Preamble
I've had this cd for a couple of weeks and I like it so much, that it's been difficult for me to review it. I was prepared to sit down and do it Tuesday night but you know - all happiness over a simple cd just escaped me. I may not have my usual spunk and cheerfulness in this review. But like getting back on my bike, I'm sure it'll come back in time.

Who Is Michelle Branch?
Well, take my word for it, she's definitely someone you should get to know artistically.

Michelle is a mere 17 years old (that's half my age for those of you who are keeping track). She's a beautiful (but not too beautiful) chick with dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. Why do I even mention this? Well take a look at the young chicks we have singing pop music today. They're all Blondes-Out-Of-A-Hair-Color-Box and their songs mostly sound like they came from that box of color too.

Credit goes to whoever decided to play her video for, Everything at 6 a.m., while I was getting ready for work one morning. I don't actually watch the videos it's that MTV actually plays just music at that hour and it's refreshing to hear music and not anything else (like annoying radio personalities).

Michelle isn't related to any one famous and she didn't take the politically pop correct route to fame. She wasn't a mousekateer, she never appeared on Star Search but at 17, she writes her own music and actually plays guitar. Picking up that instrument at the age of 14, she definitely plays it like an old soul.

She notes her influences as The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Led Zeppelin. Very different influences for a 17 year old girl. I guess I expected her to jump on the bandwagon and claim that Madonna (founder of this label) was one of her influences. Nuh-uh.

Let’s Talk About Details
At some point over the past two years, Maverick must have gotten their act together because that's the record label she currently belongs to. I assume that they teamed her with veteran producer John Shanks because of his success with other singer-songwriters like Melissa Etheridge, BBMak, and Chris Isaak. You’ve got to give big credit for this album's smooth production. He makes her sound like a veteran singer-songwriter.

As I started to write my blurb for each of these tracks, I had at least one of my epinions friends in mind when I was listening to the song. Maybe epinions has warped me (albeit temporarily) or maybe, I feel so intune with others musical tastes here that it’s difficult to just enjoy the music at face value.

So pardon me as I step out of my usual reviewing technique and speak to my friends about these particular tracks.

divad23 from the first moment I heard Everywhere, I thought of you. There are very few music reviewers here that enjoy a variety of music, including Christian Pop music.

Although the video appeals to those people who have a one track mind (girl and boy material), if you listen to just the lyrics, I think Michelle’s got some sort of spiritual message she’s talking about.

’Cause you’re everywhere to me. And when I close my eyes it’s you I see. You’re everything I know that makes me believe. I’m not alone. I’m not alone.

For me – the ex-Catholic school girl, if her message is about a higher power, I really appreciate the fact that the musical arrangement is different enough that it allows the listener to deempahsize the message (if they choose to of course).

I think it’s genius that she can write a song like this and it appeals to so many people from all different musical walks of life.

Bijou and Dustygold, this next track brings a smile to my face. You Get Me I think is supposed to be about a male/female relationship but the way Michelle has written and arranged it, it can definitely apply to a platonic relationship. There’s a couple of lyrical passages that make me specifically think of you. So I’m a little left of center. I’m a little out of tune. Some say I’m paranormal so I just want to bend their spoon. Who wants to be ordinary in a crazy, mixed-up world. I don’t care what they’re sayin’ as long as I’m your girl.

Girls, the music is so upbeat and whimsical (reminds me slightly of something Jill Sobule would sing). It just reminds me of that spiritual connection I have with my friends – a mixture of fun and serious mental vomiting of emotions.

Ms. AllyMcBeal guess who this reminds me of? This track, All You Wanted, screams our girls, Wilson Philips. The harmonies are simplistic, yet beautiful. I can imagine all three of our girls singing this. Chynna’s voice would fit perfectly in the verses while Wendy’s voice would shine during the chorus.

Jennull, I miss you so much. True Confession. I was watching a VH1 Made for television movie, The Way She Moves and I thought of you. I love Annabeth Gish (think Mystic Pizza) and the chemistry she has with Kamar de los Reyes is sizzling. That’s the way I feel about you and me. Anyway, at the end of the movie, she’s sitting at her desk at work and her friends/co-workers are nearby. A song comes on and she starts rattling every day office gadgets to the beat. Before you know it, they’re all up and dancing, having a great time, living in the moment that is. Amazingly, this it the track - You Set Me Free that they dance to. Like all of Michelle's other songs, the messages are pretty deep When I was alone you came around. When I was down, you pulled me through. And there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you. And that’s true. I love you like a chocolate covered cherry. The music is so upbeat and makes you want to get up and dance around, arms widespread, twirling in a circle until you laugh yourself silly.

