Sity Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 CD Review - Mika's Life In Cartoon Motion By Tom Patrick: 2007-03-30 20:04:57 Life In Cartoon Motion is the debut album of British singer Mika. Formally known as Mica Penniman, the singer and composer sounds like a cross between Freddie Mercury and George Michael. With an incredible range, reaching up into Alvin and the Chipmunks territory (seriously), Mika sensationalizes this jubilant album, making it strangely addictive. The album presents a balanced mix of pop, pop-rock and pop-glam rock--it’s really poppy! Put simply, it’s like children’s music on acid … actually, since all the songs are good for dancing, perhaps it’s more like children’s music on ecstasy. Life In Cartoon Motion is undeniably catchy, and walks a fine line between brilliance and utter annoyance. Two thoughts kept colliding in my head: that sounds cool and that sounds weird. The opening track "Grace Kelly," which is the current single, sets the mood for the album. Mika’s official Web site describes his music as combining "a heady euphoric rush with darker unexpected elements" and is a good way of describing songs like this one; within a few beats "Grace Kelly" swings from a goofy, juvenile romp to a sedated stroll through some thought-provoking emotions. "My Interpretation" provides a breather after the energetic opening tunes and allows the listener to cozy up to Mika’s sweet piano sound. "Love Today," the following song, with the swishy wah-wah guitar and disco beat, would be great for a ‘70s porno flick. It provides a Jamiroquai-Bee Gees feel and has a very European sound to it. "Relax. Take It Easy," Mika’s first single (a download release), is the type of tune you might hear in a club, but has enough intricacies and layers that a sophisticated musician wouldn’t necessarily feel like shooting himself after two minutes. "Ring Ring" is a classic example of how Mika mixes prototypical sounds. It has an up-on-your-feet dance beat backing up a clever piano line--only it’s not the same enervated piano sound commonly found in pop music. Instead, it’s one you can picture coming out of a grand Steinway being played by Beethoven. Frankly, his use of horns and strings--done in a classy way--is refreshing for someone like me who always marveled at the use of horns and strings on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. "Any Other World" and "Billy Brown" are good examples of this technique. If you’re still on the fence close to the end, "Stuck In The Middle" is just the tune to win you over. With a frolicking piano line reminiscent of Elton John, Mika musically stomps through this punchy song and produces one of the best tunes on the album. On his Web site, Mika explains his diverse sound saying that he "grew up listening to every thing from Joan Baez and Dylan, to Serge Gainsbourg and Flamenco." He goes on to say "Prince, Harry Nillson, Elton John, even Michael Jackson, these people make amazing pop records that couldn’t be performed by anybody else and that’s what I always wanted to do." Mika’s innovative yet familiar sound, along with his vocal range, suggests that he has accomplished just that. here's the original site My favourites: "Children's music on ecstacy" "wah-wah guitar and disco beat, would be great for a ‘70s porno flick." "a sophisticated musician wouldn’t necessarily feel like shooting himself after two minutes." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
violet_sky Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 "enough intricacies and layers that a sophisticated musician wouldn’t necessarily feel like shooting himself after two minutes" One of my favs too! Thank you for posting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avoca Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 CD Review - Mika's Life In Cartoon Motion By Tom Patrick: 2007-03-30 20:04:57 If you’re still on the fence close to the end, "Stuck In The Middle" is just the tune to win you over. With a frolicking piano line reminiscent of Elton John, Mika musically stomps through this punchy song and produces one of the best tunes on the album. I couldn't agree more with this statement.. just I'd say THE BEST track in the album thx so much for sharing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gatagordinha Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 This is a truly great review from a person with obvious good taste, thanks for posting:thumb_yello: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sity Posted April 18, 2007 Author Share Posted April 18, 2007 This is a truly great review from a person with obvious good taste, thanks for posting:thumb_yello: Heh, I like it very much too! Great review! ...and I also agree with the Stuck In The Middle part! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esperia75 Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 "Frankly, his use of horns and strings--done in a classy way--is refreshing for someone like me who always marveled at the use of horns and strings on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. "Any Other World" and "Billy Brown" are good examples of this technique." I must confess that the first time I listened "Billy Brown" my mind ran immediately to "Penny Lane" and "Sgt. Pepper's..." by Beatles...for the use of Horns...I grew up with the Beatles, it's inevitable... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avoca Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 so true!! i think billy brown is his most beatles-ish song!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gatagordinha Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 so true!! i think billy brown is his most beatles-ish song!! Yes, and the strings on Any Other World are Eleanor Rigby-like. But those people who say he is ripping off the Beatles' sound on these tracks make no sense, because it's not as if the Beatles invented strings and horns and stuff. It's more like Mika's classical influences coming through. It's like the chord progression on Happy Ending...i have heard a similar one on a piece of claasical music, if anyone knows which one I mean please post it as it's driving me mad... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avoca Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 never noticed about any other world.. coolness! eleonor rigby is my fave beatles song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esperia75 Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 Yes, and the strings on Any Other World are Eleanor Rigby-like. But those people who say he is ripping off the Beatles' sound on these tracks make no sense, because it's not as if the Beatles invented strings and horns and stuff. It's more like Mika's classical influences coming through. It's like the chord progression on Happy Ending...i have heard a similar one on a piece of claasical music, if anyone knows which one I mean please post it as it's driving me mad... ...Oh Yes. Ah, look at all the lonely people Ah, look at all the lonely people All the lonely people Where do they all come from ? All the lonely people Where do they all belong ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esperia75 Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 so true!! i think billy brown is his most beatles-ish song!! ehe "I don't really want to stop the show, but I thought that you might like to know, that the singer's going to sing a song, and he wants you all to sing along. So let me introduce to you: the one and only Billy Shears Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avoca Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 "eleonor rigby pickes up the rice in a church where a wedding has been lives in a dream..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esperia75 Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 "eleonor rigby pickes up the rice in a church where a wedding has beenlives in a dream..." Avoca, we need a Beatles thread.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avoca Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 any time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esperia75 Posted April 18, 2007 Share Posted April 18, 2007 ...So, you MUST open one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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