Jamiroquai - Emergency on Planet Earth

In the liner notes to Jamiroquai's debut album, lead singer and mastermind Jason Kay delivers a sincere, if oversimplified, screed about distributing the wealth and saving the rainforests. The lyrics follow suit: except for a single love tune ("Blow Your Mind"), Kay bemoans war, greed, racism, and conformity, or extols the power of music as a drug ("Hooked Up") or as a catalyst for social revolution. This is not Jamiroquai's most eloquent album, nor their strongest musically, what with most songs structured as long-form, open-ENDed jams weighing in at six minutes or more. Though interesting as a chronicle of Kay's musical vision taking shape, overall it's a document that will appeal most to Deadheads and jam-band fans. --Suzanne McElfresh Amazon.com

No dancing-floor hits!!!

The first release of a band that currently doesn't sound like it used to on this album, circa 1993, which makes it a cool retrospective like looking at an old photograph. Probably this album has the real essence of what Jamiroquai was when the band disguised as eco-terrorists rather than trying hard to sound like Stevie Wonder remixed.

Good one and, maybe, even better than some of their subsequent releases.

DON'T expect mainstream songs or big dancing-floor hits!!! However, very good music is granted indeed except for one or two experimental songs...

Recommended for those trying to keep appart from the mainstream, but not yet on the alternative side. July 27, 2008

One Of The Best Albums

As a musician, Bassist/drummer, I thought that this was one of their best albums. Especially: Music Of The Mind. It goes into 3 different variations, very creative on the bass movements. September 14, 2007

Their first and best in my opinion.

I own all of Jamiroquai's cd's and i think most of them are great. This is absolutely my favorite to listen to straight through. I think the horns are amazing especially on "Hooked Up", and the percussion always ends up pushing the pace in a subtle way. This album just makes me move and I think JK and co. have so much raw energy. Stuart on Bass is sick sick sick straight through. "Revolution 1993" has become my favorite song by Jamiroquai -- love the lyrics, the message, the excitement, the tension/release, its just put together so well. "Music of the Mind" is a great instrumental track and shows off the jazz-rock-funk roots of what became the later disco-enhanced Jamiroquai. Sweet solos too, the keys are great. Also love "Too Young To Die" and "Emergency On Planet Earth". Impressive debut from a band, and it stands as one of my favorite discs. February 27, 2006

jamiroquai are soo cool!!!!!

this album is my first from jamiroquai, and i think this album is great!!! "when you gonna learn" and " too young to die" are great songs and "music of the mind" too. if you love and like funk music buy this cd!! November 8, 2005

Forget the Stevie Wonder comparisons....

Jamiroquai, as it stood in 1991, was one of the freshest sounds to come out of the Acid Jazz movement. This record, though uneven at times was overshadowed only by it's ambition. 10 tracks, none under 4:50, and most well over 5 minutes all the while creating a conscious VIBE. That right that was something that the kids were not getting on the radio back in 1991, especially here in America where Hip Hop had finally pierced the brains of record executives as a financial reality. However, for those in search of something just as viable with musicianship to boot, how much did it feel like Christmas Day after just one listen? Yes, in the years since they have had better records, "Space Cowboy" & "Travelling Without Moving", also worse ones "A Funk Odessey", but for what it was worth they have been well worth following just for the music alone. No Jay Kay is no Stevie but who the hell is? If you should choose to listen to this record just listen as a fan of music and in the context of it being 1991 and what was going on musically at that time. Now if you pick up their other CD's you will find that as time passes and the original band starts to splinter that the music also suffers. In particular, when Stuart Zender's bass leaves prior to Synkronized, the band goes to a more Disco influenced direction. This, in my mind, is why Jamiroqual has never had the success stateside that Sony had gambled on back in '90-'91. July 5, 2005

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