FREDDIESDOUBLE Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 (edited) "The Camp One Comes Up Pop Trumps Again" 4 stars = Excellent (out of 5) The artist know to his Mum as Michael Holbrook Penniman is a one off. Out he flounced two years ago singing songs about Grace Kelly and girls with big bums,ever likely to break into a ludicrous falsetto and comporting himself like a precocious Rufus Wainwright. There were many who considered him the spawn of satan and found his jolly camp as appealing as the contents of a sick bag.... Not that Mika should care. His debut album Life In Cartoon Motion found a home in nearly six Million households worldwide.So although the Lebanese-born kitsch conductor divided people in a way that say, Elbow do not, there were more than enough in his camp to make this second album an event. There were but two courses for Mika to take this time around.With the unfathonable reasoning that grips many successful but not acclaimed stars he could opt to woo the doubters with an austere new direction.Or he could continue to go about his buisness while at the same time suggsting an artistic development from the fun but flawed first record.Being no fool,there was little doubt which way Mika would head - and any that lingered will have been dispatched by the single and title track. A glam-pop storm of grand proportions,We Are Golden reintroduces that falsetto, utilises the services of not only one but two chiors and in all probability has had many a kitchen sink tossed at it to boot.No one driven to tears by Mika in the past will abide by it.For everyone else its a terrific return-the fact that it brings to mind both the gargantuan melodrama of a Jim Steinman production and a climatic High School Musical Show tune being but part of the appeal. Rightly it opens the album with a flourish and sets the tone for all that is to come. For while nothing as over-the-top follows,it serves notice of Mika's improved craft as a writer of great pop tunes and the degree to which he understands great pop:that is should be rendered in bold primary colours,get to the chorus before it bores us and in doing so provoke extreme reactions. On its heels (We are Golden) come two surefire hits: Blame It On The Girls (clipped piano, a rhythm track of clapping hands) and Rain, wherin Mika calls upon the services of Madonna collaborator Stuart Price to release his inner Madge by way of prime time Pet Shop Boys. If trimming a couple of the tracks that ensue would have made it a tighter record, nothing lets the side down either. There is a brace of power ballads that echo the grown up Take That (I See You,By The Time),vaudeville (Dr John), power pop (Touches You), much else that is giddily insistent and further fine songs in Blue Eyes, One Foot Boy (Prince when he was fun) and Pick Up Off The Floor, which could have belonged to Judy Garland. We get to know no more about Mika the man through any of this (the suggestion on Toy Boy that its protagonist maybe "better off with a Barbie Girl" is knowing - his sexuality remains otherwise off limits), and that too is very pop. But in writing and performing every note, and in so doing bringing to mind everything from George Michael and the Scissor Sisters to Madonna and the Pet Shop Boys in the flush of (relative) youth, he is undoubtedly a star of the old school - And A Rare One At That. Indie dullards are habitually applauded for their labours, pop stars with panache less so. Yet this is as bold, daring and vibrant an album as we'll hear this year. In any event, Mika is likely to have the last laugh. Edited August 23, 2009 by dcdeb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 LOVES IT!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alice.loves.mika Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 The camp one at least he got four stars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soaring Simpson Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Fantastic review Freddie- t4p- and in a mag I can rush out and buy! Lovely No piccies? (Yeah, I know reviews don't usually have them, but...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FREDDIESDOUBLE Posted August 21, 2009 Author Share Posted August 21, 2009 Fantastic review Freddie- t4p- and in a mag I can rush out and buy! Lovely No piccies? (Yeah, I know reviews don't usually have them, but...) Hey lovely its not in the shops JUST yet .. I subscribe so get it a day or so earlier .. but any day it will be there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyChloe15 Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 MIKA IS NOT CAMP!!! why cant people just belive that he sings high but im glad it got four stars xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kt4mika Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Hey lovely its not in the shops JUST yet .. I subscribe so get it a day or so earlier .. but any day it will be there thank you for letting me know ferddie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil'Violet Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 4 stars = Excellent (out of 5) excellent!!! wow!!! that's great!!! thank you for posting!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FREDDIESDOUBLE Posted August 21, 2009 Author Share Posted August 21, 2009 More than welcome you beautiful people This is one awesome review , Q magazine dont hold back Right time for tea and rest my fingers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xlindee Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Great article. 4 stars, not bad, not bad:biggrin2: But Take That?:boxed:Uh..not sure what to think of that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happikali Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Thanks for posting FD !! GREAT review !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FREDDIESDOUBLE Posted August 21, 2009 Author Share Posted August 21, 2009 Great article. 4 stars, not bad, not bad:biggrin2: But Take That?:boxed:Uh..not sure what to think of that. Not one album got 5 of 5 , Muse is reviewed and some mega mega great albums .... they class 5 out 5 as "classic" .. Micheal Jacksons thriller for example ... 4 is awesome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark Angel Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Thx a lot for posting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kt4mika Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Not one album got 5 of 5 , Muse is reviewed and some mega mega great albums .... they class 5 out 5 as "classic" .. Micheal Jacksons thriller for example ... 