Customer Reviews

It Is Time For A Love Revolution

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

In a career of 20 years there is little Lenny Kravitz hasn't done. He tried anything from Soul "It Ain't Over Til It's Over", Love Ballads "Again" Classic Rock Revival "Are You Gonna Go My Way", Electro Rock "Black Velveteen" and commercial trademark Rock with "Fly Away" that became one of his biggest hits in 1998. But it's been awhile since Lenny's early 90's glory days when he was rocking on the charts with song after song and his albums got good ratings from both critics and consumers. As popular as 5 (REISSUED WITH 2 BONUS TRACKS) was commercially it didn't get high votes from critics and as critically acclaimed as Lenny was, it didn't work as well for the consumers. And his latest album Baptism that defenitely had its moments but was embarrasing at times aswell was completely overlooked by anyone and only went gold. 4 years later Lenny has recovered well and he goes way back to Classic Rock, anyone recalls his Jimi Hendrix tribute "Are You Gonna Go my Way" and the more devote fans will also give him credit for his Guess Who cover "American Woman" but "It's Time For A Love Revolution" goes one step further, it's entirely Classic Rock with lethal riffs, amazing guitar solo's and high energy til the end. Sound wise it doesn't sound a day older then 1971 but it's faithful to the days when Rock music was still good and mattered. Many of the songs here are very simular in sound to Led Zeppelin (Infact a few are almost too simular) but it's classic Rock at it's best and if you like how Rock was in the old days with Heavy Metal and Beatlesque Psychedelia you're gonna enjoy this album quite alot.

The album starts in fast pace with the title track which is one of the highlights. As a fan of classic rock this was a guilty pleasure of mine. The second song "Bring It On" opens very simular to the Stones's "Can't You Hear Me Knockin" with it's riff, not bad but considering that most Lenny songs highlights the sound it's becomes quite evident. "Good Morning" doesn't say much with it's lyrics but it's a beatlesque midtempo that feature strings and plenty of nice riffs. "Love Love Love" is another riff driven song about how you become complete when you found love. "If You Want It" starts as a ballad with sparse arrangements but eventually it turns out to be another rocker with a fierce guitar solo. A great Rock-ballad in midpace is "I'll Be Waiting" that also got strings. Not surprisingly it's also a single. "Will You Marry Me" is simular to Led Zeppelin's "The Crunge" and got a very funky sound with it's synth riff and is the closest you get to Lenny's Soul past. "I Love The Rain" resembles Zep's trademark folk ballads and just like Jimmy Page, Lenny knows how to handle his guitar. "A Long And Sad Goodbye" is a farewell to his recently deceased father. A melancholy midtempo. "Dancin Til Dawn" is funky soul-rock aswell and would make Thin Lizzy honoured. "A Moment Is All There Is" is one of the slower songs and got a nice blues guitar solo in the end, but compared to the almost acoustic "New Door" it doesn't say much. This is the only song without guitars riffs included but it got a piano. "Back in Vietnam" is about the Iraq war, another rocker that resembles the bluesy guitar sound from Canned Heat. The closer is called "I Want To Go Home" and is a decent midtempo.

Overall, In a time where few bands can Rock and the closest you get to real Rock N Roll is mediocre Garage Rock Bands, so called Punk Revivals and an myriad of Alternative bands that vary in quality, then you have to cherish the few classic rock albums that are released. For once, Lenny delivers an album that both feel coherant and trusthworthy and from song 1 to 14 you get riffs, solos and alot of energy just like in the old days. Having said that, this is a welcome release and stands as Lenny finest effort since Are You Gonna Go My Way which sais alot about this album. However, If you like Lenny's more commerical offers then you may not apreciate this album, but if you're a fan of classic rock then it's warmly recommended.

For anyone who has been a fan of Lenny Kravitz from his first album, "Let Love Rule", this will indeed be a "slight return" to his
old form. Several tracks, including "Love Revolution", "Bring It On" and "Love Love Love" remind me of the feel of Lenny's earlier work.
However, there are also several tracks that feel forced, and almost
silly in their simplicity ("I Love The Rain" and "Back In Vietnam").
After Lenny's recent "pop" successes, I take comfort in the
fact that the Lenny I first became a fan of is still in there somewhere,
writing songs.

Kravitz often comes across as a musician who's so meticulous about getting that vintage sound that he forgets to be inspired. That meticulousness can end up making the production just a little too slick. To complicate matters, he's heavy on catchy riffs and anthemic choruses, while often light on lyrics and adventurousness.

