Customer Reviews

Katharine McPhee

5 star:		(138)
4 star:		(38)
3 star:		(46)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

One of the best pop debut albums I've heard in years, "Katharine McPhee" has something for everyone: Catchy pop numbers, club anthems, power ballads, and powerful blues ballads.

Throughout, the strikingly beautiful runnerup to the talented (and underrated) Taylor Hicks in the 2006 American Idol competition is in top vocal form. By the time you are halfway through the album, she's delivered several potential hits, and given you more than your money's worth.

And the second half is as good as the first. In the process, she demolishes any suggestion that her talent is limited to singing syrupy ballads while her dad tears up in the front row.

Track-by-Track:

1. "Love Story" is a rousing, if somewhat routine rocker that opens the show with a sign this singer has gone in a new direction.

2. "Over It," the co-released single, is an early candidate for the year's top pop song. With several solid hooks embedded in an intricate vocal arrangement, the song connects with countless thousands of teenage girls as Katharine declares her freedom from a dominant boyfriend. "I'm over your hands, and I'm over your mouth, trying to drag me down and fill me with self-doubt." The song is undeniably catchy.

3. "Open Toes" is a delightfully uninhibited celebration of airheaded teenage materialism, and the joys of --- shoe-shopping! Eminently danceable, the song isn't meant to be taken seriously, in fact I can't imagine why a nation of erudite reviewers hasn't at least speculated that Katharine is engaging in some self-deprecating humor. By the time she announces, almost deleriously, that "If I'm feelin down, then I go out, and shop 'til I drop everywhere that I want. Nothing feels better than spending my treasure on me, finally, I'm where I'm s'posed to be", I think the Kat *should* be out of the bag.

4. "Home" is a solid power ballad, and Kat sings the lower notes, which occasionally tripped her up on American Idol, with conviction and artistry. Like Mariah, but somehow more convincing.

5. "Not Ur Girl" is another of those "girl power" anthems ("I'm not your girl,and I'm not leaving with you just because you asked me to"), delivered with a driving rhythym.

6. "Each Other" is what (eons ago) used to be called a "cheek to cheek" song -- perfect for slow dancing, with a nice melody and nicely arranged background vocals.

7. "Dangerous" is a strong pop number. "He'll steal your heart away, and run away," she announces, lamenting that "I wish I knew what I know now, I swear it never would have went down". She doesn't ramp up the intensity quite as much as I'd like, but overall it's a solid effort.

8. "Ordinary World" is, in Katharine's hands, quite extraordinary. If you think her performance is routine, write down the lyrics, listen to the melody, and imagine Christina Aguilera singing it. Then listen again. You'll realize how much extra Katharine brings.

9. "Do What You Do" may seem contemporary, but to me it sounds like countless songs I danced to in packed clubs in the crazy 80's. I can't go back, but this song almost got me there. It's OK.

10. "Better Off Alone" is a blues ballad. Kat powers into it, very convincingly. Of all the songs in the album, this fits her vocal range best.

11. "Neglected" is one of the best songs on the album. Instrumentally and vocally, the arrangement is simply superb, and the chorus line has a hook that could make this one a hit single. The melody simply stays around, and won't leave. Also great "cheek-to-cheek" material.

12. "Everywhere I Go" is a Mariah Carey type number. But Mariah Carey is no McPhee. Carey has greater range and self-assurance, but McPhee delivers more of the elusive emotional connection that sells a song, rather like Karen Carpenter or, a generation before, Connie Francis. Something in the warmth of her voice, the timbre, gives her that special edge. Her youthful willingness to take chances makes her more unpredictable and occasionally erratic, but for this listener, vastly more appealing.

This album is a rarity. There are several potential hit singles, no truly bad songs, and only one, Dangerous, that sounds like the artist is holding back anything.

With her rare combination of unaffected likability, great pipes, almost supernatural beauty, and growing artistic range, Katharine McPhee is clearly positioned to become America's next pop superstar.

After watching Katharine McPhee on American Idol, I was expecting a broadway musical soundtrack for her first CD. After listening to the track samples, I was surprised at the variety of sounds on the CD. I bought it and have listened to it several times.


My breakdown, track by track:


Love Story -- RAT TAT TAT! This is your wake up call! This isn't gonna be the same Katharine McPhee you know and love from American Idol. This is a fun, old school track. One of my faves.


Over It -- reminds me of JoJo's Too Little Too Late but less bubble gum. Its radio friendly, so this is probably why the picked it as the first single.


Open Toes -- I like the music, but not lovin the lyrics. Maybe an anthem for girls with shoe addictions.


Home -- reminds me of a Christina Aguilerra ballad, but McPhee does a great job singing it. Nice ballad.


Not Ur Girl -- another fun dance track with an old school feel.


Each Other -- r&b track that reminds me of Mariah Carey. Good love song.


Dangerous -- Another retro dance track with a 90's sound. McPhee puts her sultry vocals to good use on this one. Love the "love ship" line.


