antiReviews:
Lenny Kravitz - Greatest Hits Review
by Scott Vile
Lenny Kravitz - Greatest Hits Label: Virgin Records
Tracks: 1. Are You Gonna Go My Way
2. Fly Away
3. Rock and Roll Is Dead
4. Again
5. It Ain't Over Till It's
Over
6. Can't Get You Out Of
My Mind
7. Mr. Cab Driver
8. American Woman
9. Stand By My Woman
10. Always On The Run
11. Heaven Help
12. I Belong To You
13. Believe
14. Let Love Rule
15. Black Velveteen
Lenny Kravitz is often criticized as a
derivative artist, who copies other styles from the 70's instead of finding
his own. Well, if that's true, that's what I like about him. To quote Kravitz,
"Rock and Roll Is Dead,"...and he's one of the few rockstars on the planet
today with commercial success. And even that comes and goes with him. The
one criticism I do have on this album is that it's too early in his career
to have a Greatest Hits. When Lenny Kravitz has a hit, look out, it becomes
an absolute SMASH. If his song isn't a hit, you've probably NEVER heard
of it unless you're a fan. So what you have here on this CD is his 5 huge
hits, and 10 tracks of "leftover." I expected to recognize more songs on
this album, since it's a "Greatest Hits" package and Kravitz is a huge
artist. I guess this CD is a good illustration of the industry. If your
song isn't picked up immediately, it's shunned. If it is picked up, they'll
play it into the dirt.
However, I hesitate to call his non-hits
"leftovers" because most of them are fantastic. I'm mostly familiar with
his rock hits, like "Are You Gonna Go My Way," "Fly Away," and "American
Woman." Those songs don't illustrate his sensitivity and diversity as an
artist. That's why this compilation has really turned me into a fan. "It
Ain't Over Til It's Over," a very beautiful slow song, WAS a hit...I just
had no idea at the time it was Lenny Kravitz.
Lenny does have a great voice, he can sing
as high as Prince on the wonderful "Heaven" and also low, as on the funk-laden
"Mr. Cab Driver." The CD also features the new track, "Again," a ballad
that is getting tons of airplay. In fact, 14 of the 15 tracks on this CD
should have been classics...the only disappointment is the rather obscure
"Black Velveteen."
If you're a fan of good music with style,
pick this up. Lenny Kravitz is one of the few popular artists on MTV that
deserves the success he has.
Posted by eveke: i wonder why al these anti-fans even bother
posting comment, you pathetic ppl! lenny's alright, i like his music, it
makes me wanna sing them out loud all the time - especially his old ones
Posted by
subtalk: i guess, we could all call him ricky martin
of rock. anyway, the songs suck.
Posted by
Manbat: I never really liked Kravitz. He seems
so caught up in keeping his image of a sex symbol then actually concentrating
on his music. I do enjoy some of his songs, but he just annoys the sh1t
out of me
Posted by
Realtalk: Why does everyone call Lenny a fake? He
sure sings, writes and performs the songs himself. Is it because he is
influenced by Sly, Hendrix and others from that era? Well it's better than
being yet another Pearl Jam/Alice in Chains rip off!
Posted by
subtalk: come on, keep it real and forget that
idiotic and fake sucker. There's no way that anyone should admire this
piece of crap
Posted by
Ross: I never really listen to Lenny until I
heard fly away. So when I saw this cd in best buy I bought it and love
it! Let love rule is the ultimate cigerete lighter song.
