¡viva la graham!

the scissor sisters do their best to defy the sophomore slump on ta-dah, the much-anticipated follow-up to their multi-million-selling debut. it’s just as kitschy, campy, catchy and clever and as its’ predecessor… and even if does stick to a familiar formula, that’s saying a lot.

as you might expect, i already have my favorites. so let’s get to it! here’s my track-by-track review:

• “i don’t feel like dancing” – currently atop the u.k. charts, this mid-tempo retro-disco track was a safe choice for the first single. that doesn’t mean i don’t love it, of course, especially because it’s so adept at getting my feet moving. it is also important to note that elton john plays piano on this track, in essence proving the band has been given the stamp of approval from one of their biggest inspirations.
• “she’s my man” – this one reminds me a bit of fleetwood mac, but only until the chorus kicks in. then the melody is pure scissor sisters… that and the gender ambiguity. i don’t know if this one’s quite single material, but i have a feeling that it’s going to grow on me.
• “i can’t decide” – i love this one, and not just for the great naughty lyric in the first verse (”fuck and kiss you both at the same time”)! it’s got an old-school country vibe to it, but it works well with the subject matter. “i can’t decide whether you should live or die,” shears sings before running through several options for comedic homicides. brilliant.

• “lights” – this song sounds like it’s straight out of saturday night fever (only with horns), at least until we hear shears’ distinctive vocals. the chorus feeds off his undeniable sex appeal: “when you cut the lights off think of me”… which is pretty much the fantasy every gay guy (and straight girl) i know. another choice dirty lyric: “i ain’t got nothin’ but your seed on my face / you put them babies to waste.” you do tease, mr. shears!

• “land of a thousand words” – five songs in, and we’ve got the first ballad. this one’s not terribly different from “mary,” off the first album, and unfortunately it pales in comparison. that’s not to say it isn’t well done; it just feels redundant.

• “intermission” – this vaudeville track splits the album into two parts. other than that, it’s not terribly noteworthy. it does, however, continue the sisters’ intriguing tradition of putting morose lyrics over a cheery instrumentation. case in point: “happy yesterday to all / we were born to die.”

• “kiss you off” – ana matronic takes the lead on this ’80s-inspired dance track. it sounds mean to say that her vocals are adequate, but they aren’t terribly impressive (her role thus far has been background vocals and, in concert, outrageously fab emcee). to its’ credit, the song moves along nicely. and though it isn’t saying much, it’s miles above anything fergie has ever done.

• “ooh” – with a killer bassline and a beat that won’t quit, “ooh” is this album’s “filthy/gorgeous,” though i daresay i like this one a bit more. pure decadence, and in the best possible way.

• “paul mccartney” – with three party tracks in a row, the second half of ta-dah starts to get monotonous. “mccartney” is fun enough – but it sounds too much like an extension of “ooh.”

• “the other side” – finally switching things up, this one’s more introspective than the anything thus far. the chorus is touching (”i’ll count our blessings / as i wait for you on the other side”), and i like the understated feel of this one. this is another that i think will become one of my favorites.

• “might tell you tonight” – everybody can relate to this song. it’s about a very tough decision – namely, the crucial one concerning when you should tell your lover just how much they mean to you. i think this song is gorgeous and romantic, especially toward the end when it gets very lush. *sigh*

• “everybody wants the same thing” – somehow, even with an anthemic chorus, this song is not that memorable. perhaps most disconcertingly, the song’s abrupt ending brings the album to a quick close.

and that’s all she wrote! ta-dah hits u.s. stores on sept. 26 (u.k., sept. 18). you can hear a stream of the album here.