Collecting most of
Jamiroquai
's singles since lead singer
Jay Kay
first donned a large furry buffalo hat for the band's 1992 debut,
Emergency on Planet Earth
,
High Times: Singles 1992-2006
is a superb listen and a great summation of what has made the retro-futurist
funk
band so successful. Sure,
High Times
doesn't include every single they released -- the fantastic
"Light Years"
and
"You Give Me Something"
aren't included -- and admittedly it was largely put together to fulfill and finish off
's contract with
Sony
. Nonetheless, as an encapsulation of what makes
such a phenomenal
pop
-
dance
entity, it's an infectiously listenable affair. Running chronologically through the most recognizable singles
Kay
and company have released,
is easily the best collection of
tunes on one disc and hits all of the most memorable tracks off each of the group's albums. Included are such well-known tracks as
"Virtual Insanity"
(the band's breakthrough single) and
"Cosmic Girl,"
as well as such similarly catchy and funky cuts as the didgeridoo-driven
"When You Gonna Learn,"
the blissed-out
"Space Cowboy,"
and the latter-day would-be
disco
classic
"Little L."
Also included are two new recordings,
"Runaway"
"Radio,"
that solidly stand on their own
merits. ~ Matt Collar