MIKA
The Boy Who Knew Too Much
Universal Music

Well, the good news is, Mika is still Mika colourful and bright as ever. Named after an episode of The Simpsons, it is however, slightly disappointing that The Boy Who Knew Too Much does not differ much from Mika’s debut album Life In Cartoon Motion.

Many of the songs in his sophomore effort were shadows of his past hits. The track Rain is this album’s answer to Relax Take It Easy while Toy Boy tries hard to be the next Lollipop, albeit a sadder version.

Nothing comes close to his hit Grace Kelly. Nevertheless, fans of Mika who love him for his colourful and fun portrayal of music will not be disappointed much as he maintains much of his old formula.

They would definitely enjoy We Are Golden, Dr John and Good Gone Girl. Listen to the album from top to bottom and you’ll be thrown off balance at the last track, Pick Up Off The Floor.

It’s a song that isn’t over-the-top, aiming to be more emotional, which actually allowed it to stand out from the album.

It might be a sore thumb to some, but I find it refreshing as it was different from what Mika had to offer. The Boy Who Knew Too Much may not be Mika’s greatest work, but it’s still worth more than a listen. — Ng Suzhen

 

CHILDREN OF BODOM
Skeletons In The Closet
Universal Music

IF you haven’t already heard, Skeletons In The Closet (2009) is a cover album by Finnish metal band, Children of Bodom (COB), not dissimilar to Metallica’s Garage Inc.

Apart from a few exceptions (Lookin’ Out My Back Door, She Is Beautiful and Oops! I Did It Again), all of the songs were originally played by some of the greatest metal bands of the 1970s and 1980s, such as Anthrax, Slayer, King Diamond, and Scorpions.

It’s no surprise that this album is mostly sung with clean vocals, which is a nice variation from Alexi Laiho’s demonic screams.

Laiho, like always, has made these songs his own and given all of them the “Wild Child” energy that we know from Hate Crew Deathroll and Bloodrunk.

In fact, the new release of War Inside My Head, originally recorded by Suicidal Tendencies, is one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever heard played by COB.

As you might expect, COB added their own brand of humour to this record. On the hidden track, Waiting,
originally recorded by King Diamond, Laiho does a tongue-in-cheek imitation of King Diamond’s infamous falsetto vocals one all metal fans can’t help but laugh at. Laiho’s interpretation of the vocals is one that no COB fan would’ve ever expected.

The heavy metal genius took a little break from his brutal screaming on the band’s Britney Spears, Credence Clearwater Revival, Billy Idol and Andrew W.K. covers, while somehow still ensuring that they were equally as heavy as anything you could expect from the metal band from Espoo.

The only thing that gets me down on these tracks is Laiho’s inability to hit notes with accuracy. However, even on the covers of bands with world renowned singers who do not scream, such as Iron Maiden’s Aces High, Alice Cooper’s Bed of Nails, and W.A.S.P.’s Hellion, Alexi Laiho still manages to break out in the most terrifying screams I’ve ever heard, giving the already killer songs an extra death metal punch.

In a brand new recording of Anthrax’s Antisocial, Laiho experiments with thrash metal and hardcore vocals a nice new touch!

The best parts of this album to listen to are the songs that were recorded for jokes, like Waiting and Oops! I Did It Again.

However, comically, the best part of the album as a whole isn’t the music at all it’s the album artwork. Inside the CD cover is a foldout of photos of the band dressed up as members of the bands that they have covered. Laiho even has the infamous Alice Cooper make-up on! — Nadirah H. Rodzi

ATHLETE
Black Swan
Universal Music

WHEN Athlete announced their arrival in the British music scene with Vehicles & Animals, fans of Britpop immediately endeared themselves to the London quartet’s refreshing style of music a party pack of buoyant tunes, charm and Cockney wit. Catchy choruses were in abundance; remember You Got The Style and Westside?

What followed the Mercury Music Prize nominee debut was Tourist, which was about the time when Joel Pott & co began toning down; replacing their upbeat synth-pop beats with piano-laden ballads, which resulted with Athlete’s classic Wires and also invited the inevitable comparison of Pott with Chris Martin.

But with this latest effort, Black Swan, Athlete’s boat has sailed too far away from the shores of Vehicles & Animals. Their new earnest strings-guitar approach in songs like Love Come Rescue and The Getaway make them sound strangely American.

But thank heavens for The Unknown, perhaps the most uplifting track throughout the album and the only one that got me on a feet-tapping and faux tambourine-clapping fit. Album opener Superhuman Touch deserves a shout out as well, but neither are as exciting as those gems in Vehicles & Animals.

Black Swan is a disappointing effort from a band that started with so much potential, but five years down the road, it appears they might have just lost it. -Joseph Kaos Jr

VARIOUS
Best Dance 2009 Volume 2
Eq Music

WITH a mix of old and new chart topping hits, this album will keep all entertained on the dancefloor. This album is further proof that some golden oldies are still great to the ear regardless of how much they’re tweaked or covered.

Highlights would be the howling in Self Control and the addition of fast-pounding beats to enhance the chorus of ballads like Toy Soldiers, When You’re Gone, Memory and Baker Street as you now have full licence to sing along without sounding too corny.

Definitely an album that pays homage to the early artistes who explored electronic music like Jean Michel Jarre and dance cover versions that breathe new life into ‘slow’ songs think Boys Town Gang with Can’t Take My Eyes Off You and how 4 Non Blonde’s What’s Up just made your feet tap along.

As a great bonus, there’s a third CD with a remix version to further enhance your enjoyment. All in all, a great way to while away over two hours or be used as white noise so you can focus without being interrupted by surrounding conversation and noise. — Francis C. Nantha

 

NOAH AND THE WHALE
The First Days of Spring
Universal Music

The indie folk band from Twickenham, London is back with their second studio album. Although the album received average reviews, it did enough to make the band famous in the UK music scene, constantly being compared to fellow artistes like Belle and Sebastian, and Neutral Milk Hotel.

The album, released on Aug 31, has 11 lush soundscapes and folksy melancholy tracks inspired by frontman Charlie Fink’s failed relationship with Laura Marling, a fellow songwriter.

Although most tracks have a folksy element, it didn’t stop them from trying to deliver the shoegazing sound in their first track The First Days Of Spring. Blue Skies is my personal favourite as it has a mix of Bruce Springsteen and Glasvegas as well as The Polyphonic Spree.

However, not all the songs are sombre and moody. Love Of An OrJrchestra has a spirited mood, featuring
choir vocals which is reminiscent of the numbers in the Sound of Music film and Tchaikovsky’s Russian
Dance anthem.

Heartbreak can tear a songwriter to shreds, but it serves the opposite purpose here, lending a sense of vulnerability to his baritone and adding some much-needed drama to the band’s music. The boys have officially grown up. This album is worth the money. – Aizat Sharif