Maybe I like a good-looking guy with a guitar, or maybe it's the mesh of rock' n' soul revival, but I like Lenny Kravitz. A greatest hits compilation can't measure up to the degree of music that Lenny has put out but this is a solid hits collection if you want the basics of Kravitz. As some folks tend to hate on the guy for being Jimi Hendrix-esque, and while I can agree that nobody can beat the left handed genius, Lenny has a creative way of fusing classic rock chords with an updated soul/R&B mentality which to me makes him an artist in his own right. Lenny pays homage but puts his own flamboyant and slick twist in every song he does.
Okay, so "Are You Gonna Go My Way?" is his kind of tribute to Jimi Hendrix but it's still funky and thrashy in all of its glory, probably my favorite Lenny song and the first song that I heard from him. "Fly Away" is another stomper of psychedelic proportions and another great power song that will have you belting out the infectious chorus. My other favorite Lenny song is his classic, "It Ain't Over Till It's Over" which is a groovy (and I do mean groovy!) mid-tempo Motown throwback sound, you can't go wrong with this and it's gotten a revival as Mutya Buena used the melody for her hit, "Real Girl". The acoustic shuffle of "Can't Get You Off My Mind" is harmonious and has a slight country feel to it. While the driving force of "Always On The Run" is purely dirty swaggering rock at it's best. "Heaven Help" is a lovely heart on sleeve ballad that has some good lyrical delivery from Lenny. Sporadic chimes introduce the swaying rhythm n' blues rock of "I Belong To You" while fierce grit is displayed on the fun, "Rock 'N Roll Is Dead". Lenny's hit cover of Guess Who's "American Woman" is on here and he gives the song a more soulful edge but still keeps the original in mind. "Let Love Rule" has a gospel soul sound to it that is Sly Stone in a way while Lenny goes out on a techno limb with "Black Velveteen".
Lenny Kravitz has an innovative versatile style that everyone can appreciate and enjoy. The revival sound is something that I always enjoy because it's always great that an artist has an appreciation for the past and incorporates it with the present, so Lenny is right up my alley for that aspect. I added a couple of tracks to this to make it a bit more comprehensive but solid as a rock is what Lenny's greatest hits compilation entails for those of you who want to enjoy the biggest and brightest of what Lenny's music track is all about! ENJOY! :)
Tracklisting:
1. Are You Gonna Go My Way
2. Fly Away
3. Rock 'n' Roll is Dead
4. Again
5. It Ain't Over Till It's Over
6. Can't Get You Off My Mind
7. Mr. Cab Driver
8. American Woman
9. I Built This Garden For Us
10. Always On The Run
11. Heaven Help
12. I Belong To You
13. Believe
14. Let Love Rule
15. Where Are We Runnin'
16. Black Velveteen
1. Are You Gonna Go My Way
2. Fly Away
3. Rock 'n' Roll is Dead
4. Again
5. It Ain't Over Till It's Over
6. Can't Get You Off My Mind
7. Mr. Cab Driver
8. American Woman
9. I Built This Garden For Us
10. Always On The Run
11. Heaven Help
12. I Belong To You
13. Believe
14. Let Love Rule
15. Where Are We Runnin'
16. Black Velveteen
Download: Lenny Kravitz Greatest Hits
View: Are You Gonna Go My Way
View: Fly Away
View: Again
View: Let Love Rule
View: American Woman
