Lollipop Love Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 CD review of Mika's 'The Boy Who Knew Too Much' Tuesday, January 5, 2010 Mika THE BOY WHO KNEW TOO MUCH Without a hit single in the United States it's hard to make a big splash in pop music. But no pop album in 2009 sounded better, start to finish, without a true hit single, than Mika's "The Boy Who Knew Too Much," the follow-up to his 2007 debut, "Life in Cartoon Motion." With a sound that brings to mind some wild amalgamation of Rufus Wainwright, Elton John and Electric Six, Mika managed to be both out there and entirely accessible at once. The nonstop hooks and joyous beats pulled you in and the smart wordplay kept your attention throughout. Mika is also a bit of a style hog. He channels his inner Kate Bush on the dreamy "By the Time," visits campy torch territory with "Pick Up Off the Floor" and delivers his Broadway show tune best on "Toy Boy." Yes, it's all a bit over the top, but it's also magical. If Mika's music were simply pure pop pep, that would be enough. But each song tells a story, amuses, amazes and confidently makes its point. "He's got looks that books take pages to tell/He's got a face to make you fall on your knees," the 26-year-old Londoner sings on "Blame It on the Girls," a bedazzling, boisterous track that somehow chastises ingrates and celebrates life all at once. The song is typical of Mika's fare: exuberant but also layered; candy-coated but also loaded with meaning. Few modern pop stars have achieved anything close. -- Joe Heim Recommended tracks "We Are Golden," "Blue Eyes," "Blame It on the Girls" http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/04/AR2010010402947.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Niiiiiiiiiiice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sopepperminty Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Yayyyy! A great review in a major American newspaper is fantastic news. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazy_olly Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 This is good, good news. T4p! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzie Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 great review:thumb_yello: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Sky Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 WOW!! That's a really good review. In the Washington Post of all papers!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiibet Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 "He's got looks that books take pages to tell/He's got a face to make you fall on your knees," the 26-year-old Londoner sings on "Blame It on the Girls," a bedazzling, boisterous track that somehow chastises ingrates and celebrates life all at once. The song is typical of Mika's fare: exuberant but also layered; candy-coated but also loaded with meaning. Few modern pop stars have achieved anything close. Wow, great review, and love the last sentence. Good one, thanks for posting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FREDDIESDOUBLE Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 This is great I loved this part "Without a hit single in the United States it's hard to make a big splash in pop music. But no pop album in 2009 sounded better, start to finish" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soaring Simpson Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 That is BRILLIANT- all of it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naectegale Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sariflor Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Ooh, this is nice! I'm so happy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
violet_sky Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 ...delivers his Broadway show tune... Yes exactly! IMO this is the main thing he's got in common with Queen in some of his songs - they sound like they're made for a musical. Thanks for posting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CazGirl Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 I really don't understand the fascination with Blue Eyes! Anyway...thanks for posting!! Yaaaay another good review! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Nice review - t4p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sienna Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Thanks for posting! Finally an articles that appreciates his work as much as we do, lovely to read! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annabelle Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Wow, that's a great review.:biggrin2:Thanks for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcdeb Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/04/AR2010010402947.html *rubs sleep from eyes* *blinks* The Washington Post? Are you SURE? That's MY hometown paper. *runs to look at yesterday's print edition* YES! It's IN there! So often things are online, but not in the print edition. I was so busy HERE yesterday that I missed reading the paper! :yay: I have to write to Joe Heim, the writer! WOW!! That's a really good review. In the Washington Post of all papers!! I *KNOW*! I'm well-pleased! FINALLY! MIKA! You can come back to DC now! PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE! Ooops, sorry. Fangurl moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzy Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Oooft, I smell a fan boy review! It's always nice to see some of those. T4P! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gatagordinha Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 That's a winter warmer of a review if ever I saw one! t4p! It's actually a few weeks (yes weeks) since I listened to the album but I just know when I put it on again I will still think, this is great. Because it IS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nezza Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 The Washington Post!! That's fantastic!! Very happy Thanks for posting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keti Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 This was so good to read! Such a postive review in The Washington Post! T4P Lucy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marilyn Mastin Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Wonderful review!! It's so sad that Mika hasn't had a hit in The States, but with people like this fantastic reviewer on his side, it's only a matter of time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CazGirl Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Wonderful review!! It's so sad that Mika hasn't had a hit in The States, but with people like this fantastic reviewer on his side, it's only a matter of time! and in a big newspaper... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanessa Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 This is one interesting review ! I love the candy-coated word and suits Mika a lot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kodes100 Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 CD review of Mika's 'The Boy Who Knew Too Much' Tuesday, January 5, 2010 Mika THE BOY WHO KNEW TOO MUCH Without a hit single in the United States it's hard to make a big splash in pop music. But no pop album in 2009 sounded better, start to finish, without a true hit single, than Mika's "The Boy Who Knew Too Much," the follow-up to his 2007 debut, "Life in Cartoon Motion." With a sound that brings to mind some wild amalgamation of Rufus Wainwright, Elton John and Electric Six, Mika managed to be both out there and entirely accessible at once. The nonstop hooks and joyous beats pulled you in and the smart wordplay kept your attention throughout. Mika is also a bit of a style hog. He channels his inner Kate Bush on the dreamy "By the Time," visits campy torch territory with "Pick Up Off the Floor" and delivers his Broadway show tune best on "Toy Boy." Yes, it's all a bit over the top, but it's also magical. If Mika's music were simply pure pop pep, that would be enough. But each song tells a story, amuses, amazes and confidently makes its point. "He's got looks that books take pages to tell/He's got a face to make you fall on your knees," the 26-year-old Londoner sings on "Blame It on the Girls," a bedazzling, boisterous track that somehow chastises ingrates and celebrates life all at once. The song is typical of Mika's fare: exuberant but also layered; candy-coated but also loaded with meaning. Few modern pop stars have achieved anything close. -- Joe Heim Recommended tracks "We Are Golden," "Blue Eyes," "Blame It on the Girls" http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/04/AR2010010402947.html Thank you Lollipop Love! Another superb review. TBWKTM has received many many good reviews. It still frustrates me & other MFCers here why it isn't selling in huge numbers. I still can't figure it out. One thing I am sure of though is that the lack of sales will not hurt Mika. In the scheme of things I think that TBWKTM being well received by the "music business" is more important as this is Mika's sophomore album which can be tricky & a career buster. Mika has succeeded in proving that his career has legs. I look forward to seeing how Mika's international tour this year will affect sales because this album deserves to be a the top of the charts. Bravo, Congrats & Kudos Mika!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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