Michelle Branch's second album, 2003's HOTEL PAPER, was the record of that summer for me. While Beyonce was busy falling crazy in love and Christina was rockin' out with "Fighter", Ms. Branch delivered a more mature, alternative-folk album with a guess spot by the queen of that genre SHERYL CROW.

While trying to prove to the world she was a grown-up, Branch delivered an album with a handful of well-crafted songs. The first single "Are You Happy Now?" sounds nothing like the rest of the album but is a pseudo-dark rock tune that will have you singing along after the first listen.

The album's highlights "Empty Handed", "It's You", "Til I Get Over You" and the duet with Crow "Love Me Like That" all feature Branch's emotive, love-torn lyrics with a confidence that was lacking in the first album. Branch seems to have taken a few lessons from Crow on well done folk-rock-alternative album that talks about love and heartbreak.