Katharine McPhee

"This is 'Love Story' unplugged," announces Katherine McPhee before the stomping rendition of the opening track from her self-titled debut. With a driving acoustic guitar and rollicking grand piano, the tune has all the energy of the glossily-produced version, but here McPhee's soul-packed warble is fiercely in the foreground. Accompanied only by piano, her reading of "Over It" is a down tempo heart breaker, and the session closes with the gently swaying Rhodes and guitar of "Each Other." The simpler presentation suits McPhee, letting her voice truly steal the show.