Scissor Sisters

Two years ago, the campy New York-based quintet Scissor Sisters took Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb" to the dance floor, shoved the prog rock chestnut in a box and sent it express-bound for Bee Gees country. Though fans of the group lumped them into the electroclash scene, they wisely avoided becoming...

By Tamara Palmer

August 5, 2004

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "18855504",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17105533",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18349797",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17105532",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18349797",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17105535",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

Two years ago, the campy New York-based quintet Scissor Sisters took Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb" to the dance floor, shoved the prog rock chestnut in a box and sent it express-bound for Bee Gees country. Though fans of the group lumped them into the electroclash scene, they wisely avoided becoming too associated with a movement based on cheap nostalgia and little discernible talent. That's probably why there are ballads and straight-up piano rockers on the Scissor Sisters' self-titled debut, tunes that others might be too embarrassed to parade around the dance floor but make perfect sense in their disco ball-illuminated world. These mostly smart songs proudly wear influences, particularly the aforementioned Gibb brothers as well as Elton John and T. Rex, like a badge of honor. They also demonstrate a songwriting depth without relying too heavily on loop-based tracks. "Return to Oz" closes out the album on a note of grand pomposity as if it were one of Dennis DeYoung's "Mr. Roboto" operas for Styx. Admittedly the album is so over-the-top that it's hard to believe the Scissor Sisters are serious, but once the too-sweet candy coating melts off, there's still some substance left.

KEEP THE OBSERVER FREE... Since we started the Dallas Observer, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Dallas, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.