A lot of the things I would come to like in Luscious Jackson's music can be found in "Naked Eye. It is (or rather, was) a great introduction to the band. The great pop hook made the song catchy as hell. It sounded great on the radio but still had its own personality rather than sounding like every other shit song. It also has elements of hip-hop without sounding like rap. I hate rap music but even my grumpy ass has to admit there is something compelling or interesting in the beats and sounds of a rap record. "Naked Eye" takes some of those elements and uses them without carrying any of the baggage that turns rap into shit. It is danceable without sounding like repetitive, shitty dance music.
"Naked Eye" has a subversive bent to me because it took a lot of styles and elements I don't like, assembled them, and turned them into a song I love. How cool is that? It will not likely have the same effect on all of you. As I understand it, some people actually like rap music. Go figure.
I also love the airiness in the song. This is spring/summer music (although I discovered it in the late fall or early winter). Despite the presence of loops and bass and harmonies, there is still room to breathe. The beautifully layered vocals give the chorus more density than the verses but throughout there is space and it helps give the song a big sound.
Unlike some other female-fronted bands, all four of these women can actually play their instruments. Between the four of them, they cover guitar, bass, keyboard, and drums — but when you listen to some of their songs you will be hard-pressed to identify those instruments in the mix. Most of these sounds have been altered or filtered or distorted or computerized. That would be the work of one Daniel Lanois. I don't know how LJ hooked up with Lanois but it is a partnership that works.
Songs like "Naked Eye" and "Under Your Skin" are great, fully-developed pop songs that are interesting to listen to and work on their own merit. The same cannot be said of all the songs on Fever In Fever Out. Several tracks, such as "Mood Swing" and "Don't Look Back," are soundscapes aimed at creating a vibe rather than existing as proper songs in the traditional pop sense. Lanois, a disciple of the great Brian Eno, excels at making those types of songs and records work. His guidance along with the sequencing of the album helps blend the songs and soundscapes into an album where the presence of both makes sense.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
Here I was under the impression that Luscious Jackson was a type of apple.
2 - DJRadiohead
I could take this conversation straight to the gutter if I was of a mind but I think I will resist the temptation.
3 - DJRadiohead
If only my powers of summoning were always this potent: this weekend, after having searched on multiple occasions, I saw LJ's first two CDs in a used bin. I hadn't seen them new in I don't know how long. So I got both In Search of Manny and Natural Ingredients for under $10.
It's the Circle of Life, Simba.
4 - Matthew T. Sussman
How'd wifey end up liking the column?
5 - Mark Saleski
very nice. love this record. Lucious Jackson was one of the performers at the Lilith Fair show i went to. they totally rocked the joint. between them and Emylou Harris, the show could not have been better.
6 - DJRadiohead
Thanks, Saleski, for finding, reading, and commenting this.
We didn't have the greatest Lilith Fair set. I can't believe Emmylou Harris wasn't booked for Nashville. I guess they thought that was too obvious. I wanted Luscious Jackson, Sheryl Crow, or Shawn Colvin. Got none of them. Sarah Mc was fabulous, though. Never got to see LJ live. Would have liked that.
7 - DJRadiohead
In fairness, I told her I had finished it. When I said she is too busy to read/listen to my stuff I was not kidding. She just doesn't have the time. That's how I get away with things like this. Although, she did tell me she went trolling around Blogcritics last week. I may yet find out what she thinks.
I'm still married, anyway.
8 - Scott Butki
I heard Luscious Jackson open for REM. They rocked the house. They had a great frunk groove thing going.
Quick question: is it offensive to call someone a "fanboy"?I've heard mixed reports on that.
9 - Matthew T. Sussman
"When I said she is too busy to read/listen to my stuff I was not kidding"
Yeah, she's too busy reading MY stuff. Oh snap!
But in all honesty, I know that situation all too well. Chelsea is in fact a busy girl and has too many more important things to do than read my goofy little posts.
10 - Mat Brewster
I don't think my wife has ever read anything of mine. Same reason, just way too busy. When she has a free moment I'd rather her pay attention to me anyway instead of what I wrote.
My long distance commute story turned into a good one. Premarriage I traveled some 350 miles from Tennessee to Indiana every few weekends to see the girl who is now my wife.
11 - Mark Saleski
not only did we have Emmylou doing a set with her band, Spyboy....but when we first walked in, on one of the small stages, we heard Syd Straw doing a set with Emmylou and Buddy Miller. they did a version of the Stones' "Some Girls". incredible.
12 - DJRadiohead
Scott, like with a lot of things the term "fanboy" can be used in a derogatory manner. I know what I mean when I use it in referring to myself so I just go with it. Other people wouldn't like it. I guess caution is the word when flinging it.
I never got to see LJ live. I do remember them opening for R.E.M. It would have been very cool to see both bands.
13 - DJRadiohead
Suss, I'll give you that. That was good, man. That was good.
The Wife to Whom I Am Married loves that I write and when she reads what I write she usually likes it, too. When I test material designed for my podcasts she usually laughs. She just doesn't have the time and she really doesn't like sitting in front of the computer very much. Plus, my fanboy tendencies go well beyond her musical interests.
That said, Suss, the sports area might be the area she is least likely to travel.
14 - DJRadiohead
Brewster, The Wife to Whom I Am Married and I commuted from a distance a good deal less than that but still at a bit of a distance. I think it was probably an hour-ish. It worked out ridiculously well for me, too.
15 - Scott Butki
I just pulled out my copy of their cd.
I was trying to remember which song of theirs I most like and it is... "City song."
It has that great comination of fun, sultry voice and is damn catchy.
16 - DJRadiohead
Scott, "Citysong" is on Natural Ingredient which is the album that preceeded this one. It is damn catchy. I love that one.
17 - Scott Butki
Ah heard Naked Eye that one is good too.
18 - Joanie
I think we covered this before, but I used to live in Westminster (and made that same drive, for different reasons).
I have many songs/artists that remind me of that time in my life, as I do every period. I call them memory songs, and regardless of the emotions evoked, they're all there...waiting to be activated.
19 - Scott Butki
For some reason their songs make me think of New York City.
20 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
this may be my favourite of these beautiful pieces thus far. I'm with you a hundred percent, with regards the portkey. Sometimes it's a swell ol' place we end up in, like when i fling on "Basket Case" for example. Other times it's a horrible horrible place, and that's why i cannot listen to "24 Hour Party People" by Happy Mondays, which sucks, since it was one of my favourite songs.
this series of dreams, recollections, melodies, you'd do well to look on this, Sir DJ, and say aye, somethin mighty beautiful i've created. and am creating...
21 - DJRadiohead
Thanks, Duke, you are much too generous with your praise but I sure as fuck appreciate it. I thought about you and some of your magnificent sagas when I was writing this one. Fortunately, I am still able to love the music aside from the occasional horrible regurgitation of the wretched past. Maybe I'm lucky enough not to have experienced anything too awful or I am just a glutton for punishment. I guess, too, I like the process of being transported even if I don't always like where I end up in the end.
In fact, you and Sir Saleski have both had a profound impact on this series and I give a tip of the cap to you both.