Return of the Space Cowboy

A musical masterpiece is all I can describe it as. So many different sounds, mixed with some clever and poinent lyrics.

The album starts off with "Just Another Story" which is all about lead singer Jay Kay, and his life so far. The line
" He was just 17 trying to get on like his dead brother" is one that strikes you straight away.
Its musically top notch, with the trumpets blasting, the flute swaying and Kay's voice flowing.
Track 2 is "Stillness in Time" which is beautiful track. This was a single back in 94' and the video (although rarly seen on tv) looks as fresh as anything you would see today.
"Half The Man" is track 3 and one of the best Jamiroquai tracks of all time in my opinion, defaintly the most overlooked. Lyricall, this song is up there with any 'classic' love song yet radio will not play it. Soulful sound.

"Light Years" changes the sound yet again on the 4th track. A great feel good track, which shows yet again to the listener that this album isn't just about one sound as many ingnorant Jamiroquai listeners may think.
Track 5, is "Manifest Destiny". A very cool track, and perhaps the most laid back track on the album.
"The Kids" is number 6. And the album goes up a notch in the funk stakes. This is just musically fantastic, which fast flowing lyrics. The most upbeat track on here. This track makes buying this album worth it for this one alone!!
"Mr Moon" is track 7, and my favourite on this album. Perhaps my favourite Jamiroquai track of all time, along with "Blow Your Mind" from the first album. Not released as a single, which is suprising to me as this has a very catchy chourus and a very funky tune. I urge you when buying this album, to go straight to this track, and listen for a few times. It will not dissapoint.
"Scam" (track 8) is one which is a favourite for the old skool Jamiroquai fans. Its actually got most things which are so great about this funk outfit. The old skool disco feel, the lyrics that make you think, the amazing use of different instruments. 'Scam' completes in my opinion the bulk of 3 great tracks on this set - 6,7 and 8. Not a skippable tune among them.
Track 10 is an instrumental tune - "Journey to Arnhemland"
Every album has a track where your finger cannot stop it self from pressing the skip button. This is this track.
Track 10 cannot be called complete instrumental as there are some lyrics, but not many. "Morning Glory" is far superior to "Journey to Arnhemland", but It wouldn't suprise me if some of you were again reaching for the skip button. Very chilled track though and I love it.
The final track on the album, you will all be saying "they have saved the best till last". Yes, its "Space Cowboy". This is the original and the best version. There is a decent remix which is the one radio still plays today, but this is the original, emotional, superior version. A song which has a simple theme - Cannibis. Most people know this song and sing the first line of the chorus loudly "This is the return of the space cowboy" and then murmer to themselves as they have never actuallyt listened to what Jay is saying!
Basically, as most of you Jamiroquai fans will know, its about the feel good factor of this drug. "Maybe i'm gonna have to get high just to get by" - are the words from My Kay. I wouldn't go along with them myself!!
Superb track though,and one for the greatest hits package in a few years time.

Overall
Return of the Space cowboy is possibly the best Jamiroquai album. The first two sets are always talked about as being "Real Jamiroquai". And with a new album to come out within 5 months, it would be great to see them go back to this style.


A Classic   October 18, 2002
 10 out of 10 found this review helpful

I've only just started listening to Jamiroquai again recently, but as soon as I stuck this CD on, all of the good times came flooding back.

This is probably the best album Jamiroquai have produced, as there isn't a single track that I skip when I listen to it, unlike tracks such as "Supersonic" etc, which features on "Synkronized".

Every track has been masterfully produced by Jay Kay and Co, featuring some of the funkiest basslines ever laid down as well as some ultra-smooth vocals from the main man. The entire album is also complimented by some excellent synth work, which rather than stand out from the other instruments, blend in nicely.

Even though I like every track, my particular favourites are: "Just Another Story", the first track and a masterpiece of varied styles, "Mr Moon", a chilled kick-back tune, "Scam", an ultra-energetic dancefloor track and "Space Cowboy", perhaps one of the greatest songs of all time, with amazing singing and instrument/synthesizer music, pure class.

So overall, this is one of my favourite albums of all time and if you have only recently started listening to Jamiroquai then get this in!


Classic Jamiroquai   May 6, 2002
 6 out of 7 found this review helpful

I bought this CD from Singapore about 4 years ago, and at first I didnt give it much listening. But as I dusted off the CD about 6 months back as I was talking to a friend about classic songs, I realised how good the album was, and how much I actually knew it. It is probably Jamiroquai's most diverse CD( dont quote me on that, I havent got Emergency on Planet Earth (yet)), including the slow, mellow beats and chilledness of 'Half The Man', 'Morning Glory', 'Manifest Destiny' and 'Space Cowboy' along with the dirty bass of the instrumental 'Journey to Arnhelmland' and then the mid-tempo elevator style music of 'Stillness In Time' which all combines well with the dirty funk of 'Just Another Story' and 'The Kids' and the stand-out, trademark Jamiroquai funky disco tracks 'Light Years','Mr Moon' and 'Scam'.

All together this makes for a great CD to listen to. I dont usually like pop-style music, I prefer dance and breakbeat, so im not sure why I like Jamiroquai. Maybe its because I used to love Jamiroquai and never forgot my roots, or maybe its just the fact that their music is great.


THE GROOVIEST AND MOST SATISFYING JAMIROQUAI DISC   August 26, 2001
 10 out of 10 found this review helpful

I disagree with the detractors that claim that each Jamiroquai disc is the same as the previous one, they are undoubtedly one of the more consistant acts of recent years, and their body of work stands head and shoulders above most. This, their second album, is my personal favourite. The sound is mellow and languid, certainly Jay's least upbeat offering, yet one that repays with repeated listening. While lacking the big radio hits of his other discs, it includes the classic "Half The Man", the timeless (near)title track, the funked-up "Light Years" and, in my eyes, their best single in the 1995 UK top 10-er "Stillness in Time". If you appreciate the less-poppy side of Jamiroquai, buy this cd!