A Funk Odyssey

Jamiroquai | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 11, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00005NZKM
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (102 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #117,112 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

After scoring the crossover hit "Virtual Insanity" in 1998 (remember the moving sidewalk video?), the U.K.'s Jamiroquai failed to keep their momentum alive with the somewhat scattered and skittish Synkronized. Thankfully for fans of the retro (if lightweight) pop/soul that is the band's specialty, Jamiroquai are back with their most cohesive effort since 1995's Return of the Space Cowboy. There's still too much blathering on about the cosmos from Stevie Wonder-inspired vocalist Jason Kay, the most egregious example being the subdued and folksy "Black Crow," which takes the bird-in-flight cliché to new lows. Better and much more rugged are the sizzling synth-driven "2001" and the guitar-stoked rave-up "Stop! Don't Panic." That's where the guys bring the funk with more bite than you'd expect. --Amy Linden

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stu Zender has moved on...let it go, June 14, 2006

By 

Theresa (Columbus, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Funk Odyssey (Audio CD)

The first three Jamiroquai albums are great/groundbreaking and Stu Zender's bass playing had a lot to do with their misical richness. "Synchronized" was a pretty good album (it took some time to grow on me admittedly) but "A Funk Odyssey" is even better. Yes, it's very different from earlier disks, but it is very funky head bopping music. The first two tracks ("Feel So Good" and "Little L") are especially good. I also really like the last track "Picture of My Life" (and it would be awesome if "Feel So Good to be Real" was released as a full track). I got a better appreciation for this album after watching the Jamiroquai: Live in Verona DVD - check it out if you haven't already (I got mine on Ebay). This is good music - give it a chance and embrace Jamiroquai's new direction.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Circa 1979, February 3, 2003

By 

Donovan Juan (Perth, WA Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Funk Odyssey (Audio CD)

I have been a fan of Jamiroquai since I first heard "Return of the Space Cowboy". Back in the day, Jay Kay and Co were actually a funk band; and a damn good one as well. Over the course of Travelling Without Moving and Synkronized, we saw the band rise to superstardom (and Grammy nominations) only to fall apart with the departure of brilliant bassist Zender.

Popularity and band politics aside, the music that Jamiroquai have been making has changed greatly since "Emergency on Planet Earth". Back in the day, Jay Kay was compared to Stevie Wonder since the songs had a social consciousness about them and the sounded like they could very well be lost songs from an "Innervisions" era Stevie. As time progressed, they have given up their acid jazz roots (ie have become less funk-soul) and have embraced disco beats. I can hear voices crying out in the wilderness the words on everyone's lips;

SELLOUTS!!!

But that is where you would be wrong. What is happening to the band is more interesting than simply selling out. Instead of staying the same they are changing, but they are changing in a way that befits their retro-styling; the are evolving like a band during the 1970s ala Earth, Wind and Fire.

First, the begin as an experimental funk band (even utilising a didgeridoo) on their first album, master this style on Space Cowboy, reach the pinnacle of this style with "Virtual Insanity" and then within a blink of an eye the transition begins as the begin the disco vibes with "Cosmic Girl", continue it throughout Synkronized (especially "Canned Heat") and eventually find this new style fully developed on Funk Odyssey. The sound has changed from circa 1972 Stevie to circa 1979 Michael Jackson ("Off The Wall" era).

In fact, a comparison of "Off The Wall" with "Funk Odyssey" finds some similarities. "You Give Me Something" could be a long lost cousin of MJ's title track "Off The Wall". "Workin' Day and Night" could be very well related to "Little L". Black Crow is the most early Jamiroquai of the new material and on Jackson's album he features a Stevie Wonder song.

So, the point of Jamiroquai's change should not be commercial success (though it has happened). The thing to watch is just how the sound has evolved as a band DID during the 1970s. In 100 years or more, people may look back at the development of the band and assume that they must have been a 70s band since they began as a legitimate funk band and slowly became a popular disco group. This gets my thumbs up (for the record, I prefer Return of the Space Cowboy but I am open to change).

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Jam Jam Jam on Jamiroquai, March 1, 2002

By 

L. Anderson "astroluc" (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Funk Odyssey (Audio CD)

I have heard that Jamiroqai fell out of favor with Synkronized because if favored more of their disco funk influence... And we all know of (well, we DON'T, which is my whole point) the US's odd angst and harsh feelings towards any genre that even reminds it of DISCO! I agree that Synkronized was not their best effort; but my question is HOW CAN EVERYTHING BE GREAT? Dance music is good only on Friday and/or Saturday nights, according to the American mainstream... Now here is this darn UK act that seduced us into liking them with "Travelling Without Moving" (Collective thinking) and they BETRAY us by releasing a DANCE album??? Well, FIRST; it's Jamiroquai... Not dance. Although it is dancable. It is Jamiroquai. Pre-Dertermined labels be damned. It is what it is. NOTHING else. And so what if it's funky and fun? Does everything have to be serious, sordid, morbid, and Rock??? "A Funk Odyssey" rocks... Pure and simple. They are consistent and quality. Jam... Jam... Jam on Jamiroquai.