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Zero 7
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
Hotel Paper

Mixed or average reviews
Based on 10 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 34 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Maverick
Release Date: 24 June 2003
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Pop
Summary
MTV darling Michelle Branch returns with an attempt to duplicate the success of her 2001 debut 'The Spirit Room' and that album's single "Everywhere," which was just that.
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Spin
Boasts road-toughened guitars and a welcome accusatory edge. [Aug 2003, p.116]
E! Online
So, it's not exactly a musical revolution in the making, but it'll sure be easier to tell her apart from Vanessa Carlton from now on.
Read Full Review >Dot Music
Sadly for such weighty themes of trust, betrayal, loneliness, living out of a suitcase and long distance relationships, the lack of true darkness amongst the sweetness and light is a little frustrating.
Read Full Review >Blender
Too often... Branch expresses loneliness or betrayal or yearning without the precision or detail that would make her sentiments memorable. [#17, p.132]
All Music Guide
The album doesn't have the detail of character that made Michelle Branch so appealing the first time out.
Read Full Review >Q Magazine
If not as catchy (or stroppy) as Avril Lavigne, she is never less than efficient. [Aug 2003, p.102]
Stylus Magazine
Hotel Paper treads the line between rushed brilliance and rushed dross.
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly
The inescapable girlishness in her voice heightens the unlived-in quality of hackneyed, loverlorn ballads like "Desperately," the least desperate-sounding song of 2003. [Jun 27/Jul 4 2003, p.136]
PopMatters
Most of the songs just lumber along at the same plodding, deliberate pace, boasting very few of the fun hooks that made her previous album so annoyingly likeable.
Read Full Review >Rolling Stone
In the course of the album, it's hard not to notice that all the songs sound the same, and for that matter, they all sound the same as that Avril Lavigne song about the damn cold night, even if Michelle technically got there before Avril.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 9.1 (out of 10) based on 34 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Michael B gave it a5:
Mediocre as a follow up and not hugely impressive or different from her debut. Im a fan; but i was dissapointed. Especially with other young contemporaries developing so fast
Kat V gave it a 10:
It's so awesome!! I listen to it obsessively every day still!!
Amy L gave it a 10:
In Catalan: si no ho enteneu pues mala sort, k hos dire. Tot i k aki no ha arribat gaira cosa seva hi ha fans... si akest cd es molt bo sobretot les cançons de Tuesday Morning i Where are you now?¿ La felicito pk cada vegada ho fa + b. VISCA LA MICHELLE BRANCH!!!!
Jonathan F gave it a 10:
Michelle's album is definetly a 10. No other albulm comes close to her. Also no other voice can compete with hers either. Her songs are so inspiring and you just get soft and mushy listening to them. Her lyrics are unmatched. I am not saying this because I have a crush on her its becauses I know its true. All I have to say now is that (I'm happy now). P.S. this is not my email adress i just used it to get my rating in
Rozette W. gave it a 10:
I absolutely love Michelle Branch! Hotel Paper is her best album yet! I love all the songs and how they express her emotions and feelings, like Are You Happy Now? is one of the angriest songs i've ever heard, and Til I Get Over You is the saddest song i've heard on her album. Yet, I still love her album. Keep rockin, Michelle!!!
Aaron Googoo gave it a 10:
I Love This Ablum..Michelle Rocks And Does Her Voice, Gutiar Playing, And song writing My Fav Artist..Keep On Goin Michelle..(Im Also Wondering where your song "Lay Me Down" Is...lol..p3ace Aaron
bea s gave it a 10:
michelle branch is really, really good. but this is her best release yet. 'desperately' and 'empty handed' were the best tracks.
