Scissor Sisters - Ta-Dah (CD)

All Music Guide

On their selftitled debut, the Scissor Sisters were hardly shrinking violets. Far from it, actually their dazzling mix of glam, disco, and unadulterated pop was glittery and bold, especially in comparison to many of 2004's other albums. It was hard to imagine Jake Shears, Ana Matronic, Babydaddy, and the rest of the fabulous crew sounding even more selfassured than they did on Scissor Sisters, but they're back with an even more confident flourish on TaDah. They begin the album by shaking off any traces of hipster cool and embracing the rollicking, sometimes cheesy roots of their sound on "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'," which boogies along on laserlike synths, heliumlaced vocals, and banjos. Sounding just as vibrant as the album's kickoff track as it did as a single, the song was cowritten with longtime friend and fan Elton John, who helps them channel the quirky, headtotoe denim and rollerdisco vibe of his Rock of the Westies era. Throughout the album, shades of Boz Scaggs, the Bee Gees,... and KC the Sunshine Band (as well as their own "Laura," "Take Your Mama Out," and "Music Is the Victim") can also be heard, but somehow the Scissor Sisters sound even fresher by unabashedly celebrating their retro influences. They pay a sly homage to the other king of charttopping '70s whimsy with "Paul McCartney," a piece of spedup funk that sounds almost nothing like Macca, but is just as accessibly offthewall as something he might have done. Still, it's Elton who casts the longest shadow over TaDah, in the way that songs like "She's My Man" have wordy, witty lyrics that tell stories at odds with the rainbowbright sounds around them. Several tracks are downright angry, with superficial smiles and words that sting. Chief among them are the fireandice synth pop of Ana Matronic's cleverly literal "Kiss You Off" and "I Can't Decide," another kissoff song that's so sharply bitchy, it manages to make honky tonk pianos and jew'sharps sound surprisingly nasty. While TaDah might be slightly less danceable than Scissor Sisters, "Lights" and "Ooh" make sure there's enough funk and disco, respectively, and convey the album's streamlined feel with their impressionistic, oneword titles. On the flip side, TaDah's ballads are sublimely lush and romantic: "The Other Side" quotes Judy Garland while "Land of a Thousand Words" and "Might Tell You Tonight" vie for the title of the album's best slowdance number. As sleek as TaDah is, it's packed with so many fun, memorable moments that it's more like a singles collection (or a musical) than an indie or mainstream pop album. TaDah sizzles and offers listeners barely any downtime, but that's probably the best flaw an album can have. - Heather Phares, All Music Guide Read more Less