So, over the past year, two young female stars have come along. Alicia Keys, the R&B singer with the piano skillz, and Michelle Branch, 18-year old guitar player with pop hooks and a rock’n’roll attitude. Vanessa had been signed for some time before these two talents made it big, but when they started becoming certified hitmakers, I’m sure Ms. Carlton probably seemed more important in their eyes.

So, with that, the hype machine began to roll. Thanks to the fact that they are both brunettes, she and Michelle got comparison after comparison (…until Avril Lavigne came along) while “Everywhere” and Carlton’s first single, “A Thousand Miles” dueled it out on TV and radio. She was placed on Rolling Stone magazine’s “Ten Artists to Watch in 2002” list. And, seemingly after MONTHS of “A Thousand Miles” being played on the radio, Be Not Nobody finally got released and, soon after, “Ordinary Day” was released. Speaking of which, it’s a great song. Vocal and piano melodies are nice, and Vanessa is the center of the focus.

The next song, “Unsung” is equally as good (if not better). A sweeping, piano-based epic and one of the louder songs present. However, attention from Vanessa can be placed elsewhere fort he first time on the album. What would someone pay attention to? The DRUMS. Yes, you read that right, the drums. Bangin’, loud, powerful… Man, that be some good drummin’! Keith Moon ain’t got nothing on this guy! Well, alright, maybe he has EVERYTHING on this, but still, good drumming. Same goes with her cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black.” Allmusic called it “melodramatic” and Allmusic can kiss my ass now. “Raging,” “driven” and “breathtaking.” Try THOSE words, Stephen Thomas Erlewine. Yeah, I sure showed him on my mini-site that probably less than 15 people have seen…

But still, most of the rest of the album is calmer, like “A Thousand Miles” and “Ordinary Day.” (note: If you liked those songs, just get it now. No time like the present!) And non really stand out as being as great. Since I totally forgot to give my thoughts on it, “A Thousand Miles” is pretty. That’s it. “Pretty Baby” is prettier, though. And it has the word “Pretty” title, too, how about that? Sounds like a sweet love song… And I am a sucker for a good love song (might explain why I’m a Branch fanatic). Third single hasn’t been announced yet, but it’s either that (Obligatory third single ballad) or “Paint It Black.”

Then again, maybe the rest of the album isn’t like “A Thousand Miles” or “Ordinary Day” (oops… sucks to be everyone who decided to leave to get this thing then, eh?). Most of the album is much, much darker and moody than that. “Rinse” and “Prince,” especially (there is one that’s darker than those two… they just happened to rhyme). “Prince” is kinda cute… “Willing and able to… come… I am… willing and able, I’m able to… come…” Man, did I ever mention how DIRTY I am? “Sway” is a very nice song, too… Dance-y. Beats the hell out of the Rolling Stones’ “Sway.” Ok, I lied, it REALLY doesn’t. I don’t want any hate mail about that!

”And it’s one mo-oore… day… in… paradise.” Another dark one, “Paradise” is mysterious, with orchestration, some creepy vocals and desperate vocals. And I guess it’s about someone who lost hope and faded into misery. “Wanted” just goes and does not stop. My choice for weakest track. The piano playing is VERY impressive, but the song itself is rather boring. And that’s too bad; “Twilight,” the closer, is the perfect way to close this. Formerly the B-side to “A Thousand Miles,” “Twilight” is a hopeful, defiant and determined masterpiece. And with that, I chose to end this review with a quote from it:

”And I will never see the sky the same way and/I will learn to say good-bye to yesterday and/I will never cease to fly if held down and/I will always reach too high cause I've seen, cause I've seen, twilight”