Ingrid Michaelson
's sixth studio album, 2014's
Lights Out
, is a polished, well-produced effort that magnifies all of the sounds and lyrical themes she's been working with since breaking through with 2007's
Girls and Boys
.
Michaelson
even seems to reference that album with her
lead single, the infectious "Girls Chase Boys." However, where
centered around
's intimate ukulele and acoustic guitar-driven dorm room pop,
features a broadened sonic palette and a much more robust vocal performance; it's a transformation she's been perfecting since 2009's
Everybody
and 2012's
Human Again
. This time out,
has enlisted a handful of producers who include, among others, her bandmate bassist
Chris Kuffner
,
Jacquire King
(
Modest Mouse
Norah Jones
), and singer/songwriter
Katie Herzig
even reunites with longtime collaborator
Dan Romer
for the epic ballad "Over You," featuring
A Great Big World
. While there are a few of
's trademark intimate breakup songs here, including the tear-inducing "Open Hands," overall the album reveals
to be in a bright, upbeat state of mind. Cuts like the bluesy, handclap-heavy "Warpath" and the similarly fiery "Time Machine," with its '90s-esque sax samples, are more emblematic of the album's ambitious, empowered tone. Elsewhere, we get the catchy dance-pop duet "One Night Town" with
Mat Kearney
and the uplifting anthem "Afterlife." There's also a very in-the-moment feeling of both poignancy and happiness to
, which is perhaps best expressed in the midtempo
Beatlesque
ballad "Wonderful Unknown," featuring
's husband, singer/songwriter
Greg Laswell
. In it,
ruminates on the small details of her everyday life, singing "We make bread on Sundays and the little ones are climbing the walls/Up the walls/Nothing lasts forever but the sound of love astounds me every time that it calls." Ultimately, on
has captured that sound of love. ~ Matt Collar