Synkronized

Synkronized
Studio album by Jamiroquai
Released 8 June 1999 (United States)
14 June 1999 (UK)
Recorded 1998–1999 Chillington Studio, Buckinghamshire
Genre
Length 53:06
Label Sony Soho Square (UK)
Work (US)
Producer Al Stone / Jason Kay
Jamiroquai chronology
In Store Jam
(1997)In Store Jam1997		 Synkronized
(1999)		 1999 Remixes
(1999)1999 Remixes1999
Singles from Synkronized
  1. "Deeper Underground"
    Released: 13 July 1998
  2. "Canned Heat"
    Released: 24 May 1999
  3. "Supersonic"
    Released: 13 September 1999
  4. "King for a Day"
    Released: 29 November 1999
  5. "Black Capricorn Day"
    Released: 2 February 2000

Synkronized is the fourth studio album released by British funk/acid jazz band Jamiroquai. It was released on 8 June 1999 on Work Group in the United States and on 14 June 1999 in the United Kingdom under S2 Records. The album contains funk, acid jazz and disco elements.

Album information

The album's recording sessions began at Jay Kay's home studio in 1998. About 9 tracks[1] were recorded, but the band's bassist Zender left partway through the recording in late 1998 over a dispute of album credits.[2] Jay Kay hired a replacement, Nick Fyffe. Kay decided to scrap all the tracks and start the album over. The whole album was finished and released within 6 months.[1] An outtake from this album, "Snooze, You Lose", was later released on the mini-album "An Online Odyssey". "Where Do We Go from Here?" was described as the point of change within the group's sound, using rocks with a leap-frogging blues piano and tangy bongos. The final song on the album, "King For A Day", is a regal rock-operatic excursion embellished with fully orchestrated piano and strings, with lyrics relating to Stuart Zender's bad departure. It is noticeable that there is no bass guitar or bass synth sound within the song. Didgeridoo player Wallis Buchanan made his last appearance on the song "Supersonic".

The UK version of the album includes the bonus track "Deeper Underground", which was released as a single the previous year and became Jamiroquai's only number one single in the UK.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Entertainment WeeklyB−[4]
Robert ChristgauC–[5]
Rolling Stone[6]
Q[7]
NME6/10[8]
Spin6/10[9]
Vibefavorable[10]

Rolling Stone gave the album 3 out of five stars, claiming "Synkronized is fifty minutes of sleek, sexy fun; a party album delivered with something like conviction. It's not exactly irresistible, but, really, what's the point of resisting it?"[6] Spin gave the album the same rating, claiming "...redirects the band's British tendency toward smoothed-out old black jams....soaring strings, gyrating congas, hell-bent wah-wah's, and an undeniably live rhythm section that'll hustle your muscles and make you freak to the beat..." Entertainment Weekly claimed "Imagine if [Stevie] Wonder had made a disco album in 1977!....Synkronized is a hat trick done with the sharpest chapeau in the store."[4] College Music Journal claimed "This incessantly upbeat expedition travels into the regions of Travolta-era disco...feverish funk...and instrumental iridescence...keeping your ears tuned to their funktastic audio adventures." Mojo claimed "Synkronized proves Jamiroquai...are capable of knocking up fluid and thrilling grooves at the drop of an enormous hat....Jay's voice is wonderful throughout, delivering his admittedly toe-curling lyrics with...conviction." Q magazine claimed the album was one of the "50 Best Albums of 1999".[11] In his consumer guide for The Village Voice, critic Robert Christgau gave the album a C– rating in his annual "Turkey Shoot",[5] indicating "a bad record of some general import".[12]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Canned Heat"Jay Kay5:31
2."Planet Home"Jay Kay, Toby Smith4:44
3."Black Capricorn Day"Jay Kay5:41
4."Soul Education"Jay Kay, Toby Smith4:15
5."Falling"Jay Kay, Toby Smith3:45
6."Destitute Illusions"Jay Kay, Toby Smith, Derrick McKenzie5:40
7."Supersonic"Jay Kay, Toby Smith5:15
8."Butterfly"Jay Kay, Toby Smith4:28
9."Where Do We Go from Here?"Jay Kay5:13
10."King for a Day"Jay Kay, Toby Smith3:40
Total length:48:12
UK Bonus Track
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Deeper Underground"Jay Kay, Toby Smith4:46
Japanese Bonus Track
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Getinfunky"Jay Kay, Wallis Buchanan5:35
Australian Bonus Disc
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Deeper Underground"Jay Kay, Toby Smith4:46
2."Getinfunky"Jay Kay, Wallis Buchanan5:35
3."Wolf in Sheep's Clothing"Jay Kay, Wallis Buchanan4:00

Personnel

  • Jay Kay – lead vocals
  • DJ D-Zire – wheels of steel
  • Simon Katz – guitar
  • Toby Smith – keyboards
  • Nick Fyffe – bass
  • Derrick McKenzie – drums
  • Sola Akingbola – percussion
  • John Thirkell - trumpet
  • Mike Smith - saxophone
  • Dennis Rollins - trombone
  • Wallis Buchanan – didgeridoo
  • Donny Wallace – platins

