Albums to watch

The Boy Who Knew Too Much

Mika

The Boy Who Knew Too Much

Second album of classic pop from Lebanese/American singer Michael Holbrook Penniman

ADM rating[?]

6.1

Label
Casablanca
UK Release date
08/09/2009
  1. 8.0 |   Evening Standard

    Mika goes in joyful pursuit of big melodies and towering choruses.
    Read Review

  2. 8.0 |   PopMatters

    He’s created the consummate pop album for 2009, seemingly on his own terms and devoid of tired formulas.
    Read Review

  3. 8.0 |   Q

    Print edition only

  4. 7.0 |   Spin

    His songwriting craft and vocal dazzle may be flagrantly uncool, but they're also refreshingly unencumbered
    Read Review

  5. 7.0 |   Scotland on Sunday

    Smart, thoughtful pop, flying in the face of his songs where pseudo-classical collides with West End musical foppery.
    Read Review

  6. 6.0 |   Daily Telegraph

    Contains far too much sugar to consume in one sitting
    Read Review

  7. 6.0 |   The Quietus

    Unlikely to seduce the sceptical, and too equivocal for the evangelists, The Boy Who Knew Too Much is ultimately nowhere near as smart as it'd like to be.
    Read Review

  8. 6.0 |   The Guardian

    At the core of these songs are gleaming melodies that rarely fail to hit the mark
    Read Review

  9. 6.0 |   The Irish Times

    He can’t rely on mere quirkiness to keep our attention. But he can still call on his sharp pop sensibility.
    Read Review

  10. 6.0 |   The Times

    Even if people eventually grow tired of the jazz hands, he’ll be firing hits into the ether for as long as he cares to do so.
    Read Review

  11. 6.0 |   musicOMH

    The Boy Who Knew Too Much's consistent hookiness means it can only be considered a success.
    Read Review

  12. 6.0 |   The Scotsman

    Mika is every bit as contrary and infuriating as he was two years ago. That lack of compromise could turn out to be one of his greatest strengths.
    Read Review

  13. 6.0 |   The Observer

    You only wish his maturing process would gather more speed.
    Read Review

  14. 6.0 |   Rolling Stone

    Mika's faith in the campy excess of Freddie Mercury/Elton John-style pomp pop is bracing. But over the course of an album, the shtick's charm erodes.
    Read Review

  15. 5.0 |   Sydney Morning Herald

    There are enough irritations alongside the hooks to grate on even the most sainted of listeners
    Read Review

  16. 4.0 |   The Independent

    There's no denying Mika's technical prowess, but there's an increasing sense of it being frittered away on slim ideas tricked out with layers of interlocking vocals: froth and irritation in equal measure.
    Read Review

  17. 4.0 |   Uncut

    Print edition only


blog comments powered by Disqus

Hear it

Preview & download it

Mika: The Boy Who Knew Too Much

  • Download full album for just £5.49
  • 1. We Are Golden £0.99
  • 2. Blame It On The Girls £0.99
  • 3. Rain £0.99
  • 4. Dr. John £0.99
  • 5. I See You £0.99
  • 6. Blue Eyes £0.99
  • 7. Good Gone Girl £0.99
  • 8. Touches You £0.99
  • 9. By The Time £0.99
  • 10. One Foot Boy £0.99
  • 11. Toy Boy £0.99
  • 12. Pick Up Off The Floor £0.99
  • Service provided by 7Digital

Latest Reviews

More reviews