Confessions of a Fanboy

Kostars was something of a one-off side project by Jill Cunniff and Vivian Trimble of Luscious Jackson. Fellow LJ’ers Gabby Glaser and Kate Schellenbach also make cameos. This easily could have been another Luscious Jackson album, for good and ill.

Klassics With a K shares many of the same strengths and the same weakness as any LJ record. That weakness? Songwriting. It’s not that they couldn’t write anything good- they simply couldn’t write enough strong material to stay compelling over the course of a full album. There are some Klassics on this record, but it also has its share of filler.

I would love to tell you what it is I love so much about this song. The truth is I am not all that sure I can put my finger on it. I find something hypnotic in it and often find it stuck in my head.

Fans of LJ’s more beat-driven songs will be disappointed by “Never So Lonely” (and Klassics in general). I think that’s what I like about this. Sometimes the beats and the quasi-hip hop sound felt ham fisted to me. “Never So Lonely” downplays the beats and plays up the melody and a more organic sound. Acoustic guitar and accordion accents combine with some terrific piano work to create a smooth, mellow bed of music for Jill’s vocal and harmonies. That patented, relaxed Cunniff delivery, sounding as if she’s on the verge of going flat at any moment, sounds even better without huge samples and schizophrenic beats to contend with.

It is a real shame this album has gone out of print. It might not be a Klassic, but it’s still a worthwhile listen. Capitol recently released a Luscious Jackson compilation. Let’s hope they consider re-releasing Klassics With a K, too.

Filed under: Tags: Listening Room, Luscious Jackson