Lenny Kravitz - Let Love Rule
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Free Music Notes for Let Love Rule
Free Music Review: The Next Generation of the Minneapolis Sound
Hit: 4 Stars
The 1980s saw the rise of a new subgenre of pop music known as the "Minneapolis Sound". The "Minneapolis Sound" contained a mixture of Funk, Pop, R&B, and Rock. The artist that is considered one of the leading architects of this sound was Prince. When Prince formed his own record label - "Paisley Park", many of the artists that Prince recruited for that label or artists that Prince mentored were considered a part of the "Minneapolis Sound". As the 1980s came to a close, many of the artists associated with Paisley Park began to struggle both commercially and critically. However the "Minneapolis Sound" had made its lasting imprint on the music industry. It would pave the way for a whole new generation of artists going into the 1990s. While not ever associated with the "Minneapolis Sound", one such artist who clearly adopted the sound was Lenny Kravitz. In 1989, Kravitz would release his debut album entitled "Let Love Rule". "Let Love Rule" would contain a mixture of Funk and Rock and would add a retro flair to it. It would establish the foundation for what is to surely become a Hall of Fame career for Kravitz.
I think that Kravitz hits the three main dimensions that I expect from a successful solo artist: Vocals, Instrumentation, and Songwriting. On top of these three dimensions, Kravitz cross all of these dimensions by incorporating the "Minneapolis Sound". Whether it is hard Rock, R&B, or Funk - Kravitz finds ways to incorporate these styles and more into his music. This clearly shows that Kravitz was influenced by Prince - who also incorporated similar styles into his music. "Let Love Rule" takes us back to the beginning and the quality of each track demonstrates the potential that Kravitz would have as an artist (and live up to). Most notably, Kravitz would make a name for himself as a premier guitarist - and this album shows it.
Here is a song by song review of "Let Love Rule":
"Sittin' on Top of the World": This is the opening track. The song opens with an acoustic feel and then incorporates a funk groove into it. While this song didn't bowl me over, the acoustic and funk feel did demonstrate some good musical elements.
"Let Love Rule": This song showed stronger vocals by Kravitz than on the opening the track. This track has both an acoustic and electric feel to it. The use of the organ and saxophone augment this song perfectly at the right times. I particularly like the "musical jam" toward the end of the song.
"Freedom Train": While it isn't a perfect segue, "Let Love Rule" has a segue into "Freedom Train". Once "Freedom Train" begins, this incorporates a stronger Funk groove to it. Kravitz does incorporate more use of the saxophone on this track. I particularly like how Kravitz slightly uses the electric guitars. Overall a good track and despite the "rough" segue, it sounds great following "Let Love Rule".
"My Precious Love": This song has a 1960s R&B feel to it. While you can draw some analogies to Prince delivering a similar style with the vocals, this song almost sounds like a "male version" of Aretha Franklin's "Natural Woman". Kravitz once again shines on this track.
"I Build This Garden For Us": This song incorporates a psychedelic feel to it. This is also something that has been seen in the "Minneapolis Sound". I found this to be the best track on the collection as Kravitz pulls this off flawlessly. The string arrangements almost have a Beatles feel to it. Once again, Kravitz makes some "subtle" use of the electric guitars, but most importantly he shines on the vocals.
"Fear": This song also has a psychedelic feel to it. This song was co-written by Kravitz's ex-wife, Lisa Bonet. I liked the verses, but the chorus didn't "hook" me like a good chorus should.
"Does Anybody Out There Even Care": This track incorporates a lot of good elements by Kravitz. You will hear the song start out with a soft R&B feel followed by the heavier electric guitar work on the chorus. The second verse actually takes on more of the 1960s R&B feel to it. Finally the latter verses incorporate some of the Funk elements. Overall this was a tough song to classify, but it demonstrates the versatility of Kravitz.
"Mr Cab Driver": Next to "I Build This Garden For Us", this is the next best song. This song deals with an experience that Kravitz had with a cab driver and incorporates the theme of racism. Overall, Kravitz brings elements of realism to the experience he had. Perhaps the song's most interesting element is the outstanding bass line that is heard throughout most of the song. Kravitz also makes use of the electric guitars effectively and once again incorporates the saxophone very well.
"Rosemary": This is another song that Kravitz co-wrote with Bonet. This song goes back to the acoustic feel heard on the opening track. On this song, we hear something not normally heard on "official Minneapolis Sound" artists - a harmonica. .
"Be": Terrific track. This song has more of a soft R&B feel. Kravitz delivers very passionate vocals on this track. This song also uses some terrific string arrangements.
"Blues For Sister Someone": This song also has a psychedelic feel to it. Not a bad song, but didn't have me doing handstands.
"Empty Hands": This is another great song. Kravitz creates a "Western" feel to the song with both his vocals and the acoustic guitar. This was a very enjoyable track.
"Flower Child": Despite the name and references, this song doesn't have a psychedelic feel until the end of the song - when it reminds me of the Beatles "The End". Another enjoyable track.
The liner notes include the lyrics. Overall this song continues and expands the legacy started by the "Minneapolis Sound" in the 1980s and establishes a terrific foundation for Kravitz's own career. Highly recommended.
