Life in Cartoon Motion

Before I get into my main review, I think I need to be up front about my feelings for Freddie Mercury: I love Freddie Mercury. I have no problem saying that, either. I can still remember watching the Behind the Music episode about Queen with my little sister Amber. We both sat there holding (choking on) our tears. Not because his life was tragic (it was in some ways) but rather because of the sheer bravery he fought his AIDS--and how, on his deathbed still poured his heart and soul into his music. No one will ever, could ever replace Freddie here on Earth. His talent, much like Lennon, Shakespeare, Einstein, etc. CAN NEVER be matched. When those people died, that was it. People can imitate, maybe come close but never THAT close to what those people were/had. Just like there are writers influenced by Faulkner and Hemingway, musicians in the pop world are influenced by The Beatles. Bands like Oasis come along, try to fill the gap left behind by their heroes...and fail. They fail, but boy is it a beautiful failure. Queen, similarly, is one of those mega-bands that many artists owe their entire fucking careers to. Bands (I love) like Jellyfish and the more recent/mainstream The Darkness are merely imitations of the original.

Okay, so now that I got that out of my system...let's talk about Mika. Also know as Michael Holbrook Penniman, Mika is a Lebanese-born London-based singer. His debut album, LIFE IN CARTOON MOTION is just like the title suggest: it's big, flamboyant, poppy, and gay as hell. Combine that with the fact that he sounds (a little) like Freddie Mercury and BOOM...you have your Queen comparisons. The album opens with the club track "Grace Kelly," where Mika informs us that he wishes he was like the famous actress of yesterday. It's a good song (reminds me of the Dogs Die in Hot Cars track "Paul Newman's Eyes"). Despite the obvious homosexual-ness of the track, I dug it. Then the second track "Lollipop"came on...and I got nervous. This song makes Scissor Sisters sound like Metallica...Elton John (at his gayest) looks like Kid Rock compared to this song. This song is so gay, it has to be heard to be believed. I loved it...in a kitsch sort of way. Still not quite very Queen-ish though, other than the vocals (which only bare a slight sonic resemblance). "Love Today" the fourth track is probably the most Queen-ish track. It's good, with it's "Bohemian Rhapsody" like backing track and "Radio Ga-Ga" rap-like delivery. The falsetto, Mercury's trademark is also heavily utilized here. It reminds me of second Darkness album. A majority of the tracks sound more Bee-Gees than Queen, though. "Relax (Take it Easy)" sounds like a lost track from SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER. Not a bad thing, just not exactly my bag baby.

I liked the story song "Billy Brown" (about a straight guy who leaves his wife for a gay lover) it was reminiscent of "My Best Friend" or "Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy." But the 'biggest' Queen tribute (that was a pun) is the song "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)" which...despite agreeing with the sentiment...I have to say I didn't care for because it felt like too much of a rip off of the superior "Fat Bottom Girls." Up until this song I thought Mika was just wearing his influences on his sleeve--at this point it turned into a rip off game. This is a hard line to walk, I understand. Maybe as a B-side it could have worked...but to put this track on his debut, with all the Queen comparisons seems tacky (although, Mika could be making fun of people like me, how sit around comparing new artists to old ones). Mika's an artist, and he can do whatever he wants (that the record company feels will sell records) but the idea of a generation of people growing up with this song of plus-sized empowerment (rather than "Fat Bottomed Girls") makes me kinda sad. The rest of the album's tracks are pretty bland, generic pop that I have trouble recalling (and I just listened to the record) much less write about.

Getting off the Queen-rant...LIFE IN CARTOON MOTION is well produced, glossy pop music. Easy to listen to, easier to dance to. Mika's playful and despite the aggressively gay "Lollipop" I didn't feel embarrassed playing it loud in my dorm room (for all to hear). Frankly, I've had worse played (thank you Leah). I think that if Mika had done a little more original stuff (or done a cover album of old disco songs) I'd have liked his album more. This album feels like half a step into the spotlight...like maybe Mika's not quite ready for prime time. I think the second album will be better (which runs contrary to the usual 'sophomore album blues'). In the end, Mika seems like one of those artists who pops up, just barely missing large fame here in the States, but a few years later appears at the top of Australian or Holland's music charts. I could be wrong, but I bet you'll have to import his next album. According to Wikipedia, LIFE IN CARTOON MOTION made it to number one in the UK (and a bunch of other countries not America).

An interesting, slightly-silly dance-pop record. More girl power than power pop.

Jason gives LIFE IN CARTOON MOTION a C.

As a side note, I think the album has really cool artwork (which is always important). Also, for full disclosure...this CD was "given" to me by a dorm-mate...had I bought this CD I probably would have been more dissapointed. It's just not good enough to spend my non-existant dollars.