January 28, 2012

Link

Lenny Kravitz has just hit the road in North America to promote 2011's Black and White America. But its successor is already well in motion -- and, according to Kravitz, "pretty done."

The set is titled Negrophilia, and Kravitz tells us that the music is "very funky, very, very raw. Black and White America was very produced. Although it's all natural and organic, it's a very produced record. That's the mode I was in at that time. But (Negrophilia) is a very raw, jagged-edged album."

Kravitz was, in fact, already working on Negrophilia when the songs for Black and White America started coming along.

It's not the first time in his career that Kravitz has put the brakes on one album to put another in motion. "I'm strange like that," he acknowledges. "At the end of the day, I'm one that goes with the inspiration. So if I'm working on an album and all of a sudden I go in another direction because that's where inspiration takes you, I'll just follow that. I just figure everything will have it's time. You've got to treat it like a bottle of wine; it might have been made right now, but it's not ready for a few years. There will be a time for it where it'll be exactly where it needs to be. I'm just comfortable working that way."

Kravitz says he's "looking forward to" finishing Negrophilia but also notes that he's "still working" Black and White America, with tour plans that stretch through 2012 -- North America until late February, Australia in March, Japan in April and then Europe during the summer.

Interesting. Can't wait to hear Necro Negrophilia.

Hurry the hell up!!! I need this album in my life

Not trying to poo poo a brother, but it may be time for dude to bring in a songwriting partner. That last one, "Black and White America" has some great music, and his vocal melody's are ok. But his lyrics just made no sense, or were just too simplistic for someone 20 years in. I don't know if he is out of ideas or was constrained by the theme of the album. The next one is going to better. It has to be.

I really enjoyed Black & White America!

The title track & Superlove are some of Lenny's all time best

I agree with you leonche64. He needs to have a songwriting partner, work with some new outside producers and let his band play with him on the entire CD.

He's been promising a "funk" record every year (since 1995) so hopefully this will be it.

Really looking forward to this album, although I wish the title was different. I'm having visions of going into a store and asking a young clerk who knows nothing about Lenny "Excuse me, do you have Negrophilia?" and getting thrown out on my ass

I was at the tour opener Friday, and the Black & White songs he performed were well received - Come On And Get It, Push, Rock Star City Life, Stand, etc.

Disagree with the comment on the lyrics, they are actually the strong point of the album. Yeah at first when you hear songs like "Liquid Jesus" it's not easy to understand, but there's a message in there.

Pokeno4Money said:

Really looking forward to this album, although I wish the title was different. I'm having visions of going into a store and asking a young clerk who knows nothing about Lenny "Excuse me, do you have Negrophilia?" and getting thrown out on my ass

I was at the tour opener Friday, and the Black & White songs he performed were well received - Come On And Get It, Push, Rock Star City Life, Stand, etc.

Disagree with the comment on the lyrics, they are actually the strong point of the album. Yeah at first when you hear songs like "Liquid Jesus" it's not easy to understand, but there's a message in there.

Ha ha ha ha ha, good point. I guess I will just ask for the "New Lenny Kravitz."

It is easy and great to get caught up in the excitement of a live concert. The music drives the mood. Lenny can play nursery rhymes and it is going to rock. It is when you put on the ear phones to get lost in the zone that the lyrics pour the ice water on you.

"I know that you are mine Com’on Come on get it
And I won’t waste your time Com’on Come on and get it
I feel like a K9 Com’onCome on and get it"

That is a long way from

"In this garden, This lovely garden
I build a temple of love
Walk with the Father, Won't be a bother
To touch the Earth as it was"

Just sayin.

leonche64 said:

It is easy and great to get caught up in the excitement of a live concert. The music drives the mood. Lenny can play nursery rhymes and it is going to rock. It is when you put on the ear phones to get lost in the zone that the lyrics pour the ice water on you.

"I know that you are mine Com’on Come on get it
And I won’t waste your time Com’on Come on and get it
I feel like a K9 Com’onCome on and get it"

That is a long way from

"In this garden, This lovely garden
I build a temple of love
Walk with the Father, Won't be a bother
To touch the Earth as it was"

Just sayin.

I agree some of the songs have lyrics that aren't very thought provoking, but you're always going to get those on a 16-track album.

Dream, Faith of a Child, Liquid Jesus etc I think all deliver meaningful lyrics. As is often the case, the songs that are targeted more for commercial success (ie: Boongie Drop) are more likely to have the simple but catchy lyrics.

Sometimes it really does take several listens before an album can be appreciated. I bought mine back in September, then put it away for a while and became engrossed in other albums such as Condensate. When I went back to Black & White America, I enjoyed it even more.

leonche64 said:

Pokeno4Money said:

Really looking forward to this album, although I wish the title was different. I'm having visions of going into a store and asking a young clerk who knows nothing about Lenny "Excuse me, do you have Negrophilia?" and getting thrown out on my ass

I was at the tour opener Friday, and the Black & White songs he performed were well received - Come On And Get It, Push, Rock Star City Life, Stand, etc.

Disagree with the comment on the lyrics, they are actually the strong point of the album. Yeah at first when you hear songs like "Liquid Jesus" it's not easy to understand, but there's a message in there.

Ha ha ha ha ha, good point. I guess I will just ask for the "New Lenny Kravitz."

It is easy and great to get caught up in the excitement of a live concert. The music drives the mood. Lenny can play nursery rhymes and it is going to rock. It is when you put on the ear phones to get lost in the zone that the lyrics pour the ice water on you.

"I know that you are mine Com’on Come on get it
And I won’t waste your time Com’on Come on and get it
I feel like a K9 Com’onCome on and get it"

That is a long way from

"In this garden, This lovely garden
I build a temple of love
Walk with the Father, Won't be a bother
To touch the Earth as it was"

Just sayin.

Subjective. Not everyone needs their lyrical content to always be complex or some profound statement, all the time. Honestly the second set of lyrics you posted are kinda boring to me. And sometimes simple lyrics can be way more profound and effective than something excessively wordy and heavy-handed.

Pokeno4Money said:

Sometimes it really does take several listens before an album can be appreciated. I bought mine back in September, then put it away for a while and became engrossed in other albums such as Condensate. When I went back to Black & White America, I enjoyed it even more.

Very good point. I kind of gave it the once or twice through. I will give it a few more spins, Lenny deserves it.

Dren5 said:

Honestly the second set of lyrics you posted are kinda boring to me.

Great, thanks for calling.

Great news!! I'm always ready for some new Lenny!

Just as the Black & White America tour is winding down, he should release the Negrophilia album and keep the tour going with a new set list, revisiting the places he sold most tickets for on the first leg of the tour....

Just a thought...