The Scissor Sisters cap off an unbelievable year by releasing the standout piano ballad from their debut album. If you've somehow managed to not hear the album, then this is a world away from the fun dance anthems of Take Your Mama or Laura.
Reminiscent of Elton John's mid-70s period, Mary is a sincere ballad with no trace of the camp irony that's become the Sisters' trademark. A ode to love and friendship, Jake Shears' voice is shown off to strong effect here.
Yet if you've already got the album, Mary is still a must-have purchase for the B-side, Take Me Out. Yes, the Sisters have taken the Franz Ferdinand number and turned it into a Billy Joel-style lounge ballad - a rival to Jamie Cullum's Frontin' as cover version of the year. Is there anything they can't do?