4 is awesome that really is great news now i can put my 2 fingers up at everyone that thinks im sad for loving mika so much Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiibet Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Thanks for posting And fantastic review!! I'm going to buy that magazine, it just takes a while before I can find it from our local bookstore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B!anka Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 If trimming a couple of the tracks that ensure would have made it a tighter record,nothing lets the side down either.There is a brace of power ballads that echo the grown up Take That (I See You,By The Time),vaudeville (Dr John),power pop (Touches You),much else that is giddly insistent and further fine songs in Blue Eyes,One Foot Boy(Prince when he was fun) and Pick Up Off The Floor,which could of belonged to Judy Garland. . hehehe I knew that they reminded me of something that used to be so familiar.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark Angel Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Thanks for posting And fantastic review!! I'm going to buy that magazine, it just takes a while before I can find it from our local bookstore. Ditto! Know its possible to get here... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Congrats Mika!!!! Thanks for posting Freddie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sariflor Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 "The Camp One Comes Up Pop Trumps Again" 4 stars = Excellent (out of 5) The artist know to his Mum as Micheal Holbrook Penniman is a one off.Out he flounced two years ago singing songs about Grace Kelly and girls with big bums,ever likely to break into a ludicrous falsetto and comporting himself like a precocious Rufus Wainwright. There were many who considered him the spawn of satan and found his jolly camp as appealing as the contents of a sick bag.... Not that Mika should care.His debut album Life In Cartoon Motion found a home in nearly six Million households worldwide.So although the Lebanese-born kitsch conductor divided people in a way that say,Elbow do not,there were more than enough in his camp to make this second album an event. There were but two courses for Mika to take this time around.With the unfathonable reasoning that grips many successful but not acclaimed stars he could opt to woo the doubters with an austere new direction.Or he could continue to go about his buisness while at the same time suggsting an artistic development from the fun but flawed first record.Being no fool,there was little doubt which way Mika would head - and any that lingered will have been dispatched by the single and title track. A glam-pop storm of grand proportions,We Are Golden reintroduces that falsetto,utilises the services of not only one but two chiors and in all probability has had many a kitchen sink tossed at it to boot.No one driven to tears by Mika in the past will abide by it.For everyone else its a terrific return-the fact that it brings to mind both the gargantuan melodrama of a Jim Steinman production and a climatic High School Musical Show tune being but part of the appeal. Rightly it opens the album with a flourish and sets the tone for all that is to come.For while nothing as over-the-top follows,it serves notice of Mika's improved craft as a writer of great pop tunes and the degree to which he understands great pop:that is should be rendered in bold primary colours,get to the chorus before it bores us and in doing so provoke extreme reactions. On its heels (We are Golden) come two surefire hits :Blame It On The Girls(clipped piano,a rhythm track of clapping hands) and Rain,wherin Mika calls upon the services of Madonna collaborator Stuart Price to release his inner Madge by way of prime time Pet Shop Boys. If trimming a couple of the tracks that ensure would have made it a tighter record,nothing lets the side down either.There is a brace of power ballads that echo the grown up Take That (I See You,By The Time),vaudeville (Dr John),power pop (Touches You),much else that is giddly insistent and further fine songs in Blue Eyes,One Foot Boy(Prince when he was fun) and Pick Up Off The Floor,which could of belonged to Judy Garland. We get to know no more about Mika the man through any of this (the suggestion on Toy Boy thats it's protagonist maybe "better off with a Barbie Girl" is knowing - his sexuallity remains otherwise is otherwise off limits),and hat too is very pop.But in writing and performing every note,and in so doing bringing to mind everything from George Michael and the Scissor Sisters to Madonna and the Pet Shop Boys in the flush of (relative) youth,he is undoubtedly a star of the old school - And A Rare One At That. Indie dullards are habitually applauded for their labours,pop stars with panache less so.Yet this is as bold,daring and vibrant an album as we'll hear this year.In any event,Mika is likely to have the last laugh. Ooooooh, FANTASTIC!!! What a great review, I love it . Can't wait for the album to hit the world!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soaring Simpson Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Ooooooh, FANTASTIC!!! What a great review, I love it . Can't wait for the album to hit the world!! Now there I strongly agree with you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xlindee Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Not one album got 5 of 5 , Muse is reviewed and some mega mega great albums .... they class 5 out 5 as "classic" .. Micheal Jacksons thriller for example ... 4 is awesome I know Freds, I was being sarcastic:naughty:It's great! I really can't wait for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A. Clay Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sienna Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Thanks for posting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buttonslovesu Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Fantastic review. this album is undoubtedly going to be an even bigger hit than LICM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soaring Simpson Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Hey lovely its not in the shops JUST yet .. I subscribe so get it a day or so earlier .. but any day it will be there I'm glad you said that! I was all set to avoid what I'm supposed to be doing and wander into Redcar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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