Lenny Kravitz - Mama Said
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Free Music Notes for Mama Said
Free Music Review: Sound Over Substance
Hit: 5 Stars
Lenny Kravitz's affection for the '60s and '70s runs much deeper than mere matters of his retro attire, or even his songwriting; deeply involved in the production of his own albums, he is, for instance, militantly in favor of analog recording methods that use tubes rather than transistors. Many newcomer's have failed at this unorthodox technique. The mistake is foolishly assumed that the method is perfected by just turning the reverb off - goes from the microphone to the amplifiers to compressors into EQ units that have tubes and back to the tape machine. Lenny has simply perfected a lost art. Mama Said contains elements of Curtis Mayfield and Jimi Hendrix and Lenny's obsessions of Prince and John Lennon. Treading away from the psychedelic fixations of his debut, Lenny orchestrates his influences flawlessly - Mama Said sounds like it was recorded in 1972. The production is so carefully done that from start to finish the entire record captivates listeners - sweet soul and fuzzy hard rock. Mama Said demands repeat and is certainly a aural treat.
The addictive Philly-Soul sound of "It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over" is simply spellbinding. Though the rhythm is based around Earth Wind & Fire's "Thats The Way Of The World," it seduces listeners with sweeping strings, seductive horns, and lush arrangements to the deep rhythms. The number is smoother - even slicker - than anything Lenny has ever recorded. Most listeners will be pressed to believe Lenny wrote it himself. He successfully duplicates Curtis Mayfield on the extremely catchy "What Goes Around Comes Around" - which is possessed by a deep, dark groove, trademarked wah-wah guitar, stinging brass, and silky falsetto.
Sly & The Family Stone collide with Jimi Hendrix on the rampaging "Always On The Run" and retro Lenny displays his Lennon obsession with perfection on the brilliant "All I Ever Wanted" - which Sean Ono Lennon co-wrote and plays piano on. "Stand by My Woman" also borrows Lennon's signature echo-delayed vocals/piano signature for its verses, but shifts into lush harmony soul for the chorus. Often billed as the "divorce album," Mama Said is the srongest set of Lenny songs to date, with little filler and a close ear to getting that perfect sound. Though some of the lyrics have been painfully outdated, it doesn't really matter. Mama Said is just that great to listen to - it's a near flawless sound.
Free Music Review: Lenny's only complete album.
Hit: 5 Stars
There aren't many reviews on this page that do justice to "Mama Said," including the rather pompous view of the Amazon staffer at the top.I would venture to say that this is not only Lenny Kravitz' best album, but his ONLY album that holds up from beginning to end; I find all of Lenny's music this side of "Are You Gonna Go My Way" to be mere shadows of the greatness he exhibited here. I guess I liked him a lot better sounding like Sly Stone and John Lennon and Curtis Mayfield, than I do now, sounding like Jeff Lynne. He perhaps should have gone blacker rather that whiter.
That brings me to one other point.../everyone/ in music cops their schtick from somewhere. Why don't we look back and bag on Sly for copping from James Brown, or rip into Miles Davis for copping from both of them? Or the Beatles and Stones, for ripping off Buddy Holly? Or blah blah blah. You could trace musical theft back to a caveman beating on a tree-trunk drum, if you had enough time to research your bitter little record review.
You're not going to be disappointed if you buy "Mama Said." In fact, I give you my personal guarantee as an Essentially Anonymous Poster that you'll probably like it a lot better than "LENNY."
Free Music Review: Better than Lenny's debut???????
Hit: 5 Stars
Very little reviews for such a popular artist.
And all I ask is why? As far as I'm concerned, this was Lenny at his apex. His debut release quenched my thirst for music which wasn't being released at the time. Mama Said, in turn, was more complete and a much crisper sound.
Sure there are influences throughout this release.......but what record doesn't have them? When I saw the "It ain't over.." video. I for one was thinking The Doors "Touch Me" video.
Other favorites;
Stand By My Woman
All I Ever Wanted
Fields of Joy
Not a bad track on here and nothing corporate at all.
For those who know what I'm talking about.......this WAS Lenny at his best......just like REM...just like U2....they all drifted from what got them there, to just putting out music having a catchy riff to apparently satisfy the record co's. I will assume this comes with age???
A pure rock and roll classic in my book!
Free Music Review: No Such thing as a Sophomore Jinx for Lenny Kravitz
Hit: 5 Stars
Mama Said made me start to look at Rock and Roll a whole new way. Being a person who prefers R&B, Jazz and Hip-Hop, I was sort of close-minded to Rock and Roll. Lenny changed all of that with his release of Let Love Rule. I was still in denial though because I thought that his "Freshman Effort" was a fluke. Boy, was I wrong!!! The same guy who introduced me to Let Let Rule just happened to pop in this CD and my ears instantly perked up because I recognized the voice as the same as the one on Let Love Rule. After listening intently to the first few songs and the honesty in his lyrics as well as his superior musical ability, I had no choice but to conclude that this guy was going to be around for a while so I might as well get use to buying his material. He single-handedly changed my view on Rock and Roll. If Let Love Rule was an amazing Freshman Effort, Mama Said far surpassed that sending his status into Classic Territory... From beginning to end, Mama Said is a 5-Star Classic...Free Music Review: Mama Is Right
Hit: 5 Stars
Lenny Kravitz followed up his retro-rocking debut with another slice of retro-rock, Mama Said. The sounds are even more diverse on Mama Said as Mr. Kravitz plays some heavily r&b influenced songs. "It Ain't Over Till It's Over" is pure Philly Soul with its soaring strings and lush orchestration with Mr. Kravitz singing in a high falsetto. The song became his first top ten single peaking at number two. "Always On The Run" has a chunky guitar riff, blazing horns and a guitar solo courtesy of Slash from Guns 'N' Roses. "Fields Of Joy" starts out as a slow acoustic number before exploding with ringing guitar blasts. "Flowers For Zoe" is a pretty ode to his then baby daughter while "Stop Dragging Around" has a thumping bass and pulsating guitar. Mama Said continued and enhanced Lenny Kravitz's chameleon like ability to slide effortless in and out of music styles.