Home > Los Angeles Music > CD Review > Lenny Kravitz, 'It Is Time for a Love Revolution'

Backstory: Kravitz blew up as the husband of "Cosby Show" star Lisa Bonet and son of "Jeffersons" star Roxie Roker. Duke Ellington sang "Happy Birthday" to him when he was five. He's one of pop music's most durable hitters, from the positive rock of his debut "Let Love Rule" all the way to the positive rock of his latest effort "It Is Time for a Love Revolution." He's loved, is what I'm saying.

Why you should care: With a voice like funky honey and guitar riffage lifted right out of the libraries of the Stones and Led Zeppelin, Lenny Kravitz is the de facto heir of classic rock's multi-platinum estate. He's equally down with today's supermodels, yesterday's flower children and the distracted tastes of Generation Xbox. He's probably the only artist in the crossover game today who can sing "Love Revolution" protests tunes like "Back in Vietnam"—"We're going to fly over the world in our giant eagle/We do just what we want and don't care if it's illegal”—and make it sound like the soundtrack for a Visa commercial.

Verdict: There are enough singles on "Love Revolution" to keep the bean counters busy. The title track thumps nicely with handclaps, a sick wah-wah solo and repetitive calls for said revolution. The tasty riff anchoring "Bring It On" is a head-banger that could use more juice, but what Kravitz fans are going to body slam? The trouble funk of "Love Love Love" mashes Zeppelin's "The Crunge" and James Brown's back catalog enough to sound original. Even the cheesy pianos ballads like "A New Door" and "I'll Be Waiting" are going to make the mallrats cry.

X-Factor: As hot as Kravitz is, he's reportedly given up sex until he's married. Perhaps that's why "Love Revolution" has a song called "Will You Marry Me."

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