Lenny Kravitz - Greatest Hits
Label: Virgin Records

Tracks:
1. Are You Gonna Go My Way
2. Fly Away
3. Rock and Roll Is Dead
4. Again
5. It Ain't Over Till It's Over
6. Can't Get You Out Of My Mind
7. Mr. Cab Driver
8. American Woman
9. Stand By My Woman
10. Always On The Run
11. Heaven Help
12. I Belong To You
13. Believe
14. Let Love Rule
15. Black Velveteen

Lenny Kravitz is often criticized as a derivative artist, who copies other styles from the 70's instead of finding his own. Well, if that's true, that's what I like about him. To quote Kravitz, "Rock and Roll Is Dead,"...and he's one of the few rockstars on the planet today with commercial success. And even that comes and goes with him. The one criticism I do have on this album is that it's too early in his career to have a Greatest Hits. When Lenny Kravitz has a hit, look out, it becomes an absolute SMASH. If his song isn't a hit, you've probably NEVER heard of it unless you're a fan. So what you have here on this CD is his 5 huge hits, and 10 tracks of "leftover." I expected to recognize more songs on this album, since it's a "Greatest Hits" package and Kravitz is a huge artist. I guess this CD is a good illustration of the industry. If your song isn't picked up immediately, it's shunned. If it is picked up, they'll play it into the dirt. 

However, I hesitate to call his non-hits "leftovers" because most of them are fantastic. I'm mostly familiar with his rock hits, like "Are You Gonna Go My Way," "Fly Away," and "American Woman." Those songs don't illustrate his sensitivity and diversity as an artist. That's why this compilation has really turned me into a fan. "It Ain't Over Til It's Over," a very beautiful slow song, WAS a hit...I just had no idea at the time it was Lenny Kravitz.

Lenny does have a great voice, he can sing as high as Prince on the wonderful "Heaven" and also low, as on the funk-laden "Mr. Cab Driver." The CD also features the new track, "Again," a ballad that is getting tons of airplay. In fact, 14 of the 15 tracks on this CD should have been classics...the only disappointment is the rather obscure "Black Velveteen." 

If you're a fan of good music with style, pick this up. Lenny Kravitz is one of the few popular artists on MTV that deserves the success he has. 

Rating: 4.50 of 5

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