Automaton (album)

Automaton
Studio album by
Jamiroquai
Released31 March 2017
Recorded2015–2016
Studio
Genre
Length57:07
LabelVirgin EMI
Producer
Jamiroquai chronology
Rock Dust Light Star
(2010) 		Automaton
(2017)
Singles from Automaton
  1. "Automaton"
    Released: 27 January 2017
  2. "Cloud 9"
    Released: 10 February 2017
  3. "Superfresh"
    Released: 29 June 2017[3]
  4. "Summer Girl"
    Released: 6 December 2017[4]
  5. "Nights Out in the Jungle"
    Released: 5 January 2018[5]

Automaton is the eighth studio album by English funk band Jamiroquai, released on 31 March 2017 through Virgin EMI. It is the band's first album in seven years, following Rock Dust Light Star (2010). It was a number-one album in Italy and peaked at number two in Switzerland, number three in France and number four in the UK.

Background

Jay Kay described the inspiration for Automaton: "in recognition of the rise of artificial intelligence and technology in our world today and how we as humans are beginning to forget the more pleasant, simple and eloquent things in life and in our environment including our relationship with one another as human beings".[6]

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic71/100[7]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[8]
Consequence of SoundB+[10]
Exclaim![11]
The Independent[9]
The Guardian[12]
The Observer[13]
Paste8.6/10[14]
Pitchfork7.0/10[15]
Slant Magazine[16]
The Yorkshire Times[17]

Upon release, the album received generally positive reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from music critics, the album received an average score of 71, which indicates "generally favorable reviews", based on 16 reviews.[7]

In his review for AllMusic, Matt Collar concluded: "There are few bands who play classic disco-funk with as much genuine love for the genre and care in the productions as Kay and Jamiroquai. Ultimately, it's that sense of love and good vibes that drives much of Automaton."[8]

Although not released as a single, "Shake it On" broke into the Official French Singles Chart, peaking at number 154.[18]

Promotion

The album had its worldwide radio premiere on 26 January 2017 at 20:00 GMT on BBC Radio 2's Jo Whiley show, which played its first single, "Automaton".[nb 1][19]

Singles

On 27 January 2017, Jamiroquai released online a video version of the title track as the album's lead single.[6][20]

On 10 February 2017, Jamiroquai released an audio version of the track "Cloud 9",[21] and on 22 February 2017 released online the video version featuring actress Monica Cruz.

On 29 June 2017, the band released "Superfresh" as the third official single from the album. An accompanying music video was produced without active participation from front man Jay Kay, whose back injury most likely left him unable to attend the filming. As a result, cut scenes from the "Automaton" video were interspersed throughout it.[22]

In December 2017, a fourth single, "Summer Girl", was released.[23] It was followed by "Nights Out in the Jungle" in January 2018.[24]

Tour

On 17 January 2017, Jamiroquai announced a 10-date festival tour of Asia and Europe due to start on 25 May 2017 in Tokyo, Japan, and to end on 5 August 2017 in Zambujeira do Mar, Portugal; the tour also included shows in South Korea, Greece, the Netherlands,[25] Italy, Finland, France, Switzerland and Czech Republic.[26]

On 1 February 2017, Jamiroquai announced a new show: on 9 August 2017 at Smukfest, Skanderborg, Denmark.[27]

On 3 February 2017, Jamiroquai announced two new shows, in France and the UK: on 28 March 2017 at the Salle Pleyel, Paris and on 31 March 2017 at the Roundhouse, London. The two shows were sold out in less than one minute.[28][29]

Two new band members joined at the time of the tour: Nate Williams on guitar and keyboards, and Howard Whiddett on Ableton Live.[30]

Jamiroquai also announced they would take part on 12 August 2017 in the Boardmasters Festival, Newquay, Cornwall, United Kingdom.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Jay Kay and Matt Johnson, except "Nights Out in the Jungle" by Kay

