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Lenny Kravitz revived fuzz-rock with his single "I
Built This Garden For Us" in 1992 and instantly settled into
a comfortable groove that fits him like a golf club in Tiger
Woods' hands. His songs afterwards always carried a persuasive
'70s rock toughness entwined with heavenly '70s soul bridging
the R&B/funk glides synonymous with Marvin Gaye and
the psychedelic rock hooks reflective of Cream. Each one
of Kravitz's albums replicate this synthesis in different variations.
His latest album It's Time For A Love Revolution is accoutered
with slow funk grooves and classic rock pores. Musically, the
songs seem deeply influenced by the song-crafters of the late
'60s and early '70s with expressive choruses similar to gospel
choirs and lean cuts that conjure folksy acoustics and soft rock
shades. His classic R&B quilts and rock homages are indicative
of artists from the '70s, and somehow they fit right in with modern
day rock.
Starting the show with "Love Revolution," Kravitz lets
fans know that he has not diluted his sense of fuzz rock. Proceeding
with the guitar rock psychedelic streams of "Bring It On"
fitted with overtones of Indian-erotica and '70s soft-pop esthetics,
Kravitz shows that he is loyal to his old ways. "Good Morning"
and "If You Want It" are pinnacle moments on the album
where he displays some signature vocal slides that made him a
household name. The rhythmic swells allow the instruments to shake
out and tuck in at a comfortable pace. He picks up his vocals
stride on "Love Love Love" with a leather-jacket swagger
that combs through the stop and go drum clips. He works in some
cool funky grooves and a soft rock momentum on "Will You
Marry Me" and satiny orchestral strings on "I'll Be
Waiting," which all add highlights around the vocal melody.
The lamenting feel of "I Love The Rain" gives the words
meaning: "Just as she always does/ She has to leave/ With
her, she takes my heart into her breeze/ Sometimes I think that
she just likes to tease/ Still, I'll be waiting for her reprise/
I love the rain." Kravitz has a way of making the music enhance
his words so the listener has a sense of what the songs are about
even if the words are profoundly versed like in the rock ballad
"A Long And Sad Goodbye," which speaks about pining
over a father that abandoned his son. The expressive guitar spikes
speak of the pain as they reach up and outside of the melodic
lines. The roving vocals and hip swaying rhythms of "Dancin'
Til Dawn" have a classic '70s soul coda that vibrate strongly
through the horn solo, and the soft piano melody of "A New
Door" is complimented by gentle bass rolls and tender trickling
strings that are worthy of John Legend. The dynamic guitar
chords of "Back In Vietnam" produce melodic flairs through
the track, while the final track "I Want To Go Home"
is a continuous blaze that bulges and retrieves intermittently
right beside the vocals.
All songs are produced and arranged by Lenny Kravitz with lyrics
also written by Kravitz. Fans of Kravitz are sure to love the
album and those who are not fans will find his sense of new classic
rock genuine. His vocal swagger is reminiscent of '70s rock and
the melodic laces of soul and funk rekindle a mode of dance-rock.
Lenny Kravitz sounds the same without actually repeating himself
with It's Time For A Love Revolution, which is a credit
to his loyalty and ability to grow with the times.
-Susan Frances
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