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Lenny Kravitz: 5

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s


Label: Virgin Records
Released: 1998
Time:
 66:35
Category: Pop/Rock
Producer(s): Lenny Kravitz
Rating: *****..... (5/10)
Media type: CD
Web address: www.lennykravitz.com
Appears with:
Purchase date: 1998.07.04
Price in €: 21,99



 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


[1] Live (Lenny Kravitz) - 5:12
[2] Supersoulfigher (Lenny Kravitz) - 4:58
[3] I Belong To You (Lenny Kravitz) - 4:17
[4] Black Velveteen (Lenny Kravitz) - 4:48
[5] If You Can't Say No (Lenny Kravitz) - 5:17
[6] Thinking of You (Lenny Kravitz) - 6:24
[7] Take Time (Lenny Kravitz) - 4:31
[8] Fly Away (Lenny Kravitz) - 3:41
[9] It's Your Life (Lenny Kravitz) - 5:02
[10] Straight Cold Player (Lenny Kravitz) - 4:19
[11] Little Girl's Eyes (Lenny Kravitz) - 7:44
[12] You're My Flavor (Lenny Kravitz) - 3:48
[13] Can We Find A Reason (Lenny Kravitz)- 6:24

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


LENNY KRAVITZ - Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Fender Rhodes, Clavinet, Mellotron, Hammond B-3 organ, Synthesizers, Mini-Moog synthesizer, Moog bass, Bass, Drums, Percussion, Congas, Drum Programming

CRAIG ROSS - Guitar, Slide Guitar, Mini-Moog Synthesizer
HAROLD TODD - Saxophone
MICHAEL HUNTER - Trumpet
GEORGE LAKS - Clavinet, Mini-Moog synthesizer
TERRY MANNING - Toy Piano
JACK DALEY - Bass
CINDY BLACKMAN - Drums

NEHEMIAH HEILD - Background Vocals
SUNOVIA PIERE - Background Vocals
NATALIE DEKONING - Background Vocals
ANGIE STONE - Background Vocals
STEFANIE BOLTON - Background Vocals
TENITA DREHE - Background Vocals
SUSAN MARSHALL - Background Vocals
JACQUIE JOHNSON - Background Vocals

 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s


On 5, Lenny Kravitz continues to push the envelope of creativity. Defying the traditional genre categories of pop, rock, soul and alternative, 5 provides the listener with Kravitz's most far-reaching creation to date. Hip-Hop drum loops, Electronica textures and vintage Fender Rhodes, Hammond B-3 organ and Moog keyboard sounds interact throughout the disc, solidly backed by Kravitz's trademark guitar sound. As usual, Lenny plays most of the instruments on the album, from drums to bass. Delivering the goods as a songwriter and musician, Kravitz is truly a mega-talent. As his influences range from Led Zeppelin to Parliament, Kravitz can combine classic songwriting with '90s sampled-based vibes. 5 is filled with standard Kravitz-type, beautifully sung, well-crafted songs such as "If You Can't Say No", "Thinking of You" and "Can We Find a Reason." Although Kravitz hasn't yet fully reached the vast commercial potential of his talent, 5 will appeal to music buyers from vastly different categories.



Don't let the nose ring fool you: Inside Lenny Kravitz's dreadlocked dome lurks rock's version of the Dude, the woozy love-generation survivor who recently shambled through the Coen brothers movie The Big Lebowski. On the second track from his fifth album, Kravitz sounds as if he's having a doozy of a flashback: "He's spreading super love vibrations for a better day/Electronic super soul vibrations coming all the way."

Though Kravitz announces at the top that he's "getting straight in '98, y'all," there are few indications that 5 lives in the present. The multi-instrumentalist's latest vibration is the funky side of his record collection, circa 1968-1975, with nods to Stevie Wonder's Clavinet-driven pop, James Brown's bomb-the-bass beats and Jimi Hendrix's Band of Gypsys. Kravitz knows how to turn instrumental riffs into instant-gratification hooks: the guitar that blasts "Fly Away" into orbit, the bass that ticks like a heartbeat on "I Belong to You." But as on his four previous albums, Kravitz plays transparent games of Name That Tune: "Live" sounds like which Sly Stone song? (Answer: "Life.") "Straight Cold Player" rewrites which Average White Band hit? (Answer: "Pick Up the Pieces.") Even Kravitz's newfound passion for electronica sounds secondhand - "Black Velveteen" cops Tears for Fears' mid-Eighties synth-pop anthem "Shout."

