Human Again

Ingrid Michaelson has quietly been climbing the charts since her debut album, "Slow the Rain," hit shelves on Jan. 10, 2005. Although the young singer/songwriter has yet to sell out any arenas with her often love-centric acoustic tunes, Ingrid Michaelson's rabid fan-base has steadily and rapidly grown. Now five albums into her career, each of her records has outsold the last. Hitting number one on iTunes' chart on the day of its release, "Human Again" is sure to continue this trend.For any fans of Michaelson's earlier material, the most immediate difference between "Human Again" and her previous recordings is the production style. David Kahne, who has previously worked with Sublime, Regina Spektor, Kelly Clarkson, and even Paul McCartney, to name a few, is in the driver's seat for "Human Again," replacing longtime producer and arranger, Dan Romer.Opening with "Fire" and Kahne's presence is immediately felt thanks to the synthesized strings and heavy drums that take over the mix. The only thing that escapes Kahne's influence is, thankfully, Michaelson's voice, which comes through crisp and clear. Sure, there is some doubling of her vocals on the chorus, but the same has been done on past hit singles like "Maybe."Speaking of her voice, Ingrid Michaelson's vocals have gotten significantly stronger since 2009's "Everybody."Her trademark sweet and innocent phrasing is still ever-present in the verses, but on tracks like "This is War" and "Ghost," she belts out the choruses with such authority and strength that you can't imagine she's the least bit phased by the men who have supposedly broken her heart in the lyrics. When "I'm Through" strips the mix down to just Michaelson and a piano, her voice displays a new level of emotion and vocal maturity that will surprise and delight her longtime fans.Much of "Human Again" becomes a battle between these two influences: Kahne's overpowering production and Michaelson's newfound vocal backbone.On Michaelson's previous records, the track "Blood Brothers" would likely have been a simple, upbeat track with a stripped down instrumentation. However, in Kahne's hands the song becomes bogged down with guitar, piano, drums, synthesized strings, and harmonized vocals frequently all playing at the same time. By the final chorus, there are so many layers that it sounds more like a Lady Antebellum track than anything Ingrid Michaelson has done before.Although the new production style of "Human Again" may take some getting used to for anyone previously familiar with Ingrid Michaelson, it is still a great album. Kahne's efforts are never bad, they're just different. As a fan of Ingrid Michaelson for over five years, I personally prefer her earlier records for their simplicity, but Michaelson is broadening her horizon and growing as an artist. Fans, buy this record with confidence and don't judge it too quickly. It will grow on you, I promise.Track Suggestion: "I'm Through"

For anyone who has first heard Ingrid from her new album, "Lights Out", please make sure you buy this one, also! It's always great when you can follow an artist from the beginning, watching how they progress on each album (and live shows!), but Ingrid is among the best in the industry, and this album REALLY is her shining moment. I expected it to be much bigger than it turned out to be. It blew "Everybody" out of the water with a much more complex sound & Ingrid's obvious vocal improvement. While the new one just came out, I think this album is still her best & set that one up!"Fire" is her best album-opener ever, I think. It's big, exciting and fresh. Better than anything we've been hearing on the radio before or since, that's for sure. It definitely sets the tone for the album, and while some people didn't love the bigger production, I did! I thought it was great to hear her evolve and have more fun. That, and I love strings."I'm Through" is one of her greatest songs on the album, a great, but heart breaking piano ballad. She also exhibits some beautiful vocals here, and I feel like this moment is similar to A Fine Frenzy's "Almost Lover"."Black & Blue" is probably my 2nd favorite song on the entire album. It's really catchy and fun, very different from her usual sound, and feels very honest & emotional. Plus, who doesn't love snapping fingers?"How We Love" is just so loveable. It's somehow sad & cute at the same time. It reminds me a lot of classic Ingrid songs like "Breakable" and "Glass"."Palm Of Your Head" is another favorite of mine on the album. It makes you bounce in your seat, and keeps building and building until it explodes at the chorus. Lyrically it's also very original, which is expected from Ingrid, but not so much for the more upbeat songs like this."Ghost" is another really great song with strings on the album. She sounds great vocally, and it's just a quality song! I'm biased though, any song with the word 'ghost' in it, I'm automatically bound to like."In The Sea" is by far the BEST song on the entire album. I never knew Ingrid could do dark, and this sound never gets old. I love songs about the sea automatically as well, but this is the best I've ever heard. It's got the most feeling vocally and lyrically on the entire album, and possibly even on her other albums (other than perhaps "Men of Snow"). Everything is great about this song, the music, the bridge, the chorus, the lyrics & the ending--just play it loud and let it swallow you up.Of course, we have to have another winter song from Ingrid with "Keep Warm", and it's very nice at the end of the album, with more strings. I thought this would have been a great album closer, preferable to "End of the World" (another great build-up song), which I thought should have been above it. Song placement on an album is pretty important, but both songs work as the album closer interchangeably, which is really cool.Overall, this is a very thorough and complete album, and while I sometimes skip the cheesier pandering songs like "Blood Brothers", "Do It Now", and "Ribbons", I don't always, because they're still catchy and singable! For any new fans of Ingrid, this album is a must!

