Reviews (page 6 of 8)
Good album, but not great. Lenny reminds me a little of Earth, Wind, and Fire (but better) in that he's the type of artist that you might see in concert and have an awesome time, but then you put on an individual album and realize that most of the music is just good, not great. I can see the inclusion in 1001 albums though -- Lenny has an enjoyable, distinct sound, fusing soul and rock. He's a nice addition to the landscape. But the particular album is simply good, not great. There are a couple of very good songs, but the album as a whole is just "7 out of 10", so rounding down to 3 stars.
There are a couple of OK tunes but most of this is a slog to listen to. Borderline 1 star, but I'll give it 2 stars just because there were a few redeeming qualities. Definitely not an essential album in any way.
So boring. I couldn't wait for it to be over.
This is a good album, not outstanding, but solid. Notable songs include "Does Anybody Out There Even Care", "Be" and "Empty Hands".
Lenny Kravitz.
A little "shouty" on some tracks, but overall.. I liked it.
The authors of this list are funny. I don't know a single person who cares about this album or would consider Lenny Kravitz a particularly important musician. His songs usually contain some well-meaning Liberal platitude about the world and togetherness. Positioning himself as some sort of sexier Prince for the 90s, Lenny plays all the instruments on 'Let Love Rule' from 1989 but you can't say that it's particularly virtuosic. On "Mr. Cab Driver," there is a point where Lenny says "here we go" to usher us into a musical break, but it's so basic and really meant to showcase the very Macca-esque bass tone (and overall sensibility) found on the song. I have to admit that my internet was also cutting out while I was listening to this album, so maybe it's my way of answering the question, "Does Anybody Out There Even Care." Sorry, no. B-
Driven by Lenny’s voice more than anything, but the guitar hooks haven’t come in yet.
Im ersten Song hat man das Gefühl, Lenny versucht unbedingt anders zu singen, cool zu wirken, kein Normalo in der Musikszene. Entweder als Hörer haben wir uns daran gewöhnt oder er hat sich selbst eingespurt. Ab dem zweiten Song ist man mehr auf die Songs konzentriert. "Let Love Rule" erinnert mich an "Hey Jude" von den Beatles. Es ist ein gutes Debütalbum und dass Lenny auch noch fast alle Instrumente spielt, ist schon fantastisch. Sein Gitarrenspiel ist durchaus markant und insgesamt ein hörens- und beachtenswertes Album. Für mich sein Bestes. Das neueste habe ich noch gar nicht angehört.
Ok, but would not listen again 2/5
Great. Holds up well.
I only got through this once, and while I found a lot of the influences and composition pretty neat, I found it very empty. It was like eating a bag of artisan potato chips, better made than normal, but not really satisfying in the world of cuisine. I might come back to this one, but it's one of the least intriguing albums I've heard so far (74/1001).
This is an album that is trying to be cool, to rock, to emote, to be taken seriously - it tries too hard. Some nice fuzz/wah guitars, loads of Beatle-isms, not many memorable songs. "Mr Taxi Driver" is the best of the bunch - it is less desperate than the rest of the album.
August 2, 2024 HL: title track, “Freedom Train”, “Rosemary”, “Empty Hands” A little patchwork in quality, but I enjoyed this debut for its mix of the Beatlesque (title track) & psych-funk (“Fear”, “Freedom Train”) 3.5
It's aight
gostei demais em
A lot of people tell me Lenny Kravitz is great, but I never figurered why. OK. The title track here is decent, but in general the music does not speak to me
Very versatile album, some sort of stripped down and a few overly produced. Freedom Train a stand out in emotion.
Uninteresting mix of retro sounds.
For me, Kravitz has always dwelled in that area between “modern iteration of Sam Cooke“ and “yoga instructor your wife/girlfriend is a little too excited to see.“ I liked this album, but it didn’t do much to move him one way or the other on that spectrum.
Surprisingly enjoyable, and nice to hear several songs with positive messages.
I didn't like this album, particularly. I generally only like the song Are You Gonna Go My Way? by Lenny. I find his lyrics to be fairly uninspired and repetitive. Don't much care for his singing, either. But I didn't find it to be an irritating album, so it gets 3.
As many others have pointed out, he wants to be Prince but does not have the talent to be Prince.
Прикольно, но есть у него и покруче.
I really liked the album. I think it's pretty cool. 4/5
I like Lenny, but this album specifically seems another Lenny. Too much screaming.
I knew a few of Kravitz's 90s singles, so this was an easy listen. Didn't know he played almost every instrument, though. Nice.
Let Love Rule is not good. The main problem is that Lenny Kravitz can't sing, or couldn't at this point, and it starts on the second line of the first song. The music itself is pretty meh, not especially creative or interesting, but it's dragged down further by the vocals and it's not a enjoyable listen at all. Don't see how I can reach to a 2, it's so poor, not downright bad and offensive like other 1s (although it is lyrically quite empty too), just embarrassing.
Not one of our stronger efforts. Makes the cardinal mistake of reaching for a note that he can't hit in the first 30 seconds of the first track, and the music is too vocal-focused to get away with a voice as weak as that. I only knew two Lenny Kravitz songs before this, neither on this album, and I have no desire to seek out more. It's a bit dull and the guy really can't sing as well as a professional singer should be able to. 2/5.
I give Lenny credit for playing most of the instruments and doing the production. This is his album for sure. There are good songs but there's a bit of filler as well and at times stuck in retro 60s psychedelia. Overall it's OK but he does try too hard to be Prince.
There's a 1-star review for this album that compares Kravitz here to "Prince at home." Funny enough, I'd also compare Kravitz here to Prince, but in a 4-star way. I mean, 'ey, what can I say? I love Prince, I like the few Kravitz songs I've heard... Put 'em together with all these hippy vibes, and, hey, I can dig it. Tune in and drop out, man.
It kind of picked up near the back half, but this album just fells boring to me. 3 stars.
