Scissor Sisters Album: “Ta-Dah [Bonus Track]”

This much anticipated deluxe edition of Ta-Dah, the latest music put out by the Scissor Sisters, is an inevitable sure fire hit for fans of the group everywhere! Yes, yes, I know, they didn't do precisely this sort of thing before, but it works here anyway. Just PLEASE give it a couple of listens and it will be growing on you fast. The deluxe edition includes a bonus disc with six creative tracks in addition to the main disc with the songs put out on the regular version of this album. The quality of the sound is excellent, too.

The album starts off very strong with an infectious, catchy tune entitled "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'." Elton John is on piano! This title is immediately very ironic since this song is so upbeat, beautifully written and joyous that you WILL feel like dancing to it as early as a minute or two after the song starts! The second bonus CD features a re-mix of this song; but the version on the first CD will leave you restless to dance and panting for more.

Other great songs with awesome musical arrangements include "She's My Man;" "I Can't Decide;" "Land Of A Thousand Words" with its' dream-like, almost experimental/psychedelic musical intro; "Kiss You Off" which sounds like a mixture of pop and dance music and "Might Tell You Tonight" which reminded me of both The Bee Gees and some of Paul McCartney's earlier work from the 1970s. The final song, "Everybody Wants The Same Thing," appeals to the universal quest for happiness, doing the right thing for yourself, and sharing love. This song boasts a magnificent musical arrangement that ends the CD on a very strong note.

Indeed, the first CD is very strong throughout with meaningful songs and amazing arrangements involving issues of love, survival as we endure life's obstacles and a few traces of cynicism along the way for spice.

The second CD, however, rocks on in its own way. The songs here have a distinct dance music flavor as opposed to the mostly pop feel of the first CD. The songs seem to be more creative as they involve risk taking with musical arrangements that feel decidedly more experimental. Indeed, the Scissor Sisters add that "Contact High" is a demo version of the song; we don't get to find out here if they polished this song further. Even the last song, the re-mix of "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'," is very noticeably different in its arrangement. Food for thought! One major exception is the song "Almost Sorry" which deals with a relationship that isn't exactly going well.

And, of course, there's the packaging. Kudos to the reviewer who explained to us that you might try pulling out the right side of the box first to get the left side to release and come out! There's a CD enclosed on both sides: the main CD on the right and the bonus CD on the left. The package artwork is excellent; I liked the elevator theme and the fact that the "doors" of the elevator open as you pull out the two discs on both sides of the box. However, I did notice that it was somewhat difficult to pull the two sides out. I REALLY had to try to pull hard without damaging the box artwork! I may have bought a slightly defective box just by bad luck; I am not sure.

The liner notes are included in the "elevator pocket" that you will see after both sides of the box have been pulled out. The liner notes are superb! You get full songs lyrics with lots of credits, thanks to everyone who helped and a really nice picture of the band.

One unusual "special effect" is the Judy Garland dialogue near the end of the song entitled "The Other Side." At first I wasn't sure how it would come off especially when I heard it was dubbed in from her talking into a tape recorder late at night when she was not always a "happy camper." However, Judy's brief monologue fit in very nicely and it added a great deal of color to the song.

Overall, this is a great two CD delight for Scissor Sisters fans! Yes, I know, they didn't do precisely this sort of thing in the past, but this is still great music. I give it four stars mainly because I had so much trouble with the packaging. I didn't like that I had to read instructions (???) from another reviewer just to know how to open the box, although I am certainly very grateful to that reviewer who told me how to open it!

This excellent package is highly recommended for die-hard Scissor Sisters fans, fans of pop music, fans of experimental music, and fans of true creativity everywhere.

Ta-Dah speaks to my inner 70s child and part of my 80s. I could waste valuable time (which you should spend buying this) writing endlessly about how great this CD is, but I'll sum it as quickly as possible. Here goes:

THE OVERALL SOUND REMINDS ME OF:

the best of Elton John, Pet Shop Boys, George Michael, Abba, Times Two, a tinge of Go West, "Xanadu" (as Amazon.com so rightly puts it in their review) and even the harmony of the Beach Boys and Carpenters...

WHY YOU'LL LIKE IT SO MUCH:

Because you can dance AND listen! While the incredibly energetic, fun sound of disco is here and welcome, the often horrible lyrics that genre generated is most definitely (and with much relief!) missing.

TA-DAH IS THAT MOST RARE AND TREASURED OF ALBUMS:

the one where every track's either a winner or at least "not bad"!

AND THESE ARE JUST THE HIGHLIGHTS:

Track #1) "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'"--Do you remember the awful movie XANADU with the terrific soundtrack? This song reminds me of ELO and ONJ's collaboration on one of the most underappreciated soundtracks of the early 80s!!

Track #2) "She's My Man"--At the risk of implying Scissor Sisters borrows a lot from their favorite 70s idols, I've got to say this wonderful, quirky song reminds me so much of "Still Standing" by Elton John. (This is a good thing, though!)

