The entirety of Michelle Branch's new album is homegrown and while she's very excited for it to drop, the singer is also facing immense pressure from those who idolizes her still for her very first album - "The Spirit Room."
During the height of the pandemic lockdown in April 2020, Branch and her husband, Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney, were detained at home with their 1-year-old son, Branch's 14-year-old daughter, and Branch's younger sister. There were nightly dance parties in the living room, and bottles of wine were consumed by the grownups. Branch says that at some point during the confinement, "Patrick was like, 'Hey, you want to finish those songs that you had started?'"
She's certainly glad she did. And now she can only hope that those fans who have been with her since day 1 would love it.
She said, "I'm really hoping this new record - I feel like there are people who still just love, love, love my first record, and keep waiting for me to redo The Spirit Room. And I'm like, "Gosh, I hope you can find a song on this new record you like!" I hope it's not too far out there for some people to get into! Because I really loved making it, and it was really a special time for me. I'll always think back on making this record with such fondness."
Branch's fourth solo album, "The Trouble With Fever," is an honest and compelling meditation on love and identity that continues the former adolescent star's tremendous musical development while arriving amid a traumatic public time in her adulthood.
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On August 11, almost one month prior to the album's September 16 release date, Branch announced that she and Carney were separating after three years of marriage, after she posted and deleted a note accusing Carney of infidelity when she was at home with their newborn daughter in February.
The Nashville police arrested Branch later that day for misdemeanor domestic assault for reportedly punching Carney at their residence. Branch was released on bond and filed for divorce on August 15, citing irreconcilable differences; the misdemeanor charge was quickly withdrawn.
Branch cannot avoid mentioning Carney when discussing her new record; she cannot help herself. In addition to recording The Trouble With Fever at their shared residence, Branch and Carney co-produced and performed practically every instrument on the album together. Branch authored the majority of the album's 10 songs, though.
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