CD of The Week

Luscious Jackson has resurfaced. Their new album, Magic Hour, is a crowd-funded, musical, big hug. While their drummer (Kate Schellenbach) recorded in L.A. the rest of the band (Jill Cunniff and Gabby Glaser) recorded in New York. Minus the release of their Greatest Hits album in 2007, it has been a long 14 year wait for the band's newest release. And it is a familiar and comforting return: they make your head shake, your foot tap, and your memories flow.

Lead single "Are You Ready?” is fun, light and lovely. “So Rock On” charms the listener, reminding us a bit of Le Tigre vocally. The unexpected violin, layered with the dark 90s hip hop beats, adds depth to a song that might be lacking lyrically. “Love Is Alive” and “Frequency” are both songs that have a throwback feel to the dance beat, reminiscent of the band's biggest hit, “Naked Eye.” It's easy to imagine both songs heard on a club DJ’s playlist in the 90s or even today. “Frequency” lands a little above “Love Is Alive” because of the layered, ethereal singing.

The only real complaint is that, in the age of Kanye, this album can feel flat. There is no nuance, no subtly in the production, no reward when you put on your headphones and listen to it closely. It is all up front, production-wise. It's as if Luscious Jackson missed out the last 15 years of album production.

Still, Magic Hour, while lacking production and perhaps richness, it is a fun, accessible, and familiar album. It is like a friend you haven’t seen in 14 years: you know, you still hug them, you missed them. Welcome back, Luscious Jackson.