Track #3) "I Can't Decide"--A great tongue-in-cheek song that reminds me of the Beatles if they were writing in the 21st century...any other song about killing someone would be totally out of line, but somehow it works here because...well...it's tongue-in-cheek of course!

Track #4) "Lights"--I can't help but hear echoes of "Grease is the Word" when this song is on, but again, they're echoes, NOT imitation. The power of this album is that it merges great lyrics with undeniably great beats!!!

Tracks 5 and 6 ("Land of a Thousand Words" and "Intermission") are pleasant enough but I can't automatically bring them to my mind and ear right now the way I can all the others..."Intermission" is a fitting title, though, since once it's over TA-DAH returns to its wonderful spirit!

Track#7) "Kiss You Off"--With its Pat Benetar bursts of energy, "KYO" forces you to sing along and you WILL do so, especially if that special someone's got you all hot and bothered.

Tracks 8 and 9 ("Ooh" and "Paul McCartney") are, hands down, the best of the best here. I hit repeat on "Ooh" at least five times before I continued on to "Paul" (a witty and sometimes funny pop powerhouse!)

SO TO SUM IT ALL UP:

Do you remember how you felt when you were a kid and you were worried the second time you listened to a spectacular album you'd find all its flaws?? Well your worries can be put to rest here. Each TA-DAH is good as the last one and that's a hard "feat" to do in contemporary pop.

This album is, in words lifted from it, a party that ain't over `til it's through. I have no idea how I have avoided a wreck while dancing and singing in my car. If "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'" isn't the song of 2006, I don't know what could be; it protests against toe-tapping but is guaranteed to incite full-body motion. "Paul McCartney" is a riot, "Might Tell You Tonight" a very pretty but up-tempo falling-in-love song, and closer "Everybody Wants the Same Thing," while quite vague, is sure to be played in heavy rotation at gay marriage rallies. A rough patch in the middle precludes calling this the best album of 2006, but nothing closes the deal more effectively.

Too many people are influenced by popular culture: it is a sad, sad fact. That which companies pay to have played is what some come to expect. The album is all killer, no filler. Many know the opening song, so let's discuss what happens after that:

"She's my man": this tune is an ode to New Orleans; or rather, a dark, twisted tale of a female homicidal prostitute who spent much time floating down the Mississippi. This might be a good time to discuss Jake Shear's lyrics: creative, original, and compelling. All the way through. Even what seems like a simple love song (e.g., "The other side") delves deeper into philosophy about life and death. Musically, this song reminds people of "I'm still standing" - that is because they only listen to the piano; musically, like in the rest of the album, you hear a group of musicians that have elevated to the professional level. So many layers and having David Bowie's old bassist only adds to this. Sure, the music does reflect the musical influences that have shaped this band, but by no means is it regurgitation.

"I can't decide": Dark lyricism at its best. I love this song. It is short, sweet and endearingly bitter. More banjos!

"Lights": My goodness I love this song! Start off's off: "No pussyfootin' or that look of surprise". OK, add the brass backing, the disco funk rhythms and you have what I think is the best track on the CD (or 2nd best..)

"Land of a Thousand Words" - a beautiful love song that does not make your teeth rot like most crud out there.

"Intermission" - sounds like movie intermission music, lol. It is a fun little ditty that clear the palette for the 2nd half.

"Kiss you off": Ana gets lead vocals. It is a "pack your bags and move out" song (all while shaking your booty).

"Ooh": I was lucky to get a demo of this a couple years ago. THIS is the song I love most! OK, it is the "pop" song - but it is the most funky, dancey inspirational song ever. I love it so much, words fail me. "Got magic in my danin' shoes" -

"Paul McCartney": Jake actually dreamed this one. Love it. This is the song to def. put on your iPod when going to the gym!

"The other side": awesome, beautiful, romantic, tragic.

"Might tell you tonight": I think this is the only song you can be allowed to not like. It is good, but it is shows that excited feeling you get when falling in love, so it can make you feel sad too if you are not experiencing this in your own life at this time.

"Everybody wants the same thing" - the anthem of the CD. Title says it all.

The bonus tracks are all equally awesome: "Making ladies" is really just too much fun and is as close as many will get to hearing the early stages of the band's sound before the 1st album came out (i.e. what the unreleased demo album sounds like). "Transistor" is an instant classic. "Hair baby", "Contact high" and "Almost sorry" (the latter co-written by Paul "the Muppets" Williams!!) are all awesome as well. Styles vary greatly on this bonus CD and you can see how good these guys are as songwriters.

I cannot say enough how good this is. The UK "gets it"; hopefully, Americans will get on board.

I had never heard of the group but kept hearing about them and was curious. I picked up Ta-Dah! and at first listen was laughing because this was reminiscent of the bad 70's disco crap I grew up with. I hated the idea of having wasted the money so I gave it a second listen and then a third and was totally hooked! I can't even pick a favorite track, I love the tongue-in-cheek "I can't decide", the title track, love "She's My Man" and "Kiss You Off" and all the rest. I am so glad I took a chance and then gave it a second chance!!!!!