MMM: Rules Unbroken

A very happy morning to you stargazers. This Monday Mood Music is going to go against the grain. Usually, I like to wait a while before I revisit a particular artist, unless I'm doing a special showcase. Time to break that rule.

Two weeks ago I mentioned I'd be listening to Katharine McPhee's latest album Unbroken with fingers crossed. As mentioned previously, I feel she is a great singer and was really disappointed that (like with most Idol contestants) her first album was largely forgettable.

After that post an anonymous commenter requested that after I give Unbroken a listen, I update my blog. I aim to please, so anonymous, this one goes out to you.

Katharine McPhee's sophomore album, Unbroken, is leaps and bounds better than her debut. Since buying the album two weeks ago, I've only listened to it all the way through a couple of times. That's because I'm still working through the stack of CD's gifted to me over the holidays, not because I don't like it. On the contrary, it's very easy to listen to. No need to go through a track-by-track critique, but aside from a few tracks in the latter half of the album which seem to wash into the background, Ms. McPhee's return is very strong. Now my fingers are crossed that audiences will give Unbroken the attention and airplay it deserves.

She co-wrote six of the twelve tracks on the album. The following track is one of those. I heard Lifetime a couple of months back on thesixtyone.com (great music site, btw) and enjoyed it immensely. I hope you do to:

Katharine McPhee - Lifetime

By the by, I've watched Katharine give a few recent performances and I do really like her new shorter hair style. It really complements her lovely features. Her blondness is growing on me, though ever so slowly. What can I say, I dig brunettes.

MMM: New Beginnings

Welcome to the first Monday Mood Music of 2010! I deliberated long and hard to decide who should start off the new year, then it hit me. Since the new year is always a time for new beginnings, why not pick an artist who's releasing a new album?

During the first of the three seasons I was forced to watch American Idol in its entirety, this performer made the show tolerable. She was a great singer, and it didn't hurt that she was very easy on the eyes. After having to listen to yet another Chris Daughtry power ballad or watch Taylor Hicks contort into another epileptic performance fit, I could always count on Katharine McPhee to wash away the craziness.

Sadly, her post-Idol career hasn't been as reliable. As runner-up, she released the same bland, cookie-cutter album every Idol female first churns out. It had a few decent songs, but was largely forgettable. Then she moved on to acting. She had a named role in 2008's The House Bunny, then her acting career seemed to vanish.

Now she's back with new music and a new 'do. I like the shorter length to her hair, but the bleach-blond color isn't doing her any favors. Especially when it's slicked back a la eighties in the following video. To each their own I suppose.

Based on this newest single, it sounds like she's trying her hand at the country-pop angle. Not what I'd expect, but it's a new year so why not mix things up? I'll be giving her new album, Unbroken, a listen later this week. Here's hoping it's the awesome album she should have made three years ago. Tell me what you think of her new direction:

Katharine McPhee - Had it All

You know, I'm kinda diggin' it...the tune, not the blond ambition.