Kravitz's lyrics can exude a dippy romantic's charm, as when he's peering into his "Little Girl's Eyes." But when he's pleading for the planet's survival on "Can We Find a Reason," the ever-earnest singer sounds in dire need of the Dude's most essential attribute: a sense of humor. (RS 788)

GREG KOT, Copyright © 1968-1998 Rolling Stone Network.



Lenny Kravitz , the crowned prince of soulful rock and rocking soul, continues to blur the lines separating the genres on 5, his latest outing and, yes, fifth full-length release Credited with mining the neo-soul sound that has helped boost the careers of artists such as Seal, Des*reé and Maxwell, Kravitz rides his own distinctive vibe on this 13-track collection that takes lessons from the masters of soul (Sly, EWF, Mayfield, etc.) and updates their old-school sentiments with new-school production and instrumentation. Topping off his smoldering musical endeavors with sassy and sexy lyrical panache ("The way you love me/ Is like a needle in the vein..."), 5 is a sultry release that reminds listeners of how R & B helped conceive and sustain rock `n' roll.

M. Tye Comer, © 1978-1998 College Media Inc.



Lenny Kravitz has been infuriating critics and pleasing fans for nearly a decade. Possessing nary an original brainwave in his skull, he doesn't just ride the coattails of his idols, he swipes their wardrobes, figuratively and literally. Sure, "Are You Gonna Go My Way" is defined by the music it plunders, but that song will likely be one of the few from this decade to earn tenure in the classic rock pantheon. And there's something to be said for that, isn't there? Let's hope so, because Kravitz learned the hard way that familiarity eventually does breed contempt. After the very public flop that was 1995's Circus, Kravitz makes an adventurous (by his standards) stab at redemption on his newest album 5. Lyrically, Kravitz continues to mine the quasi-hippie muck he's famous for ("It's the new millennium, yeah/Can we find a reason/To live another season?"), but musically he's charted a new, dare I say forward-thinking, course. 5 finds Kravitz trading his signature one-man power trio antics for introspective, groove-centric sparsity. But unlike Sly Stone's There's a Riot Goin' On - the obvious template for 5 - which employs similar means to a darkly inspired, categorically despondent end, Kravitz's songs just sound half-finished. He aims for Sly, but achieves Philip Bailey. And with the veil of nostalgia removed, the discrepancy between the two is more pronounced than ever.

Matt Hanks, © 1978-1998 College Media Inc.



"...The most attractive aspect of Kravitz's songs is their ability to transport you elsewhere..."Vibe (6-7/98, p.165) - "...Lenny Kravitz is a multi-talented multi-instrumentalist capable of cranking out formulaic yet tasteful ballads, retro 1960s rump shakers, and stirring anthems of grandeur..."

The Source 6/98, p.179



Lenny Kravitz must have realized he bottomed out with the turgid Circus, where he was so mired in the past he couldn't even come up with a memorable hook. So, he decided to shake things up a bit on its followup, 5. Like any veteran artist in the late '90s, he chose to dabble in electronica, adding a few trip-hop loops and analog synths to his bedrock retro rock and soul. It's enough to make 5 sound relatively fresh, at least compared to the retro dead-end of Circus. Still, 5 sounds like Kravitz had only read about the idea of electronica without actually listening to any music. Anemic synths and stilted drum loops (sampled from Kravitz's playing, not old records) are scattered throughout the record, as are vaguely distorted vocals. It's not enough to make Kravitz sound hip, especially since he still loves endless funk jams and electric sitars, but it does slightly revitalize his sound. At least that's how it sounds, initially. By the end of the album, it becomes clear that his songwriting is as tired and unmemorable as on Circus. Without hooks, melodies and style, Kravitz's Sly, Mayfield, Hendrix, Lennon and Prince pastiches are a bore. 5 has a bit of surface spark and a couple of passable songs, but it falls short of the quirky hero worship and melodic smarts that made Let Love Rule, Mama Said and Are You Gonna Go My Way so enjoyable.

Stephen Thomas Erlewine - All Music Guide
 

 L y r i c s


LIVE

Gettin it straight in 98 y'all

Tired of all the talk they're talkin' all over this town
I'm tired of all the negativity that's going 'round
We focus all our energy on things that bring us down
Let's put our voices all together and make a joyful sound

Do just what you wanna do
Oh let the sun come shining through
Everybody
Live, live
Everybody live
Everybody live
You got to do it ...

