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Katharine McPhee, last year's almost-winner, faced a particularly punishing workout in that pursuit. She's most celebrated as the girl who brought "Over the Rainbow" back to the top of the charts for the first time in something like 70 years. Which doesn't exactly scream "contemporary pop star," now does it?
No surprise, then, that McPhee's just-unleashed, self-titled debut finds her handlers reading current trends with special fluency. Luckily, the translation paid off. Her battery of producers and writers found a smart, contemporary role model for McPhee, then calibrated it to suit her talents.
Essentially, "Katharine McPhee" tempers a Beyoncé album with the mall-baiting R&B of Mariah Carey. Cuts like the likable opening ditty, "Love Story," have the same percussive attack of something from Jay-Z's girl, but the chorus sweetens it with sugary pop. Significant credit for this should go to Nate (Danja) Hills, who did solid work on Justin Timberlake's latest cool CD as well.
The album's harder R&B beats give McPhee an edge she never had before, while the caramelized choruses suit her mainstream character. In "Dangerous," there's even a bit of crunk in the trunk (courtesy of the dance-club synth riff), but no one will mistake this for a Lil' Jon record. It's factory safe for the girliest of girls.
As for McPhee's singing, she shows more force and élan on CD than she did on the show. Her tone can be either meaty or creamy, and she makes it soar without having to resort to the vapid flourishes so favored by "Idol's" judges and fans.
There's even some wit to the songs. "Open Toes," a salute to the shoe style she favors, is a foot fetishist's dream come true. "If they're not too high/or not too low/I'll take them home," she sings. "'Cause I know the boys like those open toes."
More attention seems to have been paid to the first half of the album than the second, which downshifts into a bog of ballads. But overall, McPhee has made one of the most pleasing, and commercially attuned, of the "Idol" CDs. Expect her to join Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood in the show's top pop sorority. Originally published on January 31, 2007
Thanks, Ken!
Are we filtering out most of the bad reviews here, or do I just have selective eyes. It seems like most of the reviews have been very positive. I don't usually pay much attention to reviews, except for a quick glance at the star ratings in the back of Rolling Stone, which by the way did not review Katharine's ablum. Is it normal to have this type of ratio between good and bad reviews?
Can someone find a negative review for us? I'm curious if there are any. Because even the ones that aren't heaping glowing praise on Katharine aren't really negative. I think every review as at least conceded that's Katharine's a real talent who may have misstepped on a few songs choices. And that's the "negative" ones.
She hasn't been panned anywhere. Most are at least good. Some say great. And I love the ones that mention Kelly & Carrie. The Idol sorority house. Yes, Kelly & Carrie have a new member.
Katharine's "negative" reviews are still pretty good reviews. That's all I'm saying. She hasn't had any reviews that have totally dismissed the album as garbage or anything like that.
Katharine McPhee fans around the world