I'm in love. I heard this album in a friend's car while listening casually, and I was sure I was listening to some long-lost Freddie Mercury side project. Never in a million years would I have imagined that there is actually another voice out there like Freddie's. I want to be careful here: I understand that Mika is NOT Freddie Mercury, and I understand that I may receive serious backlash for even comparing the two, however, I bet you will understand what I'm talking about if you give the album a spin. Even Brian May (Queen guitarist) has mentioned that he is impressed with what this guy is doing and has invited Mika to sing with the remaining Queen members a few times. Like I said, I'm in love. Not having seen Queen live is one of my biggest "born too late" regrets, and I may have found a way to get sort of close.
Anyway, back to the album. It's hard for me to form a solid overall impression because there seem to be a lot of eclectic styles involved. There is a heavy disco influence on several of the songs, and he makes good use of technological enhancements. While I always appreciate creative use of technology, I was also happy to see videos of live performances and to see musicians on the stage playing real instruments. I think electronica absolutely has its place in the music industry, and I appreciate it for what it is, however, I get irritated by studio magic that is used to cover a lack of talent. That is not the case here.
Tracks like "Love Today," "Lollipop," and "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)" make it difficult for me to sit down while listening. Being back in the dancing world, I am finding myself more and more drawn toward music that makes me want to get up and dance with reckless abandon. Those are the types of songs I see myself turning to over and over again when I need to clean the house. I could also see myself flipping to those songs repeatedly when I feel the urge to attempt to lindy hop to something random. There is no shame in dancing around your home by yourself!
While demonstrating the ability to create dance-able songs, Mika also showcases his ability to form lovely and meaningful ballads on this album ("Any Other World," "Over My Shoulder," "Happy Ending"). My personal favorite is "Happy Ending." There is a lot of layering used, especially at the end, which I think is very effective. Again, not to freak anyone out with the Queen comparison, but the way the ending is dubbed, it reminds me of how "Somebody to Love" was created. Despite the lyrics of that tune being rather sad, the song is a total pick-me-up as a result of the way it is constructed. Shows that sappy love songs don't always have to be depressing.
I want to make a particular note about "Grace Kelly." This song has become my new theme song. If you choose to look it up, read the lyrics carefully, as they are not what they seem at first. I think it is a brilliantly written song. The music is catchy, he has a chance to show off his crystal-clear falsetto, the piano is a compliment to the melody without being overbearing, and the lyrics capture my attitude as of late. This song is a demonstration that Mika does not apologize for who he is, nor do I think anyone should.
I know he has put out an album since (The Boy Who Knew Too Much), and I have caught a couple of single tracks off of it. I look forward to listening to that album in its entirety to see how his style has developed and/or changed. Apparently, he has been writing some more and is working on a third full-length project. Based on the videos I've seen, he seems to put on quite a show, so maybe someday I will see him sing live. Rumor has it, he has never used auto-tune, even in the studio, which I think is incredible. I can see where this type of music would rub some people the wrong way, but I say give it a listen. Let me know.
Track Listing:
1. Grace Kelly
2. Lollipop
3. My Interpretation
4. Love Today
5. Relax, Take it Easy
6. Ring Ring
7. Any Other World
8. Billy Brown
9. Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)
10. Stuck in the Middle
11. Erase
12. Happy Ending
13. Over My Shoulder (hidden track)
14. Grace Kelly (acoustic, iTunes bonus track)
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