Katharine McPhee
01 - Love Story - It has a nice old school vibe to it, but this song is better suited to Alicia Keys. In fact, during the instrumental, I began singing, "Let me tell you something, tell you how I feel, when he comes around, I get to feeling ill..." However, it is a throwback song. She doesn't deliver it with the fire and soul that a better singer could have, but it is catchy nevertheless. Rating: 3/5
02 - Over It - JoJo, anyone? This is a simple rehash of "Too Little, Too Late." This is her AC hit, though. Lyrically, it's in the same vein as Beyonce's "Irreplaceable" (albeit a less direct and harsh version). I'm simply not impressed. She has a problem with actually delivering a lyric convincingly. She sounds as if she's simply singing just because she can. There is no real connection to the lyric or instrumentation. Rating: 3/5
03 - Open Toes - If you're just barely listening, you'd swear you're listening to a less passionate Christina. Quite honestly, it sounds like a Christina reject. Vocally, it's nothing special, although the chorus is infectious. Instrumentally, it sounds like a track from Sonic the Hedgehog 2 on Sega (you remember the "casino" board). Lyrically, blah. Rating: 2.5/5
04 - Home - "Everyday, is so wonderful...then suddenly, it's hard to breathe." Everything about this song is a carbon copy of Christina's "Beautiful"--even the overall message that the song's attempting to send. She sounds eerily like Christina here, too. She has breath control problems when trying to support her notes. As the song progresses, it morphs from "Beautiful" to "The Voice Within" back to "Beautiful". If I wanted Christina, I would have popped in "Stripped". Rating: 3/5
05 - Not Ur Girl - Okay, now I'm convinced that Christina is actually the one singing. She definitely has Christina's tone and style on the generic runs and riffs. However, where she and Christina differs is here: Christina has always delivered on her songs; Katharine, on the other hand sounds very karaoke at points. She's not a bad singer though; she just has bad material. This is a track that they coulda kept. Rating: 2/5
06 - Each Other - Well all right, Kat! This is her R&B crossover hit! It's a wonderful song! Probably the strongest track on the album thus far. Instrumentally and vocally, the song is wonderful. But where oh where have all the good writers gone? Rating: 4.5/5
07 - Dangerous - This is early Kelly Clarkson music. This song, however, was (instrumentally) written for 1988. Lyrically, too for that matter ("I didn't see the missle that sank my love-ship"). Kat kinda gets lost in the music here, though. Good song, nevertheless. Rating: 3.5/5
08 - Ordinary World - Your standard first-time out female singer big Whitney-esque song--very cliched lyrics and typical overly dramatic instrumentation. However, I love big songs like this, and Katharine sang it without whining, which is a huge plus in my book. There wasn't a huge vocal moment in this song, but it was sang well overall. Rating: 4.5/5
09 - Do What You Do - It seems like all of her upbeat instrumental tracks sound arcade-ish (excluding Each Other). This is so contrived, though. "All the girls in the club wanna be me..."--it's so bubblegummy. Cheesier than Cheeze Whiz. I swear this song was left off of Christina's debut, though; it would fit right in on her debut album. Even the backing vocals sound as if Christina is singing. Rating: 3/5
10 - Better Off Alone - Reminiscent of Mariah's, "If It's Over," a song which I absolutely LOVE. I love the vulnerable way she sings this. This track she's actually come into her own and exited Christina territory--she found the voice within (insert grin), LOL. Good job, Kat! Rating: 4/5
11 - Neglected - Sure to be another hit. She sounds remarkably like her Idol sister Clarkson, and it works for this piece. Everything about this song works. It even has a Mariah "Close My Eyes" feel to it. In fact, it's going on repeat and straight to my mp3 player. She sings the heck out of it. Rating: 5/5
12 - Everywhere I Go - I knew from the first 10 words out of her mouth that this was going to my mp3 player and that this was also going on repeat! I'm loving the groove, the lyrics, and the way she delivers the song. There's a connection that she makes on so many different levels. Good job! Magnificent! Rating: 5/5
Overall Album Review:
Originally I was going to write that Katharine is a Christina and Kelly Clarkson hybrid; a Christina Clarkson if you will. Then I was going to quip that you shouldn't accept cheap imitations when the real thing is available. However, Kat finally found her voice and began connecting and I had to dismiss this altogether.
So, they're going to market her to the AC audience obviously and rightfully so. This is the genre in which her voice shines and she sings with some feeling and conviction (a problem I had with her on Idol). There is no heavy, big-vocaled, "All The Man I Need" (Whitney) meets "Just To Hold You Once Again" (Mariah) meets "Reflections" (Christina) meets "Up Against All Odds" (Tarralyn Ramsey) song on this album, but it suffices nonetheless. Lyrically, it will appeal to the 18-35 demographic. Instrumentally and stylistically, it has the unique opportunity to branch over into the urban market and pull listeners.
Would I buy this album? Probably not. But is it worth a download? Sure is (be sure you don't burn it if you download it; listen to it, then get rid of it)! It delivers. She did a fine job her first time out. I just want her to get away from the Monica syndrome--being afraid to use your entire voice and carry the song instead of the song carrying the singer.
Overall Album Rating: 3.5/5
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