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| Popmatters |
 Whenever Jamiroquai comes up in conversation, the words “guilty” and “pleasure” are almost guaranteed to follow. But what’s there to feel guilty about? What Jamiroquai does isn’t hurting anyone, except maybe whatever birds have sacrificed their lush plumage for frontman Jay Kay’s goofy trademark hats.Jamiroquai is sort of like M*A*S*H, the classic sitcom which squeezed 11 seasons of television out of a three year war. Jamiroquai’s retro-funk sound, nearly two decades along, still mines much of its sound from a period in the mid-‘70s when funk made the coke slide into disco. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, because fans of any artist are fickle, wishing for artistic development on one hand and longing for the sounds of the glory days on the other. Witness “All Good in the Hood”, (I’ve seen footage of the tony mansion in which Kay and his fleet of sports cars resides, and it’s hardly a “hood”) with its insistent Larry Graham bass and four on the floor dance rhythm. Even the slow jams (“Blue Skies”) sound either dated or classic, likely depending on whether you love or loathe Jamiroquai. It’s also where the album really stumbles, as there’s way too much of the half-speed stuff. It’s as though Kay’s age is catching up with him, and he needs more breaks in the live set where he can get away with not running up and down a conveyor belt. There are a few minor tweaks to the Jamiroquai template, like the noisy riffage of “Hurtin’”. But even when injecting a new flavor, Kay and Co. still seem hopelessly devoted to the ‘70s....full text |
| Slantmagazine |
| Buy at:Amazon Jamiroquai Rock Dust Light Star ***½ by Huw Jones on November 1, 2010 Jump to Comments (0) or Add Your Own If 2005's Dynamite was indeed as "sterile" as frontman Jay Kay has since claimed, then Jamiroquai's latest is a calculated effort to return to a more organic funk sound. Rock Dust Light Star is the group's first release in five years, and though Britain's dance floors have been abducted by dubstep and drum n' bass since then, the album seems to show complete disregard for the contemporary musical climate: Saxophone solos lead forays into 1970s blaxploitation disco, sweeping string sections underpin mellifluous moments and forceful thumpers alike, while Jay Kay swaggers through the album's 12 tracks with his quirky falsetto. It may not be edgy or innovative, but Rock Dust Light Star showcases vintage Jamiroquai at their catchiest and most confident. The group plays it safe with "She's a Fast Persuader" and lead single "White Knuckle Ride," classic-sounding Jamiroquai numbers blessed with irrefutable grooves. As is almost customary for artists returning from such a lengthy hiatus, the latter serves to show that the group isn't planning to alienate their faithful fanbase by suddenly reinventing themselves. Their trusted formula, then, is to have Jay Kay's falsetto gliding atop groovy electric basslines and the funkiest synth hooks this side of outer space. The results are a sort of postmodern disco-funk, served with all the trappings of '70s funk and all the feverish sensibilities of the glitterball era. Rock Dust Light Star also seems like Jamiroquai's most confident hour to date, with strings playing a more prevalent role than in any of their previous outings. "Blue Skies" is a warm ballad with a gorgeous string arrangement, while "Lifeline" and "Hey Floyd" make use of staccato strings to create two throbbing dance tunes. Moreover, Jay Kay and company toy with their songs' structural dynamic, if only for the hell of it. "Hey Floyd" opens with a bout of tribal percussion, bursts into an epic refrain, and finds its verses somewhere between Transylvania and Kingston, Jamaica in an offbeat reggae break. This is, however, the closest Rock Dust Light Star gets to even attempting any sort of expansion on the classic Jamiroquai sound. For the most part, this is an album that sticks to the staples that have served Britain's premier funk outfit so well until now. And while it's a wonder in itself that the group hasn't begun to sound stale yet, it's a shame that they don't feel more obliged to venture from their comfort zone, however comfortable that zone many be....full text |
| Contactmusic |
| Since forming in 1992 this outfit fronted by Jay Kay have amassed record sales of over 25 million, as well as landing international recognition in the form of 1997's Grammy Award. Having completed their contract with Sony they've now landed on the Mercury roster to present album number eight, due for release November 1 2010. For a band known for their funk sound the decision to open this record with 'Rock Dust Light Star' is rather strange due to it being somewhat subdued. Kay's smooth vocals are very much intact but a weak hook and unnecessary duration don't make for the best of starts. Thankfully 'White Knuckle Ride' is more familiar, mastering a mood both suited for grooving and chill out sessions, but it is far from being the crossover hit that is usually found on a Jamiroquai album. Unfortunately this moment fails to materialise, instead come the lightweight 'Two Completely Different Things' and the breezy 'Lifeline'. Rather surprisingly the highlight to be found is 'Blue Skies', which is built upon a beautiful melody to create an emotive ballad that avoids becoming overblown. Positioned at the central point of the release, it stands up to be counted unlike the rest of this offering....full text |
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