The second coming of Mika

When I talked to Mika last year all his plans for future tours were upwards and onwards, bigger and better, so I'll admit the shift to considering him as a shoe-gazing stripped-down acoustic troubadour caught me a bit off guard. Oh, I'm sure it will be good -- his songs are strong, smartly written and well-composed, and his musicality live is leaps and bounds beyond most pop singers. But the quieter versions and most of the new songs sounded more Rufus Wainwright than the Mika we all fell for in the first place. Like most of the fans I saw at last night's show, I just want smart, sassy pop music that makes me want to dance my pants off. I hope along with the sophomore wink and a smile we'll get plenty of that, too.

-- SHANA NAOMI KROCHMAL

Previously > If Rachel Dratch were a lesbian, she'd marry in Massachusetts