I feel obliged to write about this album for several reasons.
Firstly, I dont write about many albums. Basically I dont think they are a particularly interesting subject.
"The Songs are good/Bad" is about the limit of of the info I can provide.
That was until J K decided to enlighten the ... Read review
The Buckinghamshire Space Cowboy continues to ride his turbo-charged fusion of funk and ... more
disco with A Funk Odyssey, the follow-up to 1999's Synkronized. There's the characteristic boogie groove of tracks like "Love Foolosophy" and "Little L", plus a sup...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
The Buckinghamshire Space Cowboy continues to ride his turbo-charged fusion of funk and ... more
disco withA Funk Odyssey, the follow-up to 1999'sSynkronized. There's the characteristic boogie groove of tracks like "Love Foolosophy" and "Little L", plus a super...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
...and all fave that 70's funk Flavour. I dont mind that but once you have heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times.
With this album, its different. His music seems to have matured in such a way that his songs are more diverse in tastes and they will appeal to a much wider audience.
no more sole floor stomping disco tunes....
Now there is something for everyone.
Lets look at the complete package. ...start followed by an electro funk sound. Typical Old Jamiroquai you may think. Much more space age with strange sound effects. A great Album track that will no doubt be released.
A Very happy tune.
Track 2) Little L.
The first track of the Album to be release as a single. Out now, it is written about his long time girlfriend whom he has just split from, Denise Van outen. Another fllor filler with a true 70's sound. more
I feel obliged to write about this album for several reasons. Firstly, I dont write about many albums. Basically I dont think they are a particularly interesting subject. "The Songs are good/Bad" is about the limit of of the info I can provide. That was until J K decided to enlighten the world with his latest addition to his discography. I have had it since Saturday. (Downloaded,oops!) and frankly is one of the best albums I have heard in ages.
Let it be known im not a big Jamiroquai fan normally. I find their songs repetitive and bland on the previous albums. They all sound the same and all fave that 70's funk Flavour. I dont mind that but once you have heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times.
With this album, its different. His music seems to have matured in such a way that his songs are more diverse in tastes and they will appeal to a much wider audience. no more sole floor stomping disco tunes.... Now there is something for everyone.
Lets look at the complete package.
Cover. ------ Quite dark with its black background. This is repeated on the reverse of the case too but it means its easy to pick out on the shelves in HMV next to the brightly coloured competition. Good marketing trick boys!!! The Back has the tracks listed on it. The Front Cover has a picture of Jay jumping into one of his famous dance routines and even more famous hats! Its shot with a form of electovision to give it a neon effect.
The Songs. ----------
Track 1) Feels so good. Takes a long time to get started this one. Wind howling to set a moody start followed by an electro funk sound. Typical Old Jamiroquai you may think. Much more space age with strange sound effects. A great Album track that will no doubt be released. A Very happy tune.
Track 2) Little L. The first track of the Album to be release as a single. Out now, it is written about his long time girlfriend whom he has just split from, Denise Van outen. Another fllor filler with a true 70's sound.
Track 3) You give me something. My personal favourite. Im always singing along to it. Reminds me of my Beautiful wife because I catch her singing along to it too. She does not sing to many but she likes this one. A softer tune with a nice happy bassline. This is used to advertise the album on the TV.
Track 4) Corner of the Earth. Sounds like a Curry house to me this song at the beginning. Excellent when it gets going. Very indian feeling. Once it has started it sounds very nice. A cool summer song when you are driving on some country road somewhere with the one you love. A completely unexplored avenue for Jay. Its excellent so I hope he writes more ballads in this form.
Track 5) Foolosophy. Back in the 70's groove for a typical Jamiroquai song. Not too memorable as it sounds like his older stuff. Fine if you are looking for some Jamiroquai nostalgia.
Track 6) Stop, Dont Panic. Is this really the Space Cowboy? Sounds more like the chemical Brothers. My Favourite out of the faster songs because of the Chemical Brothers type sounds.
