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LENNY KRAVITZ :: AN INVITATION TO HIS BAPTISM

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rock track that finds him crooning to the stripped down grit of an old-school rhythm sound; the garagey pop song “California” which echoes Kravitz's journey from New York to Los Angeles when he was 11; the funky jam of “Sistamammalover,” a soulful funk track with a terrific guitar solo that kicks in mid-song; the intriguing “Flash” which describes his stage persona and his urge to be outrageous for his fans; and the fuzzy blues-rock of the first single, “Where Are We Running,” an instant Lenny Kravitz classic that finds the artist at his rocking, invigorating best as he philosophizes to a a groove-laden anthem that all in all is a blissful slice of rock 'n roll. Of course, no Kravitz album would be complete without a channeling of Hendrix, which in this album can be found in the poignant rocker “I Don't Want to Be a Star,” where he contemplates on the rock-star lifestyle. On the other hand, the tender ballads include the love song "Calling All Angels," a beautiful track that cries for a lost love; the spiritual love-quest title track "Baptized;" the groovy, smoky and funky "Storm" which features a rap by Jay- Z; the somber and brooding piano driven ballads accompanied by Kravitz’s rueful crooning in "What Did I Do With My Life?" and “The Other Side” which features David Sanborn on saxophone and the elegant inspiring closer, "Destiny," which is anchored by acoustic guitar.

An artist who has never been comfortable with borders, boxes or limitations, Kravitz's musical success has also afforded him many opportunities in which to fulfill his creative vision. He has established his own record label, Roxie Records, named after his late mother and distributed by Warner Brothers, created Kravitz Designs, a design company, that undertakes various high-concept projects, and is reportedly eyeing the film industry, as he is writing, producing and plans to direct a movie based loosely upon the story of his own interesting life. Nevertheless, as Baptism reinforces, music is Kravitz's center.

In an era of music where careers have become very disposable, retro rocker Lenny Kravitz continues to prove why he is an icon whose bold, channeling sound has transcended genre, style, race and class. With a remarkable 15-year career built on a seamlessly integrated sound from the ground up, Kravitz has, since he started out, transformed his style and music to fit his own genre while consistently redefining his sound for every album. Though devastatingly rich with the influences of '60s and '70s soul, rock and funk, his music has also always managed to communicate the urgency of their current years. His latest effort, Baptism does not disappoint. A familiar blend of revamped rock and funk, it delivers his trademark robust music, driven by an emotional core that materializes in soulful riffs and soaring vocals. After all, that’s what his unparalleled musical appeal always has been about – soul and fervor and inspiration.

Lenny Kravitz’s Discography

Let Love Rule (1989)

Kravitz’s debut album Let Love Rule gained him with two hits with the songs “Let Love Rule” and “Mr. Cab Driver,” and caused quite a stir in the music world, because although critics hated it, the public welcomed him with open arms and found his diverse blend of rock and soul refreshing.

Mama Said (1991)

The tougher but more reflective Mama Said is an album dedicated to his ex-wife. It became a platinum-selling hit almost overnight, thanks to his top ten hit and breakthrough smooth soul single "It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over," as song with deceptively insinuating melodies.

Are You Gonna Go My Way (1993)

The retro Are You Gonna Go My Way was a massive hit and gained Kravitz acclaim from critics and reviewers. The up-tempo, anthemic title track turned out to be one of MTV's most played videos that year and earned him an MTV Video Award for Best Male Video.

Circus (1995)

The kaleidoscopic Circus was written at the time when he learned that his mother, Roxie had terminal cancer. An album that reflected his emotional state at that time, it was completed and released in the summer of 1995, shortly before his mother died on December that same year.

5 (1998)

To deal with the loss of his mother, Kravitz went on a three-year hiatus in the Bahamas with his daughter and grandmother and came back with 5. The album that catapulted Kravitz to the front ranks of rock and roll’s prime movers, consolidating a lifetime of music-making into a furious burst of creativity, it finds Kravitz dabbling with electronics and trip-hop loops. Sizable hits from the album included the breakthrough hit “I Belong To You,” and double Grammy-winning follow-ups, “Fly Away,” which earned him a 1999 Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance, and a remake of the Guess Who's "American Woman," which was used in the hit 1999 comedy movie Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.

Lenny Kravitz Greatest Hits (2000)

Effortlessly assuming the superstar mantle, Kravitz paused long enough to release a greatest hits collection that featured the musician’s first best-of set. A 15-track stopgap release, it sold over eight million copies worldwide and spawned his third consecutive Grammy for the newly cut “Again.”

Lenny (2001)

His sixth studio release titled simply, Lenny, featured twelve astonishing tracks all written, produced, arranged and performed by Kravitz himself. An album that has taken Kravitz to new heights with the artist winning his fourth record breaking Grammy Award in the “Best Male Rock Vocal Performance” category for the single, “Dig In,” it finds Kravitz at his most innovative and iconoclastic best, as he accomplished the seemingly impossible goal of sounding virtually live, highlighting a career marked by uncompromising creative integrity.

© Valerie V. Mayuga, 2005

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