Synkronized

Product Description

Sony Soho, 494517 Jewel Case 11 Track 2001

Product Details

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