Do you remember that wonderful song called ‘Again’? “All of my life, where have you been…” Well, that song + the hits from his preceding studio work 5, like ‘Black Velveteen’ and ‘American Woman’ (Ok, and ‘Fly Away’) were the reason I decided to give Lenny a listen. Taking into account all the hype, I guess I was the last to do so, but then - better late then never :)
Having given ‘Lenny’, his 6th studio work a couple of listens I found it pretty enjoyable, yet.. not sure this is the right word - idle. Well, sure this is all about love, broken hearts, learning to live again and cope with the pain.. but we’ve heard all of this before and Lenny simply doesn’t seem to have anything new to add. Neither musically, nor lyrically.
Well, music can be introspective - here it’s not. About a shaky relationship - it is, but almost everybody sings about it - so one has to be very inventive and talented to make it worth our while. No serious themes touched upon here - well, artists are not all equally gifted and not everybody wants to hear that, too - but Lenny even lacks the simplest sense of humor to put it in his songs…
But actually, there’s nothing and no need to save here… if you buy it, you’ll probably listen to it for some time. So here are the songs:
BATTLEFIELD OF LOVE is a nice opener. After some time I found myself absolutely tired out by the song. As an opener it has but one purpose - to set the pace for what will follow.
IF I COULD FALL IN LOVE AGAIN follows - Ok, this is one of the cool songs on the album. It’s exactly what Lenny does best - songs like ‘Black Velveteen’ or ‘American Woman’. A great riff, nice dirty video and a classic guitar transition between the second and the third choruses. Very formulaic, true, but that’s where Lenny’s at his best.
YESTERDAY IS GONE (MY DEAR KAY) is a ballad. Again, very formulaic - no interesting bridges, the lyrics… I could write something like this. But the chorus, at its simplicity, is a killer.
STILLNESS OF HEART was made the 2nd single and one can only wonder why - it’s Ok if you haven’t heard ‘Again’, but c’mon, almost everybody has!! So why write a song absolutely like your last hit and release it as the next single? They are absolutely same, the only difference I’ve found is that ‘Again’ has more soul…
BELIEVE IN ME is another ballad, this time it’s pop. The song got some airplay and it well deserves that - Lenny even manages to put down decent lyrics here. The melody too is something new, so this pretty song becomes one of those bits where Mr. Kravitz shows promise.
Another (the 3rd) highlight on ‘Lenny’ is A MILLION MILES AWAY. While the lyrics are still weak, the song becomes the best guitar ballad I’ve heard this guy deliver. Maybe it just works that way for me, I don’t know, but it’s a good and very honest song.
Side B is going to be weaker: PAY TO PLAY is an interesting song and another highlight. Lenny tries to be diverse, here he manages to hit pretty close to alternative, but already the following GOD SAVE US ALL ruins the mood with another artless riff. I really can’t say anything about this song, except that both we and Lenny need to be saved from more such music, probably.
But by what means? DIG IN scarcely becomes a salvation. The song tries, tries to become another ‘Fly Away’ or ‘If I Could Fall in Love’ but fails with a crash.
YOU WERE IN MY HEART is something stupid - no, I don’t mean Lenny covers Frank here, if he had, it wouldn’t be the only song I’d skip each time I went through the album. Ok, I'll be serious - it's a slow song that drags terribly, first of all because it ain't got any decent melody.
BANK ROBBER MAN. Now what is this, uh? Don’t you dare call it art! Although… a nothing special song about nothing special… Maybe it’s art, though?
BANK ROBBER MAN. Updated. Indeed, I've forgotten about that very unpleasant event, when Mr. Kravitz was arrested by an eveidently craving admiration police officer. No wages for your gun, officer! Thanks Cletta 4 that comment - one has to know that to appreciate the song. Still, it doesn't do that for me musically.. :((( Just me, though.
In the end Lenny manages to deliver one more good song - LET'S GET HIGH. This is the place I found the lyrics enjoyable again.. pity that places like this are so few on 'Lenny'!
Let's go out on an ocean ride
Leave all your cares and the past behind
Let's venture out to a deserted isle
Let's get in touch with what is alive
So.. should we?
Well, it may seem to you that I've criticized 'Lenny' pretty heavily here, but I have to admit that this last song is not the only good moment here, rather moments like this are scattered, occasionally making your listen a pleasure, even if a guilty one. Some songs were bad, but you should also keep in mind - that's only my opinion! And if I have to sum it up with one phrase - it's not a bad album.
It just shows promise. Promise, that however may never be fulfilled.
On his new album, Lenny Kravitz digs deep, goes long and hangs tough to discover...himself. It s no fluke that his long-awaited sixth album is titled,...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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