you know it’s easy to hate lenny kravitz, very very easy.
from his multi instrumentalist talent, the ongoing and possibly justified, self love that’s apparent by the constant imagery on his album sleeves, his well publicised love for state of the art funky house design, his ongoing pillaging of classic rock production stylings, and his unsettling outie belly button.
but, there is no denying that he can from time to time pull out a cracker of a track from his limited box of tricks.
so, with the release of his latest album, he has taken the expected choice to step back from the subtle experimentation of the lenny album, and killed off the drum machine and synths that were used on a couple of the better lenny tracks, not to mention the online dance project that he handed over to the absolute vodka people.
a shame as i genuinely enjoyed hearing him stretch his artistic portfolio.
instead for this album lenny has headed back to the same old same old comfort zone in which he became the world beating chart topping retro rocker.
the double layered vocals a la beatles, the 70s rock riffs that show he has been relistening to his led zepplin albums, the sly stone/prince styled soul-funk-rock mannerisms, and the ever present cringesome hippy drippy loved up lyrics.
basically, if you have any of his albums in your collection, you can be assured you are going to love the new one as many of these songs are absolutely in line with his, and a cast of usual suspects, past classics.
if all this sounds like i’m slating this release, then you are wrong.
you see there are times, an album of simple fm radio friendly rock-n-roll clichés is a perfect stress free antidote to the fashionista friendly playlist, and seeing that lenny has been playing this game (with the same people fleshing out the real band sound whenever necessary making it clear that he’s one for long term commitment when it comes to studio guests), he certainly knows how to craft a very listenable album.
for me the best results are often when lenny takes his foot of the full-on-rock pedal that dominates the opening of the album, and let things smooth out a little.
subsequently tracks like the string heavy i love the rain, and a new door, sound positively vibrant, heartfelt and quite gorgeous, or there is the emotional overload of a long and sad goodbye, that openly calls out to an absent father.
of course, there are some lyrical clunkers, none more so, than on the albums lead title, but fuck it, cast aside those old school snobbish attitudes to mainstream success, hit the motorway with your window down and blast this album out loud and proud, by the fourth listen you too could be subscribing to the mantra that love can indeed change the world.
more detail : here