Review - Life In Cartoon Motion

Album Info Box
Title: Life In Cartoon Motion
Artist: Mika

Initial thoughts when you think of Mika are that he's the most annoying thing to come out of Beirut. Then you realise you can't think of anything else that came out of Beirut therefore he gets that by default. However judging this fluffy haired, helium voiced popstar based purely on his 2 big singles (he's had 3 believe it or not) would be a mistake.

1 - Grace Kelly
The album kicks off with the familiar opening and soundtrack to a million nights out that is Grace Kelly. Top of the UK singles chart for 6 weeks and with a chorus designed to make even the most hardened Bee-Gees fan's testicles retract. Despite this it is a song that starts to grow and that you will gradually start to sing along to. That pretty much sets the tone for the whole album.

2 - Lollipop
Horrifically high-pitched yet annoyingly catchy tune is exactly how everyone in the world would describe this song. A single in waiting for sure, especially as musically it changes enough to work as a great party tune. Much too sweet for constant listening though.

3 - My Interpretation
Now we enter what I've come to know as Mika's second mode. From pure bubblegum pop we now move to a song with some considerable substance. Its technically a classic post-breakup song but from the side we're not used to hearing from, the side that actually made the split. This along with the superb music that accompanies the lyrics makes it one of the strongest tracks on the album.

4 - Love Today
And we're back into singles mode. If you haven't heard this sublime slice of pop brilliance then I want to know what asteroid you've been clinging onto. Exploring the full spectrum of Mika's voice from the helium to the normal along with some really strong guitar parts makes it a vastly superior single to Grace Kelly but the ending bit doesn't quite sound right, when you compare it to the shortened video version its easily noticable.

5 - Relax, Take It Easy
The debut single, but easily Mika in serious mode. An eerie tune with some really surprisingly deep singing during the verses gives way to helium boy again in the chorus, but it works. Surprise comes here as this guy can do dark songs.

6 - Any Other World
Astonishingly beautiful. This is a piano-led ballad with the voice rising and falling at the exact right moments which makes it less grating than some other tracks and therefore makes it so much easier to take it seriously.

7 - Billy Brown
Its a story song about a guy who's happily married with a kid who falls in love with another guy. Much as I would love to applaud the intent behind the song and the greatness of the songwriting and music I can't lie in a review. This song is appaling. The chorus, music and most of the lyrics are just terrible. A real low point.

8 - Big Girl
Its a song to dance to this one, a self-esteem lifting song. However it suffers from the same failings as Billy Brown, mainly the fact that outside the chorus its an immensely dull song.

9 - Stuck In The Middle
This song is another sufferer of chronic all-chorus-no-verse syndrome. What started so promisingly is all starting to come apart at the seams.

10 - My Happy Ending
I want to know why this isn't the last track. Back to the mould of Any Other World but the addition of backing singers give it an extra feeling and it succeeds in the same way. Great lyrics, great music, great singing. Would've been perfect as a finale.

11 - Ring Ring
However we get this as a final track and its kicking it up into a song which initially sounds like it could soundtrack a final race in a movie. It has a great climax feel to it which is excellent. After a big, long belch on the way to the end the whole record finishes on a major high note.

Mika is undoubtedly a truly talented musician. Its just such a shame that this isn't shown off as much as it should be on this album. I believe he has 11 great tracks in him, why we have to settle for 8 good and 3 abysmal is something that anyone who buys this album should think about.

In One Line
Many great songs, but also lots of unfulfilled potential.

Seven (7)