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Dye
Correspondent & Expert
Joined: 16 Nov 2003
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Location: Planet Home; Buenos Aires, Argentina
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 Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 19:06 |
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High Times: Singles 1992 2006 ARTICLES AND REVIEWS ONLINE
Hello Jamirotalkers,
Random articles and reviews on the Singles album. Post what you find.
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Jamiroquai's Jay Takes a Break
Written by James Hutchinson
Published November 08, 2006
Jay Kay, frontman and lead vocalist for acid jazz outfit Jamiroquai, has decided to call it quits for a year. The band's greatest hits compilation, High Times: Singles 1992-2006 hit shelves yesterday, effectively ending the eight-album contract that the band had with Sony. Jay has taken this move as an opportunity to take a year off and end that part of his career.
Jay is reported as saying, "I like the sense of closure that the greatest hits album has to it. I've closed this chapter of my career at the right time and it's great. I'm ready to move on and see what comes next - a year off, that's the plan."
Hopefully, the year off will afford the frontman the ability to regain the creativity that has been somewhat lacking in the last two or three years. The magic of songs like "Travelling Without Moving" was slowly replaced by more unfortunate clichéd songs like "(Don't) Give Hate a Chance," from 2005's Dynamite and, more recently, Runaway, one of the two original tracks on the High Times compilation. Of course, that isn't to say they aren't good songs - they just don't show the quality of his earlier work, and as such, news like this has drawn little criticism.
Coldplay, now Jamiroquai - who will be the next mainstream British band to take a break from the scene? |
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Jamiroquai - High Times: Singles 1992-2006 (Columbia)
UK release date: 6 November 2006
3 stars out of 5
track listing
1. When You Gonna Learn
2. Too Young To Die
3. Blow Your Mind
4. Emergency On Planet Earth
5. Space Cowboy
6. Virtual Insanity
7. Cosmic Girl
8. Alright
9. High Times
10. Deeper Underground
11. Canned Heat
12. Little L
13. Love Foolosophy
14. Corner Of The Earth
15. Feels Just Like It Should
16. 7 Days In Sunny June
17. Don't Give Hate A Chance
18. Runaway
19. Radio
When Jay Kay burst onto the scene in the early '90s with his squiffy buffalo headgear, Stevie Wonder vocals and the occasional didgeridoo, it looked like a throw-back to the 'glory days' of jazz-funk in the mid-'80s when the slap-bass of Level 42 ran amok and white men desperately tried to 'get down', while looking like geography teachers having a mid-life crisis, driving white Ford Capris (ask yer dad) with fluffy dice and no sense of irony.
Thankfully Jay Kay had the moves, the youth, the grooves and his tongue in his cheek (and countless womens'), although not the god-like vision his sleevenotes would credit him with, to bring this much-maligned genre into contemporary focus.
Jamiroquai is always spoken of as a group but is in reality centred around frontman Jay Kay and his revolving bandmates. As this playboy such was his fondness for dolly birds, dust-ups and 'dusting his nose' that he looked like becoming a caricature better known for his fists than his hits. Luckily last year's Dynamite album saw Jay take stock of his songwriting, knock his powder habit into touch and return with some rubbery new rhythms that reeked of a clear head getting back to business.
As con 'best of's' go it's not a bad job, wisely opting for the chronological approach to track listings, there is a marked progression from the jazz-funk origins through to the sleek discoid core and the current funk-fuelled tuneage that we are familiar with, and perhaps too familiar with.
Admittedly there isn't a huge variety in his styles or lyrical concerns on display here. There seems to be three speeds to Jamiroquai: the fast, 'dirty' funk (Deeper Underground), the acoustic, mellow funk (Seven Days In Sunny June) or the soulless polished discoball...err...funk (Virtual Insanity). The real stinkers here are the aimless, the tuneless or the clueless; step forward Space Cowboy, High Times and newie Radio.
In true best of tradition there are two ubiquitous 'brand new tracks' of varying necessity. Single Runaway treads a familiar tired (sic) and tested disco-lite path, while Radio tries to dirty things up: "Let's do some crazy shit tonight." How you wish he would.
The lyrics of Jay Kay are never going to give scholars sleepless nights. Three out of the first four tracks here are virtually lyrically interchangeable in their eco-concerns, which at the time was alien, edgy and dangerous but today sounds like Coldplay...with didgeridoos. That said these early tracks were tasty, with personal concerns and highly accomplished acid jazz.
So what's the appeal to millions of global record-buying public? Basically good time music. A bit of disco, soul, funk and the allure of Saturday night mirrorballs spinning a bit of starlight into your stereo as an escape from the grime of the world. Heartbreak is glimpsed through a chink in the mirrorball armour on the trio of comedown classics Little L, Corner Of The Earth and the sublime Seven Days In Sunny June.
As a poster-boy for hedonism they could have done worse. With fancy footwork, tight basslines and swooping strings Jay took the disco beast and his host of rare groove influences and wove it into his own trademark sound. From one who has a passion for cars you can imagine that these sound fantastic burning rubber down the highways in your Lamborghini...or more realistically your pimped-Vauxhall Corsa.
The best that can be hoped for from this collection and Jamiroquai's subsequent freedom from his contract, is that it could allow him/them to take a few more risks and make his/their songs sound a bit more human instead of as finely-tuned and soulless as one of his beloved gas-guzzling motors. De-pimp his ride.
