I became a Jamiroquai fan in 1999.I was in a record store and I heard this kickass music.It was very funky and retro-sounding,yet it still sounded "fresh" at the same time.I asked the lady at the register "who is this?" and she showed me the new Jamiroquai CD 'Synchronized',which had just been released.Then,in 2001,I fell in love with their 'A Funk Odyssey' CD.Recently,I went back and bought their 1996 CD 'Traveling Without Moving'.This is the album that includes their American breakthrough hit "Virtual Insanity",and it's a solid album from beginning to end.

So,that means there are only two more Jamiroquai albums I need to get.There is the debut album 'Emergency On Planet Earth'(1993) and the follow-up 'Return Of The Space Cowboy'(1995).Can anybody give me a review? How does the music sound? Aren't these early albums more "trip-hop/acid jazz"" than the later albums,which tend to be more funk/R&B?






.
[This message was edited Fri Mar 14 5:26:58 PST 2003 by DavidEye]

Just buy them and find out. I reckon you won't be dissapointed. Both good.

Cloudbuster said:

Give me a track-by-track review,please

David... TRUST ME good stuff... pick em up

And ruin the surprise?

Actually there won't be a great surprise 'cos they both sound like Jamiroquai!!

The first one is way better then the second, Funk Oddesy 2002 is rather good too (say 50%)

Finess said:

Are they as good as 'A Funk Odyssey'? I KNOW you love that album,right? The song "Love Foolosophy" reminds me so much of the Disco days!

Fhunkin said:

'A Funk Odyssey' is a classic,imo.It's the type of record that I wish Prince,George Michael or Michael Jackson would make.

Indeed the first two albums are the bees knees

Much love Pochacco

Didgeree-fucking-do. That's what you can expect

Seriously though, I thought the first two albums displayed a wider range of styles. Jay-Kay will always be primarily disco, as that's the formula he prefers and is recognised by.

I think they've got stronger with every album, Funk Odyssey is awesome from start to finish and the live shows were just one big party. Go out and get the first two and enjoy. Emergency On Planet Earth is my personal favourite out of the two.

what to expect...

as Return of the Space Cowboy and ravelling without moving are their best albums. no doubt about it.

Emergency is the second best album.

Synchronized is trash, and 2001 is different again.

synchronized is their only bad album!

return of the space cowboy comes 2nd bottom!

then travelling

then emergency

then funk

Emergency did nothing for me. Listened to it and gave it away.

DavidEye said:

Who has the time to do a track-by-track review:

Here's what you need to know,Cowboy:

a) the first album sounds like Stevie Wonder in Australia;

b) the second album is a sophomore slump: it's slow and dull.

...seriously: that is exactly the way it is. "Syncronized" is fun, isn't it?

listen to em and you'll agree! Isn't "Funk Oddessy" a fun cd? The first two songs are great! "Love Foolosophy" is my favorite song by Jay Kay! That is just a great song!

Remember whern Prince albums used to beyouthful and fun like this,Rainbow Child?

it's funny u mentioned Jamiroquai that's what i have in my Car CD Deck right now. actually, i have A Funk Odessey in the deck but nevertheless it's a smoove Album & i need 2 COMPLETE my catolgue becuz they r the Funk. i love the Music compositions they put 2gether & if there r other bands out there like em, hook a brotha up!!!

There's a lot of folks that may be chiming in soon saying that the first two Jamiroquai albums are the best, and the only good stuff the group did.

But personally, I find they got better with each album. And I don't particularly care for the first two- I gave them away. Funk Odyssey is a fantastic album.

The first CDs are the best IMO.

Best tracks on "Emergency...": When You Gonna Learn, Blow Your Mind

Best tracks on "...Space Cowboy": Space Cowboy, Mr. Moon

They only really put out one good album. The others just repeat old formulas; and they rely way too much on disco beats.

They had a more acid-jazz feel on Emergency, which they blended with funk on Space Cowboy. IMO, Jamiroquai's first two albums are their crowning achievements -- I think they lost their way a bit in later years (though I also liked Travelling Without Moving and Synkronized).

Though I appreciate songs like "Love Foolosophy" and "Canned Heat", I think the band would have been better served had they spent more time emulating Stevie Wonder rather than KC and the Sunshine Band...

Pick up their first two albums -- you won't be disappointed.

emergency on panet earth is one of the best albums that they have put out to date. GO PICK UP THE FIRST ALBUM!!!
it rox!!!

Thanks guys for your opinions/recommendations

I'm going CD shopping this weekend and I think I will pick up both CDs.Can't wait to hear them!

expect something actually original. or at least something rare in today's marketplace. they really kind of lost what they were about after the second one, becoming more of a disco-funk act rather than jazz-based. all those comparisons that JK got to Stevie Wonder's voice must have gone to his head. he forgot what he was about and was trying to be what Stevie Wonder was about (the funky Stevie, anyway). whether he came up short is for the individual listener to determine. but that's just my take on the career of Jamiroquai.

>Thanks guys for your opinions/recommendations

I'm going CD shopping this weekend and I think I will pick up both CDs.Can't wait to hear them!<

Really now...you were gonna pick these up anyway no matter what we said, right?

jtgillia said:

Yeah,that's true...lol...but I always enjoy hearing feedback from others

David,

IMO...Emergency is stillhis best album with Travelling and Funk Odyssey both running a close second. Return of the S.C. is a decent album but not a poor sophomore effort. Emergency is definitely one you'd like to pickup, as it still sounds as fresh as his most recent stuff.

Enjoy!

Thanks,Codshort!

I knew I would find you on this thread,since Jamiroquai is one of your favorite bands.

No prob, bro. I come around occasionally looking for intelligent threads, and your's are always thought -provoking. Glad to help.

I have experienced Jamiroquai's underground house hits...Space Cowboy being the absolute bests for me. The albums are a good buy, just get them! If you are a fan you can get a few head bops off of all the albums. You will shake ya thang for sure! I think this artist is VERY underrated as well.

Enjoyed the First Album more than the 2nd 2-1 IMHO.after that I've enjoyed Songs from follow-Up Projects but they haven't knocked me out with there Stevie Wonder meets Donna Summer's Vibe like they did at first IMHO.first Album I dug the Best overall&then after that Some really Good Stuff Scattered IMHO.I'll say this for them: when it comes time for a Greatest Hits&Re-Mixes I'll be first in line but as far having all of there Catelog? NAW!