- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
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The album doesn't have the detail of character that made Michelle Branch so appealing the first time out.
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BlenderToo often... Branch expresses loneliness or betrayal or yearning without the precision or detail that would make her sentiments memorable. [#17, p.132]
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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.
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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.
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Entertainment WeeklyThe 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]
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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.
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Q MagazineIf not as catchy (or stroppy) as Avril Lavigne, she is never less than efficient. [Aug 2003, p.102]
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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.
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SpinBoasts road-toughened guitars and a welcome accusatory edge. [Aug 2003, p.116]
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Hotel Paper treads the line between rushed brilliance and rushed dross.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 35 out of 44
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Mixed: 2 out of 44
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Negative: 7 out of 44
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Nov 20, 2021Loved this alternative, country and rock feel. Amazing voice and solo artist. “Are you happy now” is my favourite.
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Jul 13, 2021I don't understand the fact that this has worse reviews that Hopeless Romantic.
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May 10, 2021