- Andy Petch-Jex |
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Amazon.co.uk Review
With a voice like Stevie Wonder, a production sound that recalls the string-laden, slinky-bass disco of Studio 54 and a penchant for funky dance moves and outlandish hats, Jamiroquai's Jay Kay has successfully managed to straddle the underground and mainstream for the best part of 15 years. High Times brings together 19 of his band's hits to date, ranging from early 90s acid jazz classics "When You Gonna Learn", "Too Young To Die" and "Blow Your Mind", to later successes such as "Canned Heat", "Cosmic Girl", "Virtual Insanity" and on to recent songs from 2005 album Dynamite, such as "Feels Just Like It Should" and "7 Days In Sunny June". There are also two new tracks - the current single "Runaway" and the edgier "Radio", both of which continue the Jamiroquai tradition of mildly euphoric dancefloor disco-soul. Despite sticking to a formula of sorts over the years, the songs on this collection compliment each other well and form an impressive overview of one of the UK’s most distinctive bands.--Danny McKenna
Description
After six studio albums spanning fourteen years of acid jazz, funk and dance, Jamiroquai's greatest hits collection gives a superb overview of a band who have been at the forefront of British pop for their entire career. This anthology includes early gems such as 'When You Gonna Learn' and 'Emergency On Planet Earth' as well as the band's biggest singles, taken from the hugely successful 'Travelling Without Moving',and more recent tracks including 'Feels Just Like It Should'. |
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New era in Jamiroquai’s creative work
In early 1990s there appeared a new band in Great Britain with an intriguingly strange name Jamiroquai. The band was then signed to the Acid Jazz label, and soon the name of the recording company stood for a whole musical direction, which the band since had adhered to. Its first single was When You Gonna Learn? It brought a worldwide popularity to front man Jay Kay and his band of musicians. Charismatic and stylish, the singer also possesses extraordinary vocal skills and ability to create unusual melodies, simultaneously catchy and complicated. Later Jamiroquai signed an eight-album record deal with Sony BMG Music Entertainment, and the first album to be released was 1993’s Emergency On Planet Earth; its themes of social consciousness, performed against a jazzy background attracted the audience at once, and the following record The Return Of The Space Cowboy was remarkable for a funkier sounding and new psychedelic elements. This year it’s already the turn for Jamiroquai’s eighth album High Times: Singles 1992-2006, a long-expected collection of the most popular singles. The album closes a whole chapter of Jay Kay’s life and symbolizes the beginning of a new era in the band’s creative work.
High Times: Singles 1992-2006 offers only the best
Jay Kay has been long delaying the release of such record, for he did not want it to consist of only some lucky songs and the rest fillers. Today Jamiroquai has got so many songs worthy of being included into the best collection, that the 19-tracks album High Times: Singles 1992-2006 is hardly enough to satisfy the fans. The record starts with the very first song that presented Jamiroquai to the audience, When You Gonna Learn, addressing to people with advice to be wiser and conscious of their deeds. Too Young To Die is the hit that has been remaining in charts for several weeks. This song expresses a protest against unfair wars and has touched the hearts of many listeners. A very emotional composition Emergency On Planet Earth is from Jamiroquai’s debut album, again calling everybody to pay attention to what is happening in the world. Such songs as Virtual Insanity and Deeper Underground are probably the most famous among numerous Jamiroquai’s creations. Ethereal composition Space Cowboy has become very popular on various radios, while comparatively recent songs Love Foolosophy, Feels Like it Should and (Don’t) Give Hate A Chance are well known to a younger generation. Yet Jamiroquai has saved surprise for the final – two splendid novel tracks: disco-styled composition Runaway and a funny rock number Radio are sure to make you ecstatic. On the whole, from the beginning and till the very end High Times: Singles 1992-2006 offers only the best.
Worrisome truthfulness of Jamiroquai’s music
Jay Kay assured the listeners long ago that each time Jamiroquai releases an album it becomes a hit. High Times: Singles 1992-2006 includes the most outstanding songs that have somehow influenced the whole music industry and remained in many people’s memory forever, though one cannot find here King For A Day and You Give Me Something. New songs add a special value to this record, hinting at the fact that the band is already working on the following creation, and is ready to start a new period in its career. What has always differed Jamiroquai from other bands is the lyrical honesty, Jay Kay’s texts that often deal with some urgent problems and sometimes even turn out to have predicted the future. Nothing is able to change the singer’s opinion and prevent him from giving his music a worrisome truthfulness. Today the front man of Jamiroquai is only 37 years old and his wit gets only sharper as the time passes. Jamiroquai has become the symbol of the British acid jazz movement and the band that has never turned from the direction chosen at the beginning of its work. Listening to High Times: Singles 1992-2006 one can estimate each of the collective members’ evident professional growth and be glad that they are going to present us with immortal creations further on. |
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deesh
Joined: 23 Feb 2002
Posts: 2717
Location: +001
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| Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 16:32 |
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Thanks for creating this Dyego because I'm curious at the crafty way reviewers will review this album, since they aren't songs they are probably familiar with and they aren't new. I bet many will look alike since they are probably reading off the same press release. Anyway:
http://news.entertainment.msn.co.uk/20061103_albums_R390334.htm
Jamiroquai: "High Times - Singles 1992-2006 Special Edn + Bonus Cd"Has it really been 14 years since the cat in the ridiculous hat first sauntered onto the charts with When You Gonna Learn?
