fri 29/03/2024

CD: Lenny Kravitz - Black and White America | reviews, news & interviews

CD: Lenny Kravitz - Black and White America

CD: Lenny Kravitz - Black and White America

Veteran rocker runs out of retro steam

Kravitz: thumbing through the Black-American songbook

In 1989 when Lenny Kravitz released his debut Let Love Rule people complained that he had failed to quite master the Sixties influences that cut through it. They were wrong. That year it made Kravitz the most exciting black/white crossover artist since Prince. Since then, his path has been mainly a little more straightforward - maybe a little retro, but still consistently stirring. However with Black and White America Kravitz has again thumbed back through his Black-American songbook to find new styles with which to score his treatise on 21st-century race relations. Is it as good as Let Love Rule? Simple answer, no.

In 1989 when Lenny Kravitz released his debut Let Love Rule people complained that he had failed to quite master the Sixties influences that cut through it. They were wrong. That year it made Kravitz the most exciting black/white crossover artist since Prince. Since then, his path has been mainly a little more straightforward - maybe a little retro, but still consistently stirring. However with Black and White America Kravitz has again thumbed back through his Black-American songbook to find new styles with which to score his treatise on 21st-century race relations. Is it as good as Let Love Rule? Simple answer, no.

Comments

This is a hater review. I bought the album today and am blown away to say the least! It's his "Songs In The Key Of Life"!!

I totally agree with Marcella. This is the best, most soulful record since Let Love Rule and Mama Said. Black and White America may be the best song he's ever written, with a killer sax solo that reminds me of the thin white duke. Super Love could have come from the Quiny Jones \ Brothers Johnson era. Liquid Jesus is oozing Marvin Gaye. Expect this record to sweep the awards for 2011.

The review is completely misleading, this album is creative, soulful and rocks. This is going to be one of those classica albums everyone has and comments on. I would think this is likely russ's last review...

I liked the album too. Specially the soul-teasting songs. Thinks it's a good work and I'm not fan of Kravitz...

Add comment

newsletter

Get a weekly digest of our critical highlights in your inbox each Thursday!

Simply enter your email address in the box below

View previous newsletters