Life is the most precious gift I thank the Lord for mine
I hope you feel the same my friend I hope you're feeling fine
The choice is yours your destiny is waiting on the line
You better get busy with living or you're busy dying

Do just what you wanna do
Oh let the sun come shining through
Everybody
Live, yeah yeah yeah yeah, live
Everybody live
Come on and sing ...
Live
You got to do it ...

Dance just to dance
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Come on
Hey !

Do just what you wanna do
Oh let the sun come shining through
Everybody
Live, hmm, come on live
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Everybody live
Sing with the ... yeah yeah yeah yeah
Live
Come on and do what you want now
Everybody live
Live come on yeah
Live
Everybody live
...
Come on
You got to do it
Live


SUPER SOUL FIGHTER

Super soul fighter's coming
Oh yeah

Soul brother space man
Flying through the sky
Fighting wars and battles
Defending you and I

He's spreading super love vibrations
For a better day
Electronic super soul vibrations
Coming all the way

Super soul
Super soul
Super soul fighter's coming
Yes he's coming

Super soul
Super soul
Super soul fighter's coming
Yes he's coming

The lord of the wasteland
He don't want us to be free
But he can't stop our hero, hey
On his supersonic V

He's spreading funk throughout the nations
And for you he will play
Electronic super soul vibrations
Has come to save the day

Super soul
Hey !
Super soul
Super soul fighter's coming
Yes he's coming

Super soul
Super soul
Super soul fighter's coming
Yes he's coming
Hey hey ...

Yeah ! ouh !
Ouh yeah yeah yeah.
Alright
Hey ! Yeah !

Super soul
Super soul
Super soul fighter's coming
Yes he's coming

Super soul
Super soul
Super soul fighter's coming
Yes he's coming
Yeah !


I BELONG TO YOU

You are the flame in my heart
You light my way in the dark
You are the ultimate star

You lift me from up above
Your unconditional love
Takes me to paradise

I belong to you
And you
You belong to me too

You make my life complete
You make me feel so sweet

You make me feel so divine
Your soul and mind are entwined
Before you I was blind

But since I've opened my eyes
And with you there's no disguise
So I could open up my mind

I always loved you from the start
But I could not figure out
That I had to do it everyday

So I put away the fight
Now I'm gonna live my life
Giving you the most in every way

I belong to you
And you
You belong to me too

You make my life complete
You make me feel so sweet

Oh I belong to you
I belong to you
And you, you
You belong to me too

You make my life complete
You make me feel so sweet

Oh I belong to you
I belong to you
And you, you
You belong to me too

You make my life complete
You make my life complete
You make me feel so sweet

Oh I belong to you
I belong to you
And you, and you
You belong to me too

You make my life complete
You make my life complete
You make me feel so sweet


BLACK VELVETEEN

Black velveteen
Simple and clean
Oh what a bad machine

Black velveteen
Supple and lean
The 21st century dream

Ready to please
Free from disease
She's waiting on her knees

It's not a sin
Titanium skin
Just take her for a spin

Black velveteen
Simple and clean
Oh what a bad machine

Black velveteen
Supple and lean
The 21st century dream

Nice piece of kit
Electronic clit
Just sit down for a fit

Ready to trip
A guarantee hit
She's all you ever wished

Black velveteen don't give a damn she'll do dishes
Black velveteen knows all the night spots in France
Black velveteen's cat smells like strawberry kittens
Black velveteen always is ready to dance
She's ready to

Black velveteen
Simple and clean
Oh what a bad machine

Black velveteen
Supple and lean
The 21st century dream

Black velveteen don't give a damn she'll do dishes
Black velveteen knows all the night spots in France
Black velveteen's cat smells like strawberry kittens
Black velveteen always is ready to dance
Yeah yeah yeah yeah.
Oh yes she's ready to

Black velveteen don't give a damn she'll do dishes
Black velveteen knows all the night spots in France
Black velveteen's cat smells like strawberry kittens
Oh Yeah
Black velveteen always is ready to dance
Yeah yeah yeah yeah.
Oh yes she's ready to

Black velveteen
Simple and clean
Oh what a bad machine

Black velveteen
Supple and lean
The 21st century dream

Black velveteen
Simple and clean
Oh what a bad machine

Black velveteen
Supple and lean
The 21st century dream


IF YOU CAN'T SAY NO

People get around
This is a part for you
If you come undone
Then this is what you do

If you can't say no just think about
If you can't say no just think about
If you can't say no just think about me
If you can't say no just think about
If you can't say no just think about
If you can't say no just think about me

I know that you are in love with me
But I also know your kind
Well, baby you got a lot of nerve
So just try to keep me in mind, oh oh...