I’m at a 3.5 that I think I’m going to incredibly graciously bump up to a 4 that it just barely earns. I liked most of this album. It has plenty of flaws, but I can look past most of them. I think the self-control in his vocals is a bit lost at times; he can’t decide if he wants to be Ozzy Osbourne, Paul McCartney, Prince, or Stevie Wonder for most of this album. You can’t be all 4. Somehow, he ends up sounding like the lead vocalist from Bowling for Soup for parts of this album as a result, but ultimately, that’s fine. I think the lyrics on most of the tracks are good – pretty solid messaging throughout. I think the main issue I have with this album’s lyrics simply comes in its repetition, and I Build This Garden for Us is distinctly terrible about it. Really retreading a lot of ground throughout that track. The same thing goes for Be, which quite frankly, just stunlocked me with that “or am I a rapist who needs a release” line, because what the fuck does that mean? Is it about leaving prison? Is it about getting off? It’s a weird fucking line to throw in regardless. Instrumentation is great across the album – no complaints from me on this one. Some of the tracks went a little long on their outros, but I could forgive it in the same way I can forgive a Stevie Wonder outro for going long, because the vibes are good and the music is a jam. Ultimately, I do think this album just does more right than wrong to get up to a 4, but that could change on a relisten or two. It’s definitely not within the range of being a 5, though. This is, so far, the only album to have a straight 3 in the reviews so far, which tells me I might be a little generous, and I can see why. This is the type of album that might have more holes or flaws open up over time to bump it back down to a 3, but right now, I feel good about giving it the 4.
Not really my jam, but i like the album aesthetics!
5/5 Cohesive tracklist full of funk and soul, which changes up well and is never boring. I slightly prefer the rockier, poppier second half. Lenny's vocals and lyrics are fantastic. Sitting On Top Of The World 5/5 Let Love Rule 5/5 Freedom Train 3/5 (LEAST FAV) My Precious Love 4.5/5 I Build This Garden For Us 4.5/5 Fear 4.5/5 Does Anybody Out There Even Care 5/5 Mr. Cab Driver 5/5 Rosemary 5/5 (FAV) Be 5/5
Album 472 of 1001 Lenny Kravitz - Let Love Rule Rating : 3.5 / 5 Good album. Came on a day where way too much was going on, so I'm a day late. Probably better than I heard as there were a few distractions.
Sensational. Lenny rocks.
Really nice jazz and blues rock
Music for people with no personality made by a nepo baby. At least some of it is catchy!
I remember when Lenny was the epitome of cool. This album shows just how much he deserved that reputation!
Better than I expected
better than i thought it would be
Interesting
Like Lenny but this album is mid
just alright
While not my taste, clearly thoughtful and well made. Extremely diverse song writing that still somehow works together
This album hit me with a double whammy. It was an hour-long ordeal of Lenny Kravitz delivering what I found to be terrible music, and just when I thought it couldn’t get worse, the last song felt like a punch in the gut on the way out.
Honesty is important. I wasn't blown away by this. His voice grated on me, and I wound up trying to like it because the lyrics were at times really interesting. It felt quite tame?
60/100 Lenny Kravitz has always been an artist whose general popularity strikes me as confusing. While his debut offers some nice 70s revival and is concise there are no true stand-outs
Its pretty good but at some points the guy just sounded like a tesco Prince
we need to ban annoying people from making music because ngl this is just slop. like it’s so bad, i think it made my eczema flare up
Decent album for Lenny Kravitz. 3/5
good, a little dull at moments, some great songs on here though.
This has to be a joke. Probably better off going your whole life without hearing this. Cheers Len. Watch Pat Finnerty's Kravitzbowl on YouTube instead of wasting your time here.
WTF. Seriously W.T.F. This was shaping up to be a solid 3 stars (a score reserved for music I don't give a crap about. Then came Rosemary. WTF. Rosemary is a five year old girl living on the streets after being abandoned by her parent but apparently that's OK because God. WTF. Not a word of condemnation for her parents (who clearly weren't cab drivers) or society or anyone. WTF. Just platitudes about God and Jesus. EFFING HELL So EFF Lenny Kravitz and EFF Lisa Bonet the co-writer of this vile despicable garbage. PS: W.T.F. PPS: EFF L & L for making me want to believe in Hell so garbage humans like them will get their just deserts. Unfortunately Hell doesn't exist so no just deserts for L & L. PPPS: Seriously EFF L & L.
"Let Love Rule" is plodding. So is "I Built This Garden". Just because the tempo is moderately slow doesn't mean they have to be lacking in energy, but these are limp and lifeless. A low 2.
Just sounds like a studio version of a dude with an acoustic guitar sitting below a tree on a college campus trying to get laid.
It gives the vibes of a Christian youth counciler trying to help inner city kids find God while also sliding into a 15 year old's DM's.
Mixes quite a few genres. pop, funk, rock, soul.
Love transcends all space and time. This album thinks it does too.
The only person who loves Lenny Kravitz more than Lenny Kravitz is two Lenny Kravitzes. I need to leave a little room for stuff I actively dislike, but there's nothing for me here.
Wouldn't listen again. Nothing special. 2/5
Trying way too hard.
Enjoyed it, but seemed a bit repetitive.
Have never heard the album. Not bad, but not that memorable. He "oversings" on quite a few songs. "Go Henry"
The most confident I’ve ever been giving a three. Overall solid quality, but it lacks some of the moments that 4s have.
Pretty good.
A little cliché but such great grooves and vocals. Gotta go 4 stars!
no meat on these bones
Honestly i there were good songs on it but i've found it a bit boring. Not bad but not that great
It's all a bit meh. He wants to be the lovechild of prince and Jimi Hendrix and doesnt do a bad job. He is a marketers dream as he is all sexy and leather clad. But really, the music doesn't really hold up for me. It's all so early MTV and vacuous.
4-5 Let Love Rule!
This was pretty good. Lenny Kravitz is someone I've somewhat enjoyed but never really listened to.
LOL! This is absolute trash.
