Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Throwing the baby out with the bleach water, Katharine McPhee ditches dance-pop and her long brunette locks for her second album, Unbroken, upgrading to AAA crossover pop and a short blonde crop. The sudden departure was necessary, driven by the general disregard for her 2007 debut, which in typical post-American Idol fashion, chased after big hit singles at the expense of her show persona. On Idol, McPhee always favored middle of the road over modern, and Unbroken returns her to that course, bringing her somewhere within the vicinity of Paula Cole (who co-writes the title track), Rachael Yamagata (who co-writes “Keep Drivin’”) and Mandy Moore’s stylized ‘70s throwback, flavored with the slightest traces of modern sounds, including a vague borrowing of Beyoncé phrasing. The vibe fits McPhee, feeling like a deliberate blend of her “Over the Rainbow” and KT Tunstall tribute, but its cautious, careful crawl creeps right into the marrow of the album, slowing its heartbeat to a murmur. Professional that she is, McPhee sings to the contours of the song, fading into their supple formlessness and never investing them with personality. The only time Unbroken awakens from its deep slumber is at the end, when she rolls around to Melanie’s “Brand New Key” for a bonus track; it’s the only song with a melody that hooks, the only song that gives McPhee a stage where she can strut and, tellingly and sadly, its status as a golden oldie offers a reminder that she was better on Idol than she has been on record.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From CA$ 10.83/month
Victor Indrizzo, Drums, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Zac Rae, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Sean Hurley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Goldenberg, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John Alagia, Producer - Oliver Kraus, Cello, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Endert, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Chaves, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Eddy Schreyer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jon Gass, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Katharine McPhee, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Lucie Silvas, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gary Go, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2009 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Victor Indrizzo, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Zac Rae, Keyboards, Piano, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - Sean Hurley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Goldenberg, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John Alagia, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Mitch Allan, ComposerLyricist - Kara Dioguardi, ComposerLyricist - Mark Endert, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - David Hodges, ComposerLyricist - Michael Chaves, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Scheuble, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nolan Sipe, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eddy Schreyer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jon Gass, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Katharine McPhee, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Lucie Silvas, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Suite 3, Producer, Executive Producer
℗ 2009 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Victor Indrizzo, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Zac Rae, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Sean Hurley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Tompkins, ComposerLyricist - John Alagia, Producer, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Endert, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Chaves, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Eddy Schreyer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jon Gass, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Rachael Yamagata, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Katharine McPhee, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Lucie Silvas, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2009 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Patrice Rushen, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Luke Laird, ComposerLyricist - Barry Dean, ComposerLyricist - Tony Moore, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Endert, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Chaves, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Eddy Schreyer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Jackson, Jr., Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jon Gass, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Katharine McPhee, Producer, Co-Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Rhonda Smith, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Daniel Lloyd, Producer - Martin Bishop, Producer
℗ 2009 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Victor Indrizzo, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Zac Rae, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Sean Hurley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John Alagia, Producer - Marshall Altman, ComposerLyricist - Mark Endert, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Chaves, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Billy Childs, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Eddy Schreyer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jon Gass, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Katharine McPhee, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ingrid Michaelson, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2009 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Victor Indrizzo, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Zac Rae, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Sean Hurley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John Alagia, Producer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jason Reeves, Vocals, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kara Dioguardi, ComposerLyricist - Mark Endert, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Chaves, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Eddy Schreyer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jon Gass, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Katharine McPhee, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2009 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Victor Indrizzo, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Zac Rae, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Sean Hurley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Alexander James, ComposerLyricist - John Alagia, Producer - Mark Endert, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Chaves, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Eddy Schreyer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jon Gass, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Katharine McPhee, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Busbee, ComposerLyricist - Lucie Silvas, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2009 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Aimee Mayo, ComposerLyricist - Chris Lindsey, ComposerLyricist - Victor Indrizzo, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Zac Rae, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Troy Verges, ComposerLyricist - Hillary Lindsey, ComposerLyricist - John Alagia, Producer - Oliver Kraus, Cello, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Endert, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Eddy Schreyer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jon Gass, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Katharine McPhee, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2009 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Victor Indrizzo, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Zac Rae, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Sean Hurley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John Alagia, Producer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Shridhar Solanki, ComposerLyricist - Mark Endert, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Chaves, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Eddy Schreyer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jon Gass, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Katharine McPhee, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Rachel Thibodeau, ComposerLyricist - Lucie Silvas, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2009 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Victor Indrizzo, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Zac Rae, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Luke Laird, ComposerLyricist - John Alagia, Producer - Barry Dean, ComposerLyricist - Oliver Kraus, Cello, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Endert, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Chaves, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Eddy Schreyer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jon Gass, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Katharine McPhee, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2009 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Boots Ottestad, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Endert, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Eddy Schreyer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jon Gass, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Katharine McPhee, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2009 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
John Alagia, Producer - Oliver Kraus, Cello, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Paula Cole, ComposerLyricist - Mark Endert, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Billy Childs, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Eddy Schreyer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jon Gass, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Katharine McPhee, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2009 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Victor Indrizzo, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Zac Rae, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Sean Hurley, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John Alagia, Producer - Melanie Safka, ComposerLyricist - Mark Endert, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Chaves, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Eddy Schreyer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jon Gass, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Katharine McPhee, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2009 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
Throwing the baby out with the bleach water, Katharine McPhee ditches dance-pop and her long brunette locks for her second album, Unbroken, upgrading to AAA crossover pop and a short blonde crop. The sudden departure was necessary, driven by the general disregard for her 2007 debut, which in typical post-American Idol fashion, chased after big hit singles at the expense of her show persona. On Idol, McPhee always favored middle of the road over modern, and Unbroken returns her to that course, bringing her somewhere within the vicinity of Paula Cole (who co-writes the title track), Rachael Yamagata (who co-writes “Keep Drivin’”) and Mandy Moore’s stylized ‘70s throwback, flavored with the slightest traces of modern sounds, including a vague borrowing of Beyoncé phrasing. The vibe fits McPhee, feeling like a deliberate blend of her “Over the Rainbow” and KT Tunstall tribute, but its cautious, careful crawl creeps right into the marrow of the album, slowing its heartbeat to a murmur. Professional that she is, McPhee sings to the contours of the song, fading into their supple formlessness and never investing them with personality. The only time Unbroken awakens from its deep slumber is at the end, when she rolls around to Melanie’s “Brand New Key” for a bonus track; it’s the only song with a melody that hooks, the only song that gives McPhee a stage where she can strut and, tellingly and sadly, its status as a golden oldie offers a reminder that she was better on Idol than she has been on record.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 00:47:02
- Main artists: Katharine McPhee
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: KATHARINE MCPHEE
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2009 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. ℗ 2009 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Why buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.