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Rating: The feeling is like going back at least twenty-five years and simultaneously being a century ahead. You can't tell if the music you're listening to is what your grandchildren will be listening to or something you've already heard. They are irreverent, cheeky, and terribly flamboyant.
In 2004, the Big Apple spawned yet another gamble (a successful one?): the Scissor Sisters, who, for those who don't know them, seem like an all-too-successful parody of the Village People. However, there are no policemen, Indians, or cowboys here.
Instead, it is the triumph (and the return) of glam, of scarves and colorful hair. In reality, the Scissor Sisters convince only halfway. I must admit that after listening to the first part of the album, I was positively impressed.
The opening track, "Laura" is incredibly gripping and mixes electronic elements with guitar and keyboard parts with rock flair. "Take your Mama" is probably the pop of the future and it's hard not to get caught up in it. But it's with the Pink Floyd cover "Comfortably numb" that you're left speechless: you can't compare it to the original, which is certainly unmatched, but here these five youngsters really break the mold. They transform one of the most beautiful songs of the last century into a House track that will surely make the most nostalgic frown, but which actually contains some really interesting ideas. It's almost like listening again to Frankie goes to Hollywood with "Relax" arm in arm with the Bee Gees.
The subsequent "Mary" and the closing track "Return to Oz" instead seem to come out of Elton John's "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", another artist the Sisters reference. With the compelling rhythms of "Lovers in the backseat", the first, and admittedly stunning, part of the album concludes.
From "Tits on the Radio" onward, the album indeed becomes rather boring, dance takes far too much precedence, and it's up to the aforementioned "Return to Oz" to save the second part of the album.
Certainly, if the Scissors wanted to make a statement, they succeeded greatly, but it might be a flash in the pan. Great albums are built by following a thread that makes each single track a gem.
Here there are some gems and some "duds", which fade a work that could have potentially been very valuable.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Laura (03:36)
Laura, can't you give me some time,
I got to give myself one more chance.
To be the man that I know I am.
To be the man that I know I am.
Won't you just tell Cincinnati,
I'm gonna need your love.
Don't you give me your love.
Don't you give me your,
Come on,
Come on,
Where is your love?
Don't you give me your love,
Don't you give me your,
Come on,
Come on,
Where is your love?
Don't you give me your love.
Don't you give me your.
instrumental
Freida, can't you spare me a dime?
I got to give myself one more chance.
To ring the band that I know I'm in.
To ring the band that I know I'm in.
Won't you just tell Baby Daddy,
I'm gonna need his love.
Why don't he give me his love?
Why don't he give me his,
Come on,
Come on,
Where is your love?
Don't you give me your love,
Don't you give me your,
Come on,
Come on,
Where is your love?
Don't you give me your love.
Don't you give me your.
This'll be the last time,
I ever do your hair.
Tired of this shit, swear I'm gonna quit
Can't seem to make enough dough,
But my cuttin's on a roll
One face among the many,
I never thought you cared.
Seen enough stuff, thought I got rough
Now I know it ain't so
I gotta live my own
This'll be the last time,
I ever do your hair.
Tired of this shit, swear I'm gonna quit
Can't seem to make enough dough,
But my cuttin's on a roll
One face among the many,
I never thought you cared.