Well produced Soul-,Funk-, Rock. It's nice, it flows, is it the best album with most hits? no. Most songs are great and easy to listen to but most i forgot during the day. The most catchy one that i remember was Mr. Cab driver. An okey rock album to have in the background.
I was skeptical at first. I always thought of Lenny Kravitz as a Prince/Hendrix rip off. I’m not entirely wrong in that assumption, but the quality of these self-penned, self-performed tracks can’t be denied. The first half is especially strong, with the title track, My Precious Love, and I Build This Garden For Us all standouts. The back half veers into some social consciousness territory that does not come across as genuine or spirited (Mr. Cab Driver, Be, Blues for Sister Someone). Not perfect, but it has its moments.
Good, but not great, and lacking some of the attitude and swagger that made his later work brilliant. Loads of religious references, which surprised me.
typisch Lenny Kravitz
What I expected (bad). Rounding up instead of down because they dopey “I love love” lyrics throughout are funny.
It's quite all right but I do not understand why it is on this list.
My favorite part of this album was when it ended. I'd say this album put me to sleep if he didn't wail through half of it. Boy do I not care for Lenny Kravitz's music.
The Che Guevara of Beverly Hillls has a rebel anthem perfect for the next Apple commercial.
There were a lot of songs with very rhymey rhymes which is a pet peeve of mine, and overall it just felt like boring pastiche. A decent listen while at work but I think it could have been shorter and more to the point.
I have never heard this but I’ve heard plenty of later LK and I can only describe this as a caricature of what his sound would become. It’s not good but it’s charming. I’m bewildered. I think I like it.
I was expecting more. It was surprisingly uninteresting to me. I was expecting more of a unique sound. I did not hate it though!
There was a lot more Prince here than I expected, as someone who knows later Lenny Kravitz but had never listened to his early work. I don't think I'll return to it although I didn't dislike it.
It was okay. Definitely a breath of fresh air after the glam rock and synths of the 80s. But the music itself kind of bores me.
cool
...
Mostly unsuccessful mash up of Prince and Hendrix. If he didn’t wear his influences so obviously on his shoulders it would most likely be a better record. As it stands every song is jammed packed with references to past songs to tell you how cool he is.
I like Lenny Kravitz but this is an album of his I've not listened to too much. A lot of the good bits are there - catchy bass parts, soulful crooning, epic guitars, but seeing as it is his debut it's pretty raw
I thought I might like this more - but I still enjoyed listening to it; maybe would even give 3.5 stars, if that were a thing. Some tracks a bit self-indulgent (My Precious Love). But others good: I Build This Garden for Us, I particularly enjoyed - sounded quite Beatley/Princey, to me. Empty Hands, and Rosemary stood out, too. Guitar! Anyway, all in all, pretty cool - I think I would quite like to be Lenny Kravitz, haha.
I thought I'd like this, I wanted to like it, but I didn't like it! He's talented and I always thought he was cool but not so much here. Some of the themes are important but it's way too self-righteous and preachy for me, Christian rock? The garden song is awful! Mr Cab Driver was probably my favourite.
A fun opportunity to listen to an early release from Lenny Kravitz, as I am a big fan of some of his releases during the 90s and definitely think he has gone under the radar as years have gone by. ‘Mama Said’ in 1991 was definitely where he hit full stride for me, and I think that shows here.. good stuff but not quite hitting the spot as much as his other work. Feels a bit lacking, hard to explain.
Safe and inoffensive. If this was a restuarant, it would be Nandos.
I think this is the first album we’ve had that I actually own. This is really good, and forgot how much I enjoyed it. Love Sitting on Top of the World, Let Love Rule and My Precious Love.
This is was really good. I’ve never really listened to him, but clearly he’s famous for a reason.
The music is fine, but the lyrics are a bit weak, wet and limp. More repetition of lyrics than Bill Withers at times, which is saying something.
Enjoyable
This was easy to listen to, yes. But something just felt unoriginal about it. Lenny Kravitz has always seemed like a caricature of a rock star to me. A rock star written for a movie along with the rock songs written for the movie.
A lot better than I was expecting and surprised by the existence of Lenny Kravitz prior to "are you gonna go my way" which was played on MTV 4,000,000,000 times when I was coming up.
this was a good solid rock and roll
Thought I was going to enjoy this a bit more than I did. Starts off with the foundations of what I love about rock and roll, but devolved a bit mid-way through the end to being a bit preach (especially the bible songs). Not a bad listen though.
If a 16yr old kid played me this I’d be like ‘wow, great first album, really well done. you got all your ideas you’ve been hanging on to for years out, you can probably hear now how on the nose those lyrics are, and you’ve probably learnt a lot in the process. now don’t ever play it to anyone again’. This leaves a door open for an actually good second album, which I’m not gonna look up but I know he went on to write some bangers. Thing is, Kravitz was 25 when he made this. He was old enough to do better. And you know, playing all those instruments isn’t as impressive as it seems. Sorry Lenny, throw this out with your big stupid scarf.
There’s really nothing new on this record. It’s fine. It’s a pop & roll retro wannabe. It was successful. Kravitz became a pin-up. Someone else here said that it sounds like he went through his parents’ record collection and just copied what he heard. Frankly, it’s an accurate description. There’s no lyrical insight, no innovation. Just an average retro sound.
I like Lenny Kravitz. I enjoy his music and performances. This is very early in the Lenny Kravitz arc and probably should have stopped around track seven.
Meh 🫤 I’m gonna go listen to Prince.
A lot of this felt cliche/boring/meandering. I generally prefer stuff that pushes strongly in a direction, not sure that this accomplishes that.
Some really good instrumental work soured by the fact that Lenny desperately thinking he sounds like Prince (spoiler: he doesn't). If the first half of this album had all the vocals scrubbed out, it would probably be a 5/5. As it stands, it drags on too long and only gets progressively lamer. It is what it is.
Surprisingly sort of ok.
Lenny is always good for some funk, but surprisingly forgettable.
this was also a new listen! i actually really liked it and would listen again.
