And with a combination of restrained sexuality, sweetness, and nicely thin harmonies, Luscious Jackson deliver a personal, pragmatic, and firm feminism that would be off-putting only to an asshole.
Employing hip hop’s technology–sampled riffs and break beats–while ignoring its vocabulary, attack, and general minimalism, the quartet sculpts liquid, seductive, hooky tunes from a percolating swirl of underplayed funk, insinuating melodies, languid guitar/keyboard sprawls, and relaxed but street-smart vocals–dig the subtle but insistent melismatic strain that floats through “Surprise.” The “rapping” of Gabby Glaser and Jill Cunniff sounds closer to “Rapture”-era Blondie than anything MC Lyte or Queen Latifah’s been puttin’ down. Partly through association with the Beastie Boys–they’re on the Beasties’ label Grand Royal, they’ve toured with them, and drummer Kate Schellenbach originally played with the Beasties–Luscious Jackson continually get mislabled as “white female rappers.” In reality, as their terrific full-length debut Natural Ingredients quickly shows, they’re a funky pop band with savvy to spare.
Best of Chicago 2021 ballot (Bonus round of nominations starts 12/22).
0 kommentar(er)
