The Boy Who Knew Too Much

by Mika

Overview

Making an album even more vibrant than Life in Cartoon Motion would have been difficult for Mika. On The Boy Who Knew Too Much, he doesn't try to top himself; instead, he reins in just enough of his debut's indulgent tendencies to let his gift for great melodies and hooks be the focus. His multifaceted pop sounds a little calmer and a lot more confident here -- rather than cramming songs with moments intended to impress that end up being overwhelming, "Dr. John"'s finger-popping minor fall and major lift and the calypso-tinged "Blue Eyes" actually are impressive because they're so direct. While Life in Cartoon Motion was remarkably engaging, occasionally it felt like Mika was more skilled at pastiche than presenting his own sound. Here, Mika and producer Greg Wells fashion songs that sound truly distinctive; though touches of inspirations and peers like Elton John, the Bee Gees, and the Scissor Sisters still pop up, the musician Mika borrows from most on The Boy Who Knew Too Much is himself. The album's opening trio of tracks nods to his debut's most vivid moments without copying them: "We Are Golden" is every bit as sunshiny as "Love Today"; "Blame It on the Girls" builds on "Grace Kelly"'s sleek style; and "Rain" is a kissing cousin to "Relax"'s pulsing, melancholy disco-pop. Mika tries a few different sounds on for size, most notably on "Toy Boy," a subversively sweet singsong that lies somewhere between Elvis Presley's "Wooden Heart" and the Dresden Dolls' "Coin Operated Boy," and the torchy finale, "Pick Up Off the Floor." While ballads still aren't his forte, slower tracks like the Imogen Heap collaboration "By the Time" offer welcome breathing room from "One Foot Boy" and the album's other almost ridiculously catchy tracks. Anyone who liked Life in Cartoon Motion's bright, brash approach won't be disappointed by The Boy Who Knew Too Much -- it's clear Mika knows exactly what he's doing. ~ Heather Phares

Product Details

Release Date:	09/29/2009
Label:	Universal
UPC:	0602527125886
Rank:	134632

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Mika   Primary Artist,Vocals,Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Imogen Heap   Vocals (Background),Drums,Keyboards
Lyle Workman   Guitar
Greg Wells   Bass,Drums,Guitar,Keyboards,Percussion
William Frank "Bill" Reichenbach Jr.   Horn
Jerry Hey   Horn
Matt Chamberlain   Drums,Percussion
Walter Afanasieff   Keyboards,Percussion
Owen Pallett   Violin
Dan Higgins   Horn
Tim Pierce   Guitar
Dave Williamson   Horn
Gary Grant   Horn
Dan Rothchild   Bass,Vocals (Background)
Karen Brunon   Strings
Sam Smith   Vocals (Background)
Chris Nicolaides   Vocals (Background)
Alex Miller   Vocals (Background),Vocals (Background)
Andrew Dermanis   Director,Vocals (Background)
Audrey Moukataff   Vocals (Background)
Cherisse Osei   Drums
David Whitmey   Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background),Keyboards
Mike Choi   Guitar (Bass)
Fabien Waltman   Keyboards
Ben Edwards   Horn
Paul Buckmaster   Strings
Andrae Crouch Choir   Vocals (Background)
Benjamin Howard Smith   Horn
Fortune Penniman   Vocals (Background)
Ida Falk Winland   Vocals (Background)
Lorna Bridge   Vocals (Background)
Martin Waugh   Guitar,Vocals (Background)
Paloma Penniman   Vocals (Background)
Zuleika Penniman   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Imogen Heap   Programming,Composer,Producer
Joe Chiccarelli   Engineer
Greg Wells   Mixing,Producer,Programming
John Merchant   Composer,Associate Producer
Richie Supa   Composer
Walter Afanasieff   Composer,Programming
Mika   Composer,Producer,Illustrations
Steve Churchyard   Engineer
Jodi Marr   Composer,Associate Producer
Dan Warner   Composer
Mo Hausler   Engineer
Chris Nicolaides   Engineer
Claire Bushe   Illustrations
Rob Davis   Composer,Composer,Composer
Sophie Blackall   Illustrations,Illustrations
Nicholas Eede   Composer
Jodi Horovitz   Composer
Alex Hutchinson   Design
Luke Tozour   Engineer
Michael Holbrook Penniman   Composer
Ahmed Modi   Composer
Paul Buckmaster   Arranger,String Arrangements
Richard Hogg   Illustrations
Zuleika Penniman   Illustrations
DaWack   Illustrations