Lenny Kravitz - Are You Gonna Go My Way
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Free Music Notes for Are You Gonna Go My Way
Free Music Review: Lenny Going His Way
Hit: 5 Stars
Already two albums into his career by the time this came out Lenny Kravitz showed no signs of slowing down one bit on this third album album. He was not only still a big hit but all the same he was showing signs of excellent career momentum by not taking half a decade to release albums. I have kind of avoided this album because for a long time I've heard it promoted as Kravitz's "rock" album (as if all his albums aren't rock albums in a way) and that it's also his most imitative. Neither conception of the album is all that accurate. Considering the success baught to him by the excellent Mama Said this album shares a lot in common with that one in terms of it's musical breadth and ideas. The main difference is,whatever style Lenny is involving himself in at any moment is married to very strong hooks and carefully crafted songs. The title song is actually the first Lenny Kravitz song I remember hearing. It's an okay song,very Hendrix influenced despite the fact Jimi didn't record a WHOLE lot of songs this fast (he had a good many though actually) but even so this song is not my favorite Lenny Kravitz song,or even a favorite on this album even though it was a big hit for him. Overall this album tends to be dominated by somewhat slower,psychedelic soul/rock tunes in the place of "Believe","Come On And Love Me","Sister" and "Is There Any Love In Your Heart". Whatever else is said about Lenny Kravitz and how he handles his flower power era influences these tunes all exhibit a certain kind of reserved positivity about life in general that not only has him sounding pretty grounded personally but does show him beginning to put everything that's inspired him musically into a style very much his. He does repeat a couple of tricks here from the previous album and does that pretty well here with the John Lennon send up of "Just Be A Woman",a very Double Fantasy-type tune with some likeminded and great use of vocal reverb as well as on "Sugar" another and somewhat broader toned (musically anyway) string filled northern/Chicago soul song not too far removed from the sound of It Ain't Over Til It's Over. "Heaven Help" actually finds him cleverly appropriate a folk/blues/funk acoustic guitar type groove with something of a 3+3 Isley Brothers influence but here you find some of Lenny's own influence too which makes it one of his more individual and soulful tunes. This album flows very well from one song to the other even though it encompasses a lot of styles and it did do Lenny a lot of good careerwise. Even though it's not his first album this is not too bad a place in fact to begin getting into Lenny Kravitz's music.Free Music Review: Must speak out for Lenny!
Hit: 5 Stars
After reading the editorial review by Daniel Durchholz on Lenny's album Are You Gonna Go My Way, me being a die-hard Lenny Kravitz fan, I had to comment against his cruel words. So this is not really a review, it is more like a fan's insight on Lenny and his album(s), including the Are you Gonna Go My Way album.First of all, how many artists out there can say that they have not had any other musical influences while writing their own music? If you listen closely to most popular music of today, it pretty much all sounds alike...that is probably why it is called "Popular Music". Although this album does have songs that have similarities to other artists, the majority of the songs were written, arranged and even produced by Lenny Kravitz! Like Daniel said in his review "Believe takes a more inventive approach--its chorus is in the style of the Beatles..." yes, some of the songs do emulate the artists that inspire him but the key words here are "in the STYLE of the Beatles". But don't take away Lenny's credibility and ability to write his own songs by writing such harsh opinions. Daniel's words were more like criticisms and skepticism, rather than a review of the album. But now I would like to express my views on not only this album but also on Lenny as an artist.
Can you find me an artist that does not have music that reflects their influences? It is highly unlikely. Music is a source of inspiration, and influence. Musicians always have an influence and it will always be seen and heard through their craft. If anything, the fact that after hearing Lenny's album, you were reminded of artists such as the Beatles or Led Zepplin and Bob Marley, is a positive thing. To be in the same caliber of those artists is truly a compliment. Lenny can sound like other artists...but no one can sound like Lenny.
Although I have been a Lenny fan since long before the Are you Gonna Go My Way album, I must admit, that this album was probably the one that really made me open my eyes and ears to Lenny as an artist. His songs may sound familiar, but are definitely done in LENNY'S own way. He takes a sound, and makes it better. He perfects it. He takes a familiarity and gives it his own Lenny flare. He gives critics like Daniel Durchholz something to talk about.
I admire Lenny for being compared to other artists, but at the same time making his own music, writing his own lyrics, and playing many instruments unlike many of the artists today, which of course Mr. Daniel Durchholz has completely failed to mention. I will always love Lenny's music, his albums and will always "go his way"!