Track 7) Black Crow. Another slow song. Sounds more like a Japanese song though this one at the beginning. Soon develops into a ballad without the drums though I notice for most of the song.
Track 8) Main Vein. Sounds like "working at the Car wash". Back to the 70s for a typical J K Disco song.
Track 9) 2001. Another great song. More like a Hip hop record though. A great song to start getting the OLD SKOOL cardboard and lino out and drop some windmills! Only people over 25 will probably understand what I mean! Cmon, you were there!
Track 10)Picture of my life. Another slow song. An applicable lyric from this song " Ive become a Man". Its true. His song writing seems to have matured and obviously mellowed. Has memoried of "This is the return of the Space Cowboy" for me with all the Der DOO DOO DOO DO bits.Track 11) Do it like we used to. A very fast 70's style song. Sounds like it should be at home in Starsky and Hutch.
Well thats about it apart from to say, get this album. Its absolutely brilliant without any weak links. There is something for everyone on it and I like it all.
Advantages: Consistant with previous albums, great sound Disadvantages: One more track at least
Jamiroquai are a very successful band but exactly how they became this successful is said in this album and the four that came before it. Yes a fifth album, somewhat of a milestone for many bands, so why did JK decide on another album, well this opinion will tell all.
~ History ~
Jamiroquai released their first album in 1993. Called ‘Emergency On Planet Earth’ it goes down a storm for me personally and shows many of the characteristics ... ...‘The Return Of The Space Cowboy’ another hit album (although I don’t own this one) in a similar style to the first. The third album ‘Travelling Without Moving’ is arguably the best album to date but it depends on the way in which you look at the facts as to which of the five is the best, its that close. The fourth album ‘Synkronized’ released in 1999 was also very good and was helped on its way by having ...
eljimbob 15.09.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Funk Odyssey, A - Jamiroquai
This is my first album review and I thought I would vary people’s normal style of reviewing an album and just write this on the first listen to it. Feel so Good
************
This song got right into my stomach. It is slightly different of Jamiroquai’s style although incorporates a slightly more electronic feel than usual. The most noticeable point is an electronic vibe that really grates (but not in a bad way) on your bones. A nice ... ...not sure it would ever become a single.
Little L
********
A funky sleek number, Jamiroquai’s latest single. Personally I love this song. It just makes me want to dance !!! This song makes me want to shimmy all over the place in spangley dresses. The tune is very smooth and is quite typical of Jamiroquai’s style. You Give Me Something
*********************
Hmm, first thought that this track conjures up is hop skippety jumping through ...
Hippylongstocking 26.09.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Funk Odyssey, A - Jamiroquai
Advantages: Fantastic album, great tracks to name just 2 Disadvantages: err....
I am a bit of a Jamiroquai fan so I apologise if you notice any biased comments during in this review, but this is a fantastic album. This is Jamiroquai's 5th album and so when I bought I expected it to be pretty good..........but I didnt expect it to be this good.
The cover of the album quite psychadelic and a bit weird with its black background and blasts of light coming out of Jay K (lead singer) who's jumping in the air. I guess this is appropriate ... ...of the cover so I dont think that matters too much.
Now to the album itself. I'm not going to describe every track to you in explicit detail because its quite hard to describe most of these tracks, however the one thing I will say which accounts for all tracks here is that before you listen to this you've got to forget what you already think about Jamiroquai and try to pretend this is a new artist you've not heard before. I think you'll enjoy the ...
tom_very1st 25.03.2005
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Funk Odyssey, A - Jamiroquai
Advantages: pure funk. Disadvantages: erm... ... I couldn't get the inlay out of the case. I think that's more my problem though.
Jamiroquai's 'A Funk Odyssey' - it does exactly what it says on the tin. 1. Feel So Good - Although it opens with an ominous windy sound, this track is exactly what we've come to expect from Jamiroquai; pure funk and acid jazz, only this time with no deep-rooted meaning. A no-brainer foot stomper this is, with a big bassline and a little funky guitar riff which (I think) is the sample referred to in the booklet. A definite contender for the next ... ...reggae sound blended into the funk here, with serious skill. It's rare that a band of this style can convey proper emotions in a song, but Jamiroquai always seem to manage it and this track is no exception. A love song for the new funk generation.