Personally, I think the single, "I'll Be Waiting," is one of the weaker tracks on the album, although it is representative of his sound. I would much sooner take the title song, or "Bring It On," "If You Want It," "I Love the Rain," or "Dancin' Til Dawn" with its smoking sax solo.

Once you get past the almost-precious trappings of the sound, you'll notice how much Kravitz is enjoying himself. And on those tracks I mentioned above, it's infectious. He slips through Southern fried rock, AOR, The Strokes, and Tattoo You-era Stones, and you have to admire his enthusiasm for the charm of rock n' roll in its many incarnations. The filler tracks kinda stand out for what they are, though.

"It is time for a love revolution" is retro rocker Lenny Kravitz's eighth studio album, and along with "5" is my favourite. At #4 in the US, it's his second highest charting album (his Greatest Hits got to #2) and his highest charting studio effort.

Announcing that it is time for a love revolution is upbeat rocker "Love revolution" (with spiritual lyrics). Still on the upbeat side of things are "Bring it on" with a blistering guitar riff, and some sitar from Anishka Shankar (Norah Jones' sister), the thumping "Love love love", which along with the brilliant dance/rock of "Dancin' til dawn' (with a nice sax solo; one of my favourites) wouldn't sound out of place on a Red Hot Chili Peppers album. For "Will you marry me", I was expecting to hear a ballad. What we get is James Brown meets Jimi Hendrix; a retro funk song with skittery beats and heavy electric guitar. Great! "Back in Vietnam" has a riff vaguely reminiscent of the Rolling Stone's "Satisfaction".

Slowing things down are the chugging "Good morning", the lightly country tinged "If you want it", the lovely piano sprinkled "I'll be waiting" (remember "Again"?), the awesome melancholic "I love the rain" with fantastic weeping guitar riffs, the introspective theatrical "A long and sad goodbye" (a beautiful epic ballad about the impact his father's leaving after divorce had on the family, as well as the effect of his recent death on Lenny - Papa you meant the world to me, why did you abandon me?) which has a fantastic guitar solo at the end, much like The Eagle's "Hotel California", the soulful "This moment is all there is", the stripped piano Beatles-esque "A new door" (with again spiritual lyrics), and the soulful "I want to go home".

The Japanese version has 2 bonus tracks which are both brilliant; the reggae tinged falsetto sung "Uncharted terrain". Remember Terence Trent D'arby's 1987 hit "Sign your name"? It's a bit like that. The other is the blues song "Confused" with a great guitar solo and impassioned soulful vocals.

Produced and mostly played by Lenny, this album is amazing. It is time for a Lenny Kravitz revolution.

I have all of Lenny's CD's and I wouldn't rate any of them less than a 4/5, but this one has such a great "flow" to it, and the material is so strong that it may very well be his best ever. Certainly in the top 3. I realize everybody's tastes are so different that rating songs is pretty meaningless, but I love it when other people do so I can compare their views to mine, so I'll rate the songs as follows:

Love Revolution.................................9/10
Bring It On.........................................7/10
Good Morning...................................10/10
Love, Love, Love................................6/10
If You Want It.................................10/10
I'll Be Waiting..................................10/10
Will You Marry Me.............................8/10
I Love The Rain.................................10/10
A Long And Sad Goodbye...............10/10
Dancin' Til Dawn................................10/10
This Moment Is All There Is...........7/10
A New Door.........................................10/10
Back In VietNam..................................9/10
I Want To Go Home..........................10/10

I think the very best song on the CD is "Dancin' Til Dawn", but the whole thing is just great. Lenny is an awesone talent. . . . .

