Ta-Dah (CD - 2006)

Personnel: Carlos Alomar (guitar, acoustic guitar); Joan Wasser (violin); Crispin Cioe (saxophone); Laurence Etkin (trumpet); Bob Funk (trombone); Paul Leschen, Elton John (piano); Gina Gershon (Jew's harp).

Additional personnel: Larry Etkin (trumpet); J. J. Garden (piano); Gina Gershon, Crispin Cioe, Elton John, Joan Wasser, Bob Funk, Carlos Alomar.

Audio Mixers: Dan Grech-Marguerat; Neil Harris.

Recording information: Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas, NV; Discoball Jazzfest Studio, New York, NY; EMI Music Publishing Studios, London, England; Entourage Recording Studio, Burbank, CA; Hell Pony, Los Angeles, CA; Sear Sound, New York, NY.

Photographer: Rocky Schenck.

Arranger: Van Dyke Parks.

The Scissor Sisters' self-titled 2004 debut proved the band to be postmodern recombinant wizards of the first order, mixing the hookiest elements of pop history with tongues planted firmly in cheeks. The group's sophomore effort, TA-DAH, builds on many of those same references, including flashy glitter-ball disco, accessible 1970s AM pop, glam rock, and almost any artist who has crafted dramatic, danceable jams with a knowing wink.

When not mining familiar vibes from the Bee Gees ("I Don't Feel Like Dancin'") and Elton John ("She's My Man"), the Scissor Sisters reference Blondie ("Kiss You Off"), Paul McCartney (the music hall-esque "I Can't Decide"), and Stevie Wonder (on the funky tune titled, ironically, "Paul McCartney"), among others. But it's the way the Sisters throw these elements together that lifts them above jokiness and into the realm of pure, celebratory fun. And it's this--along with the album's sharp sense of craft-- that makes it superior to its predecessor. minimize