epic title track, and maybe “How” as well.
I admit that I’m a bit surprised at how musically rich this album is but a spade is a spade. McPhee and company branch out in a lot of different directions and succeed at nearly every turn. Fans of Pop Country, Singer/Songwriter, and Pop that’s got a little bit o’soul will find a lot to enjoy about Katharine McPhee’s Unbroken.
By Mark Fisher