Free Music Review: Too psychedelic for its own good, but a great way to start
Hit: 4 Stars
In the late 1980s, THE COSBY SHOW was the undisputed king of prime time TV & Lisa Bonet was one of its biggest stars. No doubt, her star status led to more than a little bit of condescension on the part of her new husband, musician Lenny Kravitz. The son of a TV actress (THE JEFFERSONS' Roxie Roker) himself, Lenny was just starting to even get a deal in the music business as THE COSBY SHOW was riding high in the ratings. When his 1989 debut album LET LOVE RULE came out, musicgoers & critics had no idea quite what to make of this guy who quoted Sly Stone, Jimi Hendrix & late-period Beatles as his influences, had dreadlocks for hair & just all around seemed like a leftover from 1969. Critics were the most savage in calling Lenny the "Cuisinart of rock & roll" for him handpicking certain retro sounds for his music. While they would soon come around, LET LOVE RULE in the end was a good way to debut, if not much else.
Lenny is still searching for his main line on this album & this is also when his preachiness is at its height (he would let up a little with time). The title track is the perfect example, but the song is really a great one, phasing techniques & all. This shows if Lenny had to be a Beatle, chances are his choice would be John Lennon more than Paul McCartney. The psychedelic vibe continues through "I Build This Garden For Us" (again the psychedelia can be a little overpowering) & "Flower Child".
Elsewhere, Lenny's got his Sly Stone & James Brown vibe working on "Freedom Train" (could have used some help in the lyric department), "Sittin' On Top Of The World" & "Does Anybody Out There Even Care". The music is funky sho'nuff, but it's of a darker hue, more of THERE'S A RIOT GOIN' ON than DANCE TO THE MUSIC.
Of course, the album does have its slight snags. "Mr. Cab Driver" is a bit too confrontational, while "Fear", "Rosemary" (both written with Lisa Bonet) & "Blues For Sister Someone" go so far as to be a little naive. These songs surely are an acquired taste, but that can be expected from a first-time artist.
In the end, LET LOVE RULE seemed like an album doomed from the beginning. With his wife's career bigger than his own, any objectivity towards Lenny Kravitz's music seemed a lost cause. But he would soon mature & start to develop his own identity. So really, LET LOVE RULE's only problem was that it sounded too much like a debut. Lenny was still finding his footing maybe even as the tape was rolling, making this album every bit of a work in progress. Since then, Lenny's career has been ever more about that progress.
Free Music Review: Lenny Sittin' On Top Of The World
Hit: 4 Stars
Being the husband of Cosby Show co-star Lisa Bonet was in fact probably one of the reasons why this album got as much attention as it did when it came out. What needs to be understood is that Lenny Kravitz already had his music career well underway anyhow. One of the qualities that always dogged Lenny even from this point of departure was how retro and dated his sound seemed to be on th surface. In fact,next to being "Mr.Lisa Bonet" that was mainly what he was known for at the time. If one peels back the layers it's all too easy to see the facts as they are about Lenny. The man was (and still is) a very talented songwriter,multi instrumentalist and siphon of his different influences. While it's true that his excellent influences-from The Rolling Stones to Sly Stone to John Lennon to Prince are in fact worn on his sleeve Lenny has a very unique production style that belongs to none of this artists. Debuting at a time period when artists such as Prince,Terence Trent D'Arby and Living Color were completing blurring genres based on their own personal interests and their music was at times almost impossible to catagorize. Lyrically the album does have a lot of retro counter cultural references however,facing the uncertain of the 1990's decade there's a strong element of uncertainty in his musical message that wasn't retro at all. The title song act and "Empty Hands" actually have a lot to say on that effect. Wheras in terms of genre blurring Kravitz has always tended to lean somewhat more towards the rockier end of the spectrum the strong sense of rhythms,wah wahs and keyboard flavors of "Sittin' On Top Of The World","Freedom Train" and especially the groove heavy "Fear" all showcase his ability at funk with just a tinge of rock. "Mr.Cab Driver" has a somewhat similar flavor and carries a vital (and sadly all too everlasting) message about what we'd now call racial profiling. Of the rockier tunes on the album the strongest are "Be" and "Flower Child",both of which showcase a sound that is strongly influenced by both the Stones and the New York rock/Lou Reed/David Bowie early 70's style of glam rock. This is very appropriate since,in both cases that somewhat ironic mixture of soulful,flamboyant elegance was cross polinated from soul/funk artists to begin with so Lenny,along with others was bring this concept full circle. Even though the music press have found all too many ways to deride Kravitz for this reason or that over the years his earlier albums such as this debut contain enough musical positives very much in his favor that allowed him to maintain his career as long as he has.Free Music Review: I love it, and it Rules.
Hit: 4 Stars
I became a Lenny Kravitz fan the moment I heard the song "Let Love Rule" back in 1989. I'm still a fan now, but I was obsessed with this debut and "Mama Said". He was even my first concert ever, though he opened for Tom Petty. Anyway, front to back this is one of his best, and he shows us right away that he can rock, and drop a nice slow song as well. After the title track, I especially like "I Built This Garden For Us", "Rosemary", "My Precious Love", and "Blues For Sister Someone". We also get a dose of spirituality on a few songs, like on the great "Empty Hands". I also own the LP of this, but it only has the first 10 tracks, so watch out for that. Much like The Black Crowes, Lenny wears his influences on his sleeve, but I wouldn't want it any other way.Free Music Review: A retro album songfest that works the era of Neosoul begins
Hit: 4 Stars
I like this debut by Lenny Kravitz, this album could have been released in the early 70's instead of 1989. From the Dylan-like "sitting on top of the world" he wears his influences very well and at times surpasses them on the Stax -like "my pericous love" with its great piano/organ solo. Lenny would get better and find his own sound and usher in the Neosoul age from which Lauryn Hill, D'angleo, and other black artists would emerge less than a decade later.