Free Music Review: The beginning of Lenny's road to critical acceptance
Hit: 5 Stars
By most artist's third albums, the artist is beginning to rehash old ideas & lose their inspiration. Others start to finally find their footing & discover their own sound, which is what happened to Lenny Kravitz. After his bitter divorce from Lisa Bonet, Lenny had to have been both angry & bitter about losing his chance at love as well as with his dissatisfaction with the world in general. This not only brought a more pronounced edginess in his music, but maybe intensified his search for his own identity, which finally started to happen on his third album 1993's ARE YOU GONNA GO MY WAY?. 1989's LET LOVE RULE was firmly rooted in Beatles-derived psychedelia, while 1991's MAMA SAID had him ever so slightly updating himself towards early '70s soul. ARE YOU GONNA GO MY WAY? finds Lenny backtracking a little towards the late 1960s, but not staying there totally. The opening title track was indeed the biggest hit from this album, a piledriving tune that could have easily been a Cream outtake. But I dare you not to start banging your head to this 3 1/2-minute slice of blues-rock that is sure to get any party started. The retro-rock continues on "Come On & Love Me" (which is more suited for the bedroom than the bar), "My Love" & "Is There Any Love In Your Heart" (probably a raspberry to Lisa Bonet), establishing Lenny's main personality as a rocker.
But the real focus of the album is old-school soul on songs like "Heaven Help" (later covered by Angie Stone), the album's second single "Believe" (could have used some lyrical help, but still enjoyable), "Just Be A Woman", & "Sugar". With all that, the album's biggest surprise is the reggae-tinged closer "Eleutheria", which in spite of its esoteric title indicates that a Bob Marley influence may be another part of Lenny we have yet to see exploited further.
ARE YOU GONNA GO MY WAY surely does show that Lenny Kravitz was starting to make his influences a part of him & not the opposite. Whether it was agony over his failed marriage to Lisa Bonet or the growing critical scorn against him, something gave Lenny a kick in the pants towards making better music. As a result, critics really did start seeing the light & fans began to see that there was more to Lenny Kravitz than a musician born about two decades too late. Furthermore, it resulted in Lenny's best album to date, one that wouldn't be equaled until 2001's LENNY.
Free Music Review: This album rocks.
Hit: 5 Stars
After reading an editorial review on Lenny's album Are You Gonna Go My Way, me being a die-hard Lenny Kravitz fan, I had to comment against the cruel words. First of all, how many artists out there can say that they have not had any other musical influences while writing their own music? If you listen closely to most popular music of today, it pretty much all sounds alike...that is probably why it is called "Popular Music". Although this album does have songs that have similarities to other artists, the majority of the songs were written, arranged and even produced by Lenny Kravitz! Like an editor said in his review "Believe takes a more inventive approach--its chorus is in the style of the Beatles..." yes, some of the songs do emulate the artists that inspire him but the key words here are "in the STYLE of the Beatles". But don't take away Lenny's credibility and ability to write his own songs by writing such harsh opinions. But now I would like to express my views on not only this album but also on Lenny as an artist.
Can you find me an artist that does not have music that reflects their influences? It is highly unlikely. Music is a source of inspiration, and influence. Musicians always have an influence and it will always be seen and heard through their craft. If anything, the fact that after hearing Lenny's album, you were reminded of artists such as the Beatles or Led Zepplin and Bob Marley, is a positive thing. To be in the same caliber of those artists is truly a compliment. Lenny can sound like other artists...but no one can sound like Lenny.
Although I have been a Lenny fan since long before the Are you Gonna Go My Way album, I must admit, that this album was probably the one that really made me open my eyes and ears to Lenny as an artist. His songs may sound familiar, but are definitely done in LENNY'S own way. He takes a sound, and makes it better. He perfects it. He takes a familiarity and gives it his own Lenny flare. He gives critics something to talk about.
I admire Lenny for being compared to other artists, but at the same time making his own music, writing his own lyrics, and playing many instruments unlike many of the artists today, which of course so many critics completely fail to mention. I will always love Lenny's music, his albums and will always "go his way"!
The Are You Gonna Go My Way album rocks.
Free Music Review: It dropped my jaw
Hit: 5 Stars
I just can't fathom what this editorial review is all about. How could the title track be a Jimi Hendrix ripoff? I'm a big fan of Jimi. but I can't think of anything he ever did, close to "Are You Gonna Go My way".
Jimi stands on his own, but so does Lenny. Classifying "My Love" as weak is uncomprehensible. The song gives the guitar a major workout. "Black Girl" is pure soul. Almost all of the time, Amazon's editorial reviews are well founded, even if I don't agree with them 100%. But this one made me mad, I'm sorry. "Sister" might be my favorite of the whole album.
How can "Believe" be attributed to the Beatles, as great of songwriters as they were? Aside from George Harrison, did the Beatles ever put out anything about Jesus and his love? This guy has done it all , from his music to his lyrics. With his talent, he can still drop my jaw. So let's start giving this man his due.