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Mika Album: “Life in Cartoon Motion [Best Buy Exclusive]”
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Life in Cartoon Motion [Best Buy Exclusive] |
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Release Date:2007-01-01
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Type:Unknown
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Genre:Pop, Dance
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Label:Casablanca Music
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Explicit Lyrics:Yes
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UPC:602517262294
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Review - :
{$Mika}'s vivid, aptly named debut album, {^Life in Cartoon Motion}, borrows and builds on the glittery, glamorous, and not-so-secretly sentimental musical territory carved out by {$Elton John} and {$Freddie Mercury}, or more recently, {$Rufus Wainwright} and {$the Scissor Sisters}. Fortunately, his name-dropping, shape-shifting {\pop} is usually good, and genuine, enough to come across as eloquent homage rather than blatant thievery or a tired rehash. {$Mika}'s singles are his most charming moments, especially the instant sunshine of {&"Grace Kelly,"} which crams tap-dancing rhythms, filmic dialogue, {$Elton}'s pianos, {$Freddie}'s vocal harmonies, and {$Brian May}'s guitars into just over three minutes. {&"Relax (Take It Easy)"} is in the same vein of hypnotic, danceable melancholy as {$the Scissor Sisters}' reworking of {&"Comfortably Numb,"} albeit less showy, while {&"Billy Brown"}'s brass arrangement, flowing melody, and soft-shoe rhythms give it the feel of an unusually witty {\show tune} about pre-life crises and living in the closet. As {^Life in Cartoon Motion} unfolds, it reveals more of {$Mika}'s musical identity, both for better and worse. His {\classical} piano training gives the album an appealing fluidity, especially on {&"Any Other World,"} and lilting, {\Afro-pop}-inspired guitars and harmonies pop up here and there, most effectively on {&"Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)."} However, while {^Life in Cartoon Motion} has lots of enthusiasm and creativity, it doesn't have a lot of nuance. On songs like {&"Lollipop"} and {&"Love Today,"} {$Mika} straddles the line between adorable and annoying. And as the overly long, overwrought {&"Erase"} shows, he also doesn't have quite the masterful touch with gentler songs that his influences possess. As admirable as {^Life in Cartoon Motion}'s eclecticism is, it could use more focus -- something that songs like the jaunty breakup song {&"Stuck in the Middle"} and angry rocker {&"Ring Ring"} suggest {$Mika} is developing. While more restraint could've taken the album from good to great, its Technicolor, everything-at-once, borderline overdone feel makes it a fitting portrait of {$Mika} as a young artist. [A version of the album with two bonus tracks -- an acoustic version of {&"Love Today"} and an acoustic cover of {$Dave Matthews}' {&"Satellite"} -- was also released.] ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide
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![Mika Album: “Life in Cartoon Motion [Best Buy Exclusive]”](http://www.musicpopstars.com/covers_yaM/mika/2007_170_168_Life%2520in%2520Cartoon%2520Motion%2520%255BBest%2520Buy%2520Exclusive%255D.jpg "Mika Album: “Life in Cartoon Motion [Best Buy Exclusive]”")