Love him or hate him, there's bound to be at least one Jay Kay track that holds a place in your heart, and if not your heart then certainly your dancing feet. Featuring all his biggest hits on one album (chronologically) for the very first time) it's seriously hard to resist Jamiroquai's brand of feelgood funk pop, with a decidedly Stevie-ish twist.
Earlier Acid Jazz flavoured cuts like Blow Your Mind and Return Of The Space Cowboy owe a debut to Gil Scott Heron, but as Kay's career progressed disco became his prime influence - particularly evident on groovy workouts such as Cosmic Girl, Little L and Canned Heat.
The band aren't quite so successful when they step outside the box, something the Latin flavoured ballad Corner Of The Earth highlights but when they concentrate on making you dance there's no beating em.
Two brand new recordings including Radio and the orchestral disco nugget Runaway make this an essential collection for newcomers and hardcore fans alike.
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Dye
Correspondent & Expert
Joined: 16 Nov 2003
Posts: 5146
Location: Planet Home; Buenos Aires, Argentina
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| Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 02:08 |
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Jamiroquai - High Times: Singles 1992 - 2006
Article by Nick Mitchell
In some circles ‘Jamiroquai’ has become a dirty word. Listening to High Times, their greatest hits collection, it’s difficult to decide where to assign the blame: at the insatiable ego of Jay Kay himself or at the musical evolution of the past fourteen years, during which time a guitar resurgence has blasted acid jazz clean out of the waters of credibility. The strictly-chronological flow of the singles here makes this dilemma easier to resolve. Despite his recent tabloid exploits, Jay Kay was once an intriguing persona – the diminutive, fleet-footed whiteboy with the outrageous hats and the voice of a black, female soul singer. And the first five singles – including Too Young to Die and Space Cowboy – are still irresistibly groovy. But then Britpop happened, Jay got his millions and his music degenerated into MOR twaddle like the lamentably-awful Corner of the Earth. Musically, those high times were short-lived indeed.
13 November 2006
HIGH TIMES FOR JAMIROQUAI IN ALBUM CHARTS
JK Holds Off All-comers
Funky songster, Jamiroquai, has stolen a march on a host of new entries on this week's UK album charts. The singer's greatest hits compilation 'High Times - Singles 1992-2006' made it to number one on debut despite strong sales from six other top ten debutantes.
Grannies' faves, Angelis, just miss out on top spot with their eponymously titled album whilst the only non-new entry in the top eight - Girls Aloud with 'The Sound Of - The Greatest Hits' drops from top slot to number three.
Damien Rice is the third highest debutant with his album '9' whilst operatic diva Katherine Jenkins pitches in at five with Serenade.
In a good week for the golden oldies Cliff Richard rocks up at 8 with a a host of friends on his 'Two's Company - The Duets' album and even 70's dancing Queens (and Kings) ABBA make it into the chart at 15 with their 'Number Ones'
Jamiroquai
High Times - Singles 1992 - 2006
Sony/BMG
2/5
You will already know whether you need a com- pilation of hits by funky, car-collecting Jay Kay, the court composer of Estuary England. But this is a value-for-money package, with more than a dozen half-familiar singles, each one a promising groove in search of a stronger melody, and embarrassingly hagiographic sleeve notes. Without the distinctive videos it tells only half the story so the matching DVD may be a better bet.
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deesh
Joined: 23 Feb 2002
Posts: 2717
Location: +001
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| Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 21:43 |
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This is a translation....
www.soundbase-online.com/index.php3?rub=konarchiv&id=283&PHPSESSID=e6a75cc08ee60ffac82b26f80224af1d
Jason Kay might admits to be like the proverbially multicolored dog. Whom the name is not directly present now, which can perhaps begin with Jamiroquai somewhat more. To beginning of career whole history was marketed still under a volume concept, however fast the focus of the public was directed less toward the fellow combatants Stuart Zender, Toby Smith and Derrik McKenzie, than on Jason. Its, we call it times, somewhat habituation-needy head coverages contributed fast to the myth approximately around the man. The topic environmental protection and a somewhat larger preference for fast cars were then also partially more interesting than the music. Also today Jason Kay still appears gladly times in the gossip press and is it also only, if he becomes palpable after club attendance. Actually harm! Harm, because the music speaks simply for itself, which one can after-hear once again impressively on the here available Singles Collection.
At the beginning of the 90's the music of Jamiroquai was safe a new fact. Where was there this mixture from radio, Soul and Disco otherwise still? Even if the concentration were always directed toward the singer, the instrument valleyists made those for volume only what it is. One sounds oneself only the guitar work with „Canned Heat “, the key board surfaces of „Alright “or the Drums with „DTE by Underground “. Frequent chord changes and here and there dezent assigned would caper-ring out resulted in at that time a completely new mixture. Who doesn't know it, Songs like „Too Young ton “, „space cowboy “or „Cosmic the Girl “? There again memories do not become awake, it gave a University of party, where not at least a Song was played by Jamiroquai. On this composition one can again after-hear and experience this all and so completely besides the Beatles effect will feel. Each Song a hit! And one knows it all. Excluded naturally the new pieces, which do not show no large change of style to be noticeable however further and. That will be perhaps the future dilemma, because everything is said actually.