Written and recorded over the course of the last year, in various locations from New York to Miami, Paris, the Bahamas and Brazil, "It Is Time For A Love Revolution" looks set to hold up as one of the Kravitz's best albums with its raucous rock 'n' roll jams, heavy drums, tight hip-shaking grooves, frenetic guitars and Kravitz's unmistakable croon.
Featuring 14 new songs, the album once again finds the multi-instrumentalist writing, producing, arranging and playing all the tracks on the album, which he has done on all of his releases throughout his career.
As the album title indicates, Kravitz sings songs of love and spiritual revolution, calling on people to open up and let love in their hearts.
He also isn't afraid to get political, using his music to draw attention to the current US war in Iraq and the Vietnam era.
There's no denying the talent of the man: multi-instrumentalist, singer and writer of global hits.
Here he's shunned the risk of over-production to go for a gritty approach.
"Good Morning" is a whirling psychedelic, but sadly sub-Sgt Pepper, ballad - an unflattering Beatles homage.
"I'll Be Waiting" has a great, soulful hook but is an all too brief glimpse of what he is capable of.
It gives way to the dry funk of "Will You Marry Me". The White Stripes do this retro rock 'n' roll and manage to make it sound as vibrant as the day that Hendrix released Purple Haze.
Lenny's clearly enjoying the ride, but too much of this album sounds like demos that he would once have rightly left on the studio floor.
From the singles "Bring It On" and "I'll Be Waiting", as well as "Love, Love, Love", "Dancin' Til Dawn" and "I Want To Go Home", the CD (Lenny's eighth studio album} represents the characteristics that has made Kravitz a vital musician for 18 years.

Oh, my gosh, this album is beautiful! I've always loved what Lenny Kravitz does; with his blend of soulful vocals, funky style and rock-edged beats, he is totally unique and has carved out a niche for himself that to my knowledge, only he occupies. The hits over the years have been are always brilliant - "Are You Gonna Go My Way", "It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over", "Fly Away", et al - but I've always felt that the real heart & soul of the man was to be found on his album cuts.

The last album of his I bought was 2001's Lenny (2004's Baptism passed me by completely) and though it was the single "Dig In" that made me buy it (after I heard it playing in a clothes store) it was tunes like "If I Could Fall In Love", "Yesterday Is Gone (My Dear Kay)", "Stillness Of Heart", "Believe In Me", "A Million Miles Away" and "Let's Get High" (which is not a song about drugs, by the way), that made me fall in love with the album, though some of these were also subsequently released as singles.

I don't hear any stand out hit singles along the lines of the ones I mentioned at the top but the album is no less enjoyable for it. I was nodding my head, tapping my feet and humming along right from the first play. These are all fantastic tunes with great vocal performances, solid beats and lots of wailing guitar. Favourites include "Love Revolution", "Love Love Love", "I'll Be Waiting" (heavenly orchestral), "Will You Marry Me" (totally funky, totally James Brown), "A Long And Sad Goodbye" (a plea in pain to a father; I can totally identify), "This Moment Is All There Is" (a heart-melting, hypnotic ballad), "A New Door" (another beautiful ballad) and "I Want To Go Home" (a great sing-along tune and a great way to close the album).

The album is produced and arranged by Kravitz and largely written and performed by him too, with help primarily from Craig Ross on electric guitar, acoustic guitar, mandolin & handclaps, from a bassist whose name I couldn't make out, and from a long list of background vocalists and orchestra members. I'd name them all but I can barely see the writing on the inner-sleeve notes - the only flaw this album has, as far as I'm concerned. Simply beautiful. Rock on, Lenny, rock on. You go, boy.

So I'm walking through the store and something catches my eye as I'm heading out the door. Lenny Kravitz has a new CD? I missed the release date by about a month but I picked it up without previously hearing a track. Lenny kicks it quickly with the title track and keeps it pressed with Bring It On. I still can't quite figure out the meandering "Good Morning" but it mercifully gave way to "Love Love Love" which is seemingly built on just two chords but is classic Kravitz. Things slow down a bit until we find a most funky proposal "Will You Marry Me". LK even lobs in a dance track. At the end we find a couple anti-war tracks which really isn't much of a surprise.
Lenny brings the soul we expect, the rock we know, and the funk he is so capable of all wrapped in his trademark retro style--not overproduced.

Lenny Kravitz always manages to keep his signature sound while still giving you new material, and it holds true with this album. He really gives you little rock and roll, a little R&B, and a little soul all mixed together. It keeps you singing along and dancing the whole time. Some of my favorite tracks are Good Morning, Love-Love-Love, If you want it, and This moment is all there is. I think any "REAL" music lover will enjoy this album. IT ROCKS!!!

Lenny Kravitz has often been compared from heavy hard-hitting guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix to a mix of Jimmy Page and Curtis Mayfield. The pinnacle of his career (thus far) has been the back-to-back hit albums of "Mama Said" and "Are You Gonna Go My Way?" And even though Kravitz still invokes some of those same legendary artists on his newest album, "It Is Time For A Love Revolution," he somehow lost that same formula and magic that made those albums so great.

