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PrintableSoulAlive said: steelyd said: Oh lord,there's the "they think they are Stevie Wonder" comment again
 . One snarky, narrow-minded Rolling Stone music critic pulled out 1 of maybe 7 of the usual R&B artist that American music critics “feel” are the HOLY GRAIL of black music (Stevie, Aretha, Marvin, Al Green, Sly Stone, Otis, Ray) and decided to make a bunch of stupid far reaching comparisons based on that ONE artist. Ever since then US critics and people in general have been parroting that sentiment about Jamiroquai's music without actually listening to ALL of it. “Oh it’s got a 4/4 beat, their making disco, “Oh he’s singing about love & helping the Earth, he thinks he’s Stevie Wonder” This is the only group where being compared to Stevie Wonder is a negative. Jamiroquai music is what it is, you either like it or you don't. Jay Kay has admitted his music is influenced by American r&b, funk, jazz fusion, and disco artist, only one of them being Stevie Wonder. But their music is no more influenced by Stevie than it is by Earth Wind & Fire. Jamiroquai's music is FAR more akin to Roy Ayers, Johnny Hammond, Donald Byrd, Lonnie Liston Smith, Quincy Jones, Emuir Deodato, Sergio Mendes, Antonio Jobim with some electro/house & rock bits thrown in. Most so called American music journalist rarely reference these influences when they review a Jamiroquai album, when it's clear to anyone with ears that these artist are more their influences than Stevie Wonder. But even with these influences, their music is still authentically THEIR music. Their sound, though decidedly and purposely dance oriented, is a lot more than just “disco” music. Their cord changes/ progressions, arrangements and lyrics are much more sophisticated than they are generally given credit for. Maybe they do it too well and people think they are not trying hard enough, who knows. If you don't like Jamiroquai, of course that's you choice (they don't appeal to everybody). Hopefully people will stop listening to others limited opinions about this group and just listen to them for what they are, which great music makers, not some cheesy wannabe Stevie disco act. They don't have a 17 year career based on being fluke artist.
The Stevie Wonder comparisons were always silly to me.I think Jamiroquai are more inspired by bands like Chic,Pleasure,Heatwave,Roy Ayers Ubiquity,Blackbyrds,Kleeer,and GQ.....R&B/funk music from the late 70s,with disco influences as well. ... [Edited 9/9/09 16:44pm] Dig it!, them too  ....He's a fan of all of these folks, but this is the only band that has the talent and the nerve to actually create music they like to listen to. | |
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The band is not the same...obviously, but I mean quality wise. The last track I heard (a few years ago) was seriously off key in sections. So disappointing. I used to LOVE them (first 3 releases).
Hopefully this latest will be better...way better. | |
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JustErin said: The band is not the same...obviously, but I mean quality wise. The last track I heard (a few years ago) was seriously off key in sections. So disappointing. I used to LOVE them (first 3 releases).
Hopefully this latest will be better...way better. there always seems to be two Jamiroquai camps. the people who liked their first 3 when they were fairly interesting and unique and then the people who are fans of 70's funk & disco who gravitated toward them afterward because they were looking for someone making that kind of music. just something i've noticed. | |
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errant said: JustErin said: The band is not the same...obviously, but I mean quality wise. The last track I heard (a few years ago) was seriously off key in sections. So disappointing. I used to LOVE them (first 3 releases).