Result: Christmas stands before the door and notices one clearly at the albums, which stack themselves on the table for discussion. No, actually I am not a friend of this whole compilation, which always cause something a bad taste. „High Time Singles 1992 - “one can like 2006 however without reservation to those to recommend, which stand for still nothing from Jamiroquai in the disk shelf have, the music however quite. Here one finds oneself everything belonged in clenched form, as it for a Singles Collection actually, but not always the case is. Here does hit follow after hit, what can expect one still more? Evenly! Thus loosely grooven and good mood wars. (TS)
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the_doesman
Officer
Joined: 11 Feb 2002
Posts: 425
Location: the Netherlands
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| Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 12:06 |
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Jamiroquai - High Times Singles 1992-2006
It's not much but I found this on the DUTCH news site Nu.nl in between all other very best of albums.
DUTCH:
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In chronologische volgorde komen op deze plaat alle singles voorbij en dan is het goed te horen wat een uniek buitenbeentje Jamiroquai toch is. Toen in 1992 zijn eerste singles verschenen was Acidjazz een hippe muziekstroming en doken er overal bands op die op vernuftige wijze jazz vertaalden naar de dansvloer. Na een paar jaar echter was er van de Acidjazz weinig meer over en raakten bijna alle acts in de vergetelheid. Op Jamiroquai na.
Door niet alleen swingende muziek te maken, maar deze ook nog eens te verpakken als goede liedjes weet zijn muziek met gemak de tand des tijds te doorstaan zonder al te veel van stijl te veranderen. Voor de echte fan is er ook nog een gelimiteerde versie van het album met als bonus een cd vol met remixes. |
ENGLISH:
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On this album all the singles appear in chrononological order and then you can very well hear how unique Jamiroquai really is. When his first single appeared in 1992 AcidJazz was a hip genre and several bands surfaced which could translate jazz to the dance floor. After a couple of years there was nothing left of the AcidJazz scene and besides Jamiroquai almost all acts passed into oblivion.
By not only making swinging music but by wrapping them up as good songs his music easily stand the test of time without changing too much of the style. For the real fans there also a limited edition version with a bonus remix disc. |
Somewhere on this page is the original article |
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deesh
Joined: 23 Feb 2002
Posts: 2717
Location: +001
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| Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 21:29 |
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RUNAWAY 12 INCH - REVIEW
This is kind of a review....
It was in the Giant Step DJ/Tastemaker email sent out last week. Giant Step sent out most of the promos last week and will be sending promos of the 12 inch soon...I think!:
JAMIROQUAI - “RUNAWAY” 12” feat. remixes by ALAN BRAXE & FRED FALKE, GRANT NELSON and TOM BELTON – EPIC RECORDS
Remixed by a some of the best around, Jamiroquai’s new banger “Runaway” holds its own amidst the killer track list of smash hits on the forthcoming retrospective of the group’s hottest singles. When Jamiroquai exploded onto the music scene with “When You Gonna Learn” in 1992, few thought that their vintage jazz-funk, sweet horn grooves and quick dance moves would survive 14 years, let alone sell over 20 million albums, receive Grammy & MTV Awards and see the band embark on world tours spanning the globe several times over. High Times: Singles 1992-2006, is a timely reminder of the sheer strength and depth of Jamiroquai's back catalogue, which is presented here in all its glory. As a bonus, this special edition also features various Jamiroquai remixes (including the classic David Morales remix of “Space Cowboy”) and a DVD featuring Jamiroquai videos and two bonus tracks (“Stillness In Time” and “Half The Man”) not included on the regular release. Jamiroquai is arguably one of the UK's greatest musical exports of the past 20 years. By the time the inner-city social commentary of their sophomore album Return Of The Space Cowboy hit the shelves, Jay Kay had become the face of British urban music. Yet the third album, 1997's Travelling Without Moving, along with some logic defying dance moves and a moving sofa, took Jamiroquai over the top and to the masses. The album, singles and the irresistibly catchy “Virtual Insanity” video directed by Jonathan Glazer, had netted 5 MTV Awards, a Grammy, put Jamiroquai on the cover of USA Today and sold more than a million albums in America. Global hits such as “Cosmic Girl” and “Deeper Underground” followed, as well as Jay Kay classics like “Little L,” “Canned Heat,” and “Love Foolosophy.” In an era when everything's a sanitised sound bite, Jay Kay is the one man who can be relied upon for his full, frank and unedited opinion. As High Times: Singles 1992-2006 proves with every single frenetic track, music, like the rest of life, would be a hell of a lot duller without them. This 12” presents one of the two new tracks on the album. The lead single “Runaway,” a blistering mix of disco strings and infectious bass lines, is remixed here by some of the biggest house producers in the scene. The Alan Braxe & Fred Falke Remix is a hard-hitting, big-room anthem drenched in funky synths and pounding beats. The Grant Nelson Club Mix turns the disco knob up to 11, accentuating Jay Kay’s colorful vocals. And last but not least, the hard-hitting Tom Belton Remix takes no prisoners on the dance-floor, while preserving the uplifting orchestration that makes “Runaway” such a guaranteed hit. With these three incredible remixes, this 12” proves that after all these years, Jamiroquai are still running strong.
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deesh
Joined: 23 Feb 2002
Posts: 2717
Location: +001
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| Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 20:41 |
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http://www.musicomh.com/albums5/jamiroquai-3_1106.htm
When Jay Kay burst onto the scene in the early '90s with his squiffy buffalo headgear, Stevie Wonder vocals and the occasional didgeridoo, it looked like a throw-back to the 'glory days' of jazz-funk in the mid-'80s when the slap-bass of Level 42 ran amok and white men desperately tried to 'get down', while looking like geography teachers having a mid-life crisis, driving white Ford Capris (ask yer dad) with fluffy dice and no sense of irony.
