Jamiroquai - High Times: Singles 1992 - 2006

In some circles 'Jamiroquai' has become a dirty word. Listening to High Times, their greatest hits collection, it's difficult to decide where to assign the blame: at the insatiable ego of Jay Kay himself or at the musical evolution of the past fourteen years, during which time a guitar resurgence has blasted acid jazz clean out of the waters of credibility. The strictly-chronological flow of the singles here makes this dilemma easier to resolve. Despite his recent tabloid exploits, Jay Kay was once an intriguing persona – the diminutive, fleet-footed whiteboy with the outrageous hats and the voice of a black, female soul singer. And the first five singles – including Too Young to Die and Space Cowboy – are still irresistibly groovy. But then Britpop happened, Jay got his millions and his music degenerated into MOR twaddle like the lamentably-awful Corner of the Earth. Musically, those high times were short-lived indeed. [Nick Mitchell]