Funk-o-meter: ****
4. Corner Of The Earth - The first slow song of the album and one about being 'as one' with nature. After a strange Arabian-sounding intro. an acoustic guitar provides the main tune ...
VincentM-M 09.09.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Funk Odyssey, A - Jamiroquai
Advantages: A feel good disco album Disadvantages: only 11 tracks but thats not all bad
This is jamiroquai's fifth album to date and I reckon by far his best, following his recent controversial split from his long time girlfriend denise van outen, he didnt waste any time in putting together this stonking album. It has 11 tracks of funky disco upbeat music, with a couple of soppy songs thrown in for good measure. Little L was the first track to be released from the album and is currently doing well in the charts and to my mind is the ... ...yet in our shops til september 3rd, but you can download it from various sites. As far as his music goes, it was probably a good idea to split as it has drove him to release probably hiss best material yet. But dont take my word for it, try listening to it yourself! ...
only1thatbites 30.08.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Funk Odyssey, A - Jamiroquai
Product Information for "Funk Odyssey, A - Jamiroquai" »
Product details
Title
Funk Odyssey, A
Performer
Jamiroquai
Genre
R&B
Sub Genre
Soul
Release Date
03/09/2001
Original Release Year
2001
Label / Distributor
Sony Soho2 / Sony Music/Arvato Services
Producer
Jay Kay; The Pope
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Studio
Stereo
Stereo
Format
Performer
EAN
5099750406922
Catalogue Number
5040692
Additional notes
Album Notes
Jamiroquai: Jay Kay (vocals); Rob Harris (guitar); Toby Smith (keyboards); Nick Fyffe (bass); Derrick McKenzie (drums); Sola Akingbola (percussion). Additional personnel: Paul Stoney (programming). The indifferent welcome accorded 1999's SYNCHRONIZED may have thrown British funk outfit Jamiroquai off following the smashing success of 1997'S TRAVELLING WITHOUT MOVING, but the British funk outfit rebounded nicely with 2001's introspective and invigorating A FUNK ODYSSEY. Frontman Jay Kay continues to sound like Stevie Wonder's long-lost son as he mixes in the bossa nova-influenced "Picture Of My Life" with harder-driving fare like the theme-song-looking-for-a-blaxploitation-movie "Main Event." Stretching out, Jamiroquai also includes other introspective excursions like the folk-tinged "Black Crow" as well as the beautifully spiritual "Corner Of The Earth." Longtime fans need not fear, as moving people's feet remains a big part of the equation, whether it's the Kraftwerk-style breaks of "2001," the infectious house vibe of the first single "Little L," or the bottom-heavy bang of "You Give Me Something." The combination of carefully penned lyrics and unrelenting grooves makes Jamiroquai one of the few contemporary groups cleaving to the P-Funk mantra that if you free your mind, your ass will follow.
Album Reviews
Q (9/01, p.112) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...A certified thoroughbred. This time, there's a bankable chorus or barbed sentiment for every mirror-ball moment....demonstrating that no-one does sci-fi boogie quite as well as he does sci-fi boogie..." CMJ (9/17/01, p.12) - "...Works as the perfect mixed tape to snap your fingers to on your way to another universe..."
Titles on disc 1
1.
Feel So Good
2.
Little L
3.
You Give Me Something
4.
Corner Of The Earth
5.
Love Foolosophy
6.
Stop Don't Panic
7.
Black Crow
8.
Main Vein
9.
Twenty Zero One
10.
Picture Of My Life
11.
So Good To Feel Real
Ciao
Listed on Ciao since
30/08/2001
Compare Funk Odyssey, A - Jamiroquai to other similar House, R&B, Soul & Rap »
![Clubland Vol.16 [PA] - Various Artists](http://imagesb.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/297/prod_small-7374297.jpg)