This album is very meh - mediocre, inoffensive, bland. I can’t rate this above a 2, I got no enjoyment from it, but it’s not the worst thing I’ve rated from this list. Sorry, Lenny, but you’re boring.
Pretty decent sound that brings to mind artists like Stevie Wonder, Prince, and maybe a bit of Beatles thrown in there. But that’s what it is. A bit of a copy. I would’ve liked to see more originality and diversity in the sound. However, it is pretty cool that he played most of the instruments on here.
Not my jam. I respect he took a "do it all yourself" route, but nothing here connects with me.
UGH!!! I don't know why Lenny Kravitz has always bugged me so much. I listened to the first 30 seconds of every song just to be sure, and yep - he still bugs the efffff out of me. Talented, sure. But he seems so manufactured, like a product of the industry.
# 214 : He's done a pretty decent job. Not bad for a one man band LOL. Best track : Sitting On Top Of The World
Hard rock på den funky måde, ret cool
Far from the most original album in the world, but it’s funky enough to be enjoyable and not overly cloying or derivative…at first. Lyrically, the longer this record goes on, the more annoying I find it - especially when he makes sort of overt references to the artists he’s paying homage to…like how the first line of “Flower Child”, a clear Lou Reed/VU homage, is “Dressed in purple *velvets*” - thanks for spelling it out, Lenny.
This feels like proto-Lenny. The time just before he was an idol to the masses. Kinda good, but also just kinda good.
Shades of Prince, Stevie, John Lennon, even some grunge. I liked a lot of this.
Quick, someone who was alive back then tell me how bad and persistant the comparisons to Prince were. This is solid, I think it’s survived it’s time and aged maybe better than most mainstream rock albums of it’s time. A hard-working 3 from me.
Not a huge fan of what I know from Lenny Kravitz. The opening track was a lot more interesting than I was expecting. Really interesting percussion. 'Let Love Rule' is a fine song. I like the sax solo. A lot of the songs are starting to sound the same, though. 'Freedom Train,' which comes right after 'Let Love Rule' sounds very similar. 'Precious Love' was fine, cool organ part. 'I Build This Garden For Us' is fine. Overall this album was a little better than I expected but nothing really grabbed me. 2/5
With the exception of 1 song most of the songs sound very similar.
I was not expecting to rate Lenny Kravitz this high. Was completely unfamiliar with his work, but the versatility and energy is incredibly impressive. He made this album basically ENTIRELY BY HIMSELF.
i like Lenny but this album did nothing for me.
The filler songs were really forgettable. A few great tracks though. 3.
I like some of his later hit songs but I feel that this album falls very short. It is very clear he was influenced by Prince and later Jimi Hendrix. I didn’t think any of the songs on this album stood out and some were even annoying to listen to. Not his best work but it was his debut album so he still had room to grow as an artist.
Some very catchy songs on this album. Great guitar work and songwriting.
Middle of the road album. Not bad by any means, but also not amazing or impressive.
I dont like lenny kravitz, but this is a pretty good album, especially considering that its essentially a one man band recording. 3/5
Ok
Overly repetitive and bland lyrics. Fairly dull musically.
Man, this guy really loves love. One could argue maybe even a bit too much. In fact, he loves love so much that it's all he can ever talk about in his lyrics to the point that it's annoying, and it's not even like he presents it in an interesting or original way. Every song here is boring and generic, and offers nothing unique or different. And as mentioned, the lyrics are painfully repetitive.
This was a weird album, it sounded like so many different artists: Tom Petty, Beatles, Prince, Hendrix… it showed the talent that Kravitz has but also all the influences taken. I didn’t realize how well rounded that he was, I admit I hardly know any of his songs. There’s definitely some hidden depth, I’m gonna go 3.75/5
https://youtu.be/UPw-3e_pzqU?si=nM3ve12h0N1E5DlZ lenny kravitz sucks. been thinking about the kravitz bowl. been thinking about dave chapelles racial draft. been thinking about a lot of things. i thought kravitz's whole thing was that hes black jewish? the after like three songs whole fucking album is about christ christ christ. my god. happy easter by the way. this album is so platitudinous its like a giant big plateau of platitudes. the great plateau nation of tibet with all of its yaks and lamas could sit comfortably inside this i mean just marvel at such visionary lyrics as: \"It's on the freedom train Come on dance on the freedom train It's on the freedom train Come on dance on the freedom train (yeah)\" repeat x4 times (varying on the \"yeah\"s) and thats freedom train. read the lyrics for \"fear\" and tell me david brent didnt write it what is it with these rock'n'roll narcissists and talking about "let the children play" or "and the children gathered round" etc? leave the fucking children alone! im looking at you cat stevens. and bowie. and lenny kravitz. "or am i a rapist who needs a release?" EEHHHHHHHwwwweeewewwwwwewewewew yikessss this album is bad, and it gives me a new lease on life
Ehhh.. Not really my thing. I was in a pretty bad mood when I listened to it though so maybe that ruined my perception.
God that was boring. Kept waiting for it to start.
Great album.
01) Sittin' on Top of the World - 7,5 02) Let Love Rule - 8,5 03) Freedom Train - 7,5 04) My Precious Love - 8,0 05) I Build This Garden for Us - 8,0 06) Fear - 7,0 07) Does Anybody Out There Even Care - 7,5 08) Mr. Cab Driver - 9,5 09) Rosemary - 7,0 10) Be - 7,0 11) Blues for Sister Someone - 7,0 12) Empty Hands - 7,0 13) Flower Child - 7,0 TOTAL: 7,58 (76/100) I guess I tend to lose concentration towards the end because the marks are getting lower and lower in just about every album, not just this one... I'm torn somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. It's not a bad album, but it's really not special in any way... "Mr. Cab Driver" is my favorite track.
Lenny has the ability to play some nice guitar riffs. There are also some sparks like the well known songs "Let Love Rule", "I Build This Garden For Us" and first of all "Mr. Cab Driver". The rest of the album bores me or sucks most of the time. 2,5
It's 1001 albums. They're not all going to be winners.
