Jamiroquai

Synkronized

Transition

Review Score:

(8/10)
Oh to see the look on people's faces when the strings come in on "Canned Heat." It took me a while to get used to it, I admit, but it was well worth it. Okay, first things first, overall this album is not up to the quality of "Space Cowboy" or "Travelling," but there is a lot of great music here, especially considering the circumstances. Stuart Zender, one of the baaaddist bassists out there today, left the band for reasons of which I'm not quite sure. His presence is missed. So the band really had to change its approach. The sound has changed from the acid-jazz, Stevie- Wonder-gettin'-high-and-makin'-music sound to a somewhat more straight-ahead funk feel. While this does limit the bass potential, it suits the drummer Derrick McKenzie very well. I don't think he has ever sounded better. And, come on guys, Nick Fyffe is a damn good bassist. He only played on four songs on this album (#3, #4, #5, and #9) while Toby Smith played synth-bass on the other songs. This album needs to be viewed as what it is - a bridge to connect old Jamiroquai to new Jamiroquai, and a damn strong bridge at that. The only qualms I have with Synkronized is the last cut "King for a Day." It sounds like Jamiroquai trying a quasi-classical tune topped off with childish, back-stabbing lyrics aimed at Mr. Zender. A poor way to end the album. Still, I love the other nine songs and I can't wait until the next album.

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