dcdeb Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 (edited) Mika Songs For Sorrow Review New EP Featuring Lonely Alcoholic, Lady Jane, Blue Eyes & Toy Boy © James W. Coates May 26, 2009 Mika returns with new downloadable EP, Songs for Sorrow, as well as a 68-page illustrated accompanying booklet. It’s been three years since the flamboyant and cartoonish Mika splashed onto the pop scene. Right out of the box his first single “Grace Kelly” shot to the top of the pops in the UK and most of the rest of the world. Soon, Q Awards, Brit Awards and various other prizes and trophies from all over the world adorned his mantle. Mika quickly became the breakout artist of 2006/2007 while his first full length album Life in Cartoon Motion splattered the charts with hits such as the Grammy-nominated “Love Today”, plus UK hits “Big Girls”, “Relax, Take It Easy” and “Lollipop”. EP Preludes New Mika Album While the world awaits a proper follow-up, reportedly due for 2009, Mika delivers a four-track EP entitled Songs For Sorrow. Inspired by “dark fairy tales” the new songs show signs of growing up for the artist who used an array of child-like illusions on his debut to support the songs. Two editions of the EP are available. The digital edition, available from his official website, which includes the tracks "Lonely Alcoholic", "Lady Jane" and "Blue Eyes" and a physical edition featuring an additional track, "Toy Boy". Songs For Sorrow EP Whereas the bulk of the music on his debut album, Life in Cartoon Motion, was playful pop, blissful and buoyant, the new songs show the deeper side to Mika. "Blue Eyes" has hints of Caribbean shaker drums and repetitive guitar. “Lady Jane”, a darker piano-driven ballad tells the tale of a woman who cuts off her feet to become a fish after her man falls in a river. “Lonely Alcoholic”, another piano track, tackles the theme of a bottle hitting stressed out single mother. While the subjects of these tracks don’t necessarily scream pop music, they show a clear maturity in Mika’s song writing and, by toning down the oft-overbearing falsetto, his singing as well. These songs may not go down in history as Mika’s greatest hits but they offer enough to tide fans over until he releases his second album later in 2009. Songs For Sorrow + Deluxe 68-Page Book In addition to the extra song on the physical edition, the limited edition CD includes a "super high quality deluxe 68 page book and specially commissioned artwork from some of Mika's favourite artists," according to his website. The digital EP comes with a downloadable PDF file of the illustrations. Contributing artists include Peter Blake, Paul Smith, Es Devlin, Jim Woodring, Sophie Blackall, Jim Medway, Tao Nyeu, Richard Hogg, Huck Scarry and Walter Van Beirendonck. In a statement, Mika said "The idea for the book then came from the lyrics to these songs, which are like dark fairy tales, and I thought it would be brilliant to get illustrations to go with them and to get some of my favorite artists to give their own interpretation on the stories”. Mika’s Songs For Sorrow EP is available now for download from his official website. The physical release of the EP is slated for June 8. Read more: http://modern-pop-music.suite101.com/article.cfm/mika_songs_for_sorrow_review#ixzz0GigyUrDy&B PS I have obtained the author's permission to republish this here on MFC Edited May 27, 2009 by dcdeb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FREDDIESDOUBLE Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 Great stuff , thanks a lot Deb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gatagordinha Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 Thanks for posting . A fair overview/review of the EP I would say, though hardly in-depth. Just nice to see a mention of any kind though . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Sky Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 T4P deb. It would be slightly better if he had held a copy of the book in his own hands to tell us about it...we can read the website about it by ourselves!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DANI56 Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 thanks a lot, Deb! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAK1 Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 T4P Deb:thumb_yello: Just one thing, he says "by toning down the oft overbearing falsetto" Was he actually listening to Lady Jane? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miro Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 Thanks for posting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CazGirl Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 T4P Deb:thumb_yello:Just one thing, he says "by toning down the oft overbearing falsetto" Was he actually listening to Lady Jane? That was my first thought LOL! XD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertina Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 thanks deb! hopefully more will follow.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naectegale Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 T4P Deb:thumb_yello:Just one thing, he says "by toning down the oft overbearing falsetto" Was he actually listening to Lady Jane? It is a softer, more controlled falsetto than he used in LICM, I think Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naectegale Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 “Lonely Alcoholic”, another piano track, tackles the theme of a bottle hitting stressed out single mother." I don't think he was listening too closely to the lyrics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Alan Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 "overbearing falsetto" i love his falsetto !!!, stupid critics !