Hopefully this latest will be better...way better. there always seems to be two Jamiroquai camps. the people who liked their first 3 when they were fairly interesting and unique and then the people who are fans of 70's funk & disco who gravitated toward them afterward because they were looking for someone making that kind of music. just something i've noticed. I actually like both styles but as I said already, the recordings were total shit compared to their earlier work. Who the hell releases a studio album with vocals going off key? | |
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steelyd said: SoulAlive said: The Stevie Wonder comparisons were always silly to me.I think Jamiroquai are more inspired by bands like Chic,Pleasure,Heatwave,Roy Ayers Ubiquity,Blackbyrds,Kleeer,and GQ.....R&B/funk music from the late 70s,with disco influences as well. Dig it!, them too ....He's a fan of all of these folks, but this is the only band that has the talent and the nerve to actually create music they like to listen to. And like I said before,we NEED somebody to carry the torch...someone to keep this sound alive.Listen to today's R&B and all you hear is people trying to sound like rappers.There's no funk,no JAMS in today's R&B! When I listen to Jamiroquai,I get all the ingredients that I love about 70s music. | |
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JustErin said: errant said: there always seems to be two Jamiroquai camps. the people who liked their first 3 when they were fairly interesting and unique and then the people who are fans of 70's funk & disco who gravitated toward them afterward because they were looking for someone making that kind of music. just something i've noticed. I actually like both styles but as I said already, the recordings were total shit compared to their earlier work. Who the hell releases a studio album with vocals going off key? I agree, their 1st 3 albums need to be remastered they sound like shit. The first time I heard this group was 1992 on a house mix tape my friend made me and this first track turned out to be the 12" instrumental of "When You Gonna Learn". I asked my friend what old jazz group it was...he goes this is a new group Jamiroquai, I've been hooked ever since. Funny, my friend stopped listening to them after Stuart Zender and Toby Smith left the group, like a lot of people I guess. I really didn't give a crap. They were real musicians still making music I liked. I enjoy all of their music, and I loooove Jay Kays vocals. | |
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SoulAlive said: steelyd said: Dig it!, them too ....He's a fan of all of these folks, but this is the only band that has the talent and the nerve to actually create music they like to listen to. And like I said before,we NEED somebody to carry the torch...someone to keep this sound alive.Listen to today's R&B and all you hear is people trying to sound like rappers.There's no funk,no JAMS in today's R&B! When I listen to Jamiroquai,I get all the ingredients that I love about 70s music. What do you think about Maroon 5? | |
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steelyd said: SoulAlive said: And like I said before,we NEED somebody to carry the torch...someone to keep this sound alive.Listen to today's R&B and all you hear is people trying to sound like rappers.There's no funk,no JAMS in today's R&B! When I listen to Jamiroquai,I get all the ingredients that I love about 70s music. What do you think about Maroon 5?I like Maroon 5...they're another band with a cool retro sound,but I find Jamiroquai to be much funkier. | |
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steelyd said: SoulAlive said: And like I said before,we NEED somebody to carry the torch...someone to keep this sound alive.Listen to today's R&B and all you hear is people trying to sound like rappers.There's no funk,no JAMS in today's R&B! When I listen to Jamiroquai,I get all the ingredients that I love about 70s music. What do you think about Maroon 5?I like Maroon 5...they're another band with a cool retro sound,but I find Jamiroquai to be much funkier. | |
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SoulAlive said: steelyd said: What do you think about Maroon 5?I like Maroon 5...they're another band with a cool retro sound,but I find Jamiroquai to be much funkier. Yeah, their good, but Adam's voice bugs me sometimes, they're pretty tight though. Retro? I think these are just bands picking up where good music left off. Hopefully No Doubt will get another album together. [Edited 9/12/09 21:47pm] | |
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Yeah,Adam has a "unique" voice that takes some getting used to  They've got some good grooves,though. | |
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errant said: SoulAlive said: I look at it this way: We need somebody to keep that sound alive We have all these artists jumping on the shit hop bandwagon,or making bland American pop music.Jamiroquai is keeping the funk/disco/70s sound alive and I think it's refreshing.I wish more of today's bands would go that route.those genres are pretty much dead for a reason. because they got stuck in one sound and never really progressed. and i think Jamiroquai got sucked into that vortex when they started making that kind of music. doing a dated style of music is fine, I guess, but why not try to bring something new to it? why not try to move it forward? admittedly, I haven't heard everything they've done in the last 10+ years, but nothing that I *have* heard has seemed like a very original or fresh take on anything. They're like the British Lennny Kravitz of disco-funk. And I say this a formerly pretty big fan. Of both, actually. Even if they were strictly disco/funk, hell that's the ultimate goal that all artists should try to achieve because no genres have ever been as good as disco or funk and no future genres will ever be as good as disco or funk.  It's when people got totally away from it that I started bitching. Please don't add anything new to it because that will water it down and shit hoppen it. If they are going to add something new, it needs to be a new kind of music that they invented themselves that no one has ever heard of before.