I found Ingrid Michaelson from the special acoustic version of Palm of Your Hand produced for Grey's Anatomy (which I'd say is better than the original and they nicely gave it away originally for free), airing in Jan. 2012. I'm now wondering...how did I miss her? Where have I been for the last few years? Already bought 4 of her albums and I'm really liking them more and more. This is probably the most accessible of the four (along with Be Ok), a little less folk-y, a little less adventurous and mysterious, a little more soft rock and pop. They are all great in their way, but given how accessible this is with great songs like Fire and Palm of Your Hand, this should surely be a breakthrough CD. This is a terrific album (review of the original album, not the deluxe edition), and you will be rewarded not only buying this but earlier works like Be Ok, Everybody, and Girls and Boys. She's terrific and distinctive--not just another carbon copy.

This isn't your typical Ingrid Michaelson album. And that's not a bad thing. Not that any of her previous albums weren't fantastic; they are. But "Human Again" is a bold step for the typically low-key singer-songwriter. Songs like "Walking in Fire" and "Blood Brothers," while a departure from her usual organic style, serve to expand her versatility as a musician and songwriter. The album as a whole is a real treasure. If you like Ingrid Michaelson, you should love this album. If you weren't sure if you liked Ingrid Michaelson before, "Human Again" will make you a believer.

I have to admit, on first listen, I really didn't like this album. I actually stopped listening halfway through the first song in favour of another cd and then came back to it later. But I'm so glad I did!!! It was just different to her most well known songs which are used in Grey's Anatomy etc, which is why I was immediately put off. But I love the instruments she uses/percussion, the way she does backing vocals for herself...Some really really nice stuff on here. I will be buying more of her music!

I am a massive fan of Ingrid. I am a songwriter and find her talent, voice and songs inspiring. She deserves every ounce of success and I would heartily recommend any of her albums to anyone reading this. This album is wonderful with amazing melodies, harmonies and instrumentals, enjoy x

It's no secret that I am a massive ingrid michaelson fan. I was nervous about this album because I knew it was going to be a different stlye. On first listen through I was not convinced. It went back in car CD player and now that is where it lives. I love it so much, it is different but in a good way and I love every song. Anyone who likes singer song writers should listen to the collection that is Ingrid Michaelson.

I was tempted to make my first I.M. purchase by the other reviews on here. All I can say is that they are accurate!Ingrid's voice seems to defy description and it fits with any style she should choose - and the variation here is delightfully enjoyable! I'll be buying some more Ingrid Michaelson, that's for sure!

Absolutely great album. Cannot recommend it enough!

The record came in great condition and plays wonderfully. Also really enjoy the read translucent edition for this record. Only dislike is the sleeve for the record is paper, but just replaced it with one of my own record inner sleeves.

INGRID MICHAELSON es una de las cantautoras americanas jóvenes de mas talento. Para esta ocasión, ha aparcado su ukelele y nos regala una colección de canciones mas maduras en el que probablemente sea su mejor trabajo hasta el momento.Hemos hablado mas extensamente sobre ella en nuestra página: [...]

I have recently become a fan of Ingrid Michaelson. This is her most recent CD and I love her music. She is a great artist and musician. I enjoy all of her current works and I look forward to her work in the future.

seit Jahren würde ich mich als großen Fan von IM bezeichnen, was mich wohl zu einem leicht voreingenommenen Hörer ihrer Stücke macht, aber auch mit Human Again hat die junge Amerikanerin wieder einen Volltreffer gelandet, der ihren Reifeprozess deutlich erkennen lässt.Was immer konstant bleibt sind ihre Lieder die sofort und unmittelbar unter die Haut gehen!KAUFEMPFEHLUNG für jeden der autentische Musik liebt.

Product is as advertised. Did not arrive until 2 weeks after promised delivery date.

Son dernier album est superbe...A écouter sans modération...Ingrid Michaelson nous livre un album léché, soigné et de qualité.

Constante dans la qualité de sa production. Toujours aussi intimiste. Simplicité et beauté des mélodies. C'est un bel album attachant et émouvant. C'est du bon, du grand Ingrid Michaelson comme toujours. Pour ceux qui la découvrent je vous conseille l'album "Girls and Boys" le meilleur à mon avis.

Ingrid Michaelson ist für mich ein Phänomen.Sie hat eine wunderschöne Stimme und schreibt ihre Lieder Text und Musik selber.Dabei ist eine sehr schöne CD rausgekommen die man sowohl nur im Hintergrund, als auch mit ganzer Aufmerksamkeit geniessen kann.

Ich finde diese CD "ganz nett", für meinen Geschmack allerdings etwas zu ruhig und getragen. Hätte mir ein bischen mehr "Pep" gewünscht.