Thankfully Jay Kay had the moves, the youth, the grooves and his tongue in his cheek (and countless womens'), although not the god-like vision his sleevenotes would credit him with, to bring this much-maligned genre into contemporary focus.
Jamiroquai is always spoken of as a group but is in reality centred around frontman Jay Kay and his revolving bandmates. As this playboy such was his fondness for dolly birds, dust-ups and 'dusting his nose' that he looked like becoming a caricature better known for his fists than his hits. Luckily last year's Dynamite album saw Jay take stock of his songwriting, knock his powder habit into touch and return with some rubbery new rhythms that reeked of a clear head getting back to business.
As con 'best of's' go it's not a bad job, wisely opting for the chronological approach to track listings, there is a marked progression from the jazz-funk origins through to the sleek discoid core and the current funk-fuelled tuneage that we are familiar with, and perhaps too familiar with.
Admittedly there isn't a huge variety in his styles or lyrical concerns on display here. There seems to be three speeds to Jamiroquai: the fast, 'dirty' funk (Deeper Underground), the acoustic, mellow funk (Seven Days In Sunny June) or the soulless polished discoball...err...funk (Virtual Insanity). The real stinkers here are the aimless, the tuneless or the clueless; step forward Space Cowboy, High Times and newie Radio.
In true best of tradition there are two ubiquitous 'brand new tracks' of varying necessity. Single Runaway treads a familiar tired (sic) and tested disco-lite path, while Radio tries to dirty things up: "Let's do some crazy shit tonight." How you wish he would.
The lyrics of Jay Kay are never going to give scholars sleepless nights. Three out of the first four tracks here are virtually lyrically interchangeable in their eco-concerns, which at the time was alien, edgy and dangerous but today sounds like Coldplay...with didgeridoos. That said these early tracks were tasty, with personal concerns and highly accomplished acid jazz.
So what's the appeal to millions of global record-buying public? Basically good time music. A bit of disco, soul, funk and the allure of Saturday night mirrorballs spinning a bit of starlight into your stereo as an escape from the grime of the world. Heartbreak is glimpsed through a chink in the mirrorball armour on the trio of comedown classics Little L, Corner Of The Earth and the sublime Seven Days In Sunny June.
As a poster-boy for hedonism they could have done worse. With fancy footwork, tight basslines and swooping strings Jay took the disco beast and his host of rare groove influences and wove it into his own trademark sound. From one who has a passion for cars you can imagine that these sound fantastic burning rubber down the highways in your Lamborghini...or more realistically your pimped-Vauxhall Corsa.
The best that can be hoped for from this collection and Jamiroquai's subsequent freedom from his contract, is that it could allow him/them to take a few more risks and make his/their songs sound a bit more human instead of as finely-tuned and soulless as one of his beloved gas-guzzling motors. De-pimp his ride.
- Andy Petch-Jex
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JamiroFan2000
Correspondent
Joined: 21 Mar 2002
Posts: 2881
Location: The Jamiroquaized States Of America
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| Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 22:21 |
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 Hello,
 Here's my contribution, just posted on the EXCELLENT AllMusicGuide website :
ALLMUSIC.COM  http://tinyurl.com/y5rkzy
Review by Matt Collar
Collecting most of Jamiroquai's singles since lead singer Jay Kay first donned a large furry buffalo hat for the band's 1992 debut Emergency On Planet Earth, High Times: Singles 1992-2006 is a superb listen and a great summation of what made the retro-futurist funk band so successful. Sure, High Times doesn't include every single they released -- the fantastic "Light Years" and "You Give Me Something" aren't included -- and admittedly it was largely put together to fulfill and finish off Jamiroquai's contract with Sony, nonetheless as an encapsulation of what makes Jamiroquai such a phenomenal pop/funk/dance entity it's an infectiously listenable affair. Running chronologically through the most recognizable singles Kay and co. have released, High Times is easily the best collection of Jamiroquai tunes on one disc and hits all of the most memorable tracks off each of the group's albums. Included are such well-known tracks as the band's breakthrough single "Virtual Insanity" and "Cosmic Girl" as well as such similarly catchy and funky cuts as the didgeridoo-driven "When You Gonna Learn", the blissed-out "Space Cowboy" and the latter day would-be disco classic "Little L". Also included are two new recordings "Runaway" and "Radio" that solidly stand on their own pop merits.
RATING: 4 Stars
There you go,  glad to help and contribute ! Peace!
Sincerely,
JamiroFan2000
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deesh
Joined: 23 Feb 2002
Posts: 2717
Location: +001
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| Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 14:17 |
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Denver Post:
http://www.denverpost.com/entertainment/ci_4695294
Jamiroquai, "High Times: Singles 1992-2006"
GROOVE-POP|Epic, released today
As indebted to Stevie Wonder as he is, British-born vocalist Jay Kay and his band Jamiroquai carved their own path through the '90s. Jamiroquai's reliance on driving, '70s disco-funk made sense since our retro-fondness for that decade surged in the '90s. Jamiroquai's greatest hits collection includes all the once-ubiquitous radio hits ("Virtual Insanity," "Alright") and lesser-known tracks that really only took hold in the U.K.