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marilyn Mastin Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 Mika Songs For Sorrow Review New EP Featuring Lonely Alcoholic, Lady Jane, Blue Eyes & Toy Boy © James W. Coates May 26, 2009 Mika returns with new downloadable EP, Songs for Sorrow, as well as a 68-page illustrated accompanying booklet. It’s been three years since the flamboyant and cartoonish Mika splashed onto the pop scene. Right out of the box his first single “Grace Kelly” shot to the top of the pops in the UK and most of the rest of the world. Soon, Q Awards, Brit Awards and various other prizes and trophies from all over the world adorned his mantle. Mika quickly became the breakout artist of 2006/2007 while his first full length album Life in Cartoon Motion splattered the charts with hits such as the Grammy-nominated “Love Today”, plus UK hits “Big Girls”, “Relax, Take It Easy” and “Lollipop”. EP Preludes New Mika Album While the world awaits a proper follow-up, reportedly due for 2009, Mika delivers a four-track EP entitled Songs For Sorrow. Inspired by “dark fairy tales” the new songs show signs of growing up for the artist who used an array of child-like illusions on his debut to support the songs. Two editions of the EP are available. The digital edition, available from his official website, which includes the tracks "Lonely Alcoholic", "Lady Jane" and "Blue Eyes" and a physical edition featuring an additional track, "Toy Boy". Songs For Sorrow EP Whereas the bulk of the music on his debut album, Life in Cartoon Motion, was playful pop, blissful and buoyant, the new songs show the deeper side to Mika. "Blue Eyes" has hints of Caribbean shaker drums and repetitive guitar. “Lady Jane”, a darker piano-driven ballad tells the tale of a woman who cuts off her feet to become a fish after her man falls in a river. “Lonely Alcoholic”, another piano track, tackles the theme of a bottle hitting stressed out single mother. While the subjects of these tracks don’t necessarily scream pop music, they show a clear maturity in Mika’s song writing and, by toning down the oft-overbearing falsetto, his singing as well. These songs may not go down in history as Mika’s greatest hits but they offer enough to tide fans over until he releases his second album later in 2009. Songs For Sorrow + Deluxe 68-Page Book In addition to the extra song on the physical edition, the limited edition CD includes a "super high quality deluxe 68 page book and specially commissioned artwork from some of Mika's favourite artists," according to his website. The digital EP comes with a downloadable PDF file of the illustrations. Contributing artists include Peter Blake, Paul Smith, Es Devlin, Jim Woodring, Sophie Blackall, Jim Medway, Tao Nyeu, Richard Hogg, Huck Scarry and Walter Van Beirendonck. In a statement, Mika said "The idea for the book then came from the lyrics to these songs, which are like dark fairy tales, and I thought it would be brilliant to get illustrations to go with them and to get some of my favorite artists to give their own interpretation on the stories”. Mika’s Songs For Sorrow EP is available now for download from his official website. The physical release of the EP is slated for June 8. Read more: http://modern-pop-music.suite101.com/article.cfm/mika_songs_for_sorrow_review#ixzz0GigyUrDy&B PS I have obtained the author's permission to republish this here on MFC That is a really great review that I agree with wholeheartedly! T4P! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeiRe Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vélez Patti Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 Thank you ! . Nice text. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkly1 Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 oh well, at least they said quite good stuff about it T4P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iridaceae Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 Thanks for posting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celien Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 Thank you for posting this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Alan Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 excuse my manners !!!, thanks dcdeb for the review !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mari62 Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 T4P Deb! Nice review! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louiza Posted May 29, 2009 Share Posted May 29, 2009 positive review! t4p deb:thumb_yello: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*LEON* Posted May 29, 2009 Share Posted May 29, 2009 Thanks for posting:biggrin2: There´s lots of info on the EP in that review and very little info on the tracks in my opinion. But he´s positive - and he should be:wink2: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veroMica Posted May 29, 2009 Share Posted May 29, 2009 Thanks for posting, Deb! “Lonely Alcoholic”, another piano track, tackles the theme of a bottle hitting stressed out single mother." I don't think he was listening too closely to the lyrics Yup. But actually that's what many people, if not the most (including me), understand the first time they listen to the song... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inbar_assaf Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 hi there, just a question (and its probably written somewhere, im just really tires) has anyone got the actual CD with the booklet? cause the dates keep changing and stuff... anyway THX! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 hi there, just a question (and its probably written somewhere, im just really tires) has anyone got the actual CD with the booklet? cause the dates keep changing and stuff... anyway THX! Nope, not yet! I believe it will only be sent after the (new) release date (June 8th). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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