Automaton (album)

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 2 in Switzerland, number 3 in France, and number 4 in the UK.

Automaton
Studio album by
Jamiroquai
Released31 March 2017
Recorded2015–2016
Studio
Genre
Length57:00
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[2]
  4. "Summer Girl"
    Released: 6 December 2017
  5. "Nights Out in the Jungle"
    Released: 5 January 2018

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".[3]

Reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic71/100[4]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]
Crack3/10[6]
Consequence of SoundB+[7]
Exclaim![8]
The Guardian[9]
TheMusic[10]
Paste8.6/10[11]
Pitchfork7.0/10[12]
Slant Magazine[13]
The Yorkshire Times[14]

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.[4]

In his review for AllMusic, Matt Collar concluded that "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."[5]

Although not released as a single, "Shake it On" broke into the Official French Singles Chart, peaking at number 154.[15]

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][16]

Singles

On 27 January 2017, Jamiroquai released online a video version of the title track as the album's lead single.[3][17]

On 10 February 2017, Jamiroquai released an audio version of the track "Cloud 9",[18] 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.[19]

In December 2017 a fourth single, "Summer Girl", was released.[20] It was followed by "Nights Out in the Jungle" in January 2018.[21]

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 includes shows in South Korea, Greece, the Netherlands,[22] Italy, Finland, France, Switzerland and Czech Republic.[23]

On 1 February 2017, Jamiroquai announced a new show: on 9 August 2017 at Smukfest, Skanderborg, Denmark.[24]

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.[25][26]

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:57:00
Japanese bonus track
No.TitleLength
13."Nice and Spicy"4:41

Personnel

Credits adapted from Discogs,[27] except where noted.

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (2017) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[30] 7
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[31] 6
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[32] 11
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[33] 10
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[34] 19
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[35] 4
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[36] 14
French Albums (SNEP)[37] 3
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[38] 5
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[39] 13
Irish Albums (IRMA)[40] 13
Italian Albums (FIMI)[41] 1
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[42] 30
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[43] 17
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[44] 18
Scottish Albums (OCC)[45] 4
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[46] 4
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[47] 2
UK Albums (OCC)[48] 4
US Billboard 200[49] 94

Year-end charts
Chart (2017) Position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[50] 200
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[51] 140
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[52] 64

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[53] Silver 60,000

sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

References
  1. Automaton (album liner notes). Jamiroquai. Virgin EMI Records. 2017.CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYijOKaHhzI
  3. Kaufman, Gil (27 January 2017). "Jamiroquai Drops 'Automaton' Video, Album Due March 31". Billboard. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  4. "Reviews for Automaton by Jamiroquai". Metacritic. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  5. "Automaton - Jamiroquai : Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  6. Bates, Robert. "Jamiroquai – 'Automaton' review: Puts the why in Jamiroquai". Crack Magazine. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  7. "Jamiroquai - Automaton - : Album Reviews". Consequence of Sound. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  8. Patrick, Ryan B. (29 March 2017). "Jamiroquai Automaton". Exclaim.ca. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  9. Gibsone, Harriet (30 March 2017). "Jamiroquai: Automaton review – escapist futurism and libidinous love songs". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  10. "Jamiroquai Automaton Natasha Pinto | theMusic.com.au". Themusic.com.au. 27 March 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  11. Afzar, Rakin (30 March 2017). "Jamiroquai: Automaton Review". Paste. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  12. Horowitz, Steven J (4 April 2017). "Jamiroquai: Automaton Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  13. Goller, Josh (30 March 2017). "Jamiroquai: Automaton". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  14. Clark, Graham (30 March 2017). "Jamiroquai - Automaton". The Yorkshire Times. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  15. http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Jamiroquai&titel=Shake+It+On&cat=s
  16. "Automaton Transmission: Worldwide". Facebook. 25 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  17. Welsh, April Clare (27 January 2017). "Listen to Jamiroquai's Daft Punk-inspired new single 'Automaton'". Fact. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  18. Monroe, Jazz (10 February 2017). "Listen to Jamiroquai's New Song "Cloud 9"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  19. Press, Party (29 June 2017). "Brand new single 'Superfresh'". PressParty. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  20. Lopez, Omayra (8 December 2017). "Jamiroquai - New Single/Video for 'Summer Girl'". AltWire. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  21. "Video: Jamiroquai - 'Nights Out in the Jungle'". stagedoor.fm. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  22. "Eerste namen North Sea Jazz Festival 2017 bekend". maxazine.nl. 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  23. "Official Jamiroquai Communication — New Live Appearances Announced for 2017". Facebook. 17 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  24. "Automaton Communication: Denmark". Facebook. 1 February 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  25. "Automaton Communication: United Kingdgo; France". Facebook. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  26. "Automaton Communication: France // UK (sold out)". Facebook. 3 February 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  27. "Jamiroquai - Automaton (File)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  28. "Sola Akingbola". Sola Akingbola. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  29. "Listen to "Interview with Jay Kay from Jamiroquai" posted by Zane Lowe on Apple Music". Itunes.apple.com. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  30. "Australiancharts.com – Jamiroquai – Automaton". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  31. "Austriancharts.at – Jamiroquai – Automaton" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  32. "Ultratop.be – Jamiroquai – Automaton" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  33. "Ultratop.be – Jamiroquai – Automaton" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  34. "Jamiroquai Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  35. "Dutchcharts.nl – Jamiroquai – Automaton" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  36. "Jamiroquai: Automaton" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  37. "Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums – SNEP (Week 14, 2017)". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  38. "Offiziellecharts.de – Jamiroquai – Automaton" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  39. "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2017. 14. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  40. "Irish Albums Chart: 7 April 2017". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  41. "Italiancharts.com – Jamiroquai – Automaton". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  42. "Charts.nz – Jamiroquai – Automaton". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  43. "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  44. "Portuguesecharts.com – Jamiroquai – Automaton". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  45. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  46. "Spanishcharts.com – Jamiroquai – Automaton". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  47. "Swisscharts.com – Jamiroquai – Automaton". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  48. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  49. "Jamiroquai Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  50. "Jaaroverzichten 2017 – Albums". Ultratop. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  51. "Rapports Annuels 2017 – Albums". Ultratop. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  52. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2017 – hitparade.ch". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  53. "British album certifications – Jamiroquai – Automaton". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 18 May 2018. Select albums in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Automaton in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.

Notes
  1. 20:23–20:28 GMT.
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