The first track, "Love Revolution," finds Kravitz incorporating his "world love" mentality to cement the concept of this album. The title pretty much speaks for itself and in case you're still not sure, Kravitz states the chorus line of "It is time for a love revolution" over and over and over and over. There is some outstanding guitar playing on this album (and in this song), as Kravitz is a musician in the truest sense of the word - he can play instruments from guitars to drums to piano; he could be his own "band" in a recording studio. However, that doesn't make the song (or the album) all that much better. Next comes "Bring It On," a song heavy with "survivor"-themes, but with a rock star's flair. Case in point, the lyrics to the chorus: "It's getting heavy/But I'm ready/To take on this world and rock steady/So come one/Bring it on." It sounds more like someone instigating a fight as opposed to surviving one. And doesn't that sort of defeat the purpose of a "world love" album? (Rhetorical question) Moving on! The following song is "Good Morning" and, trust me, there's nothing good about it. It sounds like he's musically trying to recreate "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over." If you want to hear a song merely about starting your day with a good morning, listen to Kanye West's "Good Morning" off his Graduation album.

"Love Love Love" is a quick rock jaunt with forgettable lyrics but, again, good guitar playing. Track five is "If You Want It" and it comes so close to being the usual great Kravitz song. It could've been more epic with its kickass guitar and if it had had sweeping gospel choirs singing much more of the chorus. But Kravitz opted for one little line of "Want it" for an underused gospel choir. The next song, "I'll Be Waiting," which is the first single, is my favorite on the album (followed by the previous song). It's a ballad, I know, but Kravitz shows great lyrics and music instrumentation with a great little change at the bridge to mix things up nicely. Kravitz goes on to mix the album up by throwing in the funky "Will You Marry Me" next. It's a nice attempt but falls flat. Most Lenny fans will probably love this track (along with the album), but it doesn't do anything for me as I'm practically trying my best not to already hit the skip button.

The next song is "I Love the Rain" and Lenny is playing and singing his usual version of the blues. It's another nice attempt to break up the rock monotony of the album but a bit too repetitive and, ultimately, forgettable. "A Long and Sad Goodbye" is probably the most personal on the album, reflecting on Kravitz's feelings for his recently-passed father. It's a decent song and the kind of blues that I like but it drags on a little too long. Even though the lyrics are scarce, the words that come out of Kravitz's mouth and the notes from his guitar perfectly encapsulate the pain and uncertainty of his relationship with his father. He shows so much emotional substance and I'm hoping to hear more as the album progresses but then comes the next song, "Dancin' 'til Dawn." It sounds like a horrible Rolling Stones disco throwback (think "Emotional Rescue") and is way too long for such a horrible song. Knowing that the lyrics aren't going to change, I gladly press the skip button before the song fully ends and come to "This Moment is All There Is." It has a promising start but soon fades into oblivion as the music riffs over and over to almost the point of inducing sleep.

"A New Door" is another slow blues song from Kravitz, only this time he gets it right. The song is a testament to how when one chapter in life ends, another begins. It's a nice piano ballad and would've made an appropriate ending, but Kravitz couldn't help but make his statement about the current war overseas (as did Bruce Springsteen, Trent Reznor, and Jack Johnson). Which brings us to the aptly named "Back in Vietnam"; this perfectly describes most musician's (let alone Democrats and liberals) views on the war. As Republicans roll their eyes in dismay, Kravitz could've made a strong point with great lyrics. But that didn't happen. He uses the repetitive line of "We're back in Vietnam" so much that I lose all patience and think of this song as just an excuse to make that ever-so-brief statement. The following song, and album ending, is "I Want to Go Home," which is much better suited for expressing the soul-sucking sorrow that goes with being away from home and family, as all soldiers can attest to. It is not the best current song about the war (see Springsteen's "Last to Die" and "Long Walk Home" from the Magic album) but it's the best on this album.

Released on the same day as Jack Johnson's Sleep Through The Static, I thought that these two releases would leave me with ample hours of listening pleasure. I couldn't have been more wrong. While Johnson's "Static" is listenable, Kravitz's "Love Revolution" is almost unbearable. He definitely focused on the music - although it's not as catchy as his songs of ol' - but not the lyrics. And in music, if lyrics are applicable and they aren't balanced right, then the rest goes down the drain. Unfortunately, Kravitz made that mistake with this album. "Love Revolution" could've been so much more because it does have some outstanding guitar playing, but, in the end, the entire album falls flat. The music simply didn't come together and flow nicely enough for this album to even be noticeable. One can only hope that Kravitz's next album keeps that focus of musical instrumentation as well as lyric writing.