In Brief

* * Jamiroquai, “A Funk Odyssey,” Epic. Disco fever burns hotter than ever in this English act’s fifth album, its neo-retro funk having gotten more purely retro--though leader Jay Kay is no mere KC redux, largely avoiding empty froth and cliches. Still, “Twenty Zero One” sounds like the Gap Band projecting the future from a 1979 vantage point, and only “Corner of the Earth,” alternating Stevie Wonder-ish bossa nova with Iberian majesty, and the “Superfly” churn of “Main Vein” vary the pulse.

*

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent). The albums are already released unless otherwise noted.