After waiting quite a while for some new Jamiroquai material, Rock Dust Light Star is definitely worth the wait! The first track 'White Knuckle Ride' is foot-tappingly irresistible, really setting the scene for some seriously good funk-jazz. It also contrasts really well with the comparatively slower second track 'Blue Skies', and title track 'Rock Dust Light Star'. The tracks are well organised to avoid back-to-back similar music, and the album really benefits from this, as we find with tracks four onwards.
'Hurtin'' has a more rocky feel than some of Jamiroquai's previous material, but it doesn't seem out of place next to his more classic sounds. 'Lifeline' has a wonderful, Bond-esque, stringed background track to it, which makes it a real stand out track for me. As the previous reviewer suggested, 'All Good in the Hood' has a definite Scissor Sisters feel to it, though I think its more what the Scissor Sisters can aspire to sound like rather than Jamiroquai replicating their sound.
This CD feels like a slightly more grown up version of the Jamiroquai we last saw five years ago. Besides the Scissor Sisters, comparisons can be made to Jooles Holland, especially in tracks four, eight and ten, and the slower tempo of 'She's a Fast Persuader' brings yet more variety to our ears. 'Hey Floyd' is a great track, but feels very thrown-in-at-the-last-minute because its nothing like anything I've ever heard Jamiroquai do before, and is the only track that doesn't sit comfortably with its neighbours.
That said, I really enjoyed this CD for the fresh funk-jazz sound that Jamiroquai produces so well, which is so different to anyone else in current music industry. The mixture of their traditional style plus this new splattering of bigger, live-band type sounds has brought them bang up to date while maintaining their original character. For me, the best tracks are 'White Knuckle Ride', for getting our attention, and 'Blue Skies', 'Lifeline', and 'Smoke and Mirrors' for holding onto it. A thoroughly enjoyable album, even if you're new to the group.