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 Jamiroquai's Idealistic & Socially-Conscious Debut!! Nov 10, 2009
This was a good album, though kind of wobbly in places...that's why I gave it 4 stars.
It was Jamiroquai's 1992 debut and Jay Kay was very idealistic & youthful in his outlook
at this point in their history. There are alot of save the rainforests, preserve the earth,
change-our-wicked-ways-and-shun-commercialism messages throughout this album, but the
way it is presented is in a jazzy-funky (acid jazz) way which was all the rage in
the U.K. during the early 90's. Groups like Jamiroquai, The Brand New Heavies and others
grew up listening to 70's american funk bands like Ohio Players, The Kay-Gees,
early Kool & The Gang, Brass Construction, etc., in addition to 70's jazz fusion bands
like Roy Ayers Ubiquity, The Blackbyrds, Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes, etc.
and they added in some classic disco 4/4 beats to rework it into something that swept
Europe's music/club scene like wildfire in the 90's!
This album sold very well for Jamiroquai, but it would be their sophomore album,
one of my favorites, 1994's "Return Of The Space Cowboy", which would go multi-platinum
over 6 countries and make them international superstars with sadly, only a small
but devoted following in the U.S. during their hey-dey.
After that, Jay Kay abruptly changed his stance on mass materialism/commercialism
and became the snotty, hot-tempered, fisticuffs-dealing, ego-driven,
A-hole media brat that fed the fire for the british tabloids and boasted
multi-million dollar (pound) homes and a fleet of ferraris!
Oops, So much for idealism! (-:
But Jamiroquai did continue to pump out some good music up until 2001's "Funk Odyssey" IMHO.
The thing I love about these early albums though is that Stuart Zender's awesome
bass playing is prominent throughout!--That guy was amazing!
Too bad he left after 1998's "Traveling Without Moving" following a major tiff with Jay Kay.
But this CD still has some pretty good stuff on it as well.
"Too Young To Die", "Emergency On Planet Earth", "If I Like It, I Do It",
"Music Of The Mind", "Blow Your Mind" and others still make my head bob some 17 yrs later.
I actually bought this album after I already had "Space Cowboy" and
"Traveling Without Moving" to get an understanding of their earliest work.
If you're into Jamiroquai though, this is a must in their discography.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
No dancing-floor hits!!! Jul 27, 2008
The first release of a band that currently doesn't sound like it used to on this album, circa 1993, which makes it a cool retrospective like looking at an old photograph. Probably this album has the real essence of what Jamiroquai was when the band disguised as eco-terrorists rather than trying hard to sound like Stevie Wonder remixed.
Good one and, maybe, even better than some of their subsequent releases.
DON'T expect mainstream songs or big dancing-floor hits!!! However, very good music is granted indeed except for one or two experimental songs...
Recommended for those trying to keep appart from the mainstream, but not yet on the alternative side.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 One Of The Best Albums Sep 14, 2007
As a musician, Bassist/drummer, I thought that this was one of their best albums. Especially: Music Of The Mind. It goes into 3 different variations, very creative on the bass movements.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
Their first and best in my opinion. Feb 26, 2006
I own all of Jamiroquai's cd's and i think most of them are great. This is absolutely my favorite to listen to straight through. I think the horns are amazing especially on "Hooked Up", and the percussion always ends up pushing the pace in a subtle way. This album just makes me move and I think JK and co. have so much raw energy. Stuart on Bass is sick sick sick straight through. "Revolution 1993" has become my favorite song by Jamiroquai -- love the lyrics, the message, the excitement, the tension/release, its just put together so well. "Music of the Mind" is a great instrumental track and shows off the jazz-rock-funk roots of what became the later disco-enhanced Jamiroquai. Sweet solos too, the keys are great. Also love "Too Young To Die" and "Emergency On Planet Earth". Impressive debut from a band, and it stands as one of my favorite discs.
2 of 3 found the following review helpful:
jamiroquai are soo cool!!!!! Nov 07, 2005
this album is my first from jamiroquai, and i think this album is great!!! "when you gonna learn" and " too young to die" are great songs and "music of the mind" too. if you love and like funk music buy this cd!!
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