Though the independently record Broken Bracelet was Michelle’s first album, it would be the studio based, The Spirit Room that provided the new pop princess with her launch into the line light. And rightly so, the slowing moving tempos that had submerged her first album where replaced with tracks like Everywhere.
One of the major selling points of Michelle Branch is her originality in actually making her own music. Unlike so many she is a pop singer than can do such things as play a musical instrument and write her own lyrics. A point that is apparent in both the Spirit Room and Broken Bracelet.
Of course the classic slow and meaningful tunes are still in the album and in there in force with Goodbye to You (as featured on series 6 of the hit show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and if only she knew providing a great variety and contrast to the album to keep you listening.
Stickyness is slightly above average, there are plenty of songs that you will find stuck inside your head though some take quite a bit of listening to, to get into. This only adds to the life of the album which is quite impressive in itself.
The Spirit Room, I believe, will show Branch’s best work providing a close to perfect fusion of different temperaments and styles that I think she will struggle to match in later albums. But if she can maintain such music, she will be around for a long time.
Title: The Spirit Room