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Lenny Kravitz – Blue Electric Light

Florian Buechting Media Review No Comments

Lenny Kravitz - Blue Electric Light

Lenny Kravitz - Blue Electric Light
3.7

Rating

 3.7/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Nice combination of funk, rock and other genres
  • Overall versatile and entertaining

Flyctory.com Cons

  • Some songs are too lengthy
  • Some weaker listens

He is a four time Grammy Awards winner and wrote global hits like Fly Away, Again, American Woman or Are You Gonna Go My Way. Lenny Kravitz is definitely one of the finest artists in rock music. On 24th May 2024, Kravitz releases his twelfth studio album overall. A good opportunity to see how he sounds alike nowadays. Here is my review of Blue Electric Light.

 

Lenny Kravitz – About The Artist

Lenny Albert Kravitz is a native New York City boy. The US-American artist was born in the Big Apple on 26th May 1964. His first steps as a professional musician have been in the late 1980’s, when he still released music as Romeo Blue. In 1989, he released his debut album as Lenny Kravitz, Let Love Rule. The album was a platinum record in Canada and a golden one in several other markets. His biggest success was likely the 1993 one, Are You Gonna Go My Way, which was a double platinum in the USA and Australia and a quadruple platinum one in Canada. Since then, Lenny Kravitz’s long-play releases regularly hit the Top 10 of several global markets. However, the US positions are typically lower than those in Europe. His last album, the 2018 Raise Vibration for example, just peaked 43rd in the USA, but was a Top 3 one in Germany, France, and Switzerland.

 

Lenny Kravitz – Blue Electric Light – Track by Track

The twelve track album lasts 56 minutes.

1. It’s Just Another Fine Day (In This Universe of Love)

It’s just another fine day in this universe
I can’t count the ways ‘cause this really hurts
It’s just another fine day in this universe of love

The album starts with its most epic song. It’s Just Another Fine Day (In This Universe of Love) lasts over six minutes. The groove of the song makes it feel like a blues rock track. However, Kravitz also adds some synth sounds and other elements, which are leading to a characteristic listen. A bit of lengthy, but a nice listen.

2. TK421

Some one minute shorter, the second song TK241 introduces a key influence of Blue Electric Light: funk. This leads to a very catchy and entertaining sound. The song comes with the virtuosity of a jazz song and introduces electronic sounds as well as brass elements. There have been a lot of discussions about this song and its meaning. At least lyrics like Come on baby, get on the one, can you feel it, my TK421? give a certain shady direction. The video boosts this idea. Star Wars fans rather think about stormtroopers

3. Honey

Honey is a bit softer and slightly less explicit. The song’s lyrics don’t make too complex – if you know I need your honey, oh need our honey, you know a majority of it. Nonetheless, the blending of pop and funk elements leads to a nice listen. And again, the groovy and soulful style of Kravitz just needs to a nice catch.

4. Paralyzed

The fourth track has been released just a few days before album release as a single. The song comes with an intense rock touch. The song reminds of early songs by the US-American artists, so that especially long-time fans will have it in their favorites.

5. Human

Human is a surprisingly pop-alike song. The melody of the track almost feels a bit of kitschy in the context of the whole album. However, especially the fine tune of the chorus stays in your mind. A nice different touch to the album.

6. Let It Ride

Come on touch my body
Feel the rhythm
Pull me closer
Let it ride

Let it Ride mixes funk and dance pop elements. After the quote of the first lyrics of the song, it is almost needless to say that the lyrics are rather explicit again. Need another quote to underline this? We can’t control it, look into my eyes, I just want to do this baby,
oo let it ride. Somehow, it fits to Lenny and his album.

7. Stuck in the Middle

Stuck in the Middle is the most passionate and soulful track of the album. The very emotional vocals with the funk elements on the instrumental side lead to a really interesting and multi-faceted listen. Really nice five minutes, which come with a beautiful piano-driven bridge.

8. Bundle of Joy

Bundle of Joy is another five minute listen. The track mixes electronic elements and cool bass lines with funky grooves. In later parts, there is also a touch of neo-psychodelia, which you find on previous Kravitz works as well. Other songs do leave a stronger mark at the listener, though.

9. Love Is My Religion

The stomping rhythm and the rocking style of Love Is My Religion  turns the ninth one to one of the key listens of the album. The song also has a nice drive. Really like it.

10. Heaven

I can’t believe that we cannot live together
Why don’t we realize that life is for our pleasure
Killing in the name of God it won’t do it won’t do
I just can’t believe that we cannot live together

If you like the funky songs of Kravitz with come with a touch of rock, this one will definitely be a treat for you. The instruments sometimes feel to drown out the vocals, which even emphasizes the groovy style of the track more. Even though funk may feel a bit of old-fashioned in general, Heaven is a very modern recording.

11. Spirit in My Heart

The nicely flowing Spirit in My Heart is another very emotional and romantic song. Rather towards the end of the album, Lenny Kravitz is sending out a message in a very gentle way. This is definitely leading to a really nice touch.

You bring out the best in me
I love you endlessly
You are the spirit in my heart
I was blind but now I see
That you were right in front of me
You are the spirit in my heart

12. Blue Electric Light

The title track of the album is still missing. Lenny Kravitz put it to the very end of his 2024 album. The song is a combination of gentle, fine lyrics and very present instruments, like synth elements and intense guitar sounds. An impressing way to close the Blue Electric Light album, indeed.

 

Lenny Kravitz – Blue Electric Light – Spotify

Here is Blue Electric Light on Spotify:

 

Lenny Kravitz – Blue Electric Light – My View

The album comes with a lot of variety. Unfortunately, the entertaining the album is, it also has some weaker spots. The combination of funk with rock and soul elements does create a nice atmosphere, though. Thus, I overall like the album, but it will definitely not make it into my Best of… postings at the end of the year.

Favorite Song: Human

 

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