Enjoyed, not usually my type of music but it was good
Ok
I don't understand the hate that Lenny Kravitz gets. I also don't see the comparisons to Prince. Listening to this album, I feel like Kravitz is trying to channel John Lennon, Jim Hendrix, and maybe Stevie Wonder. The songs are generally good and have some impressive moments, particularly on the song 'Let Love Rule'. It also has a few misses and feels like it's missing something as an album. But overall, it's impressive for a debut album.
This... wasn't good. The songs are just too long with so little substance. At times, the lyrics were cringe and the whole thing felt like he was trying waaaay to hard to be retro/cool/activist. A riff or two was interesting and saved it from a 1-star. 2/3
Rock and soul
I'm not a fan of Lenny K, so this album wasn't really for me. (His drummer is pretty good and the music has a lot of great quality, in places). Be - probably the best track A mediocre 3
Funky Rock, well learned from Prince and Hendrix
god what a pretentious loser I actually can't stand listening to this guy. Look at me I'm so cool I'm a soulful huge rockstar. No you aren't!!! He had mild success and can play guitar and has a good voice and wrote the least authentic, most generic and meaningless ass songs and just started acting like he was Prince. Prince already behaved like a weird egotistical loser if you ask me, he just had the music to back it up. God idk why i hate this guy so much but fuck him. lenny crapshitz hehe
first listen funky rock, but definitely style over substance
2.5
Funky album with catchy songs.
A few decent songs. But pretty unmemorable. Sorry Lenny.
Fiquei esperando reconhecer alguma música que tocava na rádio e não teve nenhuma.
I didn't know how I missed the train on Lenny Kravitz. This is really good. I think it's like his heavier output that must come later. But other than all the fade outs, this is great.
You can tell Lenny grew up listening to the Beatles all the time. His music evolved, but for a debut, this is an excellent effort.
I know the song "Let Love Rule" and a lot of Lenny's singles already but have never listened to any Lenny Kravitz albums before. This was okay - I liked the title track and "Mr Cab Driver" (fuck you) the rest were mid - a lot of Lenny Kravitz doing a very unsubtle Prince/Jimi pastiche. Nothing too clunky, except some of the Jesusy bits, but nothing that really excited me either.
Thought it was pretty good after the first couple songs
pretty good, especially after the halfway point
pretty rockin, 2nd half of the album was a lot stronger imo. easy listening.
This wasn't terrible, but it wasn't good either. The perfect example of a 3 star album. Nothing really pulls you in, but it's not so bad you need to turn it off.
I only know 90s rock lenny so this was kind of suprising, funk meets.. the beatles?? Feels like a mix of several kinds of 60s and 70s rock sounds.
I know this album very well I remember one of my friends playing it all the time not my kind of music but definitely tell him to the artist and awesome debut album
Solid debut album. Hard to believe it was released in 1989. Maybe Lenny was a little ahead of his time? This isn't his best album, but it's definitely interested to hear him figuring out his sound. Good stuff.
some parts of the instrumentals are kinda cool but overall this album isn’t that good. some songs really make me cringe and it’s really annoying how he says the same words/phrases over and over and over again.
Instrumentation was nice (organs, saxophones, liberal use of acoustic guitars). One-man-band(ish) thing is cool. Just didn't grab me upon listening. Some wore on too long ("Hey Jude" aspiring title track into the dull "Freedom Train" were lowlights), and others just grated (message song "Mr. Cab Driver", which made me long for it to be a "Lady Cab Driver"...). Felt like it got stronger at the end, with "Rosemary", "Be" and "Flower Child" probably being my favorite tracks.
Definitely makes sense why this is included. Can see the bridge from 80s rock into the 90s rock with this album. Feels like a very mid 90's album yet was released in 89. Has a number of solid songs, also has a number that aren't super great and are too long.
Lenny is a vibe! His vocal talent shines throughout this album, and I appreciate the use of different sounds/instruments/music styles that make up a very well rounded record with a little something for everyone!
Cinna decided to take a break from costume design and it was the right idea! I like this one
Cool album- some good tracks I hadn’t heard before noticed- ‘i built this garden’ and ‘does anybody out there even care’
This gets credit for being rather unique when it premiered. No one else was really doing the old California rock & roll sound at the time. So, for that alone, it was a bit of a sensation. Plus, the man was beautiful. The beginning of My Precious Love is a rip off of George Michael’s Father Figure. When you go through each song, you can better hear all the musical references. There’s really nothing new on this record. It’s fine. It’s a pop & roll retro wannabe. It was successful. Kravitz became a pin-up. Someone else here said that it sounds like he went through his parents’ record collection and just copied what he heard. Frankly, it’s an accurate description. There’s no lyrical insight, no innovation. Just an average retro sound.
Honestly not as bad as I thought it would be. I don't know any of Kravitzs' songs except for Fly Away, but I moderately enjoyed this album.
Lenny’s got one good song and it’s not on this album
I liked the closing track but the rest was kinda boring to me.
Great music across the board. Some sounds like Hendrix, some sounds like the Beatles. Music style changes. Vocal style changes.
Nice...
It was alright
a bit too up his own ass for my taste
Just didn’t really like it
Tolerable which I didn’t think it would be going in! Could be easy background music for a party or gathering. Also got Let love rule stick in my head for the entire day, which I didn’t mind, surprisingly.
Pretty forgettable, was fine though
Surprisingly Christian? Some good funky jams too.
3.5/5
zu viel Kuschelrock
It's OK I suppose
IMO not his best but it looks like it was his first. Went up from there
I saw Lenny live in the mid-90s. I didn’t know any of his songs but he sang Let Love Rule for, like 15 minutes and went through the audience during the super long chorus. I agree with the other critics on here. Impressive work but he sounds like the guy on the quad with a guitar trying to pick up chicks. Not bad but no real standouts.
