A Funk Odyssey
After scoring the crossover hit "Virtual Insanity" in 1998  (remember the moving sidewalk video?), the U.K.'s Jamiroquai failed to  keep their momentum alive with the somewhat scattered and skittishSynkronized.  Thankfully for fans of the retro (if lightweight) pop/soul that is the  band's specialty, Jamiroquai are back with their most cohesive effort  since 1995'sReturn of  the Space Cowboy. There's still too much blathering on about  the cosmos fromStevie  Wonder-inspired vocalist Jason Kay, the most egregious example being the  subdued and folksy "Black Crow," which takes the bird-in-flight  cliché to new lows. Better and much more rugged are the sizzling  synth-driven "2001" and the guitar-stoked rave-up "Stop! Don't Panic."  That's where the guys bring the funk with more bite than you'd expect.--Amy Linden