Automaton

Heading straight to this album’s singles—robo banger “Automaton” and the sunshine pop of “Cloud 9”—might leave you thinking Jamiroquai have retreated from 2010’s live instrumentation-focused Rock Dust Light Star. Not so. While the mood is futuristic, the band's eighth album harks rewardingly back to their acid-jazz past. There are deep grooves, joyriding basslines, and sax freak-outs—best packaged together for “Vitamin”’s thrilling free-form jazz riot and the psychedelic “Dr Buzz,” with its joyous, kitchen-sink outro.