Luscious Jackson

Natural ingredients," luscious Jackson's first full-length album, starts out with "Citysong," a
homage to the twisted logic of life in New York. The beat, in your face and just a little
uneven, backs lyrics rap-sung by Jill Cunniff and Gabrielle Glaser: "When I'm about to go
crazy/'Cause I'm still living here/I just get my friends together/And we dance, dance,
dance." In immediate contrast to "Citysong" is "Deep Shag," a deceptively quiet s... More >

These four estimable women exemplify the limitations of scene loyalty and good intentions. Only a killjoy would piss on their project--a friendly alternative funk that stands as a confident reproof to the usual sexual and racial caricatures. I like them fine as people, and I wouldn't even say I don't like their music. It's just that I don't, well, like their music. The ear food it provides is so scant that all you want to know about "Energy Sucker"'s hook riff is where they found the sample, and I find it hard to believe they pack an irresistible aural buzz even for those who experience their project as a cause. (Grade: B-)