You have certainly not been a pop fan in the early 2000s if you have not loved Michelle Branch to the bits when she was crooning along to “Game of Love” with Santana plucking the strings on his guitar and on our hearts alike.
She definitely made a difference to pop music back then - cut the clutter of the decked up pop divas, with their bubblegum brand of break up songs, and gave us our first indie pop diva. Her edgy love songs were nowhere devoid of catchy rhythms and relatable lyrics, and we knew the we had found our next ideal female singer songwriter in her. And, then she completely went off the radar and disappeared until some time ago. When news broke out of her return with a new album in works, I was in equal parts excited and nervous to lend my ears to what she finally had on offer!
After a few teasers, the time has come when we can get the first taste of Michelle Branch’s comeback album - with the first song “Hopeless Romantic” having been released.
My fellow blogger Nora Tol, already presented her views on it, here. However, here’s my take on it, as having been an ardent follower of Branch, back in the day!
As expected, this is a much more musically mature Michelle Branch we are dealing with. Which is totally apparent in the song. Going by the title, the first impression that comes to the mind might be quite different from the original picture of the soundscape we get. While the title seemed a bit generic in the beginning, as the song progresses and the lyrics unfold - the song reveals itself as a fascinating account of a dysfunctional relationship and the process of push and pull between lovers.
Patrick Carney from the Black Keys teams up on this track - and we can certainly see that influence there. The riffs and tasty bends on guitars and the atmospheric tones - all reminds of indie rock sentiments from the Black Keys. However, Michelle’s warm voice gives the song that feminine touch that gives it its essential character.
Hopeless Romantic deals with relationships and it is also the theme that most of the songs from the album has been modeled on. Michele is said to have worked extensively on the theme drawing inspiration from her recent separation and her new relationship.
If we talk about the video for Hopeless Romantic, the closest parallel that can be drawn is from the video of her previous “Are you Happy Now”. It is similarly slightly edgy, and yet subdued and not over the top dark. We see Branch in a more rock chic avatar, driving in the rain and strumming her guitar. It gives the song a nice silhouette without going all out on this comeback. Very Michele Branch and a very nice move!
14 years! That’s how long it has been since her last album. And, two gorgeous albums at that. Hotel Paper still remains an overall gorgeous album and I can see the new album following suit.
I might be a little hopelessly in love with Hopeless Romantic already, but I’m in equally excited to listen to her whole album which drops on April 7th. Mark up your calendars, now!