A bit mainstream for me
Can hear: Elements of funk in the beats, Soul in the voice, Blues in the instruments. Overall a very good album, an easy listen. Perhaps the lyrics could be improved.
gente, e esse descompromisso com a indústria musical? o instrumental não desagrada, mas as desafinadas desse querido... vamos continuar lembrando dele com Fly Away e como Cinna, apenas
Big like
I'm not a big Lenny Kravitz fan but I also have nothing against him so I put this one on in the background. Was it OK as a background listen? Yup. At a few points I heard things that gave off strong Beatles vibes and a few hints of Prince here and there. But otherwise there was no point at which the record grabbed by attention and made me want to listen more closely. 3 stars for a "meh" without feeling like it was awful.
Middle of the road and a bit too lovey dovey
This guy will never be popular enough to play on pop radio.
Wouldn't listen again
I like Baptisim and 5 better then this albun, but it's still good. Let Love Rule, Cab Driver are both solid.
The only thing I remember from this album is one kinda terrible line
This one just did not land with me. I like his voice, but everything is overlong and repetitive. Some of the music subtleties were fun, but none of the songs stood out from one another. Fav track: Blues For Sister Someone
Overall just very average.
Harmless, fine, fairly non-existent, you might say boring. Absolutely nothing about this makes me want to turn it off or ever listen to it again. 2.5
I think he knows what rock music is but not why it exists. I don’t feel anything listening to this. He sounds like a background singer on his own tracks.
"Let Love Rule" is the debut album by American musician Lenny Kravitz. Pyschedelic rock and pyschedelic soul are the genres listed. Hmmm, I guess they both work. Besides parts of two songs, Lenny wrote and produced all the songs. He also played nearly all the instruments. Impressive. The album hit #61on the US charts and #56 in the UK. "Sittin' on Top on the World" opens things up. Acoustic guitar. Funky with the bass and drums. Layered vocals. He might be sitting on top of the world but he's singing the blues. Things get way more optimistic in "Let Love Rule." Besides the standard rock instruments, an organ and sax are added. Always liked the vocal chorus. Although, this song does tend to go on and on and on. I really got Beatles' vibes in "I Build This Garden for Us." I think it was the guitar chord progression and strings added. A great guitar solo and the classic Lenny scream. This Garden does sound like a nice place. He goes a little political in "Mr. Cab Driver." This might be the most standard rock song: electric guitar, bass and drums. Cab drivers won't pick him due to his skin color and dreadlocks. I can't say there was anything entirely original on this album but it was fine. You can definitely tell that some of his influences were Hendrix, the Beatles ans Sly & the Family Stone. There's a variety of musical styles including rock, funk, blues and soul. I think I got what I expected out of this album: nothing mind blowing but nothing really that bad.
Lenny kills it on all the instruments here, and I suppose this is unique for 1989. It rocks and grooves a lot harder than pop rock music of that era. That said, a lot of these songs sounded extremely similar to classic rock from the 60’s/70’s
What a weird choice. I mean I know people who revere Lenny and call him the greatest rocker ever. That’s not my view but hey, who am I to judge? I’ll admit, the third album with all the big hits is great listening. But this one? With only 1001 to choose l, I’d think no. I like Lenny, but… He plays all the instruments. Very few can get away with that. But it’s competent. Shouldn’t be here. Not his best. 2/5
I had never heard any of this album before I just played it. I don’t know if there were any new ideas on it - it sounds quite derivative at times. Halfway through, I thought : shit, was this recorded at Abbey Road? I then read that Kravitz had been criticised because “the simple drum patterns brought to mind Ringo Starr” (poor Ringo - always copping a bashing). There are so many grabs from old songs, but, look, it works for me. It’s not great but it’s certainly not boring. And I cannot work out why the 3 bonus tracks on the cd were not on the vinyl?
So, this album was on regular rotation in my share house c. 1991. It was funky and fun, with a 60s throwback vibe and production that was uncommon at the time which makes it a fun listen. The lyrics are twee and often beyond cliched; Lenny goes hard on his highly controversial "anti-hate, pro-love" message. While Lenny's singing is good at hitting a dramatic peak (sometimes emoting a bit more than the material really warrants), the music often does not get there. I always felt his songs needed to hit a dramatic highpoint or demonstrate more dynamic range. Sometimes he achieved this with collaborators (such as Slash's solo in Always On The Run) or kitchen sink production or by simply avoiding the issue (70s funk emphasizes the groove, and so big dramatic moments are less required). All that said, I enjoyed revisiting this record, and really like his vocal style. It's a fun pastiche.
Solid album, nothing "spectacular" but a very complete album that was enjoyable to listen to start to finish
Really good album. Might be some of my favorite Kravitz comps on this album. Soulful and funky. 4/5!
Good music. Kravitz' singing can get a bit rough at times, but he's good.
1989... Metal was hitting its stride, New wave/post punk was morphing to a more generic "alternative" term, and Lenny Kravitz comes out with his debut album bringing a breath of fresh air in the form of relatively simple but tight production - a more retro funk/rock sound showing various 70s rock and R&B influences, unlike anything that was out at the time. Very eclectic mix of songs, all really good, with a soulful, rockin' groove. Among my faves are I Build This Garden For Us and Fear, along with Let Love Rule.
Lenny Krevice
I always feel like Kravitz more than I do. His voice and songwriting don’t do it for me. Feels like empty calories
Très belle découverte et il n'y a même pas ses classiques. Folle guitare.
not bad lenny
Funkadelic, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Hendrix... he's copying from good source material. But the problem with wearing your influences on your sleeve is that when you're this bad it just reminds everyone how much better music there is they could be listening too instead. Insipid lyrics. "There is a woman who does drugs and has sex for money, ain't that a shame." "What if we like, did a love, instead of like, doing a hate?" It's so embarrasing when dumb rock guys really go for it with the deep social issues songs. Thin grating voice. Slow repetitive songs that just play the one-line choruses over and over again. The sax is good at least and Fear has a a pretty good groove until the boring riff kills it.
rocky grungy TANGY
He’s the male version of what I expected Taylor swift to be
Decent album, some funky base lines and good guitar.
