So he can play drums, bass, guitar and piano - big whoop.

I've seen him on keys and at the most he just plonks out a couple of chords - he's certainly no Tori Amos. His guitar playing is average, all the difficult solos are played by that guy who looks like he wants to be Marc Bolan. All of Lenny's solos are ridiculously simple.

I don't get why people think he's talented just because he plays a lot of instruments. He doesn't play a single one of them that well.

A recurrent word in this post is average or "simple" yet the best songs are built on simple arrangements, too many examples to give at once. Simple doesn't mean bad, and this is why every up and coming musicians pressure themselves to learn complex techniques when they should simply master the basics.

[Edited 6/21/11 12:03pm]

Hater, can you play better than him??

Honestly, I think Lenny's music is a bit overrated in general. He's had some really great songs, but as a whole, I don't think he's as great as some would think he is....

I wouldn't say he's overrated...

but thats because I thought no one liked him...

i love his music but it all has that same old sound to it he doest really try anything new or venture out. i have all of his cds and love the hell out of mama said and lenny

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Hater, can you play better than him??

I don't think he's virtuosic on any one instrument (that's why he's kept his lead guitar player around for so long). But I do think he has a gift that isn't all that common in regards to hearing all the song parts in his head and being able to get them down on tape (or hard drive) by himself. He's also way above average when it comes to moving around between different song structures and musical styles. The fact that a lot of his songs are simple really makes no difference if they make you want to listen to them over and over.

Now, lyrically, we could talk! I think his first two albums are brilliant in the lyrics department, but every album since has had some very badly written lyrics. Some albums more than others. Like, the song the NBA used this year. Oh my goodness those are some terribly cheesy rhyming couplets. I cringed every time the song came on the tv.

Not to start anything, but I can kind of understand where Fiona01 is coming from.

As a rhythm guitar player I think his riffs are cool. You can definetly hear his Page/Nolan licks.

He plays bass well and his drumming (although not spectacular) is OK for his music. I know he's

had the "multi" thing thrown at him but I always saw him as a singer/songwriter first.

Where artists like Lewis Taylor, Todd Rundgeren and P (of course) make their "multi-skills" sound like a full band, Lenny sounds like 1 guy.

Not to dis Lenny because I respect him and love his old music. I've always said he should record his band for the entire CD. And also work with some new producers.

I thought "5" was a step in the right direction but it seems after that he went a little backwards.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Hater, can you play better than him??

Yes.

I definitely don't care for his music, but how is he overrated? Who is overrating him? Maybe his hardcore fans, but reviews I've seen of his records and concerts have been mediocre to poor.

I don't really see a lot of critics, music experts or even the press proclaiming him as some kind of music genius.

Fiona01 said:

So he can play drums, bass, guitar and piano - big whoop.

I've seen him on keys and at the most he just plonks out a couple of chords - he's certainly no Tori Amos. His guitar playing is average, all the difficult solos are played by that guy who looks like he wants to be Marc Bolan. All of Lenny's solos are ridiculously simple.

I don't get why people think he's talented just because he plays a lot of instruments. He doesn't play a single one of them that well.

When there are people who don't write their own songs, sing their own vocals, or play instruments at all who have deals, being able to play different instruments IS a talent in itself--even if it's not at a "virtuoso" level.

Once in awhile I get delusional and think I can play as good as Lenny, and even Prince on occasion That's a laugh I know. Though I am way closer to Lenny's ability.

Lenny IS a fantastic recording engineer/producer for his kind of old school sound, and his vocals/harmonies are first rate. He's also am excellent bass player and could play some pretty great guitar solos if he felt like it (check the first record, before Craig came on).

I have a theory as to why the music has gone downhill rather drastically after 5: he became self-aware and is a little embarrassed to look like a zealot jackass at an advanced age. I kinda blame Robert Plant a little, who told him to "lighten up". That was terrible advice. Part of being badass is having a little bit of a chip on your shoulder.