Charts

Certifications and sales

Region CertificationCertified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[40] Gold 35,000^
Belgium (BEA)[41] Gold 25,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[42] Gold 50,000^
France (SNEP)[43] Platinum 455,000 [44]*
Germany (BVMI)[45] Gold 250,000^
Japan (RIAJ)[46] 4× Platinum 800,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[47] Gold 50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[48] Gold 7,500^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[49] Gold 50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[50] Platinum 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[51] Platinum 563,487 [52]^
Summaries
United States (RIAA)[53] N/A 310,000[54]
Europe (IFPI)[55] Platinum 1,000,000*
Worldwide (IFPI) N/A 3,000,000 [56]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

|}

References

  1. 1 2 Jay Kay MTV interview 1999
  2. ↑ Official Stuart Zender leaving announcement
  3. ↑ Bush, John. "Jamiroquai: Synkronized > Review" at AllMusic. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  4. 1 2 Browne, David (11 June 1999). "Synkronized (1999): Jamiroquai". EW.com.
  5. 1 2 Christgau, Robert (23 November 1999). "Turkey Shoot". The Village Voice. Village Voice Media. Retrieved 2012-01-27.
  6. 1 2 DeCurtis, Anthony (8 July 1999). "Jamiroquai: Synkronized". RS 816-817. Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 29 June 2007.
  7. ↑ Q (7/99, pp.102-3) - 4 stars (out of 5) - "...[consolidates] the group's irrepressibly catchy old-skool funk with something darker and stranger....the most obtuse and best things the band have put down..."
  8. ↑ NME review
  9. ↑ Spin (8/99, p.154) - 6 (out of 10) - "...redirects the band's British tendency toward smoothed-out old black jams....soaring strings, gyrating congas, hell-bent wah-wah's, and an undeniably live rhythm section that'll hustle your muscles and make you freak to the beat..."
  10. ↑ Vibe review
  11. ↑ "1999: Q Magazine Recordings of the Year". rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  12. ↑ Christgau, Robert (15 October 2000). "CG 90s: Key to Icons". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 2012-01-27.
  13. ↑ "australian-charts.com Jamiroquai - Synkronized" (ASP). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  14. ↑ "austriancharts.at Jamiroquai - Synkronized" (ASP). Hung Medien (in German). Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  15. ↑ "ultratop.be Jamiroquai - Synkronized" (ASP). Hung Medien (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  16. ↑ "ultratop.be Jamiroquai - Synkronized" (ASP). Hung Medien (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  17. ↑ "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 65, No. 4, March 31, 1997". RPM. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
  18. ↑ "dutchcharts.nl Jamiroquai - Synkronized" (ASP). Hung Medien. MegaCharts. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  19. ↑ "Billboard, 1999" (ASP). Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  20. ↑ "finnishcharts.com Jamiroquai - Synkronized" (ASP). Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  21. ↑ "lescharts.com - Jamiroquai - Synkronized" (ASP) (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  22. ↑ "Album Search: Jamiroquai - Synkronized" (in German). Media Control. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  23. 1 2 "Hit Parade Italia - Gli album più venduti del 1999" (in Italian). hitparadeitalia.it. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  24. ↑ "ジャミロクワイ-リリース-ORICON STYLE-ミュージック" [Highest position and charting weeks of Synkronized by Jamiroquai]. oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Oricon Style. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  25. ↑ "charts.org.nz Jamiroquai - Synkronized" (ASP). Hung Medien. Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  26. ↑ "norwegiancharts.com Jamiroquai - Synkronized" (ASP). Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  27. ↑ "swedishcharts.com Jamiroquai - Synkronized" (ASP) (in Swedish). Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  28. ↑ "Jamiroquai - Synkronized - hitparade.ch" (ASP). Hung Medien (in German). Swiss Music Charts. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  29. ↑ "Jamiroquai > Artists > Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  30. ↑ "AllMusic ((( Synkronized > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  31. ↑ "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Albums 1999". aria.com.au. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  32. ↑ "Austriancharts.at - Jahreshitparade 1999" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  33. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1999". Ultratop (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  34. ↑ "Rapports annuels 1999". Ultratop (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  35. ↑ "JAAROVERZICHTEN – ALBUM 1999". Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  36. ↑ "Les Albums (CD) de 1993 par InfoDisc" (in French). infodisc.fr. Archived from the original (PHP) on 19 May 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  37. ↑ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  38. ↑ "1999年 アルバム年間TOP100" [Oricon Year-end Albums Chart of 1999] (in Japanese). Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  39. ↑ "Hitparade.ch - Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1996" (ASP). Swiss Music Charts (in Swedish). Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  40. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1999 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  41. ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 1999". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
  42. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Jamiroquai – Synkronized". Music Canada.
  43. ↑ "French album certifications – Jamiroquai – Synkronized" (in French). InfoDisc. Select JAMIROQUAI and click OK. 
  44. ↑ https://www.infodisc.fr/Ventes_Albums_Tout_Temps.php?debut=650
  45. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Jamiroquai; 'Synkronized')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  46. ↑ "RIAJ > The Record > September 1999 > Certified Awards (July 1999)" (PDF). Recording Industry Association of Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  47. ↑ "Dutch album certifications – Jamiroquai – Synkronized" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Synkronized in the "Artiest of titel" box.
  48. ↑ "New Zealand album certifications – Jamiroquai – Synkronized". Recorded Music NZ.
  49. ↑ "Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano: Certificados > 1995–1999". Iberautor Promociones Culturales. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  50. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Jamiroquai; 'Synkronized')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  51. ↑ "British album certifications – Jamiroquai – Synkronized". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Synkronized in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  52. ↑ https://funkin.com/news/4294
  53. ↑ "American album certifications – Jamiroquai – Synkronized". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
  54. ↑ "Jamiroquai's 'Funk Odyssey' Set For September". Billboard. 18 June 2001. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  55. ↑ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 1999". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.
  56. ↑ Flick, Larry (25 August 2001). "Epic's Jamiroquai Steps Into '2001'". Billboard. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.