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Bee Gees. B 52’s. David Bowie. Blondie. Elton John. Imagine an album with all these stars collaborating and you have some sort of idea of what to expect from this New York band’s second album. That’s right, second album. And definite contender for the title FUN ALBUM OF THE YEAR.
It’s been a while since there’s been such an ironic song title as that of the lead single, “I don’t feel like dancin’.” Because if you don’t feel like getting up and shakin’ your booty when this song plays, there’s an old age home waiting to welcome you. Co-written by Elton John and featuring Sir Elton on piano, “I don’t feel like dancin’” is one of the catchiest tunes of the year and since it’s also the opening track on the CD, it kinda prepares you for the fun your ears, feet, fingers… hell, your whole body’s gonna have when this CD plays. Just looking at the band members’ names, you already get a silly grin. Jake Shears, Babydaddy, Ana Matronic, Paddy Boom and Del Marquis. So how does a band like this get together? Well, five years ago, Shears attended a festival dressed as a chicken and when he saw another band perform, he turned to his friend Babydaddy who was wearing a chicken head and announced he was forming a band. At this point, you might quite rightfully ask how a band like this can be taken seriously? Well, that’s the problem with a lot of artists these days. They take themselves way too serious. These four guys and one girl set out to stray from the norm with an album that’s littered with references to love and death and the death of love. Not that you’d notice that such serious issues get a look-in as the band cleverly wraps it up in a warm blanket of retro and disco camp. Shears admits that he was deeply affected by the recent death of a beloved aunt. He has used her last words to him “When you cut the lights out, think of me,” in a song called “Lights.” “I felt somber,” he is quote as saying, “but I managed to turn it into a slutty disco number.”
Also on the album, is a tribute to Paul McCartney on a track bearing his name. According to Shears, he had a visitation from the ex-Beatle while he was asleep and this led to the song being written. Another strong track is “Kiss you off,” a song that underlines the band’s intent to make a record that, as they put it, “will cheer up ourselves… and the world.”
When interviewed by Q Magazine recently, the band was asked whether it was their intention to record 12 hit singles and release it as an album. The answer came from Shears: “I want our albums to sound like you’ve turned on a great radio station and you’re hearing one great song after another.” Wonder if they know they can audio stream Jacaranda…
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