There is The Beatles influence all over this one. The piano chords and the guitar riffs will transport you back to the 60’s. There are two people that pop in my head when this song comes on - Sparkospunky and Flamepillar. Sparkie, you have such a deep appreciation for two things that I admire: Life and Good Pop Music. I think you’d enjoy Michelle’s guitar playing (reminds me at times of Sir McCartney) and her harmonies. It’s just beautiful to hear.

Flame buddy, this song oozes two things that remind me of you. First, Evan and Jaron is alive and kicking (in spirit) in this song. I think you’ll be amazed at the same type of qualities that she and our favorite twins share. Second, Michelle’s voice is so over the top passionate and mix that with the angst filled lyrics – well - it’s sure to choke a fellow like you up.

Although it doesn’t sound like her song Torn, the vocals that Michelle sings in this track, Here With Me, has a range similar to something sung by Natalie Imbruglia. LindsayBW (who used to hang out here on epinions) was a great fan of Natalie’s and at the time that she wrote her review on Left of the Middle, I just couldn’t understand how she could like her voice. It was rather irritating to me. Or maybe it was the bazillion times that the video was played on MTV.

What Michelle adds here that Natalie’s voice couldn’t compete with is the tension against the musical arrangement. The music has a real weird Indian feeling to it. I can’t accurately describe it. There’s a lot of push and pull between the music and Michelle’s vocals.

This next track Sweet Misery, reminds me of two of my favorite artists - Enya and Enigma. Over a year ago, someone named John (MrReEvolution) wrote about Enya’s cd, The Memory of Trees. In his pros section for the cd he urged you to purchase it because, “Enya's immense talent as both keyboardist and singer, the ability for the music to contain "visible" emotion, the overall goodness.” Yep, he’s right. Michelle captures that same feeling John. No matter what mood you are in, her music creates all sorts of visual imagery. Her lyrics here are simple (like Enya’s) yet, unforgettable.

If Only She Knew reminds me of Sheryl Crowe. Subsequently, I always think of Katmar when this song comes on. Marsha, this track is full of guitar strumming riffs and Michelle almost gasp has a southern rock twang to her vocals. Her style on this track reminds me so much of Tuesday Night Music Club. It contains that simple innocence and freshness of pop and rock combined. Think, All I Wanna Do.

Monnie1976 this next track, I’d Rather Be In Love, reminds me of you. Here, Michelle sounds like a mixture of Suzanna Hoffs voice (but not nearly as annoying) and Chynna Phillips. The bridge of the song has two strong things going for it. First, it’s just a great pop hook. You won’t forget it and it’ll run through your head for a long time. Second, the angst in her voice as she sings, And I’d give up everything only for you. It’s the least that I could do..

Strangely, this track Goodbye To You stirred a lot of emotion in me but reminded me of no one. It wasn’t until Tuesday’s events that it hooked its self into my psyche – the song that will never make me forget The World Trade Center. Goodbye to you. Goodbye to everything I knew. You were the one I loved. The one thing that I tried to hold on to. Now while the lyrics are significant when thinking of a person that you’ve lost (either through death or through the end of the relationship), what it really mean to me (because of the week’s events), is a loss of innocence that has always seemed to be there for me and most of all of us. This innocence that we are all immune from these kind of radical and horrendous events in the world. Michelle sings with the passion of a young Sarah McLachlan here. I can just imagine what she would sound like in a live performance.

Drop In The Ocean reminds me of two people - Madonna and my fellow bud Sleestakk. Jay has such an appreciation for Madonna - no matter what musical mood she’s in at the moment. Me too. There’s not a lot of us that can stand all of Madonna’s material.

On this track, she invokes two separate Madonna moments. First, her vocals are reminiscent of her work from Erotica. Second the actual material feels like something Madonna might have done for Ray of Light. The music goes from 4/4 to a slightly offbeat 3/4 time tempo. Midway through the song, the tempo switches to a staccato 2/4 time and it’s a little mind altering (but in a good way). If you liked Ray of Light, you’d definitely like this song.

Jenninca, I know you have an appreciation for a cd you can put in and listen to all the way through. You were the very first person I thought to recommend this to.

The End
The Spirit Room is breathtakingly fantastic pop/alternative music. It is a must have for your collection. I so look forward to a long and healthy career for Michelle Branch. The chick gives me hope that there is more to pop music than spandex and plastic boobies.

If you have a great love for pop music – especially any of these artists - Evan and Jaron, Sarah McLachlan, Wilson Phillips, Sheryl Crow, The Beatles, The Bangles, Natalie Imbruglia - you’ll really enjoy this cd.


Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Driving