If you can't say no just think about
If you can't say no just think about
If you can't say no just think about me, me hey
If you can't say no just think about
If you can't say no just think about
If you can't say no just think about me

You went with another man
And I cried when I read your letter
But I don't really want to know
Where you've gone
Or if it was better, yeah yeah

You went with another man
And I cried when I read your letter
But I don't really want to know
Where you go
Or if it was better, yeah yeah

If you can't say no just think about
If you can't say no just think about
If you can't say no just think about me
If you can't say no just think about
If you can't say no just think about
If you can't say no just think about me

If you can't say no just think about
If you can't say no just think about
If you can't say no just think about me, me me yeah
If you can't say no just think about
If you can't say no just think about
If you can't say no just think about me, yeah

If you can't say no, if you can't say no, no, no, no
If you can't say no just think about me
Me, me, me, yeah, yeah, yeah

If you can't say no just think about
If you can't say no just think about
If you can't say no just think about me

Think about me
Think about me ...
Just think about me
Think about me, just think about me...


THINKING OF YOU

Tell me mama is your life a better change ?
And tell me mama
Would you live your life the same
Or come back and rearrange ?
Tell me mama how is freedom ?

Oh I'm thinking of you
And all the things that you wanted me to be
And I'm trying now
Oh I'm thinking of you
And all the things that you wanted me to be

Tell me mama
Are the colors deeper shades ?
And tell me mama
Are there great big brass parades ?
Does the sun shine night and day ?
Tell me mama no more sleeping
Tell me mama no more weeping

I'm thinking of you
And all the things that you wanted me to be
And I'm trying now

Oh I'm thinking of you
And all the things that you wanted me to be
And I'm trying now

Oh I'm thinking of you
And all the things that you wanted me to be
And I'm trying now

Oh I'm thinking of you
And all the things that you wanted me to be yeah

Hey mama, hey mamama, mama
No, no, no, no, no
Oh no, no, no, no, no ....
Hey

Tell me mama is it just the way they say ?
Tell me mama
And tell me mama are you missing me the way
That I'm missing you today ?
Tell me mama can you hear me ?

Oh I'm thinking of you
And all the things that you wanted me to be
And I'm trying now
( Repeat 5X )

Oh I'm thinking of you
Thinking of you ....


TAKE TIME

You can have it if you really want
You can grasp it if you have the thought
Feel your power that is deep within
Are you ready ?
On your mark begin

We should take time out to really love
We should find out who we really are
We should take time out to really love

Do you feel your life's a big mistake ?
Don't you hate the way it's all so fake ?
All I wanna do is just be real
And get off of the spinning wheel

All they sell us is a pack of lies
And we're buying one in every size
Can't you see it in the children's eyes ?
It's about to get wild

We should take time out to really love
We should find out who we really are
We should take time out to really love

Ha yeah
We should take time out to really love
We should find out who we really are
We should take time out to really love

We should take time out to really love
We should find out who we really are
You can have it any way you want it
You can have it any way you want it

We should take time out to really love
We should find out who we really are
You can have it any way you want it
You can have it any way you want it

We should take time out to really love
We should find out who we really are
You can have it any way you want it
Any you want it
You can have it any way you want it
Hey hey

We should take time out to really love
We should find out who we really are
You can have it any way you want it
Any you want it
You can have it any way you want it
Hey hey

We should take time out to really love
We should find out who we really are
You can have it any way you want it
You can have it any way you want it


FLY AWAY

I wish that I could fly
Into the sky
So very high
Just like a dragonfly

I'd fly above the trees
Over the seas in all degrees
To anywhere I please

Oh I want to get away
I want to fly away
Yeah yeah yeah

Oh I want to get away
I want to fly away
Yeah yeah yeah

Let's go and see the stars
The milky way or even Mars
Where it could just be ours

Let's fade into the sun
Let your spirit fly
Where we are one
Just for a little fun
Oh oh oh yeah !

I want to get away
I want to fly away
Yeah yeah yeah

I want to get away
I want to fly away
Yeah yeah yeah

I got to get away
Feel I got to get away
Oh oh oh yeah

I want to get away
I want to fly away
Yeah with you yeah yeah
Oh Yeah !

