Hit singles can be the curse of an album. Fans are drawn in, expecting 10 more songs that will be just as dynamic and compelling, and disappointment often results. The Scissor Sisters face such a fate on their new album, which opens with the irresistible disco track "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'," featuring Elton John on piano. The song's charm feeds off a tension between the melody and the lyrics. This is music sure to set off toe-tapping from any open-hearted person, but the vocals, with their Bee Gees-style falsetto, drip with disdain: "Why'd you pick a tune when I'm not in the mood?"
There are plenty of other late-1970s reference points on Ta-Dah. "She's My Man" sounds so much like the Pointer Sisters that you keep expecting a chorus of "I'm So Excited" after each verse. "Kiss You Off" recalls Blondie's "Call Me." In contrast to the lead track, these songs fail to provide an original take on old formulas. That leaves Ta-Dah looking like a $12 single. iTunes, anyone?
