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LENNY KRAVITZ
"It is Time
for a Love Revolution"
(Virgin; 2008)
Reviewed by Jeff Rogers
You gotta love Lenny Kravitz. He's stuck with his signature sound of funk rock and every time he releases a disc I usually grab it because I know what I’m going to get -- all fuzzy with his funky guitar sound. His solos are dirty and to the point on this four year hiatus since "Baptism." This is what I've wanted for a long time: groovy rock'n'roll from Lenny.
As always, Lenny Kravitz plays about twenty instruments and his talent is first chair on all of them. A lot of people thought this album took you back to Lenny's roots. I'll admit it's stripped down on some songs -- just a funky riff, simple drums and Lenny's trademark vocals -- but it's good stuff and it shows he doesn't need a bunch of filler to make a song sound great.
I hadn't heard any Lenny for a while since my Kravitz playlist hasn't been updated until now but this disc is 62:09 so you've got another hour and change of The Krav. Enjoy!
The band: Lenny Kravitz - vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, harmonica, piano, electric piano, harpsichord, Hammond b-3 organ, Wurlitzer organ, Mellotron, keyboards, synthesizer, Moog synthesizer, bass guitar, drums, congas, cowbells, tambourine, hand claps, sound effects; Anoushka Shankar – sitar; Craig Ross - acoustic guitar, electric guitar, hand claps; Liuh-Wen Ting – viola; Tony Breit - bass guitar.
For more information, check out http://www.lennykravitzmusic.com or http://www.myspace.com/lennykravitz.
"Lenny"
(Virgin; 2001)
Reviewed by Jeff Rogers
I’ve always considered Lenny Kravitz to be an important part of the classic rock sound. With Jimi Hendrix as a primary inspiration and the guitar talent to boot, Kravitz has crafted yet another strong release with “Lenny.”
Since he has a signature sound, Kravitz is allowed to play
around with formula and blend a little funk, soul and hippie love into each track. Sometimes all those elements are
combined; sometimes they stand alone.
Kravitz's previous release, entitled “5,” almost seemed to exist solely to satisfy a record contract but this one is more of a “back to roots” for Mr. Kravitz. The guitar on this album is a little heavier than I remember. Although the hits you have come to expect are not as present on this disc,
it is no doubt a solid effort. You will find your own gems after you give this some attention.
The production is very well done. Each song has a hook and a melody that keeps you longing for
more. I recommend the repeat button on a few tracks such as “Battlefield Of Love” and
"If I Could Fall In Love." Other recommendations are “Dig In,” and “Band Robber Man.”
For more information, check out http://www.lennykravitz.com.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2010 by R. Scott Bolton. All
rights reserved.
Revised:
18 Nov 2024 12:46:16 -0500
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