So, who and the heck is Mika? Well, he's only the latest in a long line of pop stars to come out of Beirut. I mean, "Duh."
Seriously, though, the guy WAS born in Beirut. Then, he moved from one European locale to another, never entirely fitting in, but realizing early on that he had a passion for music and art. Now, in his very early 20's, he's set to release his first album, Life in Cartoon Motion.
This is pure pop -- shiny & sugary. It might remind you a bit of Scissor Sisters. Bee Gees. Maybe even George Michael. On "Grace Kelly," though, you'll be quite certain you're hearing a certain Mr. Mercury -- alive and well -- note-for-note, chord-for-chord. This is hero-worship to the hilt. Now, quick like a bunny, somebody break out the amyl nitrite....
Mika on MySpace.
Nov 4 8:00A/w/THE FEELING/Shepherd's Bush Empire/London
Nov 14 8:00A/Brighton Concorde 2/Brighton
Nov 16 8:00A/Birmingham Academy 2/Birmingham
Nov 17 8:00A/Glasgow Nice N Sleazy/Glasgow
Nov 18 8:00A/Leeds Mine/Leeds
Nov 20 8:00A/Manchester Academy 3/Manchester
Nov 21 8:00A/London Dingwalls/London
[MP3] "Relax (Take It Easy)"
[MP3] "Grace Kelly"
[I'd like to send out a quick but heartfelt thanks to my friend Jim A., who transformed my previously blase banner into something with a bit of vim and vigor (and pictures!). Thanks, Jim (though, next time, I will not let the promised naked HTML lesson slide).]
I wonder if Brandon Flowers and the Killers were listening to leaked demos from Mark Mallman's latest album, Between the Devil and Middle C, while recording their own latest release. You can't help but notice that some of the same Springsteen-meets-Meatloaf dynamics are on display with the Mallman work (especially on the song "Knockout on 22nd St."). Of course, this man has always had a love and respect for stylish, '70s-era music -- especially as influenced and inspired by glam-rock.
If anything, Mallman's effort here is far more convincing and consistent than the Killers' Sam's Town (of course, maybe that isn't saying all that much). Carefree and catchy from opener to closer, Between the Devil and Middle C keeps things on the light and frothy side, pretension(s) be damned. Then again, the driving rocker "Death Wish" features some vaguely malevolent synthesizer stings (counterbalanced with some bouncy, borderline-cheerful piano). It's a terrific pop song, plain and simple.As we enter November, bloggers' Top 10 lists for 2006 are fast approaching. I can only hope that Mark Mallman will get a bit of love and attention for his work this year. His songcraft deserves a lot more spotlight, a lot less shadow.
Mark Mallman on MySpace.
Nov 11 11:00P/Mad Planet - Milwaukee/Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Nov 24 6:00P/400 Bar - Minneapolis/2 SHOWS AA + 21+/Minneapolis, Minnesota
From the LP Between the Devil and Middle C, 2006 >>>
[MP3] "Death Wish"
[MP3] "Persuasion"
From the LP Mr. Serious, 2004 >>>
[MP3] "Hardcore Romantic"
[MP3] "Simply in the Distance"
I'd better offer up a couple of songs now, in case the Tigers lose their series tonight. That will piss me off. That will cause me not to care whether I post songs tonight or not.
I included the Sunshine Underground song "Panic Attack" on my Best of September mix. Below, find two more songs from their second album, Raise the Alarm. They're currently promoting the hell out of that thing in their native UK.
The Sunshine Underground on MySpace.
The Sunshine Underground promoting-the-hell >>>
Oct 27 8:00P/Oxjam @ Manhattan Bar/Bristol
Oct 28 1:00P/Virgin Megastore - In-store & Signing/Bristol
Oct 30 10:00A/'Commercial Breakdown' Release Date/Available in all good record shops (and some bad ones) Oct 30 5:00P/HMV - In-store & Signing/Manchester
Oct 30 8:00P/Academy 2/Manchester
Nov 1 5:00P/HMV - In-store & Signing/Leeds
Nov 1 8:00P/Metropolitan University/Leeds
[MP3] "Put You In Your Place"
[MP3] "Commercial Breakdown"
Fuck. The Tigers lost game four. Screw St. Louis and the Clydesdales they rode in on. Here's some songs...
[MP3] Valeze/"Search and Destroy" [Iggy Pop & the Stooges cover]
[MP3] Patti Smith/"When Doves Cry" [Prince cover]
[MP3] The Click Five/"Good Day"
Nerina Pallot is a young, attractive popstress from Great Britain. Her second LP, Fires, was originally released in 2005 and has garnered some good reviews in her home country. On the two songs below, you'll hear influences of Tori Amos and Heather Nova ("Idaho"), as well as Fiona Apple ("Geek Love"). Which is to say: this is music that could appear to good effect in any number of touchy-feely TV dramas -- to underscore the "significant scene" or the "momentous montage." It's not quite wallpaper; not quite not.
Nerina Pallot on MySpace.
Nov 13 8:00P/Olympia/Dublin
Nov 14 8:00P/Spring & Airbrake/Belfast
Nov 16 8:00P/Trinity Arts Centre/Bristol
Nov 19 8:00P/ABC/Glasgow
Nov 20 8:00P/Lemon Tree/Aberdeen
Nov 21 8:00P/Tyne Theatre/Newcastle
Nov 22 8:00P/Academy 2/Manchester
[MP3] "Idaho"
[MP3] "Geek Love"
I was all cuckoo-for-Coco-Puffs over Paul Brill's "Paris is On" back in August. And I still am. For me, it's a standout.
The album featuring that particular song, Harpooner, won't drop till November 21, but you can pre-order it right [here], right now. Also, for you New Yorkers, there will be a CD release party at Joe's Pub at 7 PM this Thursday night. Essie Jain will be specially guesting.
The Paul Brill song we offer today isn't as accessible as "Paris is On," but it has a drunken-lurch, mariachi-band, broken-music-box charm all its own. Call it "shabby chic."Paul Brill on MySpace.
From the LP Harpooner [11.21.06] >>>
[MP3] "Don't Tell Them"
BONUS TRACKS >>>
[MP3] "Paris is On"
[MP3] "Paris is On" [Pinto remix]
