I remember loving the American Woman cover but I didn't discover how awesome this album is until recently and wish I bought it back in the late 90's.

Big Lenny fan here! I can't wait to see him live again in Oct.

He's certainly not the most original artist, but he's a cool guy and I enjoy his music.

It's good. I just wish he would do his Solos at his shows...that really dissapointed me when I found out that he doesn't do a lot of his own Solos.

5 was the album when he lost me. What a load of schmeltz.



Except American Woman (which was not on the album originally, he just needed a hit as the album was really flopping) and If You Cna't Say No and maybe Black Velveteen, as both were continuances from the superb Circus.

Bishop31 said:

But, the guitarist Craig is awesome - a better player than Lenny.

I always thought his stuff sounded too much like other songs that had already been released, but he's just one of those guys who's heavily influenced by who he listens to and he brings the sounds together in a good way and has an exceptional talent for singing and instrument playing. If Prince did it in the 80's, Lenny definitely did his thing in the 90's. I'm remembering the performance he and Prince did for that Prince concert.

5 is one of my fave. albums, but the first version released, without the two bonus trax.

alphastreet said:

It's got an interesting sound for a 90s album.

You can still sometimes hear "I Belong To You" being played in public places.

I still listen to the song "Live" on a semi-regular basis. That entire album has aged really well IMO.

5 shook me by the lapels. Good stuff on there.

"We're gettin' it straight in '98, y'all."

Ha! Indeed.

I dug most of it. I thought "5" was going to be the long awaited 'all funk' recording he was bragging about for years but wasn't. "5" is actually the last recording I liked by him. Everything else after that is "ugh".

Can't believe it's been 10 years. And the cover is a big rip off from "S.O.T.T."

5...the last good Kravitz album!

One of the best albums of the 90's.

a lot of fans seem to dislike them but i still love listening to
both "supersoul fighter" and "black velveteen" the rest is ok.

I really liked this album because he seemed to be trying new stuff and experimenting with electronics and it worked. Also, the more soulful music of the album is very intense. I never bought the bonus track verison since I'm pretty sure "American Woman" was either on a soundtrack I have (or had) or the "Greatest Hits" and if not, who cares. I agree also that it's his last great album. After this, he tried to be play it really safe by trying to recapture the sound of his biggest hit "Fall Away". Haven't had the heart to buy the latest album yet.

5 = ugh

There is a ton of cool shit on 5. It's hard to pick but I guess my fave would be 'Thinking of You'. The tropical yet sentimental feel is so cool, and nobody but Lenny does that sort of thing
[Edited 7/5/08 17:07pm]

I liked 5, it was his last solid album...

I know there are A LOT of Lenny haters on this site, but 5 IMO is his best album ("Are You Gonna Go My Way" is a close second). It's a very funky record.

HamsterHuey said:

same for me. first Lenny album I didn't love, and I haven't been interested since.

For me, the good stuff on here is so good that it elevates my impression of the album. Kinda like Confessions On A Dance Floor. The first 4 tracks are so good that I look at the album in a positive light even though I don't like much else from it.

Live, If You Can't Say No, Thinking Of You, I Belong To You, (maybe) Supersoul Fighter, and my total number 1 jam from this album, "It's Your Life." I know the riff is total rip-off of "You Got The Love" by Rufus but I still love it. The rest on here is kinda wack.

LUV '5'

"Live"
"Supersoulfighter"
"I Belong to You"
"Black Velveteen"
"If You Can't Say No"
"Thinking of You"
"Take Time"
"Fly Away"
"It's Your Life"
"Straight Cold Player"
"Little Girl's Eyes"
"You're My Flavor"
"Can We Find a Reason"

I think its his best album.