Am I the only one who really realy really LOVES the last Jamiroquai CD 'A Funk Odyssey'? This album was released a little over a year ago,and I am STILL playing it all the time.It's the funkiest album I've heard in years,from ANY artist.Jamiroquai specializes in a 70s-styled funk/Disco sound but on this album,they add a little modern-day electronica to the mix.Lead singer Jay Kay really shines on these tracks,lyrically and vocally.

The opening track "Feels So Good" is a pulsing dance track,with subtle techno flourishes.It segues into "Little L",a wonderful Disco-styled song that features a dreamy string arrangement."You Give Me Something" would make Chic proud,and "Main Vein" just soars and soars,aided by the impressive vocals of Beverly Knight."Corner Of The Earth" is simply stunning...a lush,Stevie Wonder-styled ballad with an over-the-top string arrangement.

I love all the songs but lately I've been enjoying the ballad "Picture Of My Life".It's such a powerful song,but it sounds really sad and depressing.The self-pitying lyrics make you wanna hand Jay a Kleenex and say "Get over it,dude!".


"Picture Of My Life"---

I never had a dream that I could follow through
Only tears left to stain dry my eyes once again
I don't know who I am,or what I'm gonna do
Been so long,I've been hopelessly confused

This can never really end
It's infinitely sad
Can someone tell me when
Something good became so bad?
So if you have a cure
To Me would you please send
A picture of my life with a letter
Telling how it should really be instead

The precipice is there but
Will I ever dare throw myself
In the sky,so at last I can die
I've become a man
Who holds nothing too dear
Who will mind if I just disappear?

This can never really end
It's infinitely sad
Can someone tell me when
Something good became so bad?
So if you have a cure
To me would you please send
A picture of my life with a letter
Telling how it should really be instead

LoL

HAHAHA

Yer funny.

Every album he makes is just the same.
The only thing that ever changes are his hats.
And the cars he buys from the money he makes by selling the same album over and over again to the masses...

j_`

ter said:

To be honest,I only have two Jamiroquai CDs,'Synchronized' (1999) and 'A Funk Odyssey'(2001).I don't think the two albums are all that similiar.I haven't heard the previous albums,so maybe you can tell me what they sound like?

The first two albums are kewl becuz of Stuart Zender being involved.
The 'new' Jamiroquai is so unbelievably commercial it hurts.

ANd boring

gooeythehamster said:

what about that big album they did in the mid-90s,with the hit "Virtual Insanity"? I'm gonna get that one next.Do you recommend it?

DavidEye said:

If you like the stuff you own; go for it.

It is not BAD.

Just all his albums together seem to have this same tendency to bump on the same groove...

gooeythehamster said:

You mentioned the first two albums.What do they sound like? Nowadays,their music sounds like 70s-inspired funk/R&B/Disco,was it always this way?

DavidEye said:

Obviously; yes.
Fun in the beginning, but tiresome after all those albums...

'Jamiroquai 'A Funk Odyssey'---an underrated masterpiece

Stop talking nonsense! :p. "Return Of The Space Cowboy" is HEAVILY underrated.

'dre

I'm with you Davideye. I thought Synchronized was a pretty decent album, but Funk Odyssey was a masterpiece! I don't know why folks like his first two albums more than Funk Odyssey. I think he has gotten much better over time- his songwriting has improved by leaps and bounds. His first two albums have good ideas, but I personally find them more boring and rambling. "Travelling without Moving" which had the hit Virtual Insanity is a decent album- a little better than Synchronized. But Funk Odyssey is definitely his high point.

And Picture of my Life has always been my favorite song of his. "Main Vein" is awesome too, if only for the background vocals at the end.

I like Jamiroquai a lot. A Funk Odyssey is a very good album, and it´s underrated but to call it a masterpiece goes too far...

have this Album... it is The Bomb... Funk Music is the "ish"!

I used to love Jamiroquai a few years ago, but Synchronised and A Funk Odyssey are just too overproduced and commercially concious. And now that the keyboard player Toby Smith has left (who co-wrote most of the stuff with Jay), Jay Kay is the only remaining member from the original 1992 lineup. I agree with DreZone, Return Of The Spacecowboy is the real underated gem. Like so many bands who start off innocent and with something to prove, they have let the $$money$$ get to their heads.

My favorite Jamiroquai song from the 'A Funk Odyssey' album is "Love Foolosophy".That song just kicks ass!! I'm shocked that it didn't become a big dance hit here in the States.

It's the type of song that Michael Jackson,Prince AND George Michael would have KILLED for.


[This message was edited Fri Dec 6 0:50:11 PST 2002 by DavidEye]

It's a good album, but I wouldn't consider it their best. They need to stop with that disco stuff and start doing some serious Jazz/Funk/Fusion like they used to. That was the stuff I liked

DavidEye said:

David, if you like this one you should buy the first two albums by Jamiroquai - Emergency On Planet Earth (1993) and Return Of The Space Cowboy (1994). If you like funk (and I know you do) you'll love these.

Emergency On Planet Earth
A very funky and summery album. Lots of funk jams. Reminiscent of Stevie's 70's period and Herbie Hancock's Headhunters. Contains the breakthrough hit "Too Young To Die" and "When You Gonna Learn."

Return Of The Space Cowboy
Not as immediate. On first listen I wasn't quite sure about this one but now I think it is great. Love "Manifest Destiny" and "Scam"

I've seen them play live twice in the UK in small venues(back in '93 and '94) and they were a great band then. They seem to have become less funky and more pop orientated as the years have worn on. Probably due to losing 2 of the orignal band members as somebody has already mentioned.

They always seem to come in for tremendous criticism in the UK from the media but you come to expect that over here.

mdn7 said:

Hey,thanks for the recommendations.I'm gonna go back and get those two albums you mentioned,plus 'Traveling Without Moving'.In addition,I discovered that 'A Funk Odyssey' has been expanded into a 2-CD set.It contains a bonus disc featuring a few outtakes,remixes and live versions from their recent tour.

I haven't heard the "Funk Odyssey" yet (its on my Xmas wish list), but I do have ALL the other albums. To me, Emergency on Planet Earth is by far the best of them, with Travelling without moving being a close second. I think both "Return" and Synkronized are both good albums, but nothing compares to the first.

I first got hooked up on them by a DJ friend in the late 80's/early 90's. It took a couple of years for the rest of America to notice (Virtual Insanity), and I still don't know why they aren't bigger here in America. They are one of my favorite bands.

Cute hat!

Wow,I gotta go back and get all the Jamiroquai CDs that I don't have! Right now,I only have 'Synchronized' and 'A Funk Odyssey'.

codshort said:

Yeah,it amazes me that they aren't more popular in America.It seems that the only way they would get airplay here is by doing a song with Ja Rule...lol...