No.TitleLength
1."Shake It On"5:14
2."Automaton"4:47
3."Cloud 9"3:56
4."Superfresh"3:48
5."Hot Property"4:31
6."Something About You"3:58
7."Summer Girl"5:31
8."Nights Out in the Jungle"5:09
9."Dr Buzz"6:01
10."We Can Do It"4:06
11."Vitamin"4:26
12."Carla"5:33
Total length:57:07
Japanese bonus track
No.TitleLength
13."Nice and Spicy"4:41
Total length:61:48

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.[31]

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[59] Silver 60,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Automaton (album liner notes). Jamiroquai. Virgin EMI Records. 2017.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ "Automaton by Jamiroquai". Metacritic.
  3. ^ "Jamiroquai - Superfresh (Official Video) - YouTube". YouTube. Archived from the original on 29 June 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  4. ^ "Jamiroquai - Summer Girl (Official Video)". YouTube.
  5. ^ "Jamiroquai Exclusive: Nights Out in the Jungle video - Automaton". YouTube.
  6. ^ a b Kaufman, Gil (27 January 2017). "Jamiroquai Drops 'Automaton' Video, Album Due March 31". Billboard. Archived from the original on 27 January 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  7. ^ a b "Reviews for Automaton by Jamiroquai". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 1 April 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  8. ^ a b "Automaton - Jamiroquai : Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. 7 April 2017. Archived from the original on 15 December 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  9. ^ Gill, Andy (5 April 2017). "Album reviews: Father John Misty, Jamiroquai, Imelda May + more". The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  10. ^ "Jamiroquai - Automaton - : Album Reviews". Consequence of Sound. 31 March 2017. Archived from the original on 4 April 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  11. ^ Patrick, Ryan B. (29 March 2017). "Jamiroquai Automaton". Exclaim.ca. Archived from the original on 29 March 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  12. ^ Gibsone, Harriet (30 March 2017). "Jamiroquai: Automaton review – escapist futurism and libidinous love songs". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  13. ^ Kitty Empire (2 April 2017). "Jamiroquai: Automaton review – Jay Kay's back as a Daft Punk tribute act". The Observer. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  14. ^ Afzar, Rakin (30 March 2017). "Jamiroquai: Automaton Review". Paste. Archived from the original on 15 December 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  15. ^ Horowitz, Steven J (4 April 2017). "Jamiroquai: Automaton Album Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 5 April 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  16. ^ Goller, Josh (30 March 2017). "Jamiroquai: Automaton". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on 31 March 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  17. ^ Clark, Graham (30 March 2017). "Jamiroquai - Automaton". The Yorkshire Times. Archived from the original on 31 March 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
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  20. ^ Welsh, April Clare (27 January 2017). "Listen to Jamiroquai's Daft Punk-inspired new single 'Automaton'". Fact. Archived from the original on 27 January 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  21. ^ Monroe, Jazz (10 February 2017). "Listen to Jamiroquai's New Song "Cloud 9"". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 10 February 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  22. ^ Press, Party (29 June 2017). "Brand new single 'Superfresh'". PressParty. Archived from the original on 6 August 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  23. ^ Lopez, Omayra (8 December 2017). "Jamiroquai - New Single/Video for 'Summer Girl'". AltWire. Archived from the original on 6 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
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  25. ^ "Eerste namen North Sea Jazz Festival 2017 bekend". maxazine.nl. 2017. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
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  27. ^ "Automaton Communication: Denmark". Facebook. 1 February 2017. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  28. ^ "Automaton Communication: United Kingdgo; France". Facebook. 27 January 2017. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  29. ^ "Automaton Communication: France // UK (sold out)". Facebook. 3 February 2017. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  30. ^ "Meet our talented new band members @natewilliams on keys & guitars and @howard.whiddett our ableton live whiz, welcome aboard chaps! :) #JamiroquaiLive2017". Archived from the original on 28 July 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022 – via Jamiroquai.com.
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Notes

  1. ^ 20:23–20:28 GMT.