Seen enough stuff, thought I got rough
Now I know it ain't so
I gotta live my own
02 Take Your Mama (04:31)
When you grow up, livin' like a good boy oughta
And your mama, takes a shine to her best son
Something different, all the girls they seem to like you
Cause you're handsome, like to talk and a whole lot of fun
But now your girl's gone a missin'
And your house has got an empty bed
The folks'll wonder 'bout the wedding
They won't listen to a word you said
Gonna take your mama out all night
Yeah we'll show her what it's all about
We'll get her jacked up on some cheap champagne
We'll let the good times all roll out
And if the music ain't good, well it's just too bad
We're gonna sing along no matter what
Because the dancers don't mind at the New Orleans
If you tip 'em and they make a cut
Do it
Take your mama out all night
So she'll have no doubt that we're doing oh the best we can
We're gonna do it
Take your mama out all night
You can stay up late 'cause baby you're a full grown man
It's a struggle, livin' like a good boy oughta
In the summer, watchin' all the girls pass by
When your mama, heard the way that you'd been talking
I tried to tell you, that all she'd wanna do is cry
Now we end up takin' the long way home
Lookin' overdressed wearin' buckets of stale cologne
It's so hard to see streets on a country road
When your glasses in the garbage
And your Continental's just been towed
Gonna take your mama out all night
Yeah we'll show her what it's all about
We'll get her jacked up on some cheap champagne
We'll let the good times all roll out
And if the music ain't good, well it's just too bad
We're gonna sing along no matter what
Because the dancers don't mind at the New Orleans
If you tip 'em and they make a cut
Do it
Take your mama out all night
So she'll have no doubt that we're doing oh the best we can
We're gonna do it
Take your mama out all night
You can stay up late 'cause baby you're a full grown man
Do it
Take your mama out all night
So she'll have no doubt that we're doing oh the best we can
We're gonna do it
Take your mama out all night
You can stay up late 'cause baby you're a full grown man
03 Comfortably Numb (04:25)
Hello (hello)
Hello (hello)
Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can here me
Is there anybody home?
Come on now
I hear you're feeling down
Well I can ease your pain
And get you on your feet again
Relax...
I need some information.. first (first)
Relax..
Just the basic facts
Can you show me where it hurts?
There is no pain you were receding
A distant ship floats on the horizon
You're only coming through in waves
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying
When I was a child I caught a fever
My hands felt like two balloons
Now I've got that feeling once again
I can't explain you would not understand
This isn't how I am
I have become comfortably numb
Ok (ok)
It's just a little pin-prick
There'll be no more Hiiiiiiiiiii
But you may feel a little sick
Can you stand up now
I do believe it's working
(uh huh) (uh huh)
Gotta keep it going through the show
C'mon it's time to go [Repeat x3]
There is no pain you are receding
A distant ship floats on the horizon
You're only coming through in waves
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying
When I was a child I caught a fleeting glimpse
Out of the corner of my eye
I turned to look but it was gone
I cannot put my finger on
The child has grown
The dream is gone
I have become comfortably numb
I have become comfortably numb
I have become comfortably numb
04 Mary (04:41)
I love the tone that's in your laugh
Gasping for an extra breath
Waiting for the time to pass
I believe in days ahead
Don't spend another night alone
Cross and wishing you were dead
Mary, you shouldn't let it make you mad
You done the best you can,
And Mary, after all the pain is gone
I'm always gonna live to be your man
ooh...ohhh
I've had it easy now you see
When I'm down you're always there
Standing by to comfort me
Someday we'll go round the world
I'll make the journey so sublime
I know you're not a travelling girl
Mary, you shouldn't let it make you mad
You done the best you can,
And Mary, after all the pain is gone
I'm always gonna live to be your man
ohhhh ohhhh
Cos I'd give everything I have
forget all the things that bring me joy
You could have one day of pure and simple happiness
Until that moment comes
I'll be here where I've always been
I'm gonna be your friend
Until the day I die
Mary, you shouldn't let it make you mad
You done the best you can,
And Mary, after all the pain is gone
I'm always gonna live to be your man
oohh ooohh oohhhh
05 Lovers in the Backseat (03:17)
Shes quiet when shes down
Strangers from other towns
Nowhere to be found
On this side of the scene
Would you like a cigarette,
Or my hand upon your shoulder?
I think we might have met
Would you like me to come over?
There's lovers in the backseat
Jealous glances now I'm looking for another song
On the radio
I'll take you to a side street
In the shadows you can touch one another now
And I'll just watch the show
She's happy when she's proud
Attention well deserved
Exuberant and loud
A disguise can he know?
How much she needs him
There's static on the sidelines
Can you read my thoughts?
