Paris Hilton's debut album was not exactly a triumph of artistic expression. But how much less impressive would Paris be if the thin, hyper-processed voice it showcases wasn't even hers?

A rumor to that effect has been gestating on the Internet for months. On websites like Perez Hilton, Popsugar, and MP3.com, persons unknown have posted comments claiming that the lead vocals on Paris were supplied by Carah Faye Charnow, lead singer of the Los Angeles–based indie band Shiny Toy Guns. A typical comment, by "flower" on Popsugar, claims Hilton's tracks were mixed in with Charnow's to make the deception more convincing, adding, "This is all true! I was using a recording studio down the hall from the band, and watched and heard everything happen."

Some people who read the comments smelled a rat, suspecting the messages were part of a stealthy viral campaign conducted by Universal Motown Records, which recently signed Shiny Toy Guns and is set to re-release the band's debut album in October. A spokesman for Universal Motown did not return calls, but a friend of Charnow's has a simpler explanation:

According to the source, Charnow did record vocals for Hilton, but only dummy ones on demo tracks produced by various songwriters working on the album, a relatively common practice in the celebrity-cum-songstress wing of the music industry. None of Charnow's performances made it onto the finished record, says the friend, adding, "It's just ridiculous." She believes the blog comments are the handiwork of a woman who has been stalking the band's drummer, Mike Martin. Harassment charges were recently filed against the superfan in Los Angeles, and a restraining order is expected soon.