Michelle Branch – Hotel Paper

Michelle Branch
Artist: Michelle Branch
Title: Hotel Paper
Label: Maverick
Rating: 7.5/10

Company Line: Branch’s new release, Hotel Paper, will undoubtedly create new opinions and deeper appreciation for her artistry from both critics and fans alike. “I never asked for comparisons to other artists nor did I expect outstanding reviews. I did, however, demand a fair and honest critique of my work and that simply never happened. Hotel Paper guarantees that my growth as an artist will overshadow non-related questions that followed me last time around. Don’t ask: I’m 20 years old now!”

The Good:
“Love Me Like That” – This duet with Sheryl Crow steals the show. A wonderful country kick in the ass.
“Are You Happy Now?” – Yes, we are happy now that we know Branch can follow up and not suffer from a sophomore slump. This song rocks!
“Tuesday Morning” – A country flavor about spending the night perhaps for the very first time.
“Empty Handed” – If every other chick that rocks can get down and angry why not Branch? She’s good at it.
“Desperately” – Perhaps I’m a sucker but this song really touches my fancy. It’s something lovely that you could just sing along to over and over on a long trip to nowhere.

The Marginal:
“Breathe” and “Hotel Paper” – A little slow and monotonous which is all saved by a chorus you can sing a long to.
“Find Your Way Back” – Sounds slower than it is. Seems to get bogged down on its own ideas.
“One Of These Days” – Not as enthusiastic or heartfelt.

The Ugly:
Blah.

Frankly: Michelle Branch has grown since her last record. She has taken the sophomore slump and kicked it in the teeth. Sure Hotel Paper gets bogged down at times with a pace that tends to get slow and with lyrics that often fall into the category of trivial but Branch always finds away to make them sound lovely. Lovely isn’t always a bad thing.

+ rae gun


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