Luscious Jackson - In Search of Manny EP (1992/2024)

Luscious Jackson's debut EP may be brief--seven songs packed into 24 minutes--but it has plenty to offer thematically as well as sonically. With its low-key, hip-hop grooves and dense, sound-collage production (check that clarinet riff on "Life of Leisure"), the Luscious ladies offer varied perspectives on the New York boho lifestyle. Three of the songs hail from the demo recording that landed the group their recording deal, while four others were recorded specifically for the project. All of them offer engaging, funky fun. As to whether or not the group ever found Manny, though, you'd have to presume they did--the disc was named for a boyfriend of guitarist Gabby Glaser's mother. --Daniel Durchholz