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Automaton Image
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 44 Ratings

  • Summary: The eighth full-length studio release for the Grammy-winning British electronic funk band led by Jay Kay is its first in seven years.
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Top Track

Cloud 9
You pick me up then you put me down Can't seem to find my way around ya See what ya think when you don't think it now You lost my love but someone... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 16
  2. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. Mar 30, 2017
    86
    Automaton is a pop/funk/acid jazz/disco/proto-house opus that succeeds in discounting the band’s growing pains within the confines of both fame and pop music.
  2. Apr 20, 2017
    80
    They may not find new listeners after a seven-year hiatus, but Automaton by Jamiroquai is a strong return and experimental contribution to popular music from a band too often identified solely for one song and its striking video.
  3. Uncut
    Mar 30, 2017
    70
    There's nothing quite as genuinely exciting as [the title track's] Aphex-meets-Bee-Gees disco, but its unorthodox elements are sprinkled across the album. [May 2017, p.32]
  4. May 11, 2017
    70
    ‘Superfresh’ is less than the sum of its disco parts, though, while the less said about ‘Hot Property’ the better. But it picks up with ‘Something About You’ and ‘Summer Girl’, while ‘Carla’ is an electro-funk classic.
  5. Q Magazine
    Mar 30, 2017
    60
    Some may carp at the lyrics, but at 47, Kay retains pole position as pop's most revved-up playboy. [May 2017, p.107]
  6. 60
    Ironically, though, it’s the more old-school tracks that furnish the highlights.
  7. Mar 31, 2017
    40
    On Automaton, the band falters under the weight of its previous singles, leaving any possibility for chart success mired in a sound that comes across as tired and unoriginal, and the album listening experience as a monotonous ordeal.

See all 16 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 10
  3. Negative: 2 out of 10
  1. Aug 18, 2018
    10
    Best album of 2017. It’s so good to see jamiroquai at his best in a long time..
  2. Apr 16, 2020
    10
    Best album in 20 years!! My favorites are Shake it On, Something about you, and Carla!! If you got a good sound system, blast these songs!!
  3. Apr 1, 2017
    10
    I wouldn't class myself as a long standing Jamiroquai fan, and I didn't have a good time with their last album, but on the strength of theI wouldn't class myself as a long standing Jamiroquai fan, and I didn't have a good time with their last album, but on the strength of the lead single Automaton and Cloud 9 I decided to give it a listen. As each track played I kept waiting for the quality to dip, but it just kept coming. Some tracks obviously appeal to my tastes more than others, but there's no denying the inventiveness and solid quality of the whole album. Haven't been this impressed since La Roux's debut. Simply brilliant. Expand
  4. Apr 2, 2017
    9
    Знаком с Jamiroquai не очень давно, но точно могу сказать, что в новом альбоме есть нечто от предыдущих работ. Сочетание синтезатора и басЗнаком с Jamiroquai не очень давно, но точно могу сказать, что в новом альбоме есть нечто от предыдущих работ. Сочетание синтезатора и бас гитары в ритме фанка, идеально попадающий в такт песни вокал Кея, каденционное исполнение, переходящее в ненавязчивую танцевальную мелодию. Всё лучшее из творчества группы перенеслось в Automaton. При этом футуристический мотив не позволяет назвать новые песни идентичными предыдущим.
    Джейсон и его группа отлично постарались, 7 лет для них не прошли даром. Для меня это твёрдая девятка.
    Expand
  5. Jul 26, 2017
    8
    A well deserved eight for this album, which is groovy and has very good singles, Automaton even pleases my 9 months old daughter. For realA well deserved eight for this album, which is groovy and has very good singles, Automaton even pleases my 9 months old daughter. For real fans this must have been worth the long waiting time. Collapse
  6. Apr 2, 2017
    8
    I'm not much for conveying a subjective experience about the content of the album. I could say I find hot property a dud, but another personI'm not much for conveying a subjective experience about the content of the album. I could say I find hot property a dud, but another person might find that the best song on the album.

    What I can say is that from a technical standpoint the album is mastered exquisitely. No loudness, lots of small details, tight bass and breathing tracks that offer a ton of dynamics. Any higher-end sound system is going to make this album sound that much better. Been a long time that I heard an album sound this good. Could there be an end to the loudness wars finally?
    Expand
  7. Apr 26, 2017
    0
    awful from the beginning till the end . Jamriquai lost his mojo . where is the groove , he replaced his band with a dj booth and it doesntawful from the beginning till the end . Jamriquai lost his mojo . where is the groove , he replaced his band with a dj booth and it doesnt sound good at all. Expand

See all 10 User Reviews