Katharine Mcphee, Katharine Mcphee Blonde News. The album features a couple catchy numbers in “Had It All” and “Lifetime,” though McPhee’s personal favorites off the album are “Surrender” (“I love the message of the song”) and “Faultline” (“It’s a soulful song”). She does laughingly admit that her favorite song from the album changes almost daily — “I go through stages of liking different songs.”

A fun surprise for McPhee is the album’s bonus track, a cover of the 1971 hit by Melanie Safka called “Brand New Key.” McPhee says she was sent a number of different options for a cover on the album and didn’t love any of them until “Brand New Key,” which she thought was “quirky and bizarre and I kinda liked it but then I sang it a couple times and ended up just loving it.”

In regards to her “American Idol” roots, McPhee laughs when asked if she’s still in touch with any of her fellow “Idol” alums — “I get asked that all the time.” She’s still great friends with Kellie Pickler and still connects with both Chris Daughtry and Mandisa, all Season Five contestants. Katharine would also love to come back on the show to perform something from “Unbroken,” though nothing for the current season is booked yet.

Not that she isn’t keeping busy. After hitting the interview/performance circuit in NYC, there are some dates set up for individual appearances this spring and then a summer tour is in the works.

Unbroken’s middle section may have needed a little fixing after all–& it doesn’t stop there. “Surrender” is mediocre at best (& forgettable, as I had to back the album up while still listening to it to remember how this song goes), while “Terrified” finds Kat unfortunately not blending well with her duet partner Jason Reeves much at all. “How” is only slightly better, but the album really gets going again with its best track, the gorgeous “Say Goodbye.” Katharine is really in her zone here & I wish there were more songs like this on the album.

I don’t really care for “Faultline,” nor the marginally improved “Anybody’s Heart.” Have no fear though because the album’s final three songs include some of its best material. Midtempo “Lifetime” was one of a few digital singles released in advance of Unbroken (as was “Say Goodbye”) & they proved to be some of the album’s highlights. The title track “Unbroken” isn’t amazing, but it is a nice ballad. The album ends well with a cover of “Brand New Key,” a fun song that brings some much-needed life into the project.