It's a stretch to believe all Idol contestants relish equally the chance to croon, say, "Get Down on It" and "Trying to Get the Feeling Again." Still, there they all are, sporting big smiles and performing mic-stand theatrics as they burn through rock, pop, R&B, country, disco ... and lounge. That's versatility. That cuts through the ordinary. Can you imagine bringing that kind of diversity to your own daily routine? "To jazz things up, boss, I'll be typing my memos in a different Romantic language each day this week. You won't want to miss Thursday!"

Of course, this seemingly never-ending series of theme nights can leave the talent pool looking a little bewildered—like they're not sure whether they're performing at a church picnic or a biker bar. And fans, for their part, actually seem to be looking for a touch of predictability as they try to ferret out (and vote for) personal faves. Ruben got the nod for his distinctive soul-pop, Carrie for knowing her away around a country tune and Clay for ... OK, Clay's not a good example. Last year's runner-up, Katharine McPhee, however, is. She was that Doris Day-ish good-girl who stunned the microphone with American songbook standards such as "Someone to Watch Over Me" and "Come Rain or Come Shine." Her take on "Over the Rainbow"—last year's second biggest-selling single—was all Judy Garland with just a touch of soul.

Now for the toll-free question of the hour: Did McPhee bottle that repertoire and All-American charm for her self-titled debut release?

From Gershwin to Da Club
Not exactly. For her RCA debut McPhee veers away from show tunes, passing through a little gospel balladry on her way to urban dance music. A few slow numbers are reminiscent of her Idol showstoppers, but listening to them alongside a collection of modern pop/dance/R&B tracks results in what AllMusic reviewer Stephen Thomas Erlewine calls a "curiously lopsided ... album, one that has two opposing sides fighting against each other."

Also fighting against each other are the familiar image of an American Idol standards-loving sweetheart and a worldly woman-scorned persona starting to rear its head. This new identity turns up in club-hopping fare such as "Do What You Do," when McPhee invites a partier to "put your hands on me like a man"—which shouldn't be so surprising given that everything is, as she puts it, "burning up inside of me." On "Open Toes" the club is also the site of a girls' night out where the singer is accessorized in a miniskirt, diamond anklet and the right shoes "to make these clothes hotter." McPhee certainly looks ready to club it up in the CD's album art, which features her in short skirts and, to put it tactfully, plunging necklines.

Judging from the album's subject matter, one would gather that frequent bar hopping hasn't paid high dividends in the relationship department. Six tracks describe a woman who has been cheated on, neglected or otherwise wronged. Those numbers are sometimes revenge-minded ("I'm tired of dealing/Gotta figure how to even the score").

One Rainbow. No Pot of Gold.
Songs like these seem unlikely material for a young woman who on Idol often came off looking more like a Broadway hopeful than an R&B act. Neither are they very convincing. "Kat never sounds sexy when she struts on numbers like 'Do What You Do,' which doesn't come as a surprise since she was always more spunky than sultry on the show," Erlewine writes. "Talented as she is, she has yet to develop a performing personality that is distinctly hers."

If you listen to many teen-targeted albums by pop stars, you know that disparities like these aren't exactly new. Many female artists work hard to convey that they are the sweetest, most wholesome girls in the whole world, just don't ever make them mad! And while they may hint at modesty and the innocence of young love (at least during the early part of their careers), all rules go out the window once they hit the dance floor.

Which song style and subject matter seems closest to McPhee's heart? In a recent interview with USA Today, she downplayed the personal relevance of last year's throwback single by saying she isn't an "'Over the Rainbow' kind of girl." She goes on to explain her song selection and even her fashion choices: "I've gotten more daring. I mean, if I can't show off my legs now, when can I?"