Okay album. Not my favorite but not bad either.
I don't ever think I listened to a Lenny Kravitz album before. At least I know I wasn't missing anything. It's polished and generic Prince rip off. I didn't hate but I'll never listen to this again, I'd like to give it 2.5 but it's going to the 2 star bin.
Kravits can play and sing for sure. And I’ve seen him live, he puts on a great show. But the record just lacks… something. Originality? Maybe. Mr. Cab Driver is a good one as is the title track.
Meh. The cab driver song was the only one that stuck out to me. The rest of it felt like bland wannabe hippy stuff.
I don't know what to rate this thing. It's not offensive, but I don't really want to listen to it again anytime soon. But I probably wouldn't turn it off if it was one, either. Everything on here has been done better by The Beatles, Prince, and Bowie. So what's the point? It's totally fine. I just didn't care about it at all. Probably a 2.5 that I'll bump to a 3 just because it's fine.
I wanted to give it a 2, because I have been giving so many amazing albums 3s. But I just can't give this a 2. It deserves to be a 3. Forgot how talented he was.
Incredibly repetitious all throughout. This albums marks 32/1001 for me, and it’s the first one I couldn’t finish. I hated it.
Kravitz is pretty decent
Very clean recording, perfecting the music of the previous decades. Quite enjoyable.
Pretty strong debut from Lenny Kravitz, who plays basically every instrument. And he does a pretty great job at it. I've known some of these songs for most of my life, but never bothered to check out the whole record. It stays for the most part in the same vein, and that's okay, but it didn't really wow me either. And it would benefit from a better mix. Standout tracks: Sitting On Top Of The World, Let Love Rule, I Built This Garden For Us, Fear, Mr. Cab Driver. 6 out of 10
Surprised this was the album out of the potential LK albums they could feature that shows up here. Overall just average. 3/5
Let me make this clear - I don't think this is a good album. It's a clusterfuck of different styles of 60s and 70s cliches, with no more than a song or two leaving any lasting impression. What is impressive though, is that this album was released on a major label in 1989 - the height of hair metal. Helping to launch Lenny Kravitz into pop-culture stardom at a time when music like this was impossibly uncool. Respect for that earns it a star from me.
Excellent debut album.
Love this album. Lyrics deep and music raw and wonderful.
i did not mess with this
Fajny rock. Można słuchać wielokrotnie tej płyty.
Ok
Not sure how this got on the list.nots objectively bland.
Good album. I really love how Lenny’s able to encapsulate the ‘60s while making an album that released in the ‘80s. 4.6/5 Fav: “Flower Child” Least Fav: None
So funky! Love Lenny Kravitz
I got 3 songs in and got a headache from being screamed at.
Just did nothing for me. I can see why some would like it but for me it just fell flat from start to finish.
Hahahha die voice crack by Sittin on top of the world, hi-la-risch.. Dit album voelt heel erg alsof iemand heeft gegoogled "Hoe maak ik een Rock album" en dat daarna maar tot op de letter gevolgd heeft. Er gebeurt niet zoveel bijzonders, Lenny heeft besloten dat teksten optioneel zijn en dat je veel beter gewoon de titel van het nummer kan herhalen... Nu vind ik Daft Punk geweldig en kan ik ook genieten van Fatboy Slim, maar daar gebeurt muzikaal een stuk meer dan dat hier gebeurt. Dat geschreeuw in I built this garden for us, erg onnodig Lennert... Ik vind dit gewoon echt een matig album, als je mij 3003 albums zou geven dan zou ik dit nog steeds niet op de lijst zetten. Zn zang is vrij irritant, muzikaal is het niet heel interessant en de teksten... Oh god de teksten... Lennert, je bevindt je in goed gezelschap, want dit is een 1. FAVO
I always liked the distorted, classic rock crunch of Lenny. I heard some songs I didn’t know till now.
Not really a fan
I love that this brought some thoughtful bluesy rock to the the mainstream. a couple good songs but the rest were just ok for me.
Post listening I still don’t know who Lenny Kravitz is. He takes liberally from those who came before him (perfectly fine) but brings nothing new to the table. A couple of decent songs, but too many throw-aways.
This was before I really was aware of Lenny Kravitz, so I am not as familiar with these songs as much as later ones. I really enjoyed listening to this unique sound today and was glad this came up.
It's kind of funky, so it's kind of likable.
I loved the first two tracks and then my affection waned a bit and I found some of the lyrics a bit shallow. And then we got to jesus. Still a sexy, funky groove for a bit.
I liked this pretty well... I listened to this several times and some of it did grow on me. Didn't make me a rabid fan and I was a little surprised at the strongly religious songs. Nothing as good as "Are You Gonna Go My Way" on here but some good funkiness here and there.
aww early lenny
cool
Realising this is christian rock was a slap in the face but good album
Chat GPT's take on how to mix Beatlesesque song structures, some Hendrix guitar stylings (toned down so nothing too scary), Prince vocals and a DOA early nineties production style. Lyrics auto-generated from keywords 'love' 'baby' 'freedom' and 'peace'. But we're still a world away from AI creating anything you could call original.
I can't say I'm a fan of Lenny Kravitz. His music has such a generic sound to it, maybe I expected more, but really he's been over-hyped and somewhat overrated. If I was forced to listen to one Kravitz record it would have to be his debut, Let Love Rule. The songs are fine and he still has passion and emotion behind some of these songs and I even recognize and like a few of them. A solid debut, too bad I don't feel as strongly about his future discography.
Ok, gewoon lekker album!
I don’t really know LK beyond Fly Away and Are You Gonna Go My Way but am vaguely aware that he was actually kind of a big deal for a while, just before my time, so I was intrigued to discover why. It’s… erm… fine? More soul influences than I expected. But none of the tunes blew me away, and the well-meaning messages of peace and love didn’t really move me either I’m afraid. It all felt like it had been done before, many times. The rockier bits were probably the highlights; maybe that’s why he leaned into these more later in his career (did he? I don’t actually know. Maybe I’ll find out one day if the generator so decides?) In must-hear album terms it’s only getting 2.5 stars from me, but I’ll round up because like I said, it’s fine.