. . . [Edited 9/14/09 18:14pm] Andy is a four letter word. | |
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vainandy said: Even if they were strictly disco/funk, hell that's the ultimate goal that all artists should try to achieve because no genres have ever been as good as disco or funk and no future genres will ever be as good as disco or funk.
It's when people got totally away from it that I started bitching.Please don't add anything new to it because that will water it down and shit hoppen it.If they are going to add something new, it needs to be a new kind of music that they invented themselves that no one has ever heard of before. I hear ya! In my opinion,we should have never gotten away from the things that made that music (disco/funk) so appealing.The blending of R&B with hip-hop is unforgivable.That should have never happened.It has led us to where we are now.
I want strong,funky basslines....insanely catchy hooks and choruses.....lush strings....hypnotic beats that are played by real drummers and not machines....dance songs that can truly be called "uptempo",as opposed to the midtempo shit hop crap that passes for R&B these days.Jamiroquai delivers. | |
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I love Jamiroquai! I have five of their CDs and I am definitely looking forward to some new material. I prefer their first three CDs but I still find their newer music refreshing (especially given today's stagnant musical climate).
Bring on the new stuff!  | |
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todd305 said: I love Jamiroquai! I have five of their CDs and I am definitely looking forward to some new material. I prefer their first three CDs but I still find their newer music refreshing (especially given today's stagnant musical climate).
Bring on the new stuff!  | |
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Thanks for posting this info. Looking forward to a new album.
Jamiroquai is one of my favorite bands of the last 20 years. They got more club-oriented after Toby Smith and Stuart Zender left and I can understand how hardcore fans only want to ride for "the original Jamiroquai" but all their albums have some jams. How many other acts from 1992 are still doing music? I agree that their sound may not be original but they do it very well (oddly enough, this makes them original compared to most of their contemporaries) and I prefer Jay Kay's retro stylings to something like Raphael Saadiq's last record or someone doing albums of covers. | |
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Does anyone know if they will head to the states for shows?
They have a pretty large fanbase in SF, saw them at The Fillmore a few years back and they had the place going bananas! Hopefully they will come back to SF. Can't wait for the new music and hopefully US tour too! | |
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FunkyGraf said: Thanks for posting this info. Looking forward to a new album.
Jamiroquai is one of my favorite bands of the last 20 years. They got more club-oriented after Toby Smith and Stuart Zender left and I can understand how hardcore fans only want to ride for "the original Jamiroquai" but all their albums have some jams. How many other acts from 1992 are still doing music? I agree that their sound may not be original but they do it very well (oddly enough, this makes them original compared to most of their contemporaries) and I prefer Jay Kay's retro stylings to something like Raphael Saadiq's last record or someone doing albums of covers. I didn't become a Jamiroquai fan until the 'Synkronized' CD in 1999,so I wasn't even familiar with the early albums or their acid jazz phase.For me,it was their disco/funk-styled music that caught my attention. I have since went back and bought those early albums,but I still prefer the more recent stuff.'A Funk Odyssey' is my favorite album of this decade....a real masterpiece. | |
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pinkcashmere75 said: Does anyone know if they will head to the states for shows?
They have a pretty large fanbase in SF, saw them at The Fillmore a few years back and they had the place going bananas! Hopefully they will come back to SF. Can't wait for the new music and hopefully US tour too! I missed that Fillmore show a few years back  The good news is that they are planning a major tour for 2010 and yes,they will come back to the States. | |
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I have all 6 albums, plus a few singles. I'm such a disco, jazz-funk, house fiend. I find something good in all of their music. Plus they write killer slow and mid-tempo jams. I have a feeling this next album is going to be a big one for them...within the past 5 years I've been hearing more and more people say that they like their music...I was shocked when my little cousin said Jamiroquai was one of his favorite groups (and he's trying to be a rapper).
