It's All Been Done Before - Scissor Sister's Night Work album

When I was a kid learning computer programming I used to toy with the idea of infinity and music. My thoughts ran along the line of writing a program that combined every note and time signature combination with every combination of instruments and the outcome would be every song possible to write. Then along came synthesizers and more varied recording techniques and I realized how infinite music can be.

But infinity doesn't seem so far away anymore, well, at least not after listening to the preview of the new Scissor Sister's album, Night Work. See, I have this method I use to filter the unremarkable from the purchase-worthy, it consists of going to iTunes, picking an album, and hitting "preview all". Once the music starts I open a game of solitaire and start playing. If something grabs my attention, then I give it another listen. If it passes this muster it usually just gets added to the wish list. On rare occasions I purchase it right away.

Tonight I was slogging through a game of solitaire, mostly not noticing any thing exciting in the previews, then suddenly I hear what sounds like an interpolation of Twilight Zone, by Golden Earring, in a preview of the Sister's Invisible Light. Then I hear a little George Michael, ala I Want Your Sex in their song, Whole New Way. Coincidence? Maybe. Then I hear the Bee Gees in Any Which Way, then it's David Bowie meets Hedwig's Wig In A Box on the track Running Out, then it's Sophie B. Hawkins on Skin This Cat.

Out of 13 thirty second previews, I recognize the sounds of 5 different artists. There is flattery and then there is blatant rip-off. Pull up iTunes or your preferred web music site and preview the album. Maybe you will find more familiar artists than I noticed. Feel free to share if when you do.