Impressive on this 19-track compilation is the band's single-mindedness. Granted, the stylistic focus shifts from track to track, employing acid jazz and jam band tactics as much as funky bass lines and string sections. But Kay's vibe is typically passionate (if a bit stoned) and his band's rubbery bass lines and quick percussion never flinch. |John Wenzel
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deesh
Joined: 23 Feb 2002
Posts: 2717
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| Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 18:31 |
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http://www.musica.co.za/eMusica/Product.asp?Barcode=6007124489586
Jay-K’s guide on how to live the high life: start by laying down a trio of vintage 90s acid jazz classics ("When You Gonna Learn", "Too Young To Die" and "Blow Your Mind"). Mix in one part feel good funky cheese ("Cosmic Girl") and some sensual “Space Cowboy” soul. Stir (don’t shake yet) in the lyrical sensibility of Michael Franks, the cosmic consciousness of Stevie Wonder and just a hint of Prince’s sex appeal to taste. Good? Now start shaking in all sorts of cosmopolitan seasoning from combustible retro disco aromas out of Kool & the Gang's recipe book ("Feels Just Like It Should", "Little L") to laid back Latin lounge joints ("Corner of the Earth"), <>synkronized dance-floor teases ("Canned Heat") and acid funk instrumentals ("Supersonic"). Finally, garnish with a brand new pair of comfortably e-d up soul disco diamonds including current single "Runaway" and "Radio” and you’ve got the perfect High Times soundtrack to lounging around the pool whilst sipping on that Strawberry Daiquiri.
Translated from NJoy website:
http://www1.n-joy.de/njoy_pages_std/0,3044,OID3311914,00.html
Longplay check
Jamiroquai/High of Time Singles 1992-2006
After six Studioalben it is time for a review.
Jamiroquai press the most successful Singles of its 14 years continuing radio odyssey as “Best OF” on CD. On the names “High Time” baptized, could have been called the Compilation also well and gladly “Travelling Without Moving”.
A further step direction liberty
“Getting ahead, without itself to move” - that would fit the time of the publication of “High Time”. In time to the Weihnachtgeschäft the CD of the disk company of Jamiroquai will give surely tidy proceeds of sale. For front man Jason Kay however is it a further step toward parting takes from his past business homeland. The contractual obligation at Sony BMG over eight albums is fulfilled by “High Time”. The auto+crazy Jason “Jay” Kay seems to have lost the desire at the actual condition of commercial music and their marketing. So it has itself shown in interviews gene FFS over the relationship between the obviously less important artistic and the all-side controlling Marketingseite when developing an album. Like already the colleagues, also the man with the buffalo hat shrinks from Prince and George Michael before him not back to show its disk company the stinking finger.
From at that time to today
Apart from the contractual part “High Time” is thus the first “Best OF” that volume. 17 Singles, which are enough from the albums “Emergency on planet Earth” to “dynamites”. Among them naturally “DTE by Underground” from the Godzilla Soundtrack, by the way the only Nummer-1-Hit in Jamiroquais homeland. Or the unbelievable “Virtual Insanity”, to which the volume one of the most breath-robbing video tie-clips of the 90's had gezaubert. Additionally' s gives to hear also two new TRACKs of the radio Krieger on “High Time”.
The succession of the titles is arranged chronologically, the beginners “Runaway” and “radio” closes Jamiroquais work-looks thus off. As it is with the future that volume, stands hopefully in the Hutkrempe of Mr. Kay written. A “Greatest hit” - route in the George Michael style should be planned for the next year anyhow. And it on its feeling for dragging along music deliberates itself so long and not of drugs benebelt in one its sports car on a much driven on road crossing does not wake up, needs we around Jay Kay no concerns to make itself.
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deesh
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| Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 18:39 |
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GIANT STEP REVIEW
Enjoy
Edit: I forgot to put the link..duh! 
http://www.giantstep.net/features/144
Jamiroquai, High Times: Singles 1992 - 2006, November 21 2006
Let's keep it real – for many of you, the British band Jamiroquai boogied onto the scene in 1997 through what can be described as a crazed acid trip - a man with a tall black hat and a vintage soul voice navigating around a rotating room with crawling bugs! However, their new release, 'High Times: Singles 1992 – 2006' proves that the seeds of Jamiroquai were planted deeper. This release is a just a brief outline of their (singer Jay Kay AND the band) amazing career. There's so much more to be unearthed outside of these chosen few, too. This 19-track CD spans all six studio albums, transporting listeners back to where it all began, the blessing and curse of international success, and how - after 15 years - they are still groovin'.
For those that didn't know Jamiroquai existed in the early 90's, this release will expose hidden gems and rare instruments, such as the didgeridoo heard on "When You Gonna Learn," and the brass and keys connection on the beautiful acid jazz tune, "Blow Your Mind" (originally an 8 minute track). Both are from their debut release. The revolutionary Acid Jazz era laid the foundation for the band's distinct fusion of various musical genres and cultures. Their sound was further defined with the release of their second album in 1995, which is the beginning of what fans refer to as Jamiroquai's golden years. Choosing to sing about his love affair with cheeba cheeba (weed) in "Space Cowboy" (the video version is on this CD), the track enforced Kay's belief in freedom of expression at all costs. MTV banned the video and many stations refused to play the song. After listening to the raw vocals over top of the heavy bass lines and perfectly timed drums, the rejection was clearly the mainstream's loss. One or two more songs from this album would have been nice, but there had to be room for the multi-platinum success that was around the corner with 1997's studio release, 'Traveling Without Moving' – the time period in which they carved their buffalo man logo into the American music mainstream and underground society.
