Fridae

After almost a decade in the scene, Jamiroquai is still singing about space, the cosmos, the galaxy, and everything else ever mentioned in Star Trek. Apparently, they are still calling occupants of interplanetary craft and expecting them to answer.

Still using their disco-funk trademark sound from an era long forgotten, A Funk Odyssey (remember 2001: A Space Odyssey?) is really not an "odyssey" musically. The most it will probably do to you is make you feel like you've just listened to it yesterday, then make you realize that 10 years have passed, and finally leave you depressed at this newfound revelation.

Repetitiveness aside, A Funk Odyssey is somewhat more varied and colorful compared to their previous efforts. The first single, Little L, is memorable and danceable, and so is Love Foolosophy (just ignore the tacky title). The orchestral intro of Corner Of The Earth is refreshing, while Picture Of My Life is probably one of their best ballads to date, showing that front man Jay Kay sounds even better when he's not trying to do the splits while singing. However, I still don't get how he often ends up being compared to Stevie Wonder.

With acts like Daft Punk and Spiller dominating the dance floors with their versions of retro disco-funk fused with modern dance beats, it's due time for Jamiroquai to try something else.

As good as it always has been, plain old vanilla just doesn't cut it anymore. Maybe they should try the other 30 flavors.