90s Music at its not so finest

Jamiroquai-Travelling Without Moving

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If you were a fan of MTV music videos then you should remember the crazy yet creative tunes of the band Jamiroquai. Even if you don’t during the late 90s and early 2000s upcoming albums of any kind took off. In Nathaniel’s review of Jamiroquai: Travelling Without Moving he gives the album a superb rating which is 4.5 stars out of 5. The 1997 album receives such high ratings because of the funky, fresh, and full of surprises the band intertwines with album also the success of the hit song Virtual Insanity and lastly how the voice of Jason Kay plus the great instruments created a successful album. Nathaniel believed the powerful mixing of all three really pushed the album to be a hit amongst fans. However I disagree because of the intensity level of the weirdness and absurdity of the video and tunes combined in the music.

Firstly, the combination of reggae, pop, jazz, soul, and techno create for too much static to the listener. He/she may like how the beat comes in at first but it quickly changes before the listener can adapt. According to Nathaniel, “You're going to hear everything from funky wah-wahs and jungle rhythms in the more upbeat of songs such as Use the Force, as well as keys that tickle addictive melodies (Virtual Insanity) and somber bass grooves (Everyday)”. Yes the compelling sounds of each unique instrument help tell the story but there is only one song on the entire album that is only percussion. Almost as if the lead singer of the band decided he was fine with letting the music solely be the star. People that love instrumental music took a liking to the song Didjital Vibrations while those who do not did not enjoy the album in its entirety. The listeners have to have an open mind to the themes the instruments and the video carry.

Not only do the instruments warp anything normal about this album or the band the video linked to the song Virtual Insanity. The song starts off in a white rite with little to no furniture. It can also be interpreted this is Kay’s mind. As the video goes along disturbing actions take place. He is in multiple places and there are several hand gestures motioning he’s crazy. Nathaniel says, “In fact everyone knows somebody who at one point genuinely believed Jamiroquai to be his name (or was that person themselves)”. I agree with this statement but as a viewer am I already struggling to keep up with the thin parallel line between the title of the song and his actions.

Jason Kay carries the band well giving a creative outlook on the type of music. But some may wonder how many directions can you actually market a crazy man on funky fresh beats? He did a good job displaying his mind is all over the place but how can you keep up? Travelling Without Moving is a good album and it can be said Kay describes hardships and love well to some level.