Word: branches
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...Branch is not revolutionary in the vein of Maverick’s last breakout artist, Alanis Morisette, who refocused attention on female solo artists; rather, Branch ventures into well-worn territory, pushing outwards slightly on the edges of the path she treads. Her voice—fresh, controlled and similar to that of a fuller, richer Natalie Imbruglia has a touching frankness and honesty devoid of pretense. Throughout this 14-track outing, Branch muses openly and unapologetically about love. With lyrics sentimental but not saccharine, she opens up a soul obviously already mature. When describing such a precocious talent...
...Spirit Room exudes a comfortable aura, feeling like a work from an artist in an assured, mid-career groove. Branch verbally muses and toys with, but isn’t compelled to express everything in her vast vocabulary all at once. Throughout this competent and eminently listenable album, one has to keep reminding oneself that she’s very young; too young to be this good...
...Branch has obviously benefited greatly from the adroit producing hands of Jeff Shanks, who straps Branch’s voice and guitar centre stage, underscoring with hip-hop beats, richly textured orchestrations and densely ethereal atmospherics. Shanks gives a decidedly varied spin to jangle/folk-rock, but does almost too much; throughout, you wish he’d get out of the way and just let the kid sing. It’s a testament to Branch’s musical poise that she doesn’t get lost in the over-zealous mix. That said, the pairing of rolling acoustic...
Radio-ready, percussive and power-chorded, it sets a spirited mood for the next offering, “You Get Me,” where Branch, slightly breathy and with a twinge of heartache in the leading edge of her voice, muses about being an outsider: “A little left of center” and “a little out of tune.” It’s comparatively stripped down and, not coincidentally, probably the album’s best track. Branch also shows hints of an alternate persona towards the album?...
Despite Room’s inherent strengths, Alicia Keys (another new-ultra-young-woman-with-substance) will likely overshadow poor Miss Branch. Keys, positively ancient at 20 years of age, has been catapulted further into public attention. Her debut LP, Songs in A Minor, has gone double-platinum in less than three months, with a no less impressive, but certainly more well-publicized effort. Like her songs, Keys is sultry, confident and poised, but she lets her material speak instead of her figure. She and Branch seem to share a kinship in that they mark a return to musical...