The smooth nature of "Virtual Insanity" fills ears with thought-provoking lyrics and memorable music that led to a groundbreaking video that won not only awards, but earned Jamiroquai universal respect and turned Kay into an international superstar. Now when I listen to "Virtual Insanity,” it hits that this song was very applicable for the late 90's, but is also relevant in the world today. It's fitting that "Alright" is also included - not only was the original and remixes a hit with DJ's, but it has turned into an unofficial Jamiroquai concert anthem. Both songs are without their introductions on this release, however the vibe still remains. Along with the triumph came many challenges including living up to the third album hype. That pressure was conveyed on 'Canned Heat,' an electric, slightly disco spirited song that gives permission (actually commandment) to dance. It also provides a preview of the transition from the original formula to the new phase of experimentation with more of an electronic influence. That new sound was contagious on the fifth and sixth releases.
Several tracks from the fifth album are included such as "Little L" (*clap clap*), and self-discovery ballad, "Corner of the Earth.” 2005's studio release, 'Dynamite' is represented through innocent summer track, "Seven Days in Sunny June,” the dirty grind of "Feels Just Like It Should", and anti-prejudice anthem, "(Don't) Give Hate A Chance".
And for those dedicated fans that have every track in their collection already, check it - there are 2 new tracks placed at the end! First up is "Runaway," a dance song that sarcastically communicates leaving behind the fame. And second is "Radio," a gritty, rock-influenced number surrounding sexuality, where lust and curiosity are hidden inside suggestive lyrics. Something else to grin about is the separate 'High Times: Singles 1992 – 2006' DVD that contains a series of Jamiroquai videos and interviews. Considering the band doesn't get airplay in the States, the release of this DVD is beyond dope.
Looking back, 15 years is a lot to digest. 'High Times: Singles 1992 – 2006' is the first layer to discovering what lies beneath the tabloid gossip, member changes, style modifications, and the struggle of trying to make a living off of what you love, without losing your love for it. Kay insists that although the record deal is over, there is more ear candy in store that will see Jamiroquai returning to the element of live instrumentation. No one knows exactly when that will happen, and it really doesn't matter. For now, I'll put on my headphones, reminisce, and thank God for blessing me with these high times.
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deesh
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| Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 00:52 |
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http://www.skinnymag.co.uk/content/view/3399/141/
Written by Nick Mitchell
Monday, 13 November 2006
Musically, those high times were short-lived indeed
In some circles ‘Jamiroquai’ has become a dirty word. Listening to High Times, their greatest hits collection, it’s difficult to decide where to assign the blame: at the insatiable ego of Jay Kay himself or at the musical evolution of the past fourteen years, during which time a guitar resurgence has blasted acid jazz clean out of the waters of credibility. The strictly-chronological flow of the singles here makes this dilemma easier to resolve. Despite his recent tabloid exploits, Jay Kay was once an intriguing persona – the diminutive, fleet-footed whiteboy with the outrageous hats and the voice of a black, female soul singer. And the first five singles – including Too Young to Die and Space Cowboy – are still irresistibly groovy. But then Britpop happened, Jay got his millions and his music degenerated into MOR twaddle like the lamentably-awful Corner of the Earth. Musically, those high times were short-lived indeed.
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deesh
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| Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 14:54 |
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http://www.star-ecentral.com/news/story.asp?file=/2006/11/27/music/16110569&sec=music
Jamiroquai - High Times: Singles 1992-2006
Jamiroquai
High Times: Singles 1992-2006
(SonyBMG)
IT MAY have taken Brit soul-funk outfit Jamiroquai 15 years and six albums to do it, but this retrospective is certainly a long time coming.
Perhaps it's time for leading man Jay Kay to move to different things after this (though that doesn't look likely), but Kay and his ever changing line-up of cohorts can perhaps be satisfied they've kept the soulful, funky train going this long.
The compilation is a blast from top to tail with 17 chart-busting hits from the group’s extraordinary career. There are two new tracks to bring the collection up-to-date as well. Runaway – a blistering mix of disco strings and infectious funky bass lines has already scaled the Brit singles charts and there’s also Radio to think about.
But the group’s back catalogue of singles that truly matter; serving a stunning reminder of the sheer strength and depth of Jamiroquai’s music.
From the vanguard of the early 1990s acid jazz revolution to becoming one of the most recognisable musicians of a generation, Jamiroquai’s signature sound elevated acid jazz from a label to a genre and introduced to the world Jay Kay, the quick-stepping professional otherwise known as Jamiroquai.
Not only did Kay put a face to dance music but he had an impassioned eco-political message that was a decade ahead of its time.
As a chronological compilation, High Times starts with the rare grooveyears with When You Gonna Learn, Too Young To Die, Blow Your Mind, Emergency on Planet Earth and Space Cowboy.
His commercial breakthrough came with the classic piano-string-bass driven Virtual Insanity (who can forget the video that goes with it), Cosmic Girl, Alright and High Times, while monster (yes, that Godzilla theme) hit Deeper Underground and Canned Heat consolidated his status as a household name.
Completing this package is a catalogue of funk house masterpieces (Little L, Love Foolosophy, Corner of the Earth, Feels Just Like It Should, etc) that hold up nicely and doubles the enjoyment for punters needing the classics and recent notables.
Also on release is a DVD collection of the mind-bending videos that captured the imagination of millions and took Jamiroquai global.
As for Jay Kay, he is still the top cat with hat, and we all hope he's got a lot more lives left in him. Another 15 years of this kind of prime soul funk wouldn’t be half bad now would it? – By Jason Cheah
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deesh
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| Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 16:34 |
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http://www.new-noise.net/album-reviews/jamiroquai/high-times/jamiroquai---high-times_312.html
Jamiroquai - High Times
by Rob McCrae
A music maestro foraging around in his genre and throwing up success at every turn
"First it was the hats, then the dancing and then the soul man’s voice stuck inside a former pot dealer’s body."
