Warning: I am biased, but then again, so am I when it comes to the Crowes. Oh well, I’ll do my best. Michelle Branch came ‘round in the summer of August 2001with her debut, The Spirit Room. The first single, “Everywhere” was a minor hit that stuck around for a few months. The second single, “All You Wanted” was what blew the roof off the hizzy (after I typed that, my first thought was “Whaaa?” but I decided to keep it). She hit #1 on MTV’s TRL, and the album went platinum with press exclaiming “Hey! She’s a girl who plays guitar and she doesn’t dance! Whatsupwitdat?”. She made it, but the REAL question is this: Is the hype around her worth it?

In a word: Probably.

See that’s the problem with potential: You know it CAN be done, but you don’t know if it WILL. If The Spirit Room is any indication, it will. Starting with the first single, “Everywhere,” Michelle establishes her sound: lots of guitars, a skittering beat, insistent, layered vocals, and usually (especially on the singles) a slow verse with a fast chorus. Formulaic? Yeah. Bad? Absolutely not. “Everywhere” was a weak choice for a first single, though. The lyrics are plain, and the intro sounds a little like “Don’t Tell Me” by Madonna (except better… and not followed with a video featuring cowboys in tight pants, but that’s another rant for another time). The next song, “You Get Me” has to have the cutest lyrics on the album (and, I think, is the theme song for MTV’s Sorority Life). And it doesn’t follow the formula that becomes apparent later on. “You’ve seen my secret garden, where all of my flowers grow/in my imagination, everything goes.”… Sexy. But still, it’s kind of a story about two (I’m trying to find the right word here…) misfits (thanks Allmusic.com) in love. Sweet.

“All You Wanted,” THE big single (also Michelle’s favorite song on the album, for those that care…) uses the formula established by “Everywhere,” but in a more bombastic, yearning and effective fashion. First run through the CD, it was my choice for “next single” AND “best song.” Never got overplayed, so it retains its quality, despite heavy radio rotation (YES~!). What makes it better than “Everywhere?” It’s more desperate, more subtle (in some parts), and less happy-go-lucky. “You Set Me Free” comes next. Filler, true (and was on the Spirit soundtrack… you know, that movie… about the horses… Yep), but still pleasing (it’s hard to follow “All You Wanted”).

“Something to Sleep To” is a ballad. Cool-sounding lyrics, sung well, kind of minimal. “Here with Me” comes next, and it’s unremarkable. It’s not bad, by any means. It just doesn’t hold up against the high points of the album. “Sweet Misery,” which follows it, has good lyrics, but is overproduced. Lame intro, and it comes off better on her indie release, Broken Bracelet. There, it’s sweet, just guitar, vocals and a (cheap) electric drum beat. Here, it’s boring and synth-laden. The emotional core is lost.

But things pick up right after! “If Only She Knew” is another true high point, more cool lyrics! “I don’t know whose side I’m taking, but I’m not taking things too well.” I don’t know, I just thought that was clever. It’s the heaviest song on the album, while retaining the sweet-but-not-TOO-sweet mood of the album. “I’d Rather Be in Love” comes next, and the synths work on this one. Nice song. Next up… “Goodbye to You” comes next. Third single, and the album version far exceeds the radio version (as a note, the radio version, instrumentally sounds like “All You Wanted pt. 2”). Also, my choice for best song on the album. It’s a nice “goodbye” song, sweet soft song.

And finally, the finale, “Drop in the Ocean.” PERFECT ending to the album. Very few guitars here, just a drum beat and a lot of showcasing of her vocals. Beautiful lyrics to match, too. Today alone I’ve used “beautiful” too much. But I can’t think of any other words to describe some of these voices and songs.

So, in the end, Michelle Branch’s major label debut isn’t quite the second coming. However, it IS the start of a career that could lead to many, many brilliant works to come.