Customer Reviews

Girls & Boys

5 star:		(55)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Michaelson's "Girls & Boys" is nothing less than fantastic -- and, man, is it heartening to hear a singer/songwriter who knows how to play an instrument (or two or three), makes her own arrangements, knows how to string a sentence, and...can sing! Ingrid's the real deal. Smart, funny, poignant, with an ethereal voice that wraps up the whole package nicely. Michaelson is young, and her songs circle and dip a toe around the subjects of love, growing up, betrayal, et al, but she does it very well; in a way that can embrace many audiences of many ages -- I'm really looking forward to watching this artist grow and mature. Brava, Michaelson.

"Girls and Boys" has gotten a lot of attention as a result of its songs showing up in many high profile places. Grey's Anatomy, an Old Navy commercial, and Carson Daly's show to name a few. While all of the attention is deserved - and the placements are doing for this artist what radio and the main stream press used to be able to do, it's easy to lose sight of how great the songs are. From the Breeders-esque opener, "Die Alone" to the stunning "Breakable" there's nary a clunker to be found. Ingrid's penchant for memorable melodies and poetic witticisms coupled with her knack for writing clever, simple songs delights from start to finish. Her voice never aims to boast, rather, she takes the high road and aims to please instead. "Girls and Boys" is a winner and a record you won't soon forget.

Ingrid Mishaelson has been, as noted above, featured in Old Navy Commercials, and those emotionally drenched scenes on Grey's Anatomy and One Tree Hill. The New York based artist has a rather quirky feel to her music and on ocassions the festive lilt of the campfire chanteuse. Her songs are suffused by a poetic tension, and the lyricism is always smart and intuitive. She deftly applies caesuras, alliterations and the whole gamut of poetic devices. She was born in an artistic family, her dad Carl, a composer and her mom, Elizabeth Egbert, is the Director of the Staten Island Museum. Her trepidation and soulful plaintive dramatizations are offset by a brilliant wit that nourishes the strife with elusive bounds of genius. She sounds like Regina Spektor without the grit, and is as melodious as Bjork without the shrills of madness. Her songs lead a touted dalliance that gives these age old topics of love, love unrequieted, and broken hearts, an emtional cadance that betrays a sense of humor and tentalizes the listener by informing the conscience of the music with a dash of brio, enough to depict self-pity as both loathsome and sympathetic. This is best exemplified in her songs "Corner of Your Heart" and "Glass", the latter opaquely muddles the speaker who admits that "I see through you...as you see through me, as if invisible." However in other titles such as the more illustrious "The Way I Am" and "Die Alone" she surrenders her acts to a love that is sufficient and fulfilling. Her personae are vivid and colorful, startling and impregnated by dissimulating logic and orphaned sentimentality, which is not to say that this is a depressing CD. On the contrary it has an abundance of tracks that feature a joyous attitude, and her vocal prowess is used to pitch perfect adumbrations to cull such motifs with as much success as the more somber ones.
Her sensibility is tested somewhat in the 12th, and hidden track, "Far Away" where while performing similar antics to her description of the fragile psychological surrender evinced in, for example, "December Baby" where the speaker wishes to crawl back into her mother's womb, while in "Far Away" she diverts herself in a tuneful, sportive cynicism affected by the twang of country music. To what extent she succeeds is for you to decide, but it was recorded all in good fun. The emotional depth of the lyrics, the dramatization of each chracterization, the melodious bravado of the vocalizations and the instrumental rhythmic glaze is a sampling to entertain and astound alike. However the social maturity of a Natalie Merchant is still in its punk stage and the promise hinted in this compilation lends itself to appreciating a mind set for engaged art. Here the individual speaks but the social commentary is not far behind. All in all this is a virtuoso performance that delineates the straits of the melancholy stagnation, of lovers' neurosis and plaintive wistfulness while nourishing an inner void that is reactionary and quirky.
Awesome. The 2005 self-released debut, "Slow the Rain" had introduced us to a singer of an artistic flair whose intangibles are commercial and popular, however defined by a poet's lissome language. In her follow-up she assures us that the great marketing she has been favored by is not the sole force behind a artist we ask many more brilliant tunes from. Not since Jewel and , Natalie Merchant, Jill Sobule and Sarah McLaughlin have we seen such intimate rapport with the music, while being implicated by such a commercial influx. On the verge of 30 she is ready for more than just a breakthrough, she will give us pearls of wisdom to grow with.

