365 – New Music Daily

Did somebody say 90’s? (yeah, Jamiroquai album was 2001, ok. stfu)

Only feel like reading about music you think you might like? I get it. Use these links to jump to reviews on albums from Jamiroquai (R&B., Funk?) Portishead (? I don’t know. Groovy?) and Outkast (Hip hip hip hip hop!).

Jamiroquai – A Funk Odyssey (R&B, Funk, but also kinda house?)

If I included every spelling I have inputted here of Jamiroquai, you would probably assert that I am not a literate man. Perhaps you are correct.

Jamiroquai is a Portuguese R&B legend – which certainly puts him in a 1 of 1 category. He’s also someone that I feel like is a household name but I have never spoken to someone who actually knows who he is. I think he was in Malaga about a week before my arrival sadly as well.

This album kinda pisses me off? But for the right reasons? It’s very reminiscent of Lenny Kravitz’s (z’s? z’?) 5, an album which is all over the place and doesn’t stick to where it thrives, well at least to my ears. That album, 5, has some fantastic R&B cuts, then flips to Lenny doing weird versions of other genres. Brendan, err, I mean, whoever Dragon Dee is (who’s dee?) if you read this, I’m not slandering your boy Lenny. It’s just a chaotic album. You would have to agree.

This album has these sweet R&B, Funk, House all in one songs. They are groovy as fuck, you wanna dance, the vocals are good, the guitar riffs are sick, like 10/10. The high points of this album are fucking great. Especially the below song – immediately you’re greeted with fantastic talk box, twangy guitar, into synth chords and a catchy verse and chorus. So good!

The problem is, he completely strays from this. Songs 2-5 are all as described above, then it descends into:

• Stop Don’t Panic, a weird grungey, almost 311 song with a dance spin (sorry 311 comes up so much on this blog?? very niche band to throw at you a lot)
• A much slower, subdued song in Black Crow (which isn’t bad, but nothing close to what was)
• A shitty 80’s dance song (Main Vein)
• A little dose of losing your mind music (Twenty Zero One)
• A laid back, acoustic song (Picture of My Life – which isn’t bad at all, and doesn’t compare to the others in this list)
• A totally mediocre guitar song to close it

This one pisses me off because like… why dude. Who else is making funk house R&B, and who else is doing it so well?? Stick with it. And as a listener, you keep thinking alright, maybe it’ll come back here? That sound that was so good? Nope. AGH. I won’t let my frustration eat up this word count. Listen to songs 2-5 on this album! and that’s it.

Favorite songs: Little L, You Give Me Something, Corner of the Earth, Love Foolosophy

Also, lmao this video is so bad. I would almost recommend just listening to the song, but I’m including it so we all remember what terrible early 00’s music videos were.

Portishead – Dummy (Groovy? Indie?)

Good googly moogly, I apologize that Jamiroquai review was so long. Clearly I was much more infuriated than I recalled. That shit just pisses me off… I have to stop. What doesn’t piss me off is this Portishead album! I had heard of this group but never checked out their music, and I’m super glad that I did.

I can’t really describe this one in a singular genre – what I can say is this. Imagine like a hard rap beat from the 90’s or 00’s, but it’s a British lady sliding on it and singing beautifully serene falsettos. That’s what you’re going to find here. I have to keep this one short because I went too hard on my boy Jamiroquai, but this is a beautifully inventive album, fantastic fantastic instrumentals and performances. I would highly recommend this for all music listeners.

Favorite songs: Sour Times, Strangers, It Could Be Sweet, Roads, Glory Box

Outkast – ATLiens (1996)

While many folks are fans of Outkast for the Rosa Parks, the Hey Ya’s, the So Fresh and So Clean’s (incredibly justified!), ATLiens is a show of two of the greatest rappers of all time at their peak. Fuck, is this album good, and is hip-hop exemplified to the highest degree. Andre shits all over this album, Organized Noize beats are absolutely insane throughout, and fuck man. I could dig into it, but this is required listening for all, front to back phenomenal. #1 Outkast album for me (a few more will come down the line).

Favorite songs: every. single. one! The title track is below and fantastic.