It Is Time For A Love Revolution

Lenny Kravitz

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 5, 2008)
• Original Release Date: February 5, 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Virgin Records Us
• ASIN: B000RWCRSE
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #27,962 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
"We've all got our voice. And if I have this gift to play music, then I'm gonna talk about love," Lenny Kravitz says in a YouTube promo for his eighth studio album. Understood. Got it. The fact, though, is that Kravitz could be singing about old tires or bowling shoes in these songs and it wouldn't much matter, because in the basest and most primal way possible, they rock. Opener "Love Revolution" busts out a vibe that lingers, with Lenny barking a credo--clearly in his old-school element as drums pound and guitars get abused--and loving it. Breaks come in the form of quieter songs like the Beatles-esque chill-pill "Good Morning" and the vintage Queen-like "A Long and Sad Goodbye," but the mission of Love Revolution is mostly to move the masses. And that it shall: fists will pump, feet will stomp, and attitudes will be copped. As listeners flip through the track list and discern influences as far-flung as James Brown, the Black Crowes, and Jimi Hendrix, they will feel not disdain for the lack of ingenuity but appreciation for the good sense Kravitz shows in following those artists' leads. In jumbling them up and making them his own, he proves that love revolutions need not be tame. They can be fierce. The best evidence arrives two tracks in: though "Bring It On" features the soothing sitar of Anishka Shankar, it bashes its way through the speakers as though fueled by kryptonite. It is bad-ass, in a word. And so is this album. --Tammy La Gorce

Product Description
Deluxe edition includes a rare up close and personal documentary of Lenny as never seen before. Watch as he takes you on a journey through the streets of his beloved hometown, New York City, discussing the many inspirations and decisions that led to the creation of his 8th studio album. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Getting back to what he does best., August 15, 2008

By	pp777 (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

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.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rock N Roll, Baby!, February 9, 2008

By	Josephll "Reformed Music Addict" (CET) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

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.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Lenny Kravitz: Slight Return, April 6, 2008

By	Bryan L. Walter "BLW" (Ohio) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.