Taken as a whole, It Is Time For A Love Revolution is a collection of easy to digest pure rock and roll, with enough memorable melodies, vocal performances and guitar solos to warrant repeat listens throughout its fourteen tracks. If you were a fan of the early Lenny Kravitz, say the Mama Said era, you’ll dig this disc as well, as it is as close to that sound as you’re likely to get nowadays. But while that era worshipped Hendrix and the O’Jays, this disc takes inspiration that ranges from the Chili Peppers to the gods of rock and funk of the ‘60s and ‘70s, respectively (the latter two genres from which Kravitz has always drawn from when at his best).
Throughout this album, Kravitz and his ace guitarist Craig Ross are careful to emulate and not expressly imitate their heroes, which is always hard to do if you want to stand out as an artist. But in a mainstream market where imitating the latest trend in rock gets you to the Top 40, you can take comfort in knowing that rock stars like Lenny Kravitz still know the difference and can make anew the great rock sounds of an era long past by not copying, just referencing them in his quest to make great new music. .
Note: The deluxe version of the album has a bonus DVD that is well worth purchasing if you want many of Kravitz’s greatest hits on video (i.e. “Fly Away,” “Let Love Rule,” “Are You Gonna Go My Way”), as well as the artist’s explanations behind the meaning of some of the new tracks.
Article comments