His talent is based more on his "hippie cool" image and lifestyle. But he has manage to put out songs that are commercial successes and captures the public's attention. His image as a multi-talented musican is all part of his "marketing".

But from a female point of view he's damn sexy and nice to look at. Looking at him while singing one of his catchy ass songs got me a sucker.

he put out 5 cool albums, Mama said is probably his great work. Haven't heard the new stuff yet but Love Revolution wasn't bad either.

Kravitz is a poser and has always been a poser.

I have never seen anyone rhapsodize about the talents of Lenny Kravitz. So the entire premise of this thread seems odd, to say the least.

119 said:

I have never seen anyone rhapsodize about the talents of Lenny Kravitz. So the entire premise of this thread seems odd, to say the least.

I agree. Lenny is hardly even rated in the first place, so I don't see how he can be overrated.

Cinnamon234 said:

119 said:

I have never seen anyone rhapsodize about the talents of Lenny Kravitz. So the entire premise of this thread seems odd, to say the least.

I agree. Lenny is hardly even rated in the first place, so I don't see how he can be overrated.

Yeah totally agree i never hear Lenny mentioned as a musician, shit i dont even hear him getting some props for sustaining a career, i dont think he is held in some form of high regard or even put on a level where you can say "he doesnt deserve that" i think hes a good musician, knows his chords, knows how to put a good batch of hooks in a song, has taken from his influences, and he can write too, i dont know why everyone feels that everyone has to be a pioneer or GOD like musician.

leeny is better than prince.

jackson35 said:

leeny is better than prince.

I don't khow about leeny but Lenny is NOT a better musician than Prince.

purplethunder3121 said:

jackson35 said:

leeny is better than prince.

I don't khow about leeny but Lenny is NOT a better musician than Prince.

No he's not.

again,

Fiona01 said:

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Hater, can you play better than him??

Yes.

Let's hear it.

Lenny's always been compared to Prince, for very good reason, considering his look, the genres he performs, etc. But Lenny's problem has always been that he doesn't synthesize his influences, like Prince. He just regurgitates them.

Unfortunately, Prince has kind of started doing the same thing.

errant said:

Lenny's always been compared to Prince, for very good reason, considering his look, the genres he performs, etc. But Lenny's problem has always been that he doesn't synthesize his influences, like Prince. He just regurgitates them.

Unfortunately, Prince has kind of started doing the same thing.

Fiona01 said:

So he can play drums, bass, guitar and piano - big whoop.

I've seen him on keys and at the most he just plonks out a couple of chords - he's certainly no Tori Amos. His guitar playing is average, all the difficult solos are played by that guy who looks like he wants to be Marc Bolan. All of Lenny's solos are ridiculously simple.

I don't get why people think he's talented just because he plays a lot of instruments. He doesn't play a single one of them that well.

Everything you said is absolutely true, but I never heard anyone say he was a musical genius, or any of the ridiculously high praise you hear about Prince (who is not as good as advertised). Lenny's music is generally cool and enjoyable and so long as his ego doesn't get out of whack I won't say anything bad about him.

Fiona01 said:

So he can play drums, bass, guitar and piano - big whoop.

I've never been too good at math, but if I'm counting right, that's four instruments more than I've ever seen Michael Jackson play on stage. I think Lenny is rated pretty accurately by most; talented with some great songs but not earth shattering.

He's not original, but he writes good hooks and melodies and his music has a good fusion of his musical influences in the sound, especially in r&b, rock, funk, motown etc. And though he's not Prince, IMO he continued where Prince left off in the 90's and I could listen to him better than 90's Prince.

[Edited 6/21/11 19:39pm]

How many instruments can YOU play?

Fiona01 said:

So he can play drums, bass, guitar and piano - big whoop.

I've seen him on keys and at the most he just plonks out a couple of chords - he's certainly no Tori Amos. His guitar playing is average, all the difficult solos are played by that guy who looks like he wants to be Marc Bolan. All of Lenