Emergency On Planet Earth

A little funk goes a long way.

Go white boy go

Hm. Don't piss me off

Was not expecting this to be a debut album. Very funky

Hadn’t heard this album before. Have been a fan of Traveling Without Moving and now I need to check out their full catalog.

Jamiroquailla on kyllä omaleimainen ja tunnistettava soundi. Tää levy saa ⭐️⭐️⭐️. Parempi vielä tulossa se saa yhden tähden enemmän

Listened twice as the first time I listened I forgot I had listened. I think that’s all review it needed really however I tried again. Second listen also wasn’t that interesting, production seems all over the place, lyrics sound thrown together, it did have a certain groove to it however. Decent enough at times unfortunately those times were not enough. Best track- ‘when you gonna learn’ just for the fact he got a frog croaking into a track! Worst track- ‘revolution 1993’ it just sounded like a massive mess, a bit like most of the album. 2.5/10

Jamiroquai Everything I expected it to be. The texture, composition and attractiveness of a wet fart. The horns don't blister, the strings don't sting, the percussion doesn't snap , the bass doesn't groove and the vocals just flap. And who the fuck thought a didgeridoo was a good idea? 😳 Best Track - Emergency on Planet Earth Worst Track - Blow Your Mind. No it didn't. 2/10

Härligt flyt och lite nostalgi

Riktigt ikoniskt sound som jag aldrig riktigt fallit för helt och hållet.

Började groovy men kändes allt mer slätstruket.

Excellent and groovy album. Loses a star for Disc 2.

Album #178: Jamiroquai – Emergency on Planet Earth ⭐⭐ For a two-star review, I actually did kind of enjoy this. The music is extremely energetic and really confidently delivered. The songs are interesting in a way because the instrumentation is very complex. There’s a lot going on, and they do seem to be talented musicians. But sometimes this music can seem a little bit masturbatory to me. It’s virtuosity for the sake of it in places. The worst moment being Blow Your Mind, when Jay Kay starts mimicking the synth with his voice and doing this call-and-response with it. Awful. I think it starts off really well, but it just gets very, very samey as it goes on, and it is a long album. By the time we got to Blow Your Mind, my mind had been blown already and there was nothing left. I don’t necessarily begrudge it being a long album because it feels like it’s supposed to be a feel good dance album, but that’s certainly not prevalent in the preachy message it’s trying to deliver. The major problem with this album is Jay Kay. He’s an extremely talented vocalist. He sounds great. But, I’m going to borrow a term that I absolutely hated when I first heard it on this sub, when somebody described The Band as “cosplaying Americana.” I don’t believe you can cosplay a style. You can be influenced by it, and you can rip it off even, but not cosplay. But I really do feel like Jay Kay is cosplaying Curtis Mayfield, Sly Stone, Stevie Wonder to an extent. It wouldn’t be so bad, but I don’t think he’s bringing anything new or interesting to the table. It’s an impression of a better vocalist rather than a sincere attempt at something unique. It’s more an issue in his lyrics than necessarily his vocals. The whole lyrical side of this album just pissed me off to no end. It reminded me of that episode of South Park, Die Hippie, Die, where the boys go to a hippie music festival and they’re basically like, “right, what’s the plan? Where’s these evil corporations? Let’s go get them.” And it turns out the plan is essentially just to listen to these crunchy jams, man. That’s exactly how I felt listening to this album. You’re talking about the revolution this and the revolution that, and we’ve got to have change and we’ve got to have peace, and then during Revolution 1993 you say that music is the only way to achieve that revolution. Well, I’ll tell you what, Jamiroquai: it’s not going to be with this kind of music anyway, because your messaging is just hacky, repetitive slogans that don’t actually mean anything and don’t have any substance to them. Bob Dylan this is not. I got very fed up with it as it went on. It felt like empty platitudes. There’s a kind of meaninglessness to it all. Like what’s the plan here? What’s the logistics of the revolution that you keep banging on about? Because, it sounds like you’re just ripping off the lyrics of Curtis Mayfield and Gil Scott Heron to give your trippy dance music some form of social consciousness. The lyrics really brought this one down for me. Musically, it’s not the worst two-star album. If I could give 2.5 stars, it’d definitely be that. But I couldn’t get through it without it really starting to annoy me.

This was actually kind of fun. First time listen. I don’t think I’ve ever heard music like this before.

Not bad if you are in the right mood.

This guy is definitely a Stevie Wonder copycat. So he was blessed with a similar voice, good for him. Unfortunately for us, he isn't as talented and this album is no where near the perfection of Stevie Wonder's albums. There's nothing mind-blowing here (not even the song of the same name). It's just a mediocre album. As others have noted, the bass player is the star on this. Side note: My husband just told me we own this album and I looked at him in disbelief because I have no recollection of ever hearing this before. That's how unimpressive this album is.

Fun and a bit funky but not really my vibe. Kind of tuned out a lot of it.

4/5

Nothing unique here.

Pas vraiment eu le temps d’écouter plus que 2-3 titres

90S dance, jazz funk. Debut. Acid jazz foundations, layers of instrumentation and socially charged lyrics. Modern 70s sound. The definition of groovy. Great production.

I love funk. There is no bad funk in my eyes. This was a nice listen, enjoyed the vibes and political messages. I'd listen again!

So boring, barely better than silence for background music

Gave the same vibes as bob marley in the sense that they are spreading important lessons through little songs i am def adding it to my morning playlist

My second favourite album from a band I often call my favourite band.

I can understand it’s good. But it’s so… boring?

interesting

I like their later hits that I've heard, but they're trying a bit too hard to do a Stevie Wonder impression here. It's a decent impression, so the music is fine, but there's very little original here.

Fun, funky, I love it. Need to listen to more of his stuff. Happy to say I saw him live, but I’ll probably do a deep dive into his discography and be sad I’ll probably never the get the chance again.

I should like this, it's jazzy & funky, but it just doesn't land right or engage me

Listened to a bit of Jamiroquai when I was younger, but doesn't quite do as much for me now as it used to

Bloated guff

Haha, another album you danced excitedly too. This has a lot of funk, soul and rhythm that will have you tapping your feet and moving your hips. Throw it on, move with it and enjoy every moment.

This was an incredible album! Funky, smooth, soulful, energetic, and a really easy and enjoyable listen.

Fun album, a little conceptual and weird at times but didn't mind it at all. 3.5.

Sitter igjen med et medium + totalinntrykk. En del rart, men noe som fungerte greit.

Love it 😍

Polished, family-friendly funk/jazz with a dance beat. I can't say it's bad because it's not, but I just didn't like it. Took an executive decision to listen only to the original album and not the remastered edition, which includes a second disc. Couldn't face it.

Fun and funky brass, good background music for me at work with a good beat throughout. Not my usual style, but I liked it okay.

*reaches for police officers service weapon*

Loved the fun funk!

Aight

Man!! Crazy to me that Jamiroquai is getting cultural appropriation thrown at them. And I’m a black man. I feel like they full heartedly appreciate the funk and jazz that inspired this music and at no moment does it feel like they’re stealing or trying to hide the roots of where this music stems from. They’re putting their own spin on too. When was the last time you heard a funk record with didgeridoo all over it? Idk, I could be wrong. But what Jamiroquai does on this record feels authentic to me. And beyond that, there is just some solid grooves all over this album. I was going to give this a 4.5, but bumping it to a 5.

You're telling me Virtual Insanity isn't on this album? It's whack in general, but I am grooving sometimes. 2.

Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list: 3/5

4/7

Raro, no es mi estilo. Es como pop hippie.

It makes me think of Stevie Wonder, it makes me think of Persona 5, and since they've both got multiple mentions in the top few pages of reviews I don't have too much to add It doesn't so much reach the memorability of the aforementioned in individual tracks, but as a full general listening experience it's vibrant and fulfilling

Excelente disco

If Earth, Wind & Fire took some acid but somehow became more boring - & more British - this is what you'd get. Not e'en remotely in the same breath as Stevie Wonder, tho Jay Kay goes for that sort of chorus on 'Too Young to Die,' Jamiroquai aren't disgraceful funksters (they mean well, have good intentions, etc.) - they're actually just too (fill in the blank) to get down. I'm trying to avoid the unproductive phrase 'too white,' but the crew leaves me w/ little alternative. I'll try to elaborate. A moving, not just a grooving, kind of music, funk should have what you may term 'emotional depth.' That's a pretty ghastly expression, but when art doesn't have it, you miss what you would otherwise consider cliché. This doesn't have it. & it's shit. Q.E.D.

This was fun until it wasn’t. Small doses of this is best.

While I’m not a big fan of all of the sound effects, I do really enjoy the upbeat and bubbliness of Jamiroquai’s music. The music has a Stevie Wonder vibe to it and I enjoyed the full variety of instruments across the collection. Nothing like that really blew me away, but a steady rhythm of good tunes.

The offspring spawn of an unholy union between Steve Urkell and a bad Stevie Wonder cover band …

Outstanding. This album was nuts. Groovy, chaotic, smooth, and soulful....all layered over a jazz base. Vocals are outstanding, truly a great voice. Enjoyed the hell out of this.

Morceau favori : 13 : Digin' out j'accroche pas, je trouve que tous les titres se ressemblent et ça ne me procure rien, mais en live ça doit péter

Pretty good listening. Very much Stevie Wonderish from that era.

My knowledge of Jamiroquai was basically limited to Virtual Insanity and Cosmic Girl so this was a really pleasant suprise. Jazzy, funky. Too Young to Die sounded a bit like a Stevie Wonder song.

Like my fellow group men have said, has very Stevie Wonder sound. I too only knew Virtual Insanity prior to this.

Bastante lindo, pero calculo que los siguientes me gustarían mas. Nota: 3.3

From the Vault #32 (July 26, 2026) Sweet, Jamiroquai. Hopefully this album will get up to some sliding guy with comically oversized hat action. Controversial opinion, I know, but I do truly think that the music video to Virtual Insanity is one of the best ever made. Fun concept, a great song and an excellent pairing of music and video. What else could you want, really? I'm hoping the rest of the music from these guys will prove to be as adept. Here goes. Bummer. No Virtual Insanity antics were contained in this music. I, rather shamefully, enjoyed this album. The shame element comes from the fact that this music takes a huge, massive page out of Stevie Wonder's songbook, whose music I haven't been particularly fond of. What can I say? This style of music just resonates with me more. The production is tighter, quicker and more purposeful, resulting in music that is listenable and danceable in equal measure. The funk guitars and percussion add a satisfying level of rhythm and depth to this music and the album features plenty of adept brass numbers, which I'm also very partial to. The strings are also competent, effectively channeling a lively disco influence during the energetic moments of this album and a sensitive sound during the slower points. The electronic synths are paired very nicely with the sound of this album, adding a sleek futurism to this music which is quite unique and engrossing. The vocals are very Wonder-influenced, which is no problem with me as they're consistently the high point of Stevie's discography. If I am to criticise I'd say that the constant high energy of this music becomes fatiguing after a while, especially when paired with the lengthy 55-minute runtime. Fortunately, I still had an alright time with this album. All in all, it was a good listen. Book time. The book also highlights that Jamiroquai's frontman sounds like Stevie Wonder. The success of Jamiroquai's first single landed them a record deal for eight albums with Sony. The album was heavily crunched, with the title track notably being written right before it was recorded. Debuted at the top of the UK charts. Quite political, with "Too Young to Die" being about the Gulf War. Wikipedia says this album garnered a somewhat polarised response from critics, though it performed very well on the charts. It didn't crack America, though it charted in ten countries, usually peaking at 10 - 20. It was also the 84th best-selling album of 1993 in the Netherlands and the 14th in France. "Travelling Without Moving" is Jamiroquai's best-selling outing while it seems to be a tug of war between Travelling Without Moving and "The Return of the Space Cowboy" for what is widely considered Jamiroquai's best release. One list album seems about right for Jamiroquai, and Travelling Without Moving appears to be the better pick. I switcharoo this inclusion.

#211/1001 🇬🇧 The sound of many teenage house parties. It wasn't really my thing at the time but as my tastes developed i grew to appreciate some of the artists that inspired this like Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and the 90s Acid Jazz scene. I can't say that this makes me any more fond of this and the wheeling out of the Digeridoo for the first and last tracks leaves is just one example of there being too much going on in the record which disguises some really good playing. Best Tracks: Emergency on Planet Earth, Blow Your Mind.

Es hermoso. Debería ser guardado como patrimonio de la humanidad en caso de un futuro apocalipsis

Bra, men alldeles för städat! Skulle velat höra hur det låter live. Revolution 1993 var jävligt najs!

Wait, Jamiroquai made songs that weren't Virtual Insanity? There are a few songs I really liked on this, mostly When You Gonna Learn, Music of the Mind, and Revolution 1993. The rest was solid enough that I was nodding my head along, but I don't really have much else to say about them. Still, an album I liked and enjoyed overall.

Unique, energetic, but ultimately not my thing. Not bad tho

The end started to drag a bit but the first half was good fun

it was fun! didn't listen that closely but lively stuff

Fun flip back to the early 2000s. I love the bass in these songs and it is very catchy. 8/10 Top song... When you gonna learn?

Solid album, brings back a lot of memories.

It's really good. But, I've never been a fan of their sound. I wouldn't listen to it often but I recognize quality and have to give it props. 4/5

Good album, catchy songs. Although not my usual style of music i did enjoy the album.

Ugg... that name and cover aint doing nothing to draw me in. but I did anyway. what a shambles. stevie wonder make believe. the only emergency is how to not listen to two hours of this drivel.

Faux funk

Funky, groovy, cool, chill, introspective, energetic and any other adjectives that help Jay get the praise he deserves. Knee deep in the 1990s when the world was in love with the 1960s psychedelic infused sound (and grunge) Jay was out cutting his teeth on world infuenes and old soul and r&b. I hear nods to disco, motown, funkadelic and other pop motifs as well as some world influences with the use of maracas and the digeridoo. Damn good album. Hard to find a case for 4 stars on end product alone. Ill ding it the star because because disc #2 seems not to add ENOUGH value to increase it. Sure it showcases his live performance energy and willingness to collaborate. But I'm not seeing a true positive pay off. The album itself is excellent as is.

funkin'. great bass work, really fun horns, and some solid charts.

3.4. Surprisingly tasty

I really like Jamiroquai, but always forget to listen to him, his music is just so much fun. This is my first time listening to this album and I enjoyed it a lot. There are a handful of songs that are just okay, and think some of his other albums are better, but I still really liked this album. I think this is a high 4, but I'll round up. Low 5!

Digging this one a lot. I hear a lot of influences in the music and they all work together for some funky goodness. Tower of Power, Isley Bros, James Brown, P-Funk and I'm sure others I'm not so familiar with. "Blow Your Mind" was a standout for me. I will be revisiting this to get more out of the lyrics and dig deeper into the musicianship.

Jamiroquai's fantastic debut presents a fusion of jazz, funk, soul, dance, pop, tribal music, and who knows what else. Everything comes together pretty well, and Jay Kay at times sounds conspicuously like Stevie Wonder. Later albums would lean more into the sounds of disco and contemporary pop, but still retain a consistently high quality, for the most part. The other consistent thing were Jay Kay's over-the-top, silly hats. Key tracks: When You Gonna Learn (Digeridoo) Too Young to Die Emergency on Planet Earth

Nowhere near as good as I remember it... And rips off Stevie Wonder more than I noticed in the 90s too...

Good for what it is, musically. Glaringly unoriginal though, and I’d had enough after three songs. This isn’t going to change anyone’s lives.

I'm no stranger to Jamiroquai; I've learned many of their songs on the bass. In the grand scheme of things, this could be an easy five for me, but I gotta be a bit more strict and compare the band to itself. I prefer their more song-focused albums that came later, such as Travelling Without Moving. For my taste, Emergency on Planet Earth is just a tad bit heavy on the jammy instrumentals. A solid 9/10.

It's fun enough but lacks the bangers of later albums. And the instrumentals are a bit tedious.

I played in an in-part cover band of Jamiroquai so this is like hand in glove. Full horn section: trumpet, trombone, alto, tenor, and baritone sax. We had a cracker (UK slang for really good) of a lead singer, drummer was twin of the alto, bass players for days laying down great grooves, keyboards, and guitars. Played all around and the funk was strong. That was a few decades ago so it's interesting to see how this music aged. Would the young folks still dance to this? Hmm, I didn't hear the hits that were bangers we used to play so assume a better Jamiroquai album is to come? like 3, for nostalgia.

LOVE JAMIROQUAI

M'eh

Amazing...

Obviously, Jay Kay is a knobhead, but I figured maybe the debut record might have some redeeming factors given the benefit of time. Kicking off with some didgeredoo instantly dispelled me of this notion. Lots of turgid cod-hippy lyrics, and then we get into things like the ad libbing in If I Like It I Do It, which is diabolical. So much competent but boring funk that adds nothjng to the canon. Good bassline in We're Too Young To Die. Otherwise a total waste of time.

First listen

Super funky, super groovy - hard not to like this. Just heaps of fun with an awesome didgeridoo part to finish it off. Nice. Favourites: When You Gonna Learn? Too Young To Die Blow My Mind

I hate this

None of the bearables

Smoooooooooooooth

Great musicians and great music!

Enjoyed the jazz infused with pop. Great combination of styles.

I was working on cleaning and repacking reviews and grooving my ass off to this. Favorite Song: Too Young to Die, Music of the Mind

When the funk gets too souly, that is where I pan out

acid jazz is nice and all but c'mon i can't give jamiroquai more than 3 stars on indigenous peoples day. i've been trying to listen to each album on its on terms and not just rate by the artist but it's JAMIROQUAI

Oh no. I hated this guy as a preteen and his stupid hats. There was something just off about him and his presence across radio and television. Wait a minute? His mum was in the black and white minstrel show? And his music, band name and fashion were all cultural appropriation. Guess it's genetic.... I feel wrong even giving this the time of day. ------------------- I didn't even realise that Jamiroquai were a band. That's how much JK (yuck) dominated their presence in media. The real standout for me in this album is the bassist - Stuart Zender. He's got a real funky style that stands out. The rest of the tracks musically blend into each-other. I've said on previous reviews that I don't have a reference point for Jazz and that reviewing it is very difficult due to lack of exposure. This however feels like it's a jam band playing 70's funk/soul with random instruments thrown in for fun. Can we just delete the vocal tracks? I'd possibly listen to this band without him. His faux American trying to be Stevie Wonder warbling just irritates me beyond belief. I can see why young me instantly and irrationally hated him. Turns out he was a nob all along. Best track [Music of the Mind] : because it's instrumental.

Fun little change up.

Should have paid attention to them back in the day. Really great album!

Funky as all get out, thanks to Jay Kay and his various assortment of Cool Hats. 4.5 bumped up to 5.

It’s a 10. I’m just glowing after listening to this. Yes, Jay Kay sounds like Stevie Wonder. Yes, Jay Kay is a white man doing so, as are most of Jamiroquai. I will let other people succinctly describe how much cultural appropriation is present here & how to balance that with paying tribute to & being inspired by black artists. It’s not something I feel smart enough to tackle, nor something I necessarily want to mentally cope with. You know why? Because this album fucking rules, that’s why, & so does Jamiroquai. Stuff like “Virtual Insanity”, “Canned Heat”, “Love Foolosophy”, “Seven Days in Sunny June” and a whole lot more have been in my rotation for years. Despite that, I’ve never heard a full Jamiroquai album, and that’s a mistake that I feel like a fucking moron for never addressing until now. This is excellent stuff from top to bottom here. The instrumental work is a slick update of the ‘70s soul/jazz sound with a bit of ‘90s flair, and for 1993 in particular, these guys feel well ahead of that updated curve that would become a bit more prominent by the early 2000s & especially so once Bruno Mars came into his own in the 2010s. Yes, it’s all derivative of that era to a degree, but what makes Jamiroquai’s sound work is the electronica elements thrown in & integrated almost seamlessly. Moog synths as far as the ear can hear underline a good chunk of these tracks, working almost like a pseudo wall of sound for the strings, guitars, drums, and ESPECIALLY the bass work, which feels underrated in relationship to the rest of the groove here. Obviously, Jay Kay’s voice is the anchor that puts it all together, but his voice wouldn’t be as compelling as it is without the strength of the lyrics here. Yeah, being anti-war & pro-environment isn’t new ground for anybody, especially by 1993, but tapping into those frustrations in a way that’s pointed as class warfare worth fighting against to ensure both personal freedom & economic / environmental change happen… that’s slightly newer ground. Stevie Wonder said that love was in need of love in 1976. Jay Kay, in 1993, was actively calling for revolution. It’s different forms of tact, and while I’m personally more inclined towards Stevie’s choice to seek peaceful solutions & appealing to the human spirit, I can’t say Jay Kay’s approach is unappealing. It’s just more forceful, really. That force applies to the instrumentals here in spades – when this album is bumping a bassline & pulsing its synths & percussion, it’s just insanely infectious. Combine that with Jay’s voice & the overall push for change that’s so present through this album, it’s just one that has you locked in to every second of it for practically its whole runtime. The only track that might feel a little filler-y is “Blow Your Mind”, but that’s just because the back half goes a touch long. I don’t think there’s a skip here at all, and every moment is filled with something to keep the listener engaged. This is a tightly designed album from front to back, flowing with a purpose from track to track, including bookending the album with that didgeridoo, and it do be didgering, to be clear. A bit silly, sure, but given that there’s not a harmonica here, perhaps the didgeridoo is just Jamiroquai’s own harmonica. Ultimately, I just think it’s a fantastic album. I could keep typing about every track here, but I think that once the string stabs at the start of “Too Young to Die” hit, this album needs no further description. It’s just an audio journey worth listening to before you die, and I feel like a moron for not having done so until now. I gotta find more album cuts from these guys. This is an easy, easy 10 for me.

At times I felt like I was being tortured listening to this record. Annoying voice, annoying music done much better elsewhere. BIG NO.

Super funky, sometimes funny, often taken the piss out of, but undeniable 90s funk.

I like the 70s groove.

much more jazz heavy and off beat than the singles compilation I used to listen to. pretty good

I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected. I've only heard a couple songs prior to this album, and it seems like I've been missing out. They certainly love their didgeridoo!

Listens away nicely, no complaints. Nothing I'll revisit soon.

Funky, jazzy, super chill

Funky album. The groove is immaculate with this one. Enjoyed it immensely. Favorites: When You Gonna Learn?, Too Young To Die, Whatever It Is I Just Can’t Stop, Blow Your Mind

A little underwhelming, surprisingly enough. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood. But It's still quality music. They sound very vocally inspired by Stevie and instrumentally I got Herbie vibes at times.

Very melodic and funky album, love the little strings and trumpets here and there, and it has an amazing opening track and some other great tunes. It’s great.

I'm not sure why but I found this deeply irritating. I can't quite put my finger on the reason, but it felt really insincere

Stevie Wonder Bread.

This was a bummer. I like JK, he seems like a cool dude, and I also really like virtual insanity, that’s a great song! The problem is that it’s all just the same thing over and over again. I like his sound but he need alittle more variety for me personally. Cause a whole album of this just gets so old so fast. I just need something different, cause everyone it’s the same vocal delivery, and same little adlibs (honestly you can very clearly see he is influenced by MJ’s vocal delivery). And the biggest plus is I really love the instrumentals and the production. It’s very “of its time” but it also hasn’t aged poorly. It’s just too much of the same vibe and sound over and over again. I also don’t feel bad about having a critical review of his work cause have you seen this guys fucking garage?!? It looks like a hot wheels collection, this dude has got all the coolest toys so I’m positive he doesn’t give a shit about me not really liking his albums as a whole. This dude totally puts out great hits, just not albums…. The best songs on this album are “blow your mind” and “music of the mind”. (I also could’ve used like 7 more songs like “music of the mind” that song is great!)

Funky, cool, nostalgic.

Goddamn this goes hard.

Some great funk/soul worship here. This definitely surprised me. I've always written this band off because of the ridiculous hats their singer seems to define himself with. This might be my new secret shame. I still hate the didgeridoo being worked in so often. Feels like a novelty at that point.

They were taking about the environment decades ago (& Joni Mitchell was decades before that) but we didn’t listen. Thankfully we’re still listening to the music which has lost none of it irresistible groove.

Do you need to hear this album before you die? No

The songs aren’t bad but we get it dude you like Stevie Wonder we all do.

Funky grooves and jammin beats - but not very interesting to me.

639/1001 2026.06.18 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑

Some decent beats, but ultimately not into this.

Another one that goes on too long and sounds the same .

I've never liked jamiroqui and this does not change my mind

Reminded me how much I enjoyed this

Pants

Close your eyes and you can hear Stevie Wonder, open them and you see a fool in a stupid hat.

Revolution 1993 is a banger as it gets more up tempo. The rest of it just inoffensive mid paced standard Jamiroquai stuff. Their second album is better for me.

Funky Jamiroquai. Nice little album to groove to but nothing spectacular.

I'm familiar with Jamiroquai, but mostly for the song "Canned Heat" (which is not on this album). As someone who either taught or took dance classes, "Canned Heat" was a staple in pretty much every dance studio in the late 90s/early 2000s. I love the funkiness of this band and this album. Super fun to listen to. But, as with several other albums I've come across on this list, the album is just way too long. I really enjoyed it for the first 30 minutes, then started to lose interest for the last 20 or so minutes. A couple of the songs at the end just seem to go on forever, and don't seem to go anywhere. Great music. Fun songs. It would be a great album to put on as background when you're cleaning the house or doing some other chore where you could use an extra pick me up.

Better than expected. Unexpected 70s funk from the 90s that pretty much just works.

People are complaining that this is too derivative of Stevie Wonder, but I'm over here like "Wow! Two cakes!"

se siente muy noventero muy funk de una epoca diferente en su epoca era un disco que sonaba futurista ahora suena mucho mas al pasado

Giant hats. Sliding towards the camera. Jamiroquai rules.

For whatever reason, I thought this was good at the time, listening to it back pretty boring

It's ... different. Not bad, I have added it to my library, will need to listen more but I am giving it a solid 3.

Недавно хотів його послухати. Цікаво. Поки заходить. To Young to Die супер. Whatever it is I just can’t stop сподобався. Взагалі в нього багато класних бас гітар в музиці. Зараз вагаюся чи записати його на плеєр. Може й варто, якщо хочеться щось піднесене і позитивне послухати. Слухаю альбом вдруге, все-таки, це трійка (було б 3.5, якби було можна). Трохи не дотягує мені, надто попсово.

No private session used on Spotify. I had mixed fillings about having this album show up, I like a couple Jamiroquai songs for their upbeat funk but his style seemed repetitive and limited. This album was a bit of a challenge as the songs all seamed similar with nothing standing out. I listened to it twice and was getting a little annoyed with the second time through. Novelty of hearing a didgeridoo but even that got old after a while.

This was interesting. I only really know Jamiroquai from ‘Virtual Insanity’; this was different from that. Good beats, jazzy and funky at times - a meld of a variety of genres. (4)

76/100. Didgeridoo? Hell yeah. This album is an absolute explosion of styles. Jamiroquai blend acid jazz, funk, soul, disco, Latin influences, and pop into something that feels constantly in motion. At times it genuinely feels like sitting at a beach bar somewhere warm while a fantastic jazz-funk band plays in the background. A dance can express more than happiness. It can also express hope, resistance, and the determination to remain alive to the world despite its failures. Many danceable albums are content to focus on partying, romance, or escapism. Emergency on Planet Earth takes a very different approach. Beneath the infectious grooves lies a sincere concern about society, consumerism, environmental destruction, and humanity's relationship with the planet. The music remains upbeat and joyful, but there is an undercurrent of frustration and urgency running through the lyrics.

Good grief this is bleeping terrible. 1.0

I remember this being popular among a certain crowd back in the day, and everyone comparing it to Stevie Wonder. I wasn't really familiar enough with his work back then to get it, but in retrospect yeah, this is an homage at best, bordering on pastiche.

Fun, funky, cool hat. What’s not to love?

I should like this more but I don’t

Like something straight out of 70s soul/R&B. Horns and bass are extremely pronounced, which is typically a good thing – giving the passing appearance of a bright, spirited live performance. Plus, Jamiroquai's vocals are clear, confident, and perfect for this particular style of music. Some of the songs certainly go on for too long – again reminiscent of the disco genre – and for that reason I have to dock some marks. In Music of the Mind (6:23) it's more forgivable because the instrumental acts as a sort of extended repeating solo section, without any vocals (well-sung or otherwise) to interrupt. The trumpet solo takes the cake, though I'll never pass up keyboard improv (à la Black Cow, Steely Dan) either. On the other hand, Too Young to Die (6:05), Blow Your Mind (8:32), and especially Revolution 1993 (10:17) overstay their welcome. Don't get me wrong – it makes for decent background listening – but it also means the songs kind of blend together. Jamiroquai picks a genre and adheres tightly to it, through thick and thin, until everybody's stimulant-highs wear off and they realise the music is *good*, but not *that* good. When You Gonna Learn? begins the album with a bang. And an excellent bang at that. Although the song kind of lacks a memorable hook, everything else is exactly what people look for in a jazz-inspired soul piece. If you were in any doubt about the bass's contributions, look no further than Too Young to Die, another strong track with a sort of riff in the bass that plays along with the chorus vocals/horns. Great musicianship all around, including the didgeridoo in the album closer Didgin' Out. It's also the worst track by a wide margin. I get it, the 'doo is hard to play, but I can't handle the same bar what's essentially the same bar of music over and over again. Please... change the rhythm at least once. I guess this is when the overbearing repetitiveness of electronic music really started to make its mark. 4/5 Key tracks: When You Gonna Learn?, Music of the Mind, Emergency on Planet Earth

This surprised me I actually really fucked with it

Super funky and soulful, a bit poppy, almost prog rock jazz . . .very eclectic mix of styles and genres that alll really work together well. His vocal approach reminds me of Stevie Wonder.

The Dream Theater of funk. Soulless.

Started off ok but got boring fast. Still better than Mariah Carey’s bullshit though.

amazing, loved it.

I’ve seen a lot of reviews here accusing Jamiroquai of stealing from Stevie Wonder… but maybe it’s just highly influenced. Where is the line, ya know? Anyway, I enjoyed the hell out of this. Could’ve done without the second disc, though. 1001… please stop linking to these extended versions!

A lot going on in acid jazz. But kinda good?

Temu Stevie Wonder.

When You Gonna Learn? - 3.5/5 Too Young to Die - 3/5 Hooked Up - 3/5 If I Like It, I Do It - 2.5/5 Music of the Mind - 2/5 Emergency on Planet Earth - 2.5/5 Whatever It Is, I Just Can't Stop - 1.5/5 Blow Your Mind - 2/5 Revolution 1993 - 1/5 Didgin' Out - 1/5

What a fun album! Bring the FUNK! Never heard of acid jazz.

Den hvite Stevie wonder? fy fader det her låter dritfett! hvordan har han gått under min radar!

The 90s produced a lot of faded photocopies of older sounds, especially in the UK. In guitar music Britpop was the 60s and 70s, in funk and soul we had this lot and the Brand New Heavies trying to resurrect 70s sounds. I'd rather have the Brand New Heavies cos at least you don't have to listen to Jay Kay and ponder his many non musical crimes. Being an ungentlemanly ex of Winona Ryder, repeatedly endangering the lives of people using the A9 by driving like a knob, storming the US Capitol building, etc

Not original...they just sound like they're trying to imitate Stevie Wonder.

This is probably good background music for something, but whatever it is, I didn't do it today

listened at the gym. its groovy and i the spacey weee ooo sounds and the basslines, when it's got a y2k futurism. wouldnt say it suffers from sameyness since i think the whole point is the exact mood it has. sort or suspect this is on here as an expression of the britishness of the list, as likely there is some black artist who influenced this (or even one that didnt) that could have been chosen in place of this.

Enjoyed this far more than expected. Less annoying/cheesy that his really famous stuff. Good mix of styles and genres. The most surprising 4/5 on the list yet

No está mal, su relevancia es que es el debut, si bien tiene discos que me gustan más.

I wish there was an instrumental version of this. Would make a great soundtrack album to a lost 70s NYC cops & robbers movie. Loses a star for the straight Stevie Wonder vocal theft.

We know that Jamiroquai are always dependable for a good time but sometimes they can outstay their welcome and it just becomes okay background music.

What a jam. I love his energy and how funky this album is.

Too much Jamiroquai

Tolle Mischung aus poppig und funky. Nach ein paar Sekunden hatte ich Stevie Wonder im Ohr. Nicht die schlechteste Referenz...

This was awesome!! So funky, jazzy, hot bass lines and vocals that fit the bill! I have heard the name but don’t think I’ve ever listened to Jamiroquai. This could have been trimmed down a little in length, but I’m more or less ambivalent as I didn’t get bored with it. Anyone talking about appropriation and “he’s white, he should only be making boring white-guy crappy music” can shut up. Ya it sounds inspired by Stevie Wonder.. Stevie’s had some great tracks and some that were shit. Inspiration is not appropriation.

I will continue to deep dive into their discography. 3.5 The pop and jazz combo had me entering flow state.

I learned a lot about Jamiroquai from this one - did you know that The Hat Man is not “Jamiroquai” but the front man of the BAND Jay Kay. Anyways, this isn’t Traveling without Moving, 3/5. (I quite enjoyed this, but I think it’s secondary to the followup).

Better than I thought it'd be

This was a fun listen. I'm honestly just glad I got something that doesn't suck today.

This is a decent acid funk / jazz album with a whole load of catchy tracks outside of the songs that were released. If I Like It, I Do It 'funks out' nicely, if that's even a phrase, and it's always nice to have a bit of didgeri-doo on any album, unless it's Rolf Harris. Blow Your Mind repeats a little too much for my taste, but it's stil pretty cool. So I'll go with a low 4 stars. I can't go higher due to my unreasonable and inexplainable dislike of Jay Kay. I don't know if it's the hats, or the singing in an American accent despite the fact that he's from Lancashire, or singing about an Emergency on Planet Earth when you've got 3 or 4 dozen cars parked in you garage / warehouse, he just irritates me a tad! Beyond all this, my wife's a fan of Jamiroquai as well, and it's concerning me that more of her CD collection is turning up on the 1001 than mine!

Well, what can I say. Jamiroquai is my childhood, and I’m not exaggerating when I say they are the most important band in my life. And my favorite band of all time. Always have been, most likely always will be. Now, let’s talk about Emergency on Planet Earth – what a masterpiece. Wonderful, sensational, perfect. An album absolutely dripping with musical perfection from start to finish. Jamiroquai's debut record, and already pure genius back then. Starting with "When You Gonna Learn", which opens the album with a didgeridoo, leading the way into an acid jazz miracle. Beautiful, bouncy violins introduce us to the sounds of "Too Young To Die", as Jay Kay guides us with his voice through instruments that stroke and caress our ears and brains. "Hooked Up" takes us into a world of groove and great drumming, and the same goes for "If I Like It, I Do It", which brings a bit of aggression to the acid jazz sound. This funk story then takes us to the instrumental track "Music of the Mind", which perfectly describes how it sounds with its title alone. Simply the perfection of instrumental acid jazz. Next up is the title track, "Emergency on Planet Earth". Starting with a brilliant funk guitar, the riff leads the listener into what is likely the best track on the album (though every single one of them is downright genius and deserves 5/5 stars). "Whatever It Is, I Just Can’t Stop" once again showcases the great groove of this album. "Blow Your Mind", much like "Music of the Mind", is a feast for the mind (pun intended). It takes the perfect instrumental sections of "Music of the Mind" and works even better combined with Jay Kay’s vocals, creating something of a funk ballad for the album. And then, the epic finale, "Revolution 1993" – a over-10-minute masterpiece with an incredibly fast, parade-like, marching rhythm. Thumping drums, aggression, speed, but also funk-acid jazz touches create a majestic finale for this masterpiece. Jamiroquai closes their debut album with the outro "Didgin' Out", played on the didgeridoo. Well, what more is there to say. Jamiroquai are geniuses. Yes, it’s the whole band, not just the singer, get that through your empty heads. And to the people talking about some fucking cultural appropriation… guys, this is cultural appreciation. A GOOD ONE. Jamiroquai have their own sound, their own groove, their own voice. They sound like nobody else, and even if you hear influences from more famous artists – so what? Every musician was inspired by someone else, that’s just logical. Saying that Jay Kay is white and can't play black music is more racist than Jay Kay and anyone in the band could ever be. By the way, several black musicians played on this album. What's your point??? Jamiroquai are musical geniuses, and Emergency on Planet Earth is a masterpiece.

Absolutely nothing about Jamiroquai should work. - by this point in the album generator I’m wary of anything British no matter the genre - but the idea of “British funk” should particularly set off alarm bells - Jay Kay has like ten different Oh No vibes about him (the wrong kind of hippie vibe, the seconds away from some kind of racial appropriation vibe, the why does he keep dressing like that vibe, car guy vibe, thinks he’s Bono vibe, don’t leave him alone near your drink vibe, etc) but I love this ridiculous band and I have for a long time. I’d argue maybe for A Funk Odyssey or Dynamite in place of the debut but the debut has more didgeridoo so I can’t really complain. As a full album it might only be getting a three though. Hard to ignore how many songs feel like Stevie Wonder cover band performances and I don’t think they’ve quite figured out the band identity that creates songs like Canned Heat, Corner of the Earth, or even Virtual Insanity

Funked up Favourite track: Music of the Mind

Nothing really stands out except for Revolution 1993. Great collection of musicians. I don't mind derivative sounds, and it feels like at least something was added with the inclusion of didgeridoo and modern production values and such, but the entire falls flat in the songwriting. I don't find the hooks remarkable, and the lyrics are quite bland, aiming at social consciousness but only scratching the surface.

This is pretty great listening but gets penalized for being a blatant Stevie wonder ripoff

Greta Van Fleet is to Led Zeppelin as these guys are to Stevie Wonder. Right in my Q Zone so I can excuse some of the other issues. 3.5

This started super funky but ultimately suffers quite a bit from the dime-store white Stevie Wonder wannabe as the frontman.

Very nice and funky. But something was missing for me. I don't know what. Maybe more slap :D

Nice, feel good album. Not typically my go to by I like Jamiroqui so I could listen to this again

Very funk / jazz. Not for me at all Some of the tracks went on for ever and never really went anywhere. Feels like he was just singing over the music rather than in time with it, felt like more of an improv jam than a planned album. 2/5

A white boy made a funk album in the 90s and made it a damn good one

This album was funky and fun. A good mix of soul, jazz, funk, with some didgeridoo thrown in for good measure. You can definitely hear the Stevie Wonder influence throughout everything. Maybe not the most original or inventive but enjoyable nonetheless.

Fun but not my genre

Very forgettable… meh

Lane

One of the old managers at the "hip" restaurant I used to work at, he would put on Jamiroquai for the background soundtrack whenever he was stuck on what to listen to. This band gives me PTSD from those days, but that's not exactly fair to the band to judge them on that. I did find the singer's vocals to be more impressive than I could really make out - very Stevie Wonder at times, which was a pleasant surprise - and I did like that some of the lyrics were socially minded, something I couldn't make out in the kitchen. That said, this kind of long-jam dance music just isn't really my thing, but I'll give 'em props for what they're doing.

Album #163 Jamiroquai: Emergency on Planet Earth Funk is one of those genres which exists more in spirit. Outside of Funkadelic, or anything George Clinton touches for that matter, I can’t really think of anything that I’ve heard which is strictly funk music. There are bands which do jazz funk, or funk rock, or funk rap, but nothing which is just strictly funky. Jamiroquai seem to be no exception to the rule, as their music has some very obvious jazz and soul elements; however, the only word I can really think of to describe this album is funky. It’s a pretty beaten cliche that all you need to do to make black music accessible to the mainstream is have a white guy perform it, and Jamiroquai would seem to almost comically align with that trope. One of the biggest bands of the 90s, a decade of grunge, alt rock, and hip-hop, made it big playing jazz, funk, and soul fusion. Maybe it was because of the white guy dressing like a rastafarian that made people feel comfortable listening to it, it is pretty clear that Jamiroquai are actually a pretty talented band, and does their influences justice. Though I find the lyricism a little too on point sometimes, with their fight against the man style of hippy doctrine (really, everything about this band is out of the 70s), the lead vocalist does have some undeniable charm that prevents the songs from drifting into straight cringe territory. The instrumentals are also consistently groovy, and despite an abundance of didgeridoo, I never really found myself tiring from it. That being said, the album certainly gets lost in the jam at points, and the consistency starts to blend with monotony, particularly around the middle, with the woman on vocals. This is definitely an interesting album and a cool exploration of genres, but it’s more of an album that I would throw on in the background to groove to, rather than actively listen. Best Songs: When You Gonna Learn, Too Young to Die, Blow Your Mind Worst Song: Didgin’ Out Score out of 10: 7

oh bordel c'est tellement bandant, album magique franchement

j'aime bien la vibe mais bof

Funky, groovy, que du bonheur. Franchement à la limite du 5 les musiques d'ambiance comme ça c'est du pur plaisir

Flaccid Jazz. This is the Liberal Democrat’s of music. Performative, pointless, and solely for middle class idiots with no real insight

Maybe I should give this another chance. It felt really flat in places, like they were still finding their feet, but it has a unique sound.

He got that shit on

Skönt gung

A great funky album. Never listened to any Jamiroquai before. I dug the lyrics about the problems in the world. That seemed to be what they were singing about the most. And this was in 1993, how prescient it was. I didn't know what to expect from it, but it was largely enjoyable. Very funky, jazzy, and the bass player really knows what's up. The instrumentation is varied, but it does kind of bleed together, unfortunately. I enjoyed my time with it, but I don't know that I'd necessarily revisit it.

music is love

Overall: 3.05 (rounded to 3) Consistency: 3.2 Originality: 2 Enjoyment: 3.5 Virtuosity: 3.5 1. When You Gonna Learn? - 3 2. Too Young to Die - 4 3. Hooked Up - 3 4. If I Like It, I Do It - 3 5. Music of the Mind - 4 6. Emergency on Planet Earth - 3 7. Whatever It Is, I Just Can't Stop - 3 8. Blow Your Mind - 3 9. Revolution 1993 - 3 10. Didgin' Out - 3

Crap

Este disco me encantaba y escuchar un didgeridoo como un instrumento más me pareció alucinante. Luego cuando Jay Kay empezó a coleccionar Ferraris todo esto de "Emergency on planet Earth" como que suena a discurso hueco. Me guardo: "When You Gonna Learn?", "Too Young to Die", "If I Like It, I Do It", "Emergency on Planet Earth" y "Revolution 1993".

Upsides: The musicianship, especially the rhythm section. Downsides: 1. The Stevie Wonder tribute band nobody asked for. My god I hadn't noticed so much before. 2. Jay Kay is such an irritating twat.

Second rate Stevie Wonder

Fav song: Too Young to Die

I’ve heard this a few times in the past but could never tell if it was good or bad but after this listen I’m leaning towards good. Although the idea of each piece is a bit basic there are some interesting things going on harmonically that made this listen interesting. Also hearing real strings and horns as well as didgeridoo and turntable scratching on top of the tunes make this stand out a bit. There is a bit too much Stevie Wonder worship going on here which isn’t a bad thing but it doesn’t elevate any of the material here and left me hoping for something more original to their sound. So ya this is good but I don’t really feel I need to listen to this album again but if I happen to hear it again somewhere I’m sure I won’t be offended.

Pretty legit for 1993.

"Emergency On Planet Earth" is an inoffensive listen but not really to my taste. It's super slick, Jazzy and soulful but as a consequence lacks any edge or bite. It isn't dreadful but I didn't like this at the time of its release and I still don't. Two stars. 326/1001 178/326 albums reviewed were new to me.

I like the style but found it hard to put together a full listening session.

I’m normally not fond white boy funk in its various forms, but Jamiroquai is different. It’s doesn’t feel corporate and sterile. It’s alive and whimsical. It feels in tune with the things that inspire it.

Copia blanca de Stevie Wonder. Correcto

Was good, I do enjoy Jamiroquai's sound ever since I discovered "Virtual Insanity". Was very fond of this album, though I felt like some of it lacked a little substance. Ain't bad though

I like modern funk bands, including Jamiroquai. This album is more funk/soul/R&B than their later output. Too Young to Die might as well be a Stevie Wonder song. I actually think I like the dancier Jamiroquai. Too many long songs. Some of their songs seem like they could be Flight of the Choncords-style comedy songs, the vamping at the beginning of Blow Your Mind for example. Give me a break with the ten minute song. Effective use of the digeridoo, a rare thing in popular music. They could be the backup band for the Beastie Boys.

I don't get what everyone's didgin' out about.

Groovy, mom “retired”, I was tired. Went to bed early.

Ah, yes, Jamiroquai, a group I've been meaning to check out for the longest time because of how much I love that one GIF from the Virtual Insanity music video. And, yeah, there's some pretty good stuff here. In a lot of ways, it reminded me of early '70s Funkadelic, given the political edge to the lyrics, the bigger emphasis on genre fusions. You get nice horn sections and strings overlaying the core funk instrumentation here, and the occasional jazzy interlude as well, with a song like 'Too Young To Die.' Bit of hip-hop as well with the occasional scratching - overall an impressive and eclectic collection of sounds is put on display. And there were some great songs, the opener, 'How You Gonna Learn?' hooked me almost immediately, but 'Revolution 93' was maybe my favorite song here. It was a nice change in pace, with this fuzzy, acid bassline over this frantic marching snare pattern. The backing vocals add a lot of texture, and the song certainly earns its ambitious length with those constant switch-ups, just a super epic funk odyssey. Jay Kay's vocals are pretty great all over this thing; they're super light and fluffy, sort of like a more restless Stevie Wonder, especially when he's singing in his upper register over these sunny instrumentals like on the song 'If I Like It, I Do It'. It gives the whole album a real feel-good vibe despite the at times bleak political themes. I will say this record does suffer a bit from being on the longer side because while the playing is generally tight and enjoyable, I did find the songs blend in with one another near the middle. But I'm sure that'll get resolved with subsequent listens. Good intro to this band.

Impressive that this manages to be both not very good and boring at the same time. Feels like they aspire to be pretentious but lack the talent to reach that. They lose one because a guy from Suffolk names his band by combining 'jam' and 'Iroquois', but gain one back because Didgin' Out, which should be an absolute abomination was pretty good

Stevie Wonder + Rolf Harris. This lot were fairly hated 30-something years ago for repackaging SW's music and adding a didgeridoo in order to tie itself to the eco-revival movement of the early-90s and more authentic bands. It was toss back in the day; it's good unoriginal music nowadays.

Acid-Jazz, RnB, Funk, 1993->3

fun listen, didnt really like his voice tho, instrumentals were amazing

birthday album!! Is… is that a didgeridoo. Well, guess this is going to be fun. When you gonna learn was a great first track! Thought it had some weird sounds, but ones that worked. Too young to die was also great! That horn section was so cool. Hooked up reminded me of a mariokart score. Music of the mind was a great instrumental track. The title track was SO good. Blow your mind has some great horns again. Revolution 1993 was too long, but was probably one of my favourites on the album. Diggin out closed it nicely. 4/5 ⭐️ 129/1089

If you would have told the teenager who INSTANTLY changed the channel when Virtual Insanity came on that he'd be one day ON PURPOSE listening to an entire album from that band, he never would have believed you. Yet, here we are. From its opening notes, I'm reminded of Stevie Wonder. Reminded? That's maybe a bit too kind. It's not Stevie Wonder-style flair; it's Stevie Wonder sung by a white British guy. It's not just derivative, but like personality theft? I like Stevie Wonder, but I'm not sure how I feel about this. I think I'm bailing out here at track 6. I might come back to it this weekend. I might not

I had a later album by this band, I didn't know these songs. They are pleasant, funky. Actually - some of these are very, very funky!! Full credit to Stuart Zender on bass. And I like the package with kybds, drums/percussion, heaps of horn lines. Lyrics are a bit silly but yes this is Jamiroquai - "heart is in the right place", like a Che Guevara t-shirt (equally impactful). I will rate the album for the music, particularly the stronger tracks, and I'll say it's Very Good, 8/10.

Too Young to Die

90’s Brit Funk revival Not for me, Jay Kay has a nice voice I suppose but the music is bland and overproduced, and very samey. Nothing stood out. Favourite track: the one with the didgeridoo was at least funny

Sure, why the fuck not. Im of this generation and remember him as a slightly twattish pop pixie. But this is just sunshine in audio form. Yes, its not origional, but all art is stolen so cultural appropriation can get fucked. I had Elvis yesterday and that slapped as well. The bass slaps, the depth and breadth of instrumentation is marvellous and i love the digeridoo. The funk jazz balances space to wander without loosing the drive.

It's a fun album to play in the background, but I am not too sure I will muster sufficient interest to listen to it wholeheartedly.

Very good

Some of the worst lyrics I’ve ever heard. Some of the best drums I’ve ever heard. FIVE

i know a lot of people who like funk and disco but i don't know anyone who listens to jamiroquai.

Alright, Jamiroquai. I see what you're getting at. This is some great stuff right here. Seriously, I mean it! This is a very fun album! I kinda love this. I've always loved what little I have heard of Jamiroquai, but hearing a full album of theirs has allowed me to appreciate them even more. This really is a great album for many occasions. I mean, there are so many things you can do while listening to Jamiroquai. Dancing, walking, rearranging furniture. So many things! Unfortunately, I don't really get a chance to talk about "Virtual Insanity" since this isn't the album with that song on it. It's a shame because that song is genuinely phenomenal. But you know what? The songs on Emergency On Planet Earth aren't half-bad. There's some cool tunes on here! "When You Gonna Learn?" is a great opener. It's a very upbeat song with some nice political messaging. That applies to much of the album, but it's perfectly represented by this opener. "Too Young to Die" is very Stevie Wonder-esque, but I love Stevie Wonder, so I have no reason to complain. I don't think the rest of the album reaches the highs of those first two songs, but it's all a fun time. Jay Kay's voice is great and it fits the music perfectly. The acid jazz sound is super fun. I like the occasional political theming sprinkled throughout the album. I wish the pacing was a little better, but I think the album is still pretty great despite that. It's got a lot of soul and it's just a really fun time. You'll never be a gimmick band to me, Jamiroquai. I know you're the real deal. You and your funny hat. High 4/5.

I liked the funky parts more than the jazzy parts. But I also found it a bit repetitive and not that interesting Standouts - 3/5

I didn’t plan to like this, didn’t really even want to like this, yet dammit, I liked it. All the white boy jazz/souls catnip. Not the most original, groundbreaking album ever but sometimes I need background music that isn’t just instrumental ambient. It was fun, there was action, and depth for me to tune into if I wanted. Begrudgingly, this one was what I needed today.

