Joyfully exuberant Michelle Branch

It is a fact that Michelle Branch’s first album The Spirit Room more than held up to the cliché description that it was like a breath of fresh air in some congested room. It was the same thing with the then only 17-year-old beauty. While young pop divas like Britney and Christina were tarting it up, Michelle came across as the girl who had the talent, has no axe to grind against the world and will not likely give her family any problem. She was a singer and songwriter with a unique touch who also wielded the guitar with the confidence of a pro. Parents rejoiced for here at last was somebody with the right sound their daughters can admire and emulate.

Now 20 years old, Michelle has recently released her second album titled Hotel Paper. The simplicity in approach to the music remains her strongest point and she is more confident this time around. Everything is basically voice and guitar embellished here and there with just the right amount of pop gimmickry. Til I Get Over You, and It’s You, both almost pared down to the very basics are her most affecting. Are You Happy Now? shows her teetering before likely transitions in the future. Will it be electronica or power rock? Thankfully, she resists making the plunge here but one never knows how she’ll kick in on the third album.

What is most evident in Hotel Paper is the fact that a lot has transpired careerwise for Michelle since The Spirit Room was released. For one there are two star-powered duets included where Michelle holds her end up very well. These are the hillbilly influenced Love Me Like That with Sheryl Crowe and the Latin-flavored The Game of Love with Santana. This one seems misplaced in the album but how do you quarrel with anything by Santana? I also noticed a joyful exuberance that comes across in her performance, most particularly in the most infectious cuts of all, Where are You Now and Breath, not the Faith Hill tune, but a new work with the same title.

Michelle has been quoted as saying that she will be more anguished sounding like Alanis Morrisette after she has had more boyfriends. There will surely be changes in the future but let us enjoy her music for what she is right now. There will be time for the pain and the anger later.

More On The Black Eyed Peas

From the mail: Mandi P. Burgos, a balikbayan from Los Angeles, California wrote in with additional info about the piece I wrote about the sensational hip hop group Black Eyed Peas. "In your article you mentioned that you were not sure which one of the three rappers is Filipino. The Filipino rapper is Apple Pineda Creal. His name is Alan Pineda. He was born in Angeles City, Pampanga and speaks fluent Kapampangan.

"I’m sending the group a copy of your article and I’m pretty sure they’ll enjoy it. They are presently on tour in Europe, had recently completed a concert with Christina Aguilera and sold out performances in Las Vegas, Nevada last week."

Thanks for writing in, Mandi. It is nice to know that a group that includes a Filipino member who has not forgotten his roots, like the Black Eyed Peas is doing very well.

Speaking of the Black Eyed Peas, the group’s single release Where is the Love featuring ‘N Sync’s Justin Timberlake from the album Elephunk remains in the top 10 of Billboard Magazine’s Hot 100 after 16 weeks. It is now ranked at number nine.

The top 10 is as follows: Shake Ya Tailfeather by Nelly, P. Diddy & Murphy Lee; Baby Boy by Beyonce featuring Sean Paul; Right Thurr by Chingy; Get Low by Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz featuring Ying Yang Twins; Into You by Fabolous featuring Tamia or Ashanti; P.I.M.P. by 50 Cent; Frontin’ by Pharrell featuring Jay-Z; Where is the Love? by the Black Eyed Peas; and Unwell by matchbox 20.

The top albums are Heavier Things the latest from John Mayer; Metamorphosis by Hilary Duff; Seal IV by Seal; Greatest Hits Volume II and Some Other Stuff by Alan Jackson; Dangerously in Love by Beyonce; The Neptunes Present….Clones by Various Artists; Fallen by Evanescence; Love & Life by Mary J. Blige; Jackpot by Chingy; and Bad Boys II the soundtrack from the motion picture of the same title.