This Might Be My Only Way To Talk To You

Scissor Sisters “Paul McCartney” – Scissor Sisters fans hoping for more “Comfortably Numb” and “Filthy/Gorgeous”-style full-on disco numbers will very likely be let down by Ta-Dah, an album largely focused on 70s-style radio pop in the vein of “Laura” and “Take Your Mama.” (My taste errs toward the latter, so I’m in luck. Lots and lots of luck.) “Paul McCartney” sits in the middle of the record, and splits the difference between the two sides of the SS aesthetic by marrying its blue-eyed soul tune to a bouncey groove that sounds like the audio equivalent of the color chartreuse. Much like CSS’s “Music Is My Hot, Hot Sex,” it’s a song about loving music that closely replicates the thrills of the sort of songs that it celebrates, as well as the excited rush of fandom. Whereas CSS’s Lovefoxxx attempts to verbalize the ineffable and ends up with a strange translation that somehow gets it exactly right, Jake Shears is more analytical, asking questions he knows can’t be answered, and expressing a profound love that is simultaneously returned and unrequited. (Click here to pre-order it from Amazon.)

Elsewhere: Troubled Diva has a great song-by-song review of Ta Dah.

Excerpt from WFMU’s Aircheck – Morrissey fans on KROQ circa 1990 – This recording is taken from the most recent episode of WFMU’s radio anthology series Aircheck, and was apparently also released as an EP bonus track back in the early ’90s. As part of some sort of promotion, the famed Los Angeles radio station KROQ had Morrissey fans call in to record messages that would be sent along to the man himself. This eight minute clip is only a small sampling, but it is fascinating to hear whether you’re a fan of Morrissey or not if just because the passion and gratitude that comes through in these messages is just so overwhelming, beautiful, and a little bit funny. My favorites are definitely the fast-talking, super-enthusiastic girls who sound as though they may burst into tears at any moment, but there’s also a certain charm to the guys who spout off trivia as an awkward display of their love and dedication. (Click here to buy it as a bonus track on the Live At KROQ ep from Amazon.)