It's good

It was fine

obvious 5, but i like it more as background when im studying then to listen as is

Seems like a decent artist but this just isn't my bag, baby

Good jazz no my too much my vibe tho

Musically pretty good, I just find the vocals infinitely annoying

A cross between 70s disco, Stevie Wonder, and Santana.

alright

None of these are virtual insanity 🤨

Don’t know about appreciation or appropriation - culture is fluid and dynamic after all, but the resemblance to classic period Stevie W ain’t exactly subtle. It seems very retro pastiche, to the point of massive imitation. And it’s not like it’s been anglicised in any way what so ever, to at least give it their own spin and sound. Do think he is just a fan and that’s where he was coming from and not cold for the cash. But Honestly can’t listen to it with an open ear, without thinking it just sounds like someone trying to be Stevie Wonder 20 years later with the then modern sound production. Don’t think that level of coping is valid for a must hear album. Sure you can be influenced, everyone is in some way to develop what they do, of course you can but there is a line. So if it was just listen to this as an album it’s ok, but as a representative in the history of popular music since ‘54 ( from a British editor) ie the list of must hear albums got to mark it’s derivative ass down, 2 Star

Great album with energy you can feel.

most of them were pretty good, really good electronic elements, but the more vocal ones were not my cup of tea

Es muy bueno Jamiroquai. Le daría 3 y media.

Funkyä ja letkeetä, mutta ei oikein herättänyt isompia tunteita. Ihan jees levy. Parhaat: Blow Your Mind, Emergency on Planet Earth

Just fun

Jamirkquai had that one popular song in the 90s it had that video and it was virtual something or other. Heard of him since then not sure why but nothing in particular. This record is just awesome. It’s timeless music, you can’t not enjoy this. Little funky, little jazz - the best way to describe this is just cool. Almost 5 stars.

I really enjoyed the experience of listening to this. There's a lot of great and fun instrumental funk going on here, punctuated by Jay Kay's seemingly effortless singing.

This album is carried completely by Stuart Zenders' amazing bass playing. Actually, I could listen to just the rhythm section all day - the rest is just "extra". I love that this album has a concept (and a good one). Just short of a five maybe.

Wearing a giant hat does not make this a record I need to listen to.

Elevator music

I am sorry Mr. Roquai. I was not familiar with your game.

Makes sense it was his first

Oh, good. Looking forward to this. Not sure I heard it in the day… if I did, it’s been awhile. Oh no. I learned something. I can’t do funk without soul. Man, the musicianship is undeniable. But something was wrong. I just wasn’t enjoying myself. Then I looked up other reviews and the album. And yeah. I give 3 stars to the band and maybe -1 stars for Jay Kay?The best track by far was music of mind where he doesn’t appear as a vocalist. Boolean rating: no. I could definitely have died without hearing this.

Fuck that guy.

I had never had heard it before just a song here and there. Like it better than their breakout album. Much more solid and hard for acid jazz. Loved it

Am i bothered that he sounds just like Stevie? Yea, of course. Does that stop me from shaking my butt for an hour? Not one bit!

I'm more into The Return of the Space Cowboy or Travelling Without Moving, but their debut is quite good. When You Gonna Learn Too Young to Die

Pretty spacey white boy jazz funk that’s fun, but it’s good to know they went in a more focused pop direction after this 3.5/5

So many good grooves. Rhythm section is great and so are the horns. The bass player kills it. A very fun album. 4/5 Will listen again

so fun!

Nah. I didn’t enjoy listening to a guy from Lancashire pretending to be Stevie Wonder. It’s all a bit too performative and “try hard” for my taste.

Nope. Can’t be doing with it. Pretentious guff.

1970s sounding soul and funk-based Acid Jazz done right. Nothing too original here but who cares for some of us this is comfort food for the soul.

7/10

Funky, cool

Cerramos otra semana corta y qué mejor que hacerlo arriba. No recuerdo haberlo escuchado un disco entero de Jamiroquai pero sí tengo en mente varias de sus canciones: otra banda que se suma a las de MTv, que ya no volverán. Gracias y nos vemos la semana próxima.

ehhhhhhn.

I remember seeing the video this band had on MTV from a later album where they dance upside down or you could say on the ceiling a la Lionel Richie. This album is much more of a cosplay (to say it nicely) or imitation (to say it in a mean way) of Stevie Wonder. But here is the thing Stevie Wonder is so great that if you copy his singing style and have it over some good music you end up with an album that is at least pleasant to listen to. Contrast that with all the other copiers/cosplayers et al that you have on this list looking at you Amy Winehouse, and I can't get overly upset and criticize too much. I would probably normally rate this as a 2 but I feel generous because accompanying music is of quality and Stevie Wonder is an all time artist. 3

The bass is doing a lot of the work to earn these 3 stars. Its a little bit cornier than I remember.

It really does sound like Stevie Wonder with 90s production for a club. The songs don’t progress anywhere and the lyrics seem half assed yet trying to tackle serious issues at the same time. Rating: 1.8

Ya conocía este álbum, Lnt me gusta, no me había tomado el tiempo de escucharlo completo hasta ahora, me gustó bastante

What a cool discovery this was! If you told me that this was a Stevie Wonder album, I might have almost believed it. Funky, jazzy, and upbeat and uplifting. I never gave Jamiroquai a second thought after Virtual Insanity. I thought of them as a one hit wonder. This is a solid and enjoyable album. 4 stars

Wow, what a nice little treat to listen to this one while relaxing. Not familiar with the group at all but they did a pretty good job on this one and would listen to more.

Knaller. Net geen 5 sterren voor mij, daarvoor zitten er een paar iets te langdradige stukken in.

Onwijs leuke plaat. Bless Joris broer dat ik mee kon naar die ene show jaren geleden.

I quite like Jamiroquai’s music from time to time, but listening to a whole album in one go is apparently a bit too much of a good thing. Three stars…

What a good vibe, funky fresh.

One of the most underrated groups. So funky and fun. Some of their other albums are better, but a real solid 4.3.

What can I say? I have a weakness for grooves. This is funky, interesting, and fun to listen to. They obviously are heavily influenced by funk greats like Stevie Wonder, but I can’t say that I care much. Culture is always a patchwork of what came before. And Stevie rocks, so why not try to follow in those funky footsteps? 8/10 Most Excellent

good album, definitely better played out loud rather in headphones. i love jamiroquai but ive never listened to anything off this album.

I love Jamiroquai.

Apart from the two well known tracks I found the rest of the album pretty mid.

Jamiroquai could make a room full of Quakers and Amish shake their ass.

Man, this dude won't quit with Stevie Wonder-isms, will he. Aside from trying to mimic Wonder vocally (which itself will make you wish you were listening to the real deal), it sounds as though singer Jay Kay (and his co-writer Toby Smith) are cherry-picking individual chords from Wonder's 70s-era output and randomly stitching them together into numbers that lack any rhyme or reason. If you can stand more than three tracks of this audio car crash without getting a headache, you're made from stronger stuff than I am.

Jamiroquai always puts the dance in my pants.

Not always awful, but an overall feeling of nausea throughout.

Great in the day, however I always felt JK was the more commercial side of the excellent Acid Jazz scene from that decade. Nowadays, it's just something Jeremy Vine plays on Radio 2

Stevie Wonder knock off. But done right.

This really dragged on for an eternity...

Ja lkkr

This one is an old favorite that I haven't listened to in a long time. They got weird down the road but the early stuff is hot!

Don't know that acid jazz is high on my list of favorite genres, but I could groove to this one.

i rewatched the Virtual Insanity clip like 2 days ago and thought that it’d be sick if i get his album here. today begins and randomiser gives me it! i truly manifested it, thank you, the divine power

I don't know, it was alright. Didn't do much for me.