Music Review: Boys and Girls by Ingrid Michaelson

I have a satellite radio so that I can avoid the drone of early morning talk radio and repetition of the same three pop songs. However, I know when something is really popular on mainstream radio when it reaches into the realm of satellite radio. Recently, Ingrid Michaleson’s song “Maybe” has been all over the place. The first track off her third release Everybody is fairly catchy with a set of sappy “if you love something, let it go” lyrics. Every time I hear the first chords on the radio, attempting to evoke some sort of soulful remembrance, I struggle with changing the channel. Its not that I particularly like the song, but I do like Ingrid Michaleson.

I don’t have the new album, but her second album, Girls and Boys, comes into fairly frequent rotation on my iPod. Its the first appearance of the song “The Way I Am” which made its way into various tv shows where quirky romance was involved. Her voice evokes the sweetness that you want in a primetime dramedey. Much more compelling than “Maybe”, this song gives us jewels of poetry like, “I’ll buy you Rogaine when you start losing all your hair/Sew on patches to all you tear.” Its the kind of sweet, oddball songwriting that makes you want to press play on your “quirky girl” playlist featuring Bijork and Regina Spektor.

But more than just being precious, Girls and Boys showed the potential of Ingrid Michaleson. The downfall is certainly the one-track-mindedness of the content. If you’re in a relationship, getting out of a relationship, longing for a relationship, or have ever had a relationship then you’re prime for Girls and Boys. The first track “Die Alone” is one of my favorites for its great pacing and ultra catchy hook, but I can’t endorse the theme of “I never thought I could love anyone but myself/ Now I know I can’t love anyone but you/ You make me think that maybe I won’t die alone/ Maybe I won’t die alone.”

Quarterlifers have so much to consider when it comes to relationships. Most of our parents were married at this stage in our lives, many of them were already changing our diapers. While Ingrid Michaleson is fun to listen to on occasion, she starts to wear on me with her longing for love. I don’t like to judge too quickly when it comes to matters of music, so I purchased her third album Be OK. A little lighter on the sap, I’m left feeling like this was an album with a deadline. Out of 11 tracks, we have four live tracks- one of which is a duplicate of “The Way I Am” as well as a cover of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” and “Can’t Help Falling In Love.”

The saving grace for the album is the last studio track entitled “You And I.” Yes, still about relationships, the lyrics give us a little more to cling to. “Let’s get rich and give everybody nice sweaters and teach them how to dance” is the line that sealed it for me. Its these out of the blue odd lyrics and the quality of Michaelson’s voice that keep me listening. If she can find something else to talk about other than heartbreak, I’ll be a true fan. Until then, I’ll cycle her in between Garfunkel & Oates.