Very well performed and produced, a few really good songs (Let Love Rule, Fear, Mr. Cab Driver). But the lyrics are a bit too Jesus-y and on the nose for me in places. Like half of the songs on here are basically Christian Rock.
Really good harmonica sick chords cool love going from minor chord to same chord but major or other way around rock and roll
First reaction: I've never listened to much Lenny Kravitz. I also never really think about him. Slightly surprised he made this album list During listening: -Transitional and harmonies are lovely. Then his voice comes in and ruins this just a little -The instrumental solos go on forever. I do not love this kind of music. -Fun honky tonk piano! After listening: I didn't completely hate it but probably wouldn't listen again. Research notes: none. Didn't feel compelled to look this up
I don't know. These funky jazz rock vibes just aren't for me I guess. Also I haven't seen the garden Lanny built for us to make love it apparently 🤔🤔😕😕 a bit creepy I'd say, and not in a fun way. It was very difficult for me to see any artistic value in this album, lyrics felt really shallow, he even beat Coldplay with half of the songs on this album Couldn't wait for the album to end
Overall kinda good. Some bits in there I really like but the usual I'm just ok with. Will I listen to again: 20%
Solid 3.5 stars.
Good album but not fantastic. I hear hints of Prince & Jimi Hendrix blended into pop rock.
Great, fun listen on a drab day. Always enjoyed his music.
Fantastic
Good sounds throughout.
Good
Title track is really good.
It's a bit like a Prince album, just without the amazing songwriting, or the incredible voice, or the intense sexual energy and charisma, or the great guitar playing, or the decent lyrics. Whose idea was it to put this snoozefest on the list?
Starts with promise but very quickly runs out of any ideas
well that was boring 4/10
I remember my flatmates hating Kravitz as a kind of faux-Hendrix, but he's really not is he? He's just doing his own thing, and I really like it. Lyrics are occasionally a little cheesy but all good otherwise.
Apparently Lenny Kravitz wrote, produced, sung and played the music on this album pretty much all himself and he shouldn’t have. This man has no business being a songwriter because he sucks at it. Even singing his own lyrics, he doesn’t seem to get what he is saying. It’s ok as background noise but for the love of god don’t pay attention. Listens: 1 Fave Track: None Rating: 2
This was really great. Loved listening to this.
I've always thought of Lenny as a watered down Prince. Or someone who was trying just a little too hard to be a mix of Prince and Stevie Wonder, and wants everyone to know about it so badly that all of his shit sounds over produced. I also used to think that he dumped Lisa Bonet for Yoko Ono, so really what do I know?
It was a nice Little Rock album and I appreciate the use of the saxophone in the songs and solos.
This just really has no business being nearly an hour. No, Lenny, nobody out there even cares.
I really enjoy the title track of this album, but for the rest it feels a bit style over substance. I'll just go listen to Prince instead.
Not bad but I probably won't listen again
a very competent effort of funky rock and roll.
2.5/5. Not for me. This was not horrible, but I did not enjoy listening to it. It sounds a little dated, and drags on.
Lenny Kravitz.
Not bad at all..
This was pretty fun actually! Upbeat and light hearted. Good funky rocky business.
This is just general generic rock, but I do like it. Lenny Kravitz certainly has his own sound and style but it's all just 'hey hear these guitar riffs yeah?!'. But that's fine by me, it's good fun.
nice vibes in general, my first time listening to Lenny Kravitz, thought he was kinda cute ngl. album started strong with sitting on top of the world and let love rule and kind of underwhelmed after that tho.
I feel like this album kinda dwindled after the first couple of songs.... It was a nice experience to listen to a bit more of Lenny because I only ever listened to Are you gonna go my way lol. Overall not bad but I might not be back.... I did not go your way, Lenny..
Didn't like this. Competent, but that was about it. The songs and the playing dragged, and I don't find his voice particularly interesting. Bailed after 5 songs.
I use to love this album. It was my gateway to Hendrix. That door is now firmly shut. Listening to it again for the first time in almost 30 years is weird. My musical tastes at the time were a little confused. It's a decent album. But I was led more by the marketing than the music. Lenny wasn't quite the great saviour he was billed as at the time. It's harmless stuff. But sometimes I want a little harm and danger. Growing old, kicking against the pricks, etc.
The album is there, it has made noises and they have gone into my auditory canal and my brain has processed that as sound.
3+/5
Ok for background. Never realised I knew so many songs from this early album.
I figured this would be a bit on the dull side and I was not disappointed! Not as bad as I may have expected, but I guess being a sexy rockstar does get one a few album deals. I’ve never really gotten Lenny beyond that rockstar persona. A lot of the songs are vaguely rock and funk and R&B but I’m not really wowed in any one way. He definitely had the fashion but I feel a little bit that he was channeling Prince but not achieving. It’s not devoid of talent or interesting songs, but all I can think is Lenny Kravitz waving a “make love with Lenny, not war”. This was a 2/5 until rosemary. That barfbag was enough to tick this down to a 1 for me. That and B and empty hands. This first half of the album feels one sex and the second half is poorly made Christian rock? What is happening?
Thoughts before listening: I only really know Lenny for his late 90s hits, especially Are You Gonna Go My Way, Fly Away, and the cover of American Woman. I always found him to be an interesting throw back to 70s style rock, but his music wasn't something I paid a ton of attention to. I definitely haven't listened to his earlier albums like this one. I think I know Let Love Rule and maybe Mr. Cab Driver. Review: This is pretty good but it's definitely derivative of 70s rock. Nothing revolutionary here.
It doesn’t sound like an 80’s album. I have to process it but for sure Lenny can scream.
love the energy
5/5
Not my thing and a bit repetitive early on.
Yea decent. Not earth shattering of life changing. Title track is great. Piano work is great 3/5