Ingrid Michaelson's album, "Girls and Boys", is excellent. Plain and simple. Ms. Michaelson has a smooth, mellow quality to her voice that's uniquely hers. I also appreciated the album for its simplicity. It's easy to see why they wanted to use her music for shows and commercials.

"The Way I Am" is the song that will guide most people to give her a listen. I think this song might be the most popular, but also one of the simplest songs. It showcases her voice's goodness with music that doesn't try to overwhelm. "Corner of Your Heart" is strangely haunting. The piano creeps in like you're walking in on the music from the hall. A great track. The track, "Overboard", shows more dynamic range. I might also like it a little because it has very Keane-like piano playing.

"December Baby" is good though it has that tinny guitar that saps energy from Ingrid's vocals. As a song it takes some interesting turns. It starts off simple enough with Ingrid singing along to a simple tune on acoustic guitar, but surprises about halfway through in a pleasant mix.. then slowly easing back into the way it began. "Breakable" was also a quality track. Lyrics were almost violent for how short and sweet the overall music is, but it still works. The one track I found personally annoying was "Highway". It just doesn't sound good on the album.

Overall, the CD is excellent. There were a few songs that didn't grab my attention, but the album as a whole gives off a lot of personality. It didn't seem simple to the point of being stripped down and too "indie". "Girls and Boys" shows her versatility as an artist and, while it isn't earth-shatteringly different, it's highly recommended. With the ease of test driving music, it's the least you can do.
My favorite tracks were: Corner of Your Heart, Die Alone, The Way I Am, December Baby, Overboard, Breakable.

I never would have found Ingrid Michaelson if it wasn't for her song used on the Old Navy commercial that forced me to hunt her down on MySpace. After hearing a few of her tracks, I had to have the CD and must say it was a great purchase. Her voice is easy and effortless, the music is gorgeous and catchy, her lyrics are sweet and playful. Very impressive. I'd recommend this album to those who like folk and Indie music.

I'm a 27 year old black man from the southside of Chicago, and I dig Ingrid's music. It's like she "gets it". Her music and lyrics are incredibly engaging without feeling depressing or bland. I listen to everyhing from Jay-Z to deadpres to System of a Down, and my favorite album this year is "Girls and Boys". I heard "The Way I Am" on the Old Navy commercial and wondered why I hadn't heard about Norah Jones' new track. But after some research, I found a new, incredible artist with a great album. I never do reviews, but I have to do this one in support of my girl Ingrid. The brothas dig your music too!

It's been a very long time since I've enjoyed an album so much from the very first listen, and it holds up to constant re-plays.

The vocal qualities, the song writing, and the melodies are soothing, yet thought-provoking.

Part Paul Simon, part Joni Mitchell, part Ani DiFranco, part Jack Johnson. And large parts just Ingrid.

I am recommending this album to everyone I know, and thanking the college station that introduced me to her music.

The lyrics are quirky, unexpected and charming. I love it! Most people will buy this cd for the "sweater song" = "The Way I Am" but the whole cd is great. My favorite is "The Corner Of Your Heart" with "Girls And Boys" as a close second. If you like the sounds from the Old Navy commercial - you'll like this cd.

Ingrid Michaelson has such a pure voice! The song lyrics are great! My favorite song is "Breakable". I hope she makes a new CD very soon! Her music is for everyone and anyone! The rhythms are very unforgettable. Ingrid Michaelson composes all of her songs herself which is really fantastic and rare. You will LOVE this CD.

I read a couple of reviews on here and didn't like what I saw. Mainly people bought this album because they like the song "The Way I Am." Don't get me wrong, that is an amazing song, but if that was the only reason my best guess is they don't listen to any other folk music. This is a breakthrough for folk music, getting to actually hear some good folk on a TV commercial (and the radio from what I've been told). Check out this album, no matter who you are, and don't expect it to be the normal mainstream. This is what actual talent sounds like. Personally, breakable is my favorite song because there lies her true voice and the right pitch for the music. Be ready to hear something you're not used to all you mainstream-only listeners.