“The Other Side”
from the album Ta-Dah
2006
iTunes
In a nutshell…
Glitzy, reflective, glamorous, dancin’
What’s it all about?
Ta-Dah is the follow up to Scissor Sisters’ stupendously successful self-titled debut. To a degree Ta-Dah is more of the same, a collection of fun and colourful pop tunes blended with some strong rhythmic ballads. However, on this record the New Yorkers get a little more daring, with tracks like “Kiss You Off” that sounds like a sexier and distorted Abba tune. “I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’,” co-written with Elton John, is another strong track and delivered the band their first UK number one. “Intermission” and “She’s My Man” all highlight the band’s confidence and ability to deliver instantly likeable songs, in their own unmistakeable style.
Who’s it by?
Scissor Sisters are the irrevocably entertaining Jake Shears, the strangely delightful Ana Matronic, and the competent and stylish Babydaddy, Del Marquis and Paddy Brown. The band burst onto the music scene in 2004 with the release of their self-titled debut album. It subsequently dominated UK airwaves for over a year and sold a phenomenal amount of records for a band that had previously struggled to gain recognition.
A cover of Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb” and the first release of “Laura” in 2003 saw the band achieve moderate success. Crucially they caught the attention of the NME, a magazine that craves the occasional interesting and credible pop act. The Scissor Sisters suddenly became a cult success which was quickly transferred to the mainstream with the singles “Take Your Mama,” “Mary,” and the re-release of “Laura.” After touring for what seemed like eternity, the band returned to their native New York for some peace and quiet, before decamping to the studio to record Ta-Dah.
As an example…
“Why’d you break down when I’m not in the mood?/ Don’t feel like dancin’, dancing/ Rather be home with no one when I can’t get down with you.”
Jake Shears commented that “I Don’t Feel Like Dancin'” was the happiest song about being miserable he’d ever heard. It’s a great opener and Elton John’s piano work is all over this track, signalling how far the Scissor Sisters have come since being a struggling New York club act.
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys
Ta-Dah will no doubt become a hugely successful record, “I Don’t Feel Like Dancin'” will make a few “tracks of the year” shortlists and the album will be a big presence at next year’s ceremonies.
What the others say
“The supermarket shoppers who picked up the Scissor Sisters eponymous debut in droves couldn’t care less about long-held notions of musical cool.” ~ The Guardian
“Ta-Dah sounds bigger that its predecessor and a lot more confident, but still without trying too hard.” ~ Time Out London
So is it any good?
Ta-Dah picks up from where the first Scissor Sisters album left off, but adds sharper song writing and a few more intricate melodies. Babydaddy plays the bass, the banjo, a keyboard and a triangle during some songs, showing that the Scissor Sisters are prepared to raise the bar and try new things. Somehow, even though the band borrows from every trashy pop tune ever composed, these songs sound fresh and exciting. One song that typifies this point is “The Other Side,“ a concoction of ’80s synth magnificence alongside keyboard wizardry, it’s simply the most brilliant pop ballad of the year. “Kiss You Off,” led by Ana Matronic, is dirty and confident and Lights is a fine example of the bands knack for putting together a great melody. Jake Shears’ vocal was the icing on the cake for the Scissor Sisters’ debut sound and on this record his voice is even more prominent. “Intermission,” “Land of a Thousand Words,” and “The Other Side” wouldn’t be the great tunes they are without Shears’ falsetto rocketing around the room from the first note.
The great thing about Ta-Dah is that it will find an audience with some of the most hard of hearing critics in the industry. Yet you’ll still hear it in football grounds, DIY centres, white vans, roadside cafes and record executive’s offices. This is what makes the UK such a special place for the Scissor Sisters and why they’ve struggled to achieve huge success in the US, where you often have to appear on prime time before you can start shifting albums. “I Don’t Feel Like Dancin'” is already a huge favourite with the British public and there’s 11 more tracks of pop brilliance on Ta-Dah. Other than having Jake and co hand deliver your ’70s silver platforms, what more could you ask for?