BTW This is from Jamiroquai from Facebook: Jamiroquai will be featured as part of the London Live series on BBC HD in Australia on 14th November.The concert was filmed at KOKO in London, and will also feature an interview with Jay Kay I hope it gets aired on BBC here at some point. [Edited 9/18/09 6:53am] | |
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steelyd said: I have a feeling this next album is going to be a big one for them
I think so,too.They're with Universal now,so maybe they will get some good promotion this time around.On the last album,the single "Feels Just Like It Should" almost became a hit.They're really close to getting that major hit again.I had high hopes for "Seven Days In Sunny June" but Sony screwed up the promotion on that one. | |
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SoulAlive said: steelyd said: I have a feeling this next album is going to be a big one for them
I think so,too.They're with Universal now,so maybe they will get some good promotion this time around.On the last album,the single "Feels Just Like It Should" almost became a hit.They're really close to getting that major hit again.I had high hopes for "Seven Days In Sunny June" but Sony screwed up the promotion on that one. Yes , Hopefully Universal will give them the support they deserve. I don't get Sony...Jay Kay openly talked about his dislike for them for a while, I'm glad they let him out of that 8 album contract. | |
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steelyd said: SoulAlive said: I think so,too.They're with Universal now,so maybe they will get some good promotion this time around.On the last album,the single "Feels Just Like It Should" almost became a hit.They're really close to getting that major hit again.I had high hopes for "Seven Days In Sunny June" but Sony screwed up the promotion on that one. Yes , Hopefully Universal will give them the support they deserve. I don't get Sony...Jay Kay openly talked about his dislike for them for a while, I'm glad they let him out of that 8 album contract.And right after the contract ended,Jay talked about releasing his music independently.I'm glad he chose to sign with a major company instead. | |
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I'm really glad because a few years ago he said he would quit.
But we all know many artists have said this be4.... I also notice the difference between people who prefer the firts period and others who like the last albums. I remember that when his first album came out it was a big hype and press loved him (yeah,they called him a new Stevie,so what),this album is still classic Jamiroquai !! The second was a bit of a dissapointment at the time,the sound wasn't that good and it was recorded to fast after the first one. Space Cowboy was great though and years later I really love Lightyears,Half the man,Mr moon but the songs didn't appeal to the general public. The 3rd album became my fav,great songs,great music! I've also been to the concert and at the after party! Best moments?? When Jay Kay walked by me and went to a table to have a drink and when he started dancing when he stood besides the DJ who played Prince's Kiss the 12" version!! Synkronized is the first album with a better production and I never understood why it didn't sell that much as Travelling without... because the sound is more commercial. Here is where Jamiroquai leaves that old sound behind and gets more into disco. This album sounds so much better than the previous when you play it in your car. Canned Heat is great,also Soul education and Where do we go from here but the songs were better on Travelling.... Here comes the blockbuster,yes...A Funk Odyssey!!! Massive hits,great sound,great clips...this is like a best of what Jamiroquai stands for...in a commercial why. This is his Purple Rain,his Born in the USA, his Thriller,his..... Little L is one of my all time fav. Here comes the backlash people...Dynamite??? Well,not for me and not for a lot of people. This was the first Jamiroquai album I bought in the Sale/low price section. Feels like it should; bad choice for a first single,didn't like it. But after a few listens I love Give hate a chance and... Seven days in Sunny June..BEAUTIFUL!! HIGH TIMES proves what a great discography Jamiroquai has and Runaway gave me hope for the future...untill he said he would quit
So,I'm sure this album will have some great stuff,he knows this one is important and maybe we get a mix of the older albums (great musicianship,nice grooves) and the sound and a bit of disco from the later albums (Synkronized & Funk Odyssey that is).I'm really excited!! (And remasters from the first 3 albums!!) Love4oneanother | |
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yeah,'A Funk Odyssey' is their masterpiece...their most consistent album.A wonderful blend of funk,disco and a little electronica.I recommended this CD to Vainandy and he LOVES it,like I figured he would. | |
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It always seemed to me that Funk Odyssey was their backlash album. I remember reading stupid reviews on that album too. Not to me mind you, When I heard "Feels Good"...then Little L, that was it for me. I stopped reading reviews on their albums after that. But, Synkronized is my favorite, I just always go to that album first before the others. | |
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Paisley4u said: I'm really glad because a few years ago he said he would quit.