Regardless of where you stand on twirling, hatstand boy Jay Kay, his career at the helm of Jamiroquai from the market stall Stevie Wonder of 'Emergency On Planet Earth' to the programmed funk of 'Dynamite' has been about finding a winning formula and sticking to it like a sucker. First it was the hats, then the dancing and then the soul man’s voice stuck inside a former pot dealer’s body. But through it all, he's been a music master foraging in his genre and throwing up success at every turn. By 'Return Of A Space Cowboy', he was at the apogee of fast cars and lissom women, all combining with a faintly irritating silhouette of a hat that rubber-stamped the music, and the brand.
This overdue compilation corrals the finest tracks from each of the six albums which makes for a good looking track listing and then tags on two new tracks called 'Runaway' and 'Radio' - which after you’ve listened to fourteen funktastic tracks coalesces into a unmemorable blur. ‘Radio’ is better than average Jamiroquai but ‘Runaway’ might as well have been the tribute band (Jamiroday) playing to ambivalent friends.
The tracks fly past in rough chronological order, so it’s possible to turn the pages of their musical progression from the innocent sounding tracks from 'Emergency On Planet Earth' ('Blow Your Mind', 'When You Gonna Learn', et al) through to the moment when he really hits his stride with the 'Space Cowboy' album and the initial hits from 'Travelling Without Moving'.
Surprisingly ‘Deeper Underground’, the track commissioned by the Godzilla movie, sounds most like classic Jamiroquai from the thumping bass line to space orbiting lyrics. From then on in, it’s a slow slide although there’s still quality in the form of chart busting singles like ‘Canned Heat’ and ‘Feels Just Like It Should’.
It should be mentioned that mediocrity for Jamiroquai is inevitably a poor man’s golden pile and it’s an effort to pick out any chinks in the relentless hit factory. ‘Seven Days In Sunny June’ and ‘(Don’t) Give Hate A Chance’ are skip-worthy and judging by the immense spectrum of fansites, devotees aren’t going to be regaled by a miserly two unreleased tracks. So thank Christ, for the availability of a remix CD (including the masterful David Morales remix of 'Space Cowboy') and for the avid worshiper a comprehensive DVD of all of the aforementioned promo videos with a laundry list of extras.
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deesh
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| Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 21:35 |
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http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/current/music_discs8.php
It says something that upon my first listen to this greatest-hits, with its stately sleeve design, title and liner notes, I didn't have the patience to sit through the five tracks before Virtual Insanity. That song's the only reason anyone has ever cared about Jamiroquai (which is a compound of 'jam,' as in the musical sense, and 'iroquai,' loosely based on Iroquois). But 12 years later, the single's lost its charm. The 18 other tracks sound like alternate, inferior versions of Virtual Insanity. As proven by these High Times, Jay Kay's essentially been singing this Velveeta-smooth future disco-lite space funk for 14 years, and it's enough to make you throw up (on the dance floor).
- Jason Richards
http://www.stornowaytoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=3608&ArticleID=1891814
Jamiroquai - 'High Times: Singles 1992-2006'
JAY KAY - the Marmite of modern music - you either love his big-hat, eco-funk-disco ways or you just, well, hate him. Ambivalence, it seems, has no place in the world when it comes to Jamiroquai.
Although written off as a Stevie Wonder wanna-be when Jay Kay and the Jamiroquai boys emerged into the early 90s acid jazz scene - a comparison which the mad hatted musician himself described as 'flattering, misguided, but above all, boring' - 15 years, 159 weeks on the UK singles chart, 232 weeks on the album charts, more than 20 million album sales from six multi-platinum albums, five MTV awards, Grammys, the Ivor Novello and five mammoth world tours - playing to five million people in 38 countries - later, it's safe to say that Jamiroquai have certainly carved out their own niche and left their own brand marking slap-bang on the face of the music industry.
And whatever your opinion of Jay Kay - one of a kind, shamefully underrated, musical marvel, or simply prat in the hat - the latest Jamiroquai release 'High Times: Singles 1992-2006' demands that credit be given where it is absolutely due.
Released at a time when anyone with three hit singles qualifies for a 'best of', 'High Times' outdoes them all, delivering a genuinely worthwhile collection, a greatest hits that is full of actual hits!
From the lilting 'Too Young To Die' to the driving disco of 'Cosmic Girl', the tracks on this album aren't simply hits by virtue of chart position, they're markers in time, soundtracks to lives lived and lessons learned. Just as the jazzy groove of 'Space Cowboy' reeks of weed and the early 90s, the taut shimmy 'Little L' has in turn a stylish whiff of the turn of the millennium super-club about it.
Fans need not start to lament the demise of Jamiroquai just yet, as although releasing a greatest hits album, Jay Kay rest assures that this is simply volume one, with 'plenty more cracking stuff to come'.
And just to prove his point, included on 'High Times' are two new singles - 'Runaway', with glistening disco strings, and 'Radio', rocked by a salacious hook, - confirming that both Jay Kay and Jamiroquai are still capable of giving the Robbies and Justins of the music business a run for their money.
'High Times: Singles 1992-2006' is a must have for any fan, an album which tracks a remarkable decade and a half journey via the irresistible rare groove and unmistakable barbed disco that is Jamiroquai.
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