She is young, cute, incredibly talented and a product of Madonna’s vanity label, Maverick. Of course she’s going to be a rock star that everyone has heard of. Michelle’s first single, "Everywhere", is everywhere. You can’t turn on the radio without hearing her music. You can’t turn on the TV without seeing her video and now she is on tour with Lifehouse. She has emerged on the music scene as a key player with great promise as an artist.

The Spirit Room is a profound title for this eleven-track set. Being that most of the songs are about inner emotional power, strength, love, and soul-searching. Michelle Branch is all about lyrics. The music is your typical pop rock, often sounding like Natalie Imbruglia and Meredith Brooks. It’s the lyrics that truly sets this CD apart from the others in her genre. I found her lyrics to be electric, capturing the core of her spirit, beliefs, and passion.

‘Music has always been in me. When I sing I have a sense of peace, I feel like my brain turns off and I become the core person of who I am. The essence of me I feel connected to whatever is out there. It’s almost like I leave my body and get to watch.’

Picking up the guitar at age 14 she began her musical odyssey and she has a lot to say. Check out track number 11, "Drop in the Ocean"- it has a vibe that will have you flicking on your lighter and waiving your hands from side to side. As Michelle’s voice slides over a hip-hop beat with lots of atmosphere you will be spellbound. She weaves through this song telling the story of love – and how it empowers you – the song climaxes with a verse of building strings and bagpipes. It’s a powerful song. It leaves you longing for love and its embrace.

The Spirit Room is by no means a masterpiece, but it’s good pop-rock music. So if you are looking for some new pop music, this will do you right. Like Michelle said, ‘There’s a love affair going on between me and music.’ So show Michelle some love – check out her debut CD, The Spirit Room.