Maybe its the right time
There's lovers in the backseat
Jealous glances now I'm looking for another song
On the radio
I'll take you to a side street
In the shadows you can touch one another now
And I'll just watch the show
07 Filthy/Gorgeous (03:47)
When you're walkin' down the street
And the man tries to get your business
And the people that you meet
Want to open you up like Christmas
You gotta wrap your fuzzy in a big red bow
ain't no sum bitch gonna treat me like a ho
I'm a classy honey kissy huggy lovey dovey ghetto princess
Cuz you're filthy Oooh, and I'm gorgeous:||
You're disgusting Oooh, and you're nasty
And you can grab me oooh, cuz you're nasty
When you're runnin' from a trick
And you trip on a hit of acid
You gotta work for the man
But your biggest moneymakers' flaccid
You gotta keep your shit together
With your feet on the ground
There ain't noone gonna listen
if you haven't made a sound
You're an acid junkie college flunky dirty puppy daddy bastard
Cuz you're filthy Oooh, and I'm gorgeous:||
You're disgusting Oooh, and you're nasty
And you can grab me oooh, cuz you're nasty
09 Better Luck (03:08)
I know i'm into you
I don't know what to do
When we talk I feel like I've died twice
Boxers use it's fists
Hockey players break their wrist
You break my heart when you try to play nice
Like a detective whitout a case
I'll magnify what you say and
Test the implications
It could be you or it could be through
Before it even begins
I'm a fish swimming without fins
Better luck next time
maybe we could have a go
With another kind of love
One that carries on
Better luck next time
Guess I've only one regret
That i didn't get to know you better than i did
You tell me that you're mine
Are you just being kind?
Let's not strech our imagination
When you look into my eyes
Always get them butterflies
My knees get weak with anticipation
And if I might have a slip of the tongue
Will the fun dissapear?
Is the binding coming undone?
You keep me waiting within your grasp
But I can't tell what you feel
And i'm too afraid to ask you
Better luck next time
Maybe we could have a go
With another kind of love
One that carries on
Better luck next time
Guess I've only one regret
That i didn't get to know you bet
10 It Can't Come Quickly Enough (04:39)
Sailling through the tunnels
In the morning by yourself
There's a very special feeling
True sensation all is well
If you stand and reach your arms out wide
Close your eyes and try to fly
It's an underground illusion
Tricking you from side to side
We knew all the answers
And we shouted them like anthems
Anxious and suspicious
That God knew how much we cheated
It can't come quickly enough
And now you've spent your life
Waiting for this moment
And when you finally saw it come
It passed you by and left you so defeated
Skyscrapers rise between us
Keeping me from finding you
If the concrete architecture
Dissapeared there'd be so few
Of us left to navigate and
Defend ourselves from the tide
It's an underground illusion
Tricking you from side to side
There's no indication of
What we were meant to be
Sucking up to strangers
Throwing wishes to the sea
It can't come quickly enough
And now you've spent your life
Waiting for this moment
And when you finally saw it come
It passed you by and
Left you so defeated
11 Return to Oz (04:40)
Once there was a man, who had a little too much... time on his hands
He never stopped to think that he was getting older
And when his life came to an end, he tried to grasp for his last friend
And pretend that he could wish himself health on a four leaf clover
He said: Is this the return to Oz?
The grass is dead, the gold is brown and the sky has claws
There's a wind-up man walking round and round
What once was Emerald City is now a crystal town
Three o' clock in the morning
You get a phone call from the queen with a hundred heads
She says that they're all dead
She tried the last one on, it couldn't speak fell off,
and now she just wanders the halls,
thinking nothing, thinking nothing at all...
She said: Is this the return to Oz?
The grass is dead, the gold is brown and the sky has claws
There's a wind-up man walking round and round
What once was Emerald City is now a crystal town
The wheelies are cutting pavement and the skeksis at the rave meant
To hide deep inside their sunken faces and their wild rolling eyes
But their callous words reveal
That they can no longer feel love or sex appeal
The patchwork girl has come to cinch the deal
To return to oz - we've left the world with smiles and clenching jaws
Please help me friend from coming down
I've lost my face and now it cant be found
Is this the return to Oz?
The grass is dead, the gold is brown and the sky has claws
There's a wind-up man walking round and round
What once was a Emerald City is now a crystal town
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