Scissor Sisters - Ta Dah

The Scissor Sisters formed in New York in 2001, and had a huge global hit with their debut, self-titled album, which was the best selling album of 2004. It was always going to be hard to follow on from this success and the band certainly took their time in making sure they got an album that they wanted. When I heard the first single off this new CD entitled ‘I Don’t Feel Like Dancing’ I was relieved that they were still going to make good, fun, listenable pop/rock tracks and pre-ordered the album, hoping that the rest will match up to such a strong single.

The CD kicks off with ‘I Don’t Feel Like Dancing’, which is co-written by their new best friend Elton John. Feeling the pressure to follow up on their debut album, the band just decided to have some fun and this was the outcome. It works for me.

Their second song is obviously a tribute to the aforementioned new chum as it reminds me greatly of Elton’s ‘I’m Still Standing’, with that familiar rock ‘n’ roll beat. It is entitled ‘She’s My Man’ and was apparently inspired by a New Orleans’ pirate called Annie Christmas who passed herself off as a man, as well running a brothel. It has lyrics that include the lines “May the best queen hold the crown, for the most bush sold on the levee”. No beating around the bush here then (sorry).

‘I Can’t Decide’ has a country/blues feel to it with a strong Thirties/Forties Music Hall piano sound (think Bugsy Malone), which I quite like (it has to be better than a Chas ‘n’ Dave type piano after all). I am developing a new found respect for the banjo. In it vocalist Jake sings on gangster acts and deciding whether to let a lover live or die. I am sure he doesn’t mean it literally!

‘Lights’ sounds like it came out of the Studio 54 era in New York during the seventies, it is a very upbeat track with a lively brass section and some disco rhythms.

‘Land of a Thousand Words’ is a heartfelt ballad, with some lovely, meaningful lyrics. The arrangement doesn’t sound like it would be out of place as the main love song for a musical with its heavy, romantic strings. Maybe that is a good idea for their next project…I’d certainly go and see it. Apparently it was actually inspired by the band’s love of James Bond theme songs.

‘Intermission’ is another piano-led track with their mate Mr John tinkling the ivories and co-writing, is seems like a war-time not-quite Big Band track, with lots of strings.

‘Kiss You Off’ has a fabulous guitar rock intro with the vocals mainly being taken by Ana Matronic for a change. She sings about getting rid of a boyfriend who was not worthy.

‘Ooh’ is a catchy hi-energy dance track in the ‘I Don’t Feel Like Dancing’ vein, with a very catchy, if not original, chorus (‘Ooh, Oooooh, Oooooh, Oooooh’) but not as good otherwise.

‘Paul McCartney’ was written after singer Jake Shears had a dream about his hero (other than Elton John presumably) Paul McCartney. It has a good brass section and is a very upbeat track and instantly likeable. It doesn’t remind me of The Beatles or Wings at any level, and at the longest stretch of the imagination possibly of McCartney’s Michael Jackson 1980s collaboration period, but better (thankfully).

‘The Other Side’ is another slow track about waiting for a loved one on the other side (i.e. in the afterlife) should anything happen to them. It seems quite a personal song and I can only guess at what inspired it.

‘Might Tell You Tonight’ is another ballad about telling someone that you love them for the first time.

‘Everybody wants the Same Thing’ is back to the dance/rock Scissor Sister formula with a lively beat, which they played for the first time at Live8. For some reason there is two minutes of silence at the end of this track.

On my CD there was a bonus track called ‘Transistor’ which is quite different from the other tracks, heavy electronica and nothing special. I hope this is not the taste of Scissor Sisters to come.

Overall this is an excellent CD that possibly needs to be played a few times to be appreciated, but once done so will never be off the CD player. Their first album was very much a cross genre effort, and whilst there is no single genre to pigeon hole them on this album they have taken on board a more retro Seventies disco era influence then was previously obvious. I also detected music hall and theatrical style influences (they claim to be fans of this and burlesque theatre) but whether this is something that is always been there or something that has come with their Elton John collaboration, I am not sure.

There is some swearing on the tracks, and some lyrics are not for the easy offended.

The Scissor Sisters are:

Jake Shears – Lead vocals

Ana Matronic – vocals

Babydaddy – Bass, guitar, banjo, keyboards

Del Marquis – Guitars

Paddy Boom – Drums

The main songwriters are Jake and Babydaddy.

Useful Links

Songs can be heard on their MySpace site: http://www.myspace.com/scissorsisters

http://www.scissorsisters.com/intro/ Their official site for songs, info and commentary.

http://www.wearescissorsisters.com/. See some videos and discover your Scissor Sisters’ name. Mine is Filthy Loose, but I’d rather you just called me Essexgirl.