Pop music is singularly the only unchanged market over the years. Rock - guitar rock, metal, whatever else, have seen drastic changes in attitude and style but Top 40 is still all push to a destined market, the young female audience.

Michelle Branch is another name in a long line of Top 40 winners and hopefuls. With the pack currently led by Spears and Aquilera, it is a bit harder to make the climb. Branch's ascendency is predicated on a bit more lyrically and musically. But Top 40 is a very hard animal that derives its life from talent only to spit out the remains after the talent has exhausted.

Branch's Hotel Paper is her sophomore effort and is decidely better than her first. Which is good. Her single release, "Are you Happy Now?" is a strong tune that shows her lyrical prowess. With 13 songs on a very good effort and several more potential singles to extract from the work, Hotel Paper can push a good talent like Michelle Branch further into the Top 40 machine.

"Breathe" is a hands down bet for the next single. It's strong, radio friendly, sound is up tempo and hints at what Michelle can accomplish. But her duet with Sheryl Crow, "Love Me Like That" is not as strong as it could have been. "Tuesday Morning" is a lyrically strong song that sounds like it has hit potential as well. However, much of the material is very similar to the tune that preceded it.

Michelle Branch needs to increase her upward mobility. This album, although a very good effort, doesn't show enough of a quality to ascend her debut. Many of her contemporaries have gone the extra mile such as Liz Phair and Jewel. However, Branch has that "do it on my terms" mentality that could be effective but usually isn't. Has anybody heard from Fiona Apple lately? Point. Plus, much of Hotel Paper is emotionally lacking. One listen to "Til I Get Over You" reveals little substance. "Desperately" is guilty as well. If Michelle is to advance, she must dig deep for her material, infusing her next work with depth. We know that she is capable of that but will she find her voice?

Hotel Paper is worth your dime as it shows a talent on the upward climb. It worth hoping that she'll explore new avenues to increase her introspective talent.

This album has extras that are nice but viewable only once like most enhanced materials on CDs with the exception being well done MTV videos. This disc's extras consists of several live sessions@AOL performances and a 'making of' set that highlights several of her songs. Additionally, there is a photo gallery.

Michelle Branch can become more than this album. The talent is there to do so. What remains is for her to take the reigns and move forward boldly, something she can do. Hang tight...the best is yet to come.

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Michelle Branch

Hotel Paper

Released:June 24, 2003
Origination Year: 2003
Time: 47:03
Tracks: 13
Produced by: John Shanks
Style: Studio
Format: CD
Enhancement: Photo Gallery / 15 minutes of bonus footage.
Label: Maverick Records
Website:
www.michellebranch.com

Intro
Are You Happy Now?
Find Your Way Back
Empty Handed
Tuesday Morning
One of These Days
Love Me Like That
Desperately
Breathe
Where Are You Now?
Hotel Paper
Til I Get Over You
It's You