Ordinary World -- NOW were talking! Finally -- the power ballad everyone's been waiting for. And McPhee doesn't disappoint. She could sing this song at her concerts for the rest of her career. One of the highlights of the CD.


Do What You Do -- sort of Gwen Stefani. Fun track I can hear remixed and played in clubs. McPhee in clubs -- who wouldve thought!


Better Off Alone -- nice Ballad by Austin Caroll. I heard his version on his myspace. McPhee's version is just as soulful. Great vocals. This song might be the best fit for her voice of all the songs on this CD. Sweet.


Neglected -- hypnotic. Another one of my favorites. Excellent r&b track. Again, great job on the vocals.


Everywhere I Go -- Hot track. Should be the next single. Killer vocals. Nice ending to the CD.


I would give the music 3.5 stars, bumped up to 4 for the great voice.There are a bunch of possible hit singles on this CD. If you like r&b and pop, this is a good buy. A great debut CD for Katharine McPhee.

If you're expecting songs about rainbows, this is NOT UR GIRL. With this new r&b sound, Kat's Idol fans might be looking at each EACH OTHER, feeling a little NEGLECTED. But if they can get OVER IT, this may be a new LOVE STORY with a new, hip soundtrack.
But the image that the record label is pushing is DANGEROUS -- using every tacky cliche (though showing no... OPEN TOES). Kat, if they don't class it up for you, you're BETTER OFF ALONE.
In the ORDINARY WORLD of pop music, Kat's great voice and the hot beats and glorious ballads on this CD stand out. Bring it HOME today. I, for one, have been humming the tunes EVERYWHERE I GO.

I have to admit that I loved Kat last year and really wanted her to win. However, listening to her wonderful debut cd, I'm kinda glad that she didn't. I think coming in 2nd gave her a little more freedom to make the kind of record that she wanted to make and hence brought out her true talent and personality. Her voice is so pure and raw that I just keep repeating such songs as "Home" and "Over It"...although her voice is phenomenal on all 12 tracks and really displays her vocal range on such faster hits like "Open Toes" & "Not Ur Girl". My favorites include: Home, Over It, Love Story, & Neglected - but all of them are catchy! No filler or fluff on this album...

Give this one a shot...it will be worth the price and you'll be thankful that you did. Congrats to Kat on coming out with such a fabulous album - I simply can't stop listening to it!!

I completely forgot about KM a few months after Idol ended and this cd has me totally in Love with her again. I pretty much like all the songs on the cd. The ballad ordinary world is amazing. I think Mcphee will be a big star!

Katharine McPhee a contestant of American Idol, got undeniable talent and even if she ultimately lost to Taylor Hicks there was no doubt she would be offered a record deal eventually anyway. Apart from Hicks, McPhee was an artist that appealed to a more commerical audience, basically Pop/R&B and was perhaps easier to market. A fantastic voice, good looks and charachter but just like many other reviewers point out it's very diffcult to take the big step from singing cover songs on American Idol to record your own music and create an personal image and record songs good enough to stand on their own. I don't think her own personality is strong enough yet to create a style that is truly her own. Some reviewers also complain that she sounds diffrent on album then on American Idol, which isn't that strange perhaps. McPhee herself said that she wanted to concentrate on a sound that sounds both fresh and contemporary, so what she does is to hire some decent Songwriters/Producers like Nate "Danja" Hills (Timbaland's protege), Kara DioGuardi, The Underdogs and Babyface. The result is a fresh a modern sounding album with both some ballads and some uptempo R&B songs. I belive she's better suited for slower songs, but I think she performs uptempo songs pretty well too. The problem is that she sound like diffrent singers on diffrent songs and not like Katharine McPhee. But this is afterall her first album and she's still maturing, so give her some time!.

At first listen I wasn't that thrilled with this album but after repeated listenings I realized that there are a few very good songs worth listen to again. The first song "Love Story" which is one 6 Danja produced songs is an uptempo R&B that really grows on you. Reminds me a little of Chritina Aguilera, and Katharine isn't that far vocally either. "Over it", the first single was written by veteran songwriter Bill Steinberg that helped Madonna, Cyndi Lauper and Whitney Houston in the 80's. This is a rock-ballad and feels less daring then alot of other material here. Katharine co-wrote 3 songs, "Open Toes" is one of them. It also sounds alot like Aguilera and is another energic R&B song. Ballad "Home" is forgettable but "Not Your Girl" which she also co-wrote is a sweet pop song and the next semi-ballad "Each Other" is also strong.

"Dangerous" is perhaps the most club friendly song (A mix between Pop and R&B) it reminds me alot about Nelly Furtado's recent music, afterall producer Danja was part of that project aswell and knows how to make a hit record. This is the one song where the flashy modern production with synthesizer sound is most evident. Walter Afanasieff penned ballad "Ordinary World" is rather dull even if she once again proves what a brilliant voice she got. Underdogs prodiced "Do What You Do" is a R&B song for the clubs aswell. It's defenitely ok. "Better Off Alone" is another power ballad while "Neglected" the last song she co-wrote is pretty slow aswell. Last song "Everywhere I Go" produced and written by Babyface is a great midtempo that suits her perfect. One of my personal favorites.

