Review: Scissor Sisters' Ta-Dah

Whereas the Scissor Sisters' last album felt like it was about independence and freedom, Ta-Dah is all about love. From the lyric "I'm on the run to wherever you are" in 'Land of a 1000 Words' to "Love is what I want, love is what I get" on the final track, someone definitely has matters of the heart on their mind. Could it be that Jake is snuggily in love?

Here are the notes I wrote down while listening to the album at the band's publicist. A star denotes a track I particularly liked.

1. *Don’t Feel Like Dancin - from the opening bars, it already sounds familiar and you already know you love it. It is the first single off the album and was co-written with Elton John. It has a very 70's, disco feel with some 80's video game sound effects thrown in (a la ‘Baby I’m Burning’ by Dolly Parton). Very T. Rex. It’s a long track, clocking in at 4.49.

2. She’s My Man - Reminds me of ‘My girl’. It’s poppy with lots of falsetto and a Queen style guitar rift in the middle.

3. Lights - (Evidently I had nothing much to say about this).

4. *I Can’t Decide - “...whether you should live or die.” Very Carpenters sing-a-long. Country feel with banjos and all. 'Don’t Feel Like Dancin' is great, but I almost feel like this would have been the better opener. Especially like the lyric “It’s a bitch trying to convince people to like you.”

5. *Land of 1000 Words - So Bowie, so ‘All The Young Dudes.’ It’s slower and mellower than the previous tracks. It’s sweet, dramatic and endearing. Reminds me of ‘Las Palabras De Amor’ by Queen.

6. Intermission - Reminds me of ‘Kooks’ with a 30's Broadway vibe. Sort of feels not entirely flushed out yet. Some parts sound a bit difficult.

7. Kiss You off - ...”my lips of mine.” This is the one track where Ana Matronic appears. Has some Floyd type rifts, but quicker. Could use a bit more energy.

8. Ooh - Some good music here, but pretty forgettable.

9. Paul McCartney - This is the song Jake wrote in a dream. I hate to write this, but I sat there trying to think of what this song reminded me of and then it came to me: ‘Filthy/Gorgeous.’

10. *The Other Side - No, not The Strokes song. It is slow, dark, with a long guitar solo. A little ‘Dark Side of the Moon.’ Features talking at the end that sounds like you are listening through a phone.

11. *Might Tell You - The Scissor Sisters leap from the 70's to the 60's by evoking ‘When I’m 64.’ It’s sweet but sinister.

12. *Everybody wants - ...”the same thing, trading places on the chain gang.” Appropriate for the end, has an anthem like quality.

And I don't know what that last track is on the post below. It wasn't on the album I listened to, perhaps it is a late addition.