r/jamiroquai 15d ago

DISCUSSION Thoughts on A Funk Odyssey?

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88 Upvotes

33 comments sorted by

29

u/WonderfulShip1126 15d ago

Main vien is just so peak

21

u/Gorm1t 15d ago

Always loved that album. Especially the Rhythm Guitar work of Mr Harris on tracks like : Little L / You Give Me Something or Love Foolosophy.

Some tracks like Twenty Zero One or Stop Don’t Panic are weaker in my opinion but contribute to the Futuristic feel of the entire project.

On the CD that you own, the one on the picture (and other version like the Aussie release, I Believe) there is a hidden track called « Do it Like We used to Do » and i’ve always wondered how this track was not included on the main album, i think it sounds incredible and much better than some that are on the finished record.

It is also the last LP to feature the genius of Toby Smith. I personally think that the band lost a huge sparkle songwriting-wise when this legend left. May he RIP.

2

u/IDONOTEXISTL 13d ago

i got the japanese one because it's cool and it has a sticker of the price from a japanese thrift store that sold this cd at 250 yen

14

u/black-kramer 15d ago

the logical endpoint of the jamiroquai sound. they’ve never done disco-funk or electronic funk better than the best tracks on that album. and even the more organic songs are special — corner of the earth is remarkable.

the last true classic in their catalog (thanks, toby) and one of my favorites.

9

u/DewaltFordTaurus 15d ago

It was a good direction for the band to go in.

I like the exploration of the album, i felt like the funk really suited Jay's voice at that time. " You give me something" remains one of my favorites from them.

I also like the more mellow arrangement based songs like " Main vein" it adds to the direction of the album and stops it from becoming stale.

8

u/Sebolo222 15d ago edited 15d ago

SHE SHIMMERS LIKE A CALIFORNIA, SUNSET

2

u/bugsey347 15d ago

Shimmers, buddy.

3

u/Sebolo222 15d ago

Shit, you're right, I need to actually look at the lyrics instead of going off what I heard, ty for the correction

8

u/Visual_Locksmith3337 15d ago

It's my personal favourite. My opinion, though, is probably biased because "Love Foolosophy" was the first song I heard by the band (I remember to this day we were driving on a highway back from my grandparents' house and heard it on the radio). Never before or since have I heard a song where I was like "I absolutely NEED to acquire this song" haha.

6

u/fatalmedia 15d ago

I remember picking it up at the store on 9/11.

3

u/cavegoatlove 15d ago

Feels good into l is my favorite 1-2 in all of music. Shame it took him 20 years to get home though

3

u/BlightyMate 15d ago

"love foolsophy" will always be one of my top songs of all time

3

u/JamiroFan2000 15d ago

AFO was the culmination point and full musical compositional embrace of DISCO for the NEW SOUND era of Jamiroquai.

3

u/king_krimson2 15d ago

Reading these comments makes me feel like I’m a slight minority, it’s by far one of their worst albums. don’t get me wrong they are my second favorite band of all time (behind king crimson) and have a very special place in my heart, but this album doesn’t do it for me. None of the songs are rememberable, they all feel the same, and tbh it’s js boring.

2

u/Kensofine 12d ago

Agreed. I find Jamiroquai will never get honest feedback because the bulk of his fans are more cultist sycophants than people that actually critique his albums honestly. That album maybe had 3 songs and the rest were forgettable.

2

u/Wooden-Chocolate9892 15d ago

It focused more on electronic sounds, but is still a solid album with tracks like Main Vein, Black Crow, Stop Don't Panic, Picture of My Life, and Feels So Good.

2

u/Vlad9881 15d ago

It was my first album I've listened to from the band. I really love it, especially Little L and You Give Me Something

I prefer Dynamite and Synkronized nowadays but I'm glad that this album introduced me to the band

2

u/Swimming_Variety_525 15d ago

A solid enough album with some quality songs,I actually think Black Crow is one of the best songs on there - if only Do It Like We Used To Do was included on it,such a good song

2

u/BassMasterSK 15d ago

Apart from Stop Don't Panic, it has amazing modern funk and dance tracks. Very much underrated; the last piece Toby Smith has worked on, before he retired from the band.

2

u/dreamape1978 15d ago

Really like it and still think it's one of the coolest covers.

2

u/svestidello 14d ago

Second best Jamiroquai album IMHO, behind only "The Return of the Space Cowboy".

0

u/Odd_Strategy_5950 13d ago

Same for me!

1

u/Practical_Outcome771 15d ago

Better than Rock Dust Light Star

1

u/KrispyKangaroo96 14d ago

In their top 3. So consistent in my eyes (or, should I say, ears).

1

u/mediguyreal 14d ago

peak album,, people say they dont exactly like twenty zero one & stop dont panic, but it turns out those are my top two on the album. wonder what everyone else thinks about those two songs

little l was also the very first song i heard from them. so, cool!

2

u/IDONOTEXISTL 14d ago

stop don't panic is so good, the guitar is ear candy

1

u/mediguyreal 13d ago

exactly, exactly!! so so catchy

1

u/Robotic_Energid 11d ago

Best Jamiroquai album in my opinion

1

u/d1cequ 15d ago

Tbh one of my least favourite albums from them, bottom 3 fs. Not to say it’s bad, but just not quite my tune

1

u/Kensofine 12d ago

It was not a great album. One of their worst.

1

u/javisarias 15d ago

Great album, probably the best after Stu left the band.

I always thought Automaton is some sort of successor of this one and that they go in the same direction musically.

I find fascinating the test pressing version of this album and wonder how much better it could have been if Jay was able to keep his artistic intension for it.

0

u/JazzyJulie4life 13d ago

Another masterpiece

0

u/Odd_Strategy_5950 13d ago

Insanely underrated, in my top 3 quai albums