Luscious Jackson: Cashing in on the Retro ’90s Cool Factor
I’m ‘bout to get all Linda Richman on y’all. “At 31:05, The Magic Hour is neither an hour, nor is it magical. Discuss.”
Luscious Jackson’s alleged comeback revisits many elements I fondly recall from the seminal Fever In, Fever Out album I loved at age 14: quirky bass grooves, dance riffs, and low/high female unison vocals, particularly on tracks like “You & Me” and “The Way You Are.” But the majority lacks focus, trying to be dance, rock, pop, and R&B simultaneously. Mostly I just feel bewildered by the awkward drum machines and bizarre, off-key vocals.
In fact, The Magic Hour is kind of a train wreck. It seems like too-hastily conceived, ill-rehearsed attempt to capitalize on the recent trend of ‘90s bands attempting to seize the retro-cool factor. It makes me wonder what C&C Music Factory is up to these days. – (2/10)
Leah also writes for southern California culture magazine Savage Henry.