Overall, this album got quite mediocre ratings but unfairly. Sure, people have high expectations of her and she hasn't really discovered a unique personality to carry a whole album by herself and the music also differs alot from song to song, but this is afterall her debut and in my oppinion it's more then adequate. Katharine's voice, like you already knew is fantatsic and lifts many songs but there are many songs here good on their own ready to be discovered, just listen through them a few times and you'll hopefully enjoy some of them. For a debut album, it's good enough, but with time I have higher expectations aswell but I'm pretty sure that she's here to stay. 3'5 stars and recommended.

I bought this CD with apprehension. I wasn't sure what to expect with an album cover like that.

At first listen, I'll admit, I was underwhelmed. But the more and more I listen, but more I just can't stop listening.

My favorite tracks are: Love Story, Over It, Each Other, Not Ur Girl, Home, Ordinary World, Better Off Alone, Neglected, and Everywhere I Go.
I do like Open Toes, but not the lyrics. Dangerous is good, but kinda 80's. And Do What You Do is a good, funky song.

Katharine has a great instrument in her voice. It's very clean and assured. The high-register whine that she had on AI seems to have been cured (thank God!!). While still not as powerful as Mariah or Whitney, her mid-range can match them note for note. And her low-range is richer than Mariah's.

I really appreciate that they covered just about everyone with this CD! Old Kat Phans, new Phans, Younger and Old, upbeat and club hoppin' or slow and soulful, it's ALL on here!

The songs that truly show case Kat's voice are Ordinary World, Home, Better Off Alone, and Everywhere I Go.

And I can imagine, Open Toes (which is so SO much better than I ever thought it could be) will definitely be played in clubs along with Not Ur Girl, Do what it Do and Dangerous.

Neglected is one of those slow head rocking songs. That I know a LOT of people will like!

I was in love with Over It and it's radio friendly Pop sound and Love Story's 70's throw back feel already!

But the ONE song on here that I feel could single-handedly sell this CD is "Ordinary World"
This is the one! This is what she needs to be singing at EVERY appearance! I mean this is what will please the Classic Kat Phans and win over ANYONE else who hears it! The first 30sec of the piano and her crystal clear voice are worth the price of the whole dang CD!!! I knew the writers/producers Walter Afanasieff and Emanuel Kiriakou who have penned some of the classics of Mariah and Celine would NOT dissapoint on this one and they came through in spades, they might as well clear some room for that Grammy they'll be picking up! Let people hear that one, that's all they need!

Kat chose a sound that has GREAT cross over appeal. Several tracks give enough urban R&B appeal they could easily be played on MTV VH-1 and BET. You heard of Blue Eyed Soul, well Blue, Brown or Green....Kat has got IT! Which may come as a surprise to some who only know her as the Over the Rainbow girl.

As I was listening I was being reminded of Janet in her heyday. Not vocally but the style of some of the songs. And then others were VERY reminiscent of Mariah and Christina's power ballads, and Kat actually sounded very much like them on a couple.

Yeah, I think they got the right mix, there will be at least ONE song on here for nearly everyone!

I can see now why a critic recently sighted this CD as being akin to a soundtrack rather then just a CD. It DOES have that feel. It truly is a "A Love Story" told in song, by a young lady who will find her place among the greats one day!

While Katherine was not my favorite finalist, I am becoming more and more impressed with her voice, style, poise and raw talent. I found most of the tracks to be worthy of hit singles. I look forward to her next CD.

This album does NOT showcase the main instrument that any singer's album should be concentrating on - namely - the voice. I like Katharine and am a fan, but the producers did her wrong on this album. I read on one of her video blogs that she liked the songs and had fun making the album. Maybe so, but where is her voice? On most of the songs, the main instrument heard is NOT Kat's voice, but drums. If I wanted a drum solo I'd get a Buddy Rich,Gene Krupa or Sandy Nelson album. And if it isn't the drums overpowering her voice, it's the backgup singers. Most of the time the volume of their voices is the same as Kat's. I don't consider that backing someone up. There were about 3 or 4 songs that you could actually hear her voice, other than that, where's the lead singer? And like another reviewer wrote, most of the songs pretty much sound the same. Want to know what I mean? Try these singers as a a comparision: Norah Jones latest (came out same day), or K.T. Tunstall (Kat sang her "Black Horse & a Cherry Tree on 'Idol'", or Brandi Carlile, or Jewel, or Diana Krall, or (and the list goes on). Each of those CD's showcases the singer's voice. The music and backup singers compliment the singer. The main instrument on each of those albums is the singer's voice. Kat has a great voice - too bad the producers relegated it to the background. Though still a fan, I'll listen before I buy any more of her albums.