Michelle Branch - "Hotel Paper"

[theflying]

God, I love this album.
I find the album to be so strong, from top to bottom. It has everything I want - the breezy radio catchiness of "Breathe" and "Find Your Way Back", the sass in "Love Me Like That", the introspective ballads like "Hotel Paper" and "Tuesday Morning" (both of which I think are some of the strongest tracks on the album), the easy-to-digest angst of "Are You Happy Now?" and "Empty Handed"...

I can listen to this album straight through and it gives me exactly what I want. The songs have aged so well, her voice sounds so great, the production is great -- it just evokes the early 00s so much.

And interestingly, it seems to appear on lists where there's the most disparity between what critics thought (critics didn't like it) and listeners thought (listeners loved it). I think the critics missed their mark here; I can understand that there isn't a ton of uniqueness here, but you don't listen to Michelle Branch for uniqueness -- you listen to her because of EXACTLY what this album is, and this album delivers that in spades.

Mostly, I just wanted to give a shout out to all those album tracks that are so strong but don't get their due.

Also, Breathe is one of the most baffling career-halting flops I've ever seen. I still don't understand what happened there on CHR. From what I've gathered, it seems Michelle didn't really like the song or just didn't want it released as the single, and then it flopping led to a conflict where Michelle wanted to release what she wants ("Till I Get Over You) and the label didn't support it -- which caused further breakdowns and stalls in the music there after.

[Devil Marlena Nylund]

I think critics look for too much. At least back in those days. Michelle was still a teenager and a woman playing light pop/rock music, all things music snobs don’t like. If this album came out now I’m sure it would be better received.

And yes, I agree it’s nearly perfect. I come back to it at least once or twice a year. Oddly enough my least favourite track might be the one with Sheryl Crow, mainly because it doesn’t seem to fit in with the rest of the album, but One of these Days, Tuesday Morninf, Desperately, they’re all 🥰🥰🥰🥰

[theflying]

I didn't give them shout outs but One Of These Days but especially Desperately are also sooo good.

[ClevelandRox]

Are You Happy Now was such an amazing first single and Empty Handed remains one of my favorite album tracks ever!

I'll forever remember the napster days and my version of AYHN having that "AOL Music First Listen" at the beginning.

I remember TRL saying the chorus to Breathe was originally the chorus for AYHN! I can't hear how that would've worked. ???

[theflying]

Omg WHAT?!?’ *THAT* is tea!