But we all know many artists have said this be4.... I also notice the difference between people who prefer the firts period and others who like the last albums. I remember that when his first album came out it was a big hype and press loved him (yeah,they called him a new Stevie,so what),this album is still classic Jamiroquai !! The second was a bit of a dissapointment at the time,the sound wasn't that good and it was recorded to fast after the first one. Space Cowboy was great though and years later I really love Lightyears,Half the man,Mr moon but the songs didn't appeal to the general public. The 3rd album became my fav,great songs,great music! I've also been to the concert and at the after party! Best moments?? When Jay Kay walked by me and went to a table to have a drink and when he started dancing when he stood besides the DJ who played Prince's Kiss the 12" version!! Synkronized is the first album with a better production and I never understood why it didn't sell that much as Travelling without... because the sound is more commercial. Here is where Jamiroquai leaves that old sound behind and gets more into disco. This album sounds so much better than the previous when you play it in your car. Canned Heat is great,also Soul education and Where do we go from here but the songs were better on Travelling.... Here comes the blockbuster,yes...A Funk Odyssey!!! Massive hits,great sound,great clips...this is like a best of what Jamiroquai stands for...in a commercial why. This is his Purple Rain,his Born in the USA, his Thriller,his..... Little L is one of my all time fav. Here comes the backlash people...Dynamite??? Well,not for me and not for a lot of people. This was the first Jamiroquai album I bought in the Sale/low price section. Feels like it should; bad choice for a first single,didn't like it. But after a few listens I love Give hate a chance and... Seven days in Sunny June..BEAUTIFUL!! HIGH TIMES proves what a great discography Jamiroquai has and Runaway gave me hope for the future...untill he said he would quit
So,I'm sure this album will have some great stuff,he knows this one is important and maybe we get a mix of the older albums (great musicianship,nice grooves) and the sound and a bit of disco from the later albums (Synkronized & Funk Odyssey that is).I'm really excited!! (And remasters from the first 3 albums!!) The 3rd album became my fav,great songs,great music!
I've also been to the concert and at the after party! Best moments?? When Jay Kay walked by me and went to a table to have a drink and when he started dancing when he stood besides the DJ who played Prince's Kiss the 12" version!!  How was his dancing? | |
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steelyd said: Paisley4u said: I'm really glad because a few years ago he said he would quit.
But we all know many artists have said this be4.... I also notice the difference between people who prefer the firts period and others who like the last albums. I remember that when his first album came out it was a big hype and press loved him (yeah,they called him a new Stevie,so what),this album is still classic Jamiroquai !! The second was a bit of a dissapointment at the time,the sound wasn't that good and it was recorded to fast after the first one. Space Cowboy was great though and years later I really love Lightyears,Half the man,Mr moon but the songs didn't appeal to the general public. The 3rd album became my fav,great songs,great music! I've also been to the concert and at the after party! Best moments?? When Jay Kay walked by me and went to a table to have a drink and when he started dancing when he stood besides the DJ who played Prince's Kiss the 12" version!! Synkronized is the first album with a better production and I never understood why it didn't sell that much as Travelling without... because the sound is more commercial. Here is where Jamiroquai leaves that old sound behind and gets more into disco. This album sounds so much better than the previous when you play it in your car. Canned Heat is great,also Soul education and Where do we go from here but the songs were better on Travelling.... Here comes the blockbuster,yes...A Funk Odyssey!!! Massive hits,great sound,great clips...this is like a best of what Jamiroquai stands for...in a commercial why. This is his Purple Rain,his Born in the USA, his Thriller,his..... Little L is one of my all time fav. Here comes the backlash people...Dynamite??? Well,not for me and not for a lot of people. This was the first Jamiroquai album I bought in the Sale/low price section. Feels like it should; bad choice for a first single,didn't like it. But after a few listens I love Give hate a chance and... Seven days in Sunny June..BEAUTIFUL!! HIGH TIMES proves what a great discography Jamiroquai has and Runaway gave me hope for the future...untill he said he would quit
So,I'm sure this album will have some great stuff,he knows this one is important and maybe we get a mix of the older albums (great musicianship,nice grooves) and the sound and a bit of disco from the later albums (Synkronized & Funk Odyssey that is).I'm really excited!! (And remasters from the first 3 albums!!) The 3rd album became my fav,great songs,great music!
