Lenny Kravitz "Let Love Rule" (1989)
Lenny recorded his debut album almost single-handedly, playing all of
the drums, guitars and vocals, with a few guest musicians overdubbing
other instruments.
He had slowly been building his artistic chops, learning various
musical instruments, performing in the California Boys Choir, acting in
commercials, and developing music under the moniker Romeo Blue. By the
time he was ready to release the album, he had dropped his nom de plume
and released the album as Lenny Kravitz.
Kravitz had been in the news around this time for eloping with
then-partner Lisa Bonet, who was well known for her role in the Cosby
Show. Not surprisingly she is the subject of songs on the album, and helped write a
couple of them.
The ingredients for Kravitz's sound, though it has changed a little
throughout the years, are laid out here. Soulful rock vocals,
Beatles-esque backing vocals, funky Hendrix-style guitar, Ringo-style
drumming. It's pretty well laid out in the song that I knew best here before listening through the album
"I Build this Garden for us".
This album features some horns and the odd ballad to mix
things up. You could never call Kravitz the most original
musician/composer ever, as his influences are worn very much on sleeve,
but he still makes some enjoyable music.
