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3 stars
Waving their influences in the air with ebullient glee -- hip-hop! new wave! funk! punk! -- suits Luscious Jackson beautifully. The acclaimed group hasn't seen record sales match its glowing press clips; "Electric Honey," in stores Tuesday, just may change that.
Vocalist-bass player Jill Cunniff wrote most of the songs here, but guitarist and childhood friend Gabby Glaser and drummer Kate Schellenback add their own flavor to the fragrant stew of sound. (Longtime keyboardist Vivian Trimble left the group after its last tour.)
The entire album has an upbeat feel, perhaps in part because of Cunniff's recent marriage. But "Electric Honey" avoids up-with-people cheerleading despite lines like "You're making me so very happy, you're my superstar" (on the lazy-grooving "Summer Daze"). Deborah Harry makes a fittingly glamorous appearance on "Fantastic Fabulous."
Enlisting four producers for the band's most accessible album to date was a smart move. The disc is multifaceted and crisp, meandering from trip-hop ("Friends") to spacey silliness ("Alien Lover") to twang and groove ("Country's A Callin'"). There's an infectious insouciance about "Electric Honey" that makes it the rarest sort of ear candy -- the sort that might just be good for you.
-- Julene Snyder