lambchops's Full Review: Ta-Dah by Scissor Sisters
Amazing, retro, and exuberant are but three adjectives to describe the 2004 Scissor Sisters debut breakout. At the same time it oozed sex, drugs, and debauchery it also paid obvious homage to the likes of Elton John, disco, and R&B. The influences were intentional. The album was incredible.
Songs like Laura, Filthy Gorgeous, Take Your Mama and an unexpectedly glorious rendition of Comfortably Numb made it not just cool but also special. The perfect music to crank up at a party or in your car with the windows rolled down. Scissor Sisters made me happy. Really freakin’ happy. Apparently I wasn’t alone—the band was nominated for the Best Dance Record (Comfortably Numb) Grammy Award. It is most certainly the first time a band member that also happens female impersonating a drag queen has earned such a high honor from mainstream America.
The New York City act returned in 2006 with a brand new release Ta-Dah. This time vocalists Jake Shears and Ana Matronic, guitarist Del Marquis, bassist Babydaddy, and drummer Paddy Boom return with their signature glittery stagger but this time instead of channeling Elton John they turn directly into the lights reflecting from their disco ball. The influences are impossible to list. Elton John actually makes an appearance so he once again can be felt in the songs. Listeners will find themselves dancing their booty off to twelve songs dripping with electrifying synths, colorful stories, and all the delicious wickedness of the 1970s.
Perfect in every way, the first song I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’ sounds exactly like something you’d expect from the Bee-Gees. Of course it is a brand new song and a clear homage to the brotherly disco kings. It’s an incredibly infectious affair from the vocals, to the lyrics, to the super sparkly melody. It makes my booty shake (an appropriately “disco” response) and heart smile. Jake Shears and Ana Matronic are the perfect front people. The fact that Elton John is on piano here is pure hot fudge on top of this yummy sundae. As for the lyrics, well, this is why I love the Scissor Sisters as a whole. It’s this repeated chorus that gets me every time, in particular those last two lines.
But I don’t feel like dancing
When the old Joanna plays
My heart could take a chance
But my two feet can’t find a way
You'd think that I could muster up a little soft shoe, gentle sway
But I don’t feel like dancin’
No sir, no dancin’ today.
Of course as with all things of this era the intent is purely entertainment. The Scissor Sisters clearly add an interestingly chipper style to their sometimes less than upbeat lyrics. Regardless the overall feeling is young, spirited, and somehow original. The fact that the band is so refreshing is a tribute to their talent. The delectable debauchery continues with the Blondie influenced dance-pop Kiss You Off, the magical Land of a Thousand Words, the flamboyant boogie of She’s My Man, and the vaguely rock n’ roll Kiss You Off are all outstanding. I was pleased to find hints of Robbie Williams on Land of a Thousand Voices and a surprising Judy Garland sample at the end of The Other Side. There are treasures spread throughout the album. I can’t help but be a bit disappointed that the band didn’t go off and take on something really outlandish and unusual like, oh say, bluegrass or death metal but I’m definitely comforted by the Scissor Sisters deft ability to reinterpret disco without coming off as a comedy act.
One thing that bothers me about Ta-Dah is that it took a long time to grow on me. It’s taken me weeks to write this review because I wasn’t sure what to say. Repeated (and by that I mean dozens) listens have uncovered the fact that I like this album nearly as much as the band’s debut. The songwriting is still notable, the lyricism is still interesting, and the performances are still solid. The magic and glitterglam are still present and the fire has not dissipated.
There are a few songs that are less than perfect. I’m turned off by Intermission and Everybody Wants the Same Thing. They just don’t fit into the overall scheme of the release. I have every hope in the world that the band’s talent will be proven on their third album. I hesitate to call them “timeless geniuses” when I’ve only ever heard them play disco, but I can say that I’m definitely entertained. This is one time when the style and substance meld nicely.
My suggestion is to buy the self-titled Scissor Sisters debut first. It’s a slightly superior album if only because it was so surprising. Ta-Dah is definitely worth the full price purchase that definitely wouldn’t turn off new fans either. Bravo to the New York band for once again putting together a highly agreeable group of songs.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Track Listing:
01. I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’
02. She’s My Man
03. I Can’t Decide
04. Lights
05. Land of a Thousand Words
06. Intermission
07. Kiss You Off
08. Ooh
09. Paul McCartney
10. The Other Side
11. Might Tell You Tonight
12. Everybody Wants the Same Thing
The Scissor Sisters self-titled 2004 debut proved the band to be postmodern recombinant wizards of the first order, mixing the hookiest elements of po...More at Buy.com
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.