AMG Review of Unbroken

Stephen Thomas Erlewine
All Music Guide

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 classic pop 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.