City Beach

Jill Cunniff, Jill Cunniff | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 20, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Militia
• ASIN: B000MCICAQ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #223,106 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant debut, February 20, 2007

By 

Daniel Maltzman (Arlington, MA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: City Beach (Audio CD)

It's been seven years since the underappreciated alternative rock band Luscious Jackson last released an album. During the 00s, former LJ singer/songwriter Jill Cunniff worked with other artists, but has not released an album of her own until now. Penning seven of the songs exclusively, and co-writing the other five, "City Beach" (2007) is an impressive collection of songs that fans of Luscious Jackson, dream-pop and electrica are sure to love.

While "City Beach" has some of the signature hip-hop/pop styling of Luscious Jackson, the album sounds far less urgent. The entire album sounds completely laid-back and relaxed, but without stalling or running out of steam. Stylistically, "City Beach" sounds a bit like a follow-up the Kostars "Klassics with a K" (1995) album (the Luscious Jackson offshoot band with LJ member Vivian Trimle).

Cunniff states (as noted on Amazon) that "City Beach" is a "mood record made to bring the beach to caged up city dwellers" and I think that description really captures the essence of the album. "City Beach" is a sunny, bright, serene album sprinkled with loops and urban undertones.

Unrequited or otherwise lost love seems to be a running theme with this album, but the music is, for the most part, conversely uplifting, even if it is at times melancholy. In a sense, this album creates for me the mood of a cloudy sky when the sun is really bright and shining through.

Cunniff plays many of the instruments (guitar, bass, and programming) along with several session players. There are a lot of textures, a lot of sounds in the nooks and crannies of the album that you may miss with just one listen. So while the album is instantly gratifying, it gets better with repeated plays.

In some ways "City Beach" sounds like the natural follow-up to Luscious Jackson's swan-song "Electric Honey" (1999) as the album eschews the riot-grrrl/hip-hop trappings of early LJ in favor of their more electronica popish later work.

The low-key, colorful "Lazy Girls" gets the album off to a great start, setting the pace for the album's serene mood. Maybe the album's strongest track "Happy Warriors" sounds somewhat reminiscent of 70s soul, albeit with a modern twist. The horns and strong background melodies make the song really work. "NYC Boy" is somewhat downbeat and actually sounds a bit like an updated "Daughters of the Kaos" from the classic "In Search of Manny" (1992) EP. The sleepy but intriguing "Warm Sound" follows next. "Eye Candy" with its strong melodies is pure ear candy, although a little short, not clocking in past three minutes. The blissful, dreamy bittersweet "Apartment 3" is easily one of the album's highlights. The strings and effects work especially nice here. "Love is a Luxury" with its popy distorted guitars wouldn't have sounded out-of-place on an Alanis Morrissette or Meredith Brooks album ten years ago, although this sounds far less contrived. The popy, sing-along, equally 90s sounding "Exclusive" is catchy and keeps up the momentum. The lonely, poignant "Kaleidoscope" is beautiful and one of the most soulful songs Cunniff has ever sung or wrote. The album changes pace a bit with the danceable rocking "Future Call," which sounds a bit like the 50s classic "Tequila." The soothing dreamy "Calling Me" is another strong song that keeps the momentum going. The somber, closing "Disconnection" (with Emmylou Harris") ends the album on a whimper, albeit a satisfying one.

While some songs are better than others, there really isn't anything I would consider to be "filler" on this album. It's a really heart-felt, personal album and everything works really well. There is a certain light-as-a-feather, lullaby quality to this album that is quite captivating.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jill Cunniff- City Beach, May 1, 2007

By 

Larry Sakin "Larry A. Sakin" (Tucson, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: City Beach (Audio CD)

During our long, hot summers, we sun loving lizards' in the Southwest dream of cool, white sandy beaches, with spritzes of ocean water pelting our bodies. It's the only relief we can afford besides a box fan and a creaking, old evaporative cooler.

Fortunately for us, ex-Luscious Jackson front woman Jill Cunniff has crafted a beautiful slice of life album with her solo debut City Beach, offering comfort for everyone needing a break from the broil of global warming.

City Beach mixes myriad musical styles, from Brazilian jazz to alternative rock into an intoxicating brew of mood pieces. From the opening number "Lazy Girls" to the sullen ending piece "Disconnection", Cunniff paints pictures of her beloved New York City, infusing personal memories of `eating orange popsicles' to observations on how the city is changing for the worse, to deep examinations of male/female relationships. In a way, City Beach is a musical novel based on real life, the ebb and flow of carefree adolescence to the unpredictability of adulthood, much like the shifting tides of the ocean.

Cunniff has packed City Beach with powerful support, from her collaboration with music critic Vivian Goldman, and Emmylou Harris, who provides back-up vocals on "Disconnect". Cunniff contributes guitars, bass, organ and an extraordinary vocal range; handles much of the production duties and works programming on the project. Special call outs go to Rachel Yamagata for a sterling turn on keyboards on "Kaleidoscope", drummer Tony Mangurian; and Nathan Rosenberg, Sam Hollander, Dave Schommer and Jim Kissling for being Cunniff's partners in crime on the post production.

It's rare to find an album so flawless. Cunniff brings a colorful sensuality to her vocal chops, beckoning the listener with intense harmonies that add vitality to the entire album. The instrumentation is relaxed, almost lazy in a sense, rolling along with Cunniff's direct vocals. It's a change from the almost chant-like vox from her Luscious Jackson days. Ultimately, City Beach achieves a nearly impossible goal- you'll find yourself humming to these songs during your morning commute while contemplating meanings of the vivid lyrics.

Unlike so many solo projects, City Beach is not for Luscious Jackson fans only. If anything, Cunniff stamps this project with her persona. It's the kind of album for anyone who appreciates the dynamic range of female vocals and blended with the looping fun of music sampling. Listening to City Beach is a bit like listening to a tougher, edgier Sarah McLaughlin record. It's simply that good.

For my fellow Southwesterners, you don't have to wait until summer vacation to head for the Pacific. You can share a blanket on the beach all year with Jill Cunniff, but beware--she will bewitch you into staying with her on that beach long past your vacation is over.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LUSCIOUS CITY BEACH!, March 2, 2007

By 

UK Vinyl "UK Vinyl" (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: City Beach (Audio CD)

ok, I've listened to "City Beach" a zillion times and I am ready to share my views. Jill Cunniff of Luscious Jackson offers a multilayer project filled with electronic, bossa nova, jazz and many other influences. With summer quickly approaching, each track is a ray of sunshine meant to warm and energize. A concept album built around driving you to the beach, laying down your towel, putting on your sunscreen, playing a mean game of frisbee and then letting you relax and absorb all the vitamin d your body needs. Come on people, ever had a album do THAT for you? Riis Park will never be the same. Too bad you'll have to get the Pina Colada yourself.