I want to get away
I want to fly away
Yeah with you yeah yeah
I got to get away

I want to get away X4
Yeah
I want to get away
I want to fly away
Yeah with you yeah yeah
I got to get away

I want to get away X4
Yeah

I want to get away
I want to fly away
Yeah with you
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah


IT'S YOUR LIFE

They say that our love is all wrong
And that we should not carry on
But I say they're wrong
I want you so bad

Oh we've been together for so long
How could they think we don't belong ?
But they'll never know what you and I have

Call your mama
Call your papa
Call the preacher
Hold on hold on

Call your mama
Call your papa
Go on and call the preacher
Hold on hold on

All I want to do is take it all the way with you
It's your life, it's your life

All I want to do is take it all the way with you
It's your life, it's your life, it's your life

They say that we don't have a chance
We're victims of unjust romance
But they could'nt see the truth in their hands

We don't have to live like they do
We'll run away if we have to
And we'll start a life that's shining and new
That's shining and new

Call your mama
Call your papa
Go on and call the preacher
Hold on hold on

Call your mama
Call your papa
Call the preacher
Hold on hold on

All I want to do is take it all the way with you
It's your life, it's your life, it's your life
( Repeat 'til the end )


STRAIGHT COLD PLAYER

I'm a straight cold player
Just a straight cold player
Straight cold prayer
Ouah !

Just a straight cold player
Just a straight cold player
Straight cold player
Ouah!

I'm a straight cold player
I'm just a straight cold player
Straight cold player
I'm just a straight cold player, player
Straight cold player
Just a straight cold player
Straight cold player
I'm just a straight cold player
Straight cold player
Just a straight cold player
Straight cold player


LITTLE GIRL'S EYES

All I have
And all I do
Cannot compare
To the love of you

You make me feel alive
You are my highest high
All I can do is smile
When I look in my little girl's eyes

When I look in my little girl's eyes X4

You're my star
And when I'm far
You're not alone
'Cause your heart's my home

You are my biggest prize
So beautiful and so wise
I can see the woman from within my child
When I look in my little girl's eyes

When I look in my little girl's eyes X4

You make me feel alive
And you are my highest high
All I want to do when I come into the room is see her smile
When I look in my little girl's eyes

When I look in my little girl's eyes X4


YOUR MY FLAVOR

The way you love me
Is like a needle in my vein
When you're not around me
You know it just don't feel the same

And I've waited a long time
Just to feel the way I do
Just give me the reason
And I will be all over you

'Cause you're my flavor of love
You're my flavor I'm dreaming of
You're my flavor of love
You're my flavor I'm dreaming of

The way you touch me
Somehow it takes away the pain
And now I'm a junkie
I'm running around without a brain

I got the jones deep inside me
And you are what I wanna do
You give me this feeling
You always make me feel brand new
'Cause you're my flavor of love
You're my flavor I'm dreaming of
You're my flavor of love
You're my flavor I'm dreaming of

Flavor... Ouh come on
'Cause you're my flavor I'm dreaming of
You're my flavor of love
You're my flavor I'm dreaming of

'Cause you're my flavor
You're my flavor I'm dreaming of
Yeah yeah yeah

You're my flavor, you're my flavor, you're my flavor,
You're my flavor I'm dreaming of, yeah
All thirthy two baby

You're my flavor I'm dreaming of, yeah
'Cause you're my flavor of love, yeah. love.


CAN WE FIND A REASON

Is there anyone out there
Willing to try ?
Or are we satisfied with just getting by ?

We've hurt mother nature
Can't you see her she's crying
We've robbed and we've raped her and taken her child

And oh oh oh can we find a reason ?
Just think about it
And oh oh oh can we find a reason
To live another season ?

We're fighting more battles
Everyday we're alive
We should be rejoicing
But instead we cry

This world's so polluted
You would think we were blind
We poison our children
Before they're defined

And oh oh oh can we find a reason ?
Just think about it
And oh oh oh can we find a reason
To live another season ? yeah

Excuse me for saying
'Cause I've never been shy
But if we don't stop this
We sho'nuff goin' die

Yes I hope we can make it
'Cause this river's run dry
Now our only battle
Will be to survive, hey

And oh oh oh can we find a reason ?
Come on and think about it
And oh oh oh can we find a reason
To live another season ?
Yeah it's the new millennium

Yeah yeah yeah
Can we find a reason
To live another season ?

And oh oh oh can we find a reason ?
To live another season ?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ...
It's the new millennium
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ...
Can we find a reason
To live another season ?

 M P 3   S a m p l e s


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