Product Description

On their fourth record, Jamiroquai continue their quest to drag dance music into the new millennium with a sound that fuses influences from the past with an international spin. This time around, Jamiroquai uses the string-heavy Gamble & Huff arrangements of classic '70s Philly soul as its musical touchstone. Songs such as "Canned Heat" and "Butterfly" establish a mood that moves from booty-shaking grooves to hypnotic head-bobbing thanks to generous dollops of fuzz bass, darting strings and propulsive percussion.
Even though frontman Jay Kay's vocals are a little too reminiscent of Stevie Wonder's upper register, the addition of wicked Clavinet and wah-wah guitar point the musical vibe more towards Curtis Mayfield and Isaac Hayes, particularly on the blaxploitative funk of "Soul Education" and "Black Capricorn Day". "Supersonic" is a multi-cultural smorgasbord that finds Jamiroquai crossing Latin-flavoured percussion with the otherworldly sounds of the Australian didgeridoo. The result is an aural playground of bouncing rhythms and electronic effects.

Track Listing

1. Canned Heat
2. Planet Home
3. Black Capricorn Day
4. Soul Education
5. Falling
6. Destitute Illusions
7. Supersonic
8. Butterfly
9. Where Do We Go From Here?
10. King For A Day
11. Deeper Underground

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13317 in Music
• Released on: 2001-09-10
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
With songs that fall exactly in between early Michael Jackson and Taste of Honey, Jamiroquai's Synkronized is a funk-disco inferno that is distinguished from its 1970s counterparts only by its 1990s production. It contains all the same ingredients: wah-wah guitar, electric piano, soft-sided strings oozing out melody, pot-bellied bass and a blasted-out horn section that evokes images of three guys stepping in sync while their sequined flairs swipe over white patent-leather loafers. While the funk is steamy enough to flatten the tallest 'fro, Jay Kay's impeccable ability to emulate Stevie Wonder's vocals brings on the cool side. But the album isn't all about a time warp. Just when you think Jamiroquai aren't going to step a toe beyond 1978, "Supersonic", the seventh track, throws down an acid-house riff that works in didgeridoo and a synthed-out cowbell. "Where Do We Go from Here" rocks with a leapfrogging blues piano and tangy bongos. The album's grand finale, "King for a Day", is a regal rock-operatic excursion embellished with fully orchestrated piano and strings. Overall, this Jamiroquai jamfest is an irreplaceable summer-in-the-city album.--Beth Massa

Customer Reviews

Another Triumph
My all time greatest band Jamiroquai has created a masterpiece in this, their fourth album.

This album seems to stray from the Acid Jazz roots apparent in their previous albums, which angered many fans. I have to say though, there is alot more 'pop' experimentation, but... I love it. In fact the song 'Deeper Underground' was the first song I had heard from this group when I was younger, and now I own every other album. Even after hearing everything else by them this album still holds charm.

When I say experimentation, I mean experimentation. Almost every song is different, Canned heat is very different to Deeper Underground for example. There is alot of dance, pop and still just a pinch of jazz in this album that makes it very versatile and enjoyable to listen to.

Jay-Kay's finest hour
Exceptional album.
Jamiroquai are one of these bands for whom it took a while to realise their potential. But when it happened, it was explosive.
Inside 'Space Cowboy' and 'Return Of' was 'Synkronized' screaming to be let out.
It combines acid funk (Planet Home) with jazzy dance (Canned Heat) to create a truly rich sound which never stops. There's always something exciting happening in this album, without letup.
It features plenty of standout tracks, but the greatest moments are 'Capricorn Day' and 'King For A Day', both of which show how far Jamiroquai have progressed since 'Emergency On Planet Earth'.

If there is a flaw with the album, it's the samey lyrical themes, in that Jay-Kay seems obsessed with the boy-girl theme, and particularly the 'when it all goes wrong' side of things. Gets a little grating if you listen for the words. Ignore the vast majority of them, however, and you'll experience of the finest albums of '99.

Different sounding to the previous albums but still ace!
Although Jamiroquais forth album is not as good as the previous three and is more commerical than any of its predicessors, it is still a brilliant album. The best song on it is definately "falling" with its excellent intro and funky beats.