Mika

With his Freddie Mercury-like vocals, Mika makes a splash with the fabulously campy "Grace Kelly," but he can't quite measure up to the single on his debut. That said, there are some great moments here. Songs such as "My Interpretation," "Erase" and "Stuck in the Middle" point to a solid piano-driven pop sound with a Robbie Williams-like charm, and the infectious "Love Today" features a percolating, Scissor Sisters-inspired disco beat.

Unless you manage to ignore him, you may very well love Mika Penniman. You may also find
him incredibly annoying. On his debut, the Lebanese-born Brit serves up huge,
ultraflamboyant razzle-dazzle, often transmitted through pounded piano or his
ear-damaging falsetto. Songs like the U.K. hit "Grace Kelly" are plenty catchy, but they pack
enough schmaltz and club-you-over-the-head sonics to make Scissor Sisters see... More >