I've also been to the concert and at the after party! Best moments?? When Jay Kay walked by me and went to a table to have a drink and when he started dancing when he stood besides the DJ who played Prince's Kiss the 12" version!! How was his dancing?At first he just stood there,talking to the dj. He put on Kiss and Jay kay just moved a little but when the extended version began he started dancing...you know how he moves...a bit like in the videos Allright and Virtual insanity. I remember him walking into the place we were,I saw a guy who looked & was dressed like Jay Kay with a few beautiful ladies following him (the model type,yes ) and I thought "man,he must be even a bigger fan than I am" .
But than he passed by me,nodded his head and then I realised...damn,it's HIM! He told us he didn't wanna give autographs,he was tired and wanted to chill and just be with his fans. Now,we all know artists are people just like we are,but that night I was really excited I've seen him just in front of me. [Edited 9/25/09 1:10am] Love4oneanother | |
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steelyd said: It always seemed to me that Funk Odyssey was their backlash album. I remember reading stupid reviews on that album too. Not to me mind you, When I heard "Feels Good"...then Little L, that was it for me. I stopped reading reviews on their albums after that. But, Synkronized is my favorite, I just always go to that album first before the others.
It's always the same with crics and artists like Jamiroquai or Prince. They get great reviews because they make great music and do their own thing,but when they make a "commercial" album they say it's not that good anymore. We can all say SOTT is Prince's best album and critics will agree, when he made D&P they said it was a solid album but he lost his urge to do something new. But the public loved it and the album just has great hits on it. It's quit difficult to blend those 2 things together,musicianship & commercial succes. Prince did it with Purple Rain,everyone loved it also the critics. Jamiroquai did it with Travelling without moving according to critics but Funk Oddysey had more hits. That's the problem with these kind of artists, you never know wich direction they will go and their music changes through the years. It's much easier being a fan of Witney,Phil collins or Bryan Adams,they always deliver a commercial,smooth album as they did in the 80's. The only thing you can say about them is that the latest album is better or worse. [Edited 9/25/09 1:27am] Love4oneanother | |
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steelyd said: It always seemed to me that Funk Odyssey was their backlash album. I remember reading stupid reviews on that album too. Not to me mind you, When I heard "Feels Good"...then Little L, that was it for me. I stopped reading reviews on their albums after that.
"Feels Good" is a strong opener.It almost could have been a single,but it's too repetitive.I wish that Jay had fleshed out the verses a little more,and came up with a bridge.The chorus/hook is repeated over and over and over until it becomes a little tiresome.The groove is amazing,though."Little L",the actual first single,is excellent.Truly one of their finest moments.I especially love the intro,when the bass kicks in for several seconds,just right before Jay starts the first verse.That part is eargasmic! lol. Synkronized is my favorite,I just always go to that album first before the others.
This is the album that turned me into a fan.I discovered it in a funny way.I was in the record store and they were playing the CD.It had just been released that week.I had no idea what it was,but I was really digging the music.I assumed it was a 70s disco compilation of rare songs that I had never heard before...lol...I asked the clerk what it was,and she handed me the CD.I couldn't believe that a modern-day band was making music like this! "Canned Heat" is the most convincing modern-day disco song I had ever heard.Sounds like a long-lost song from 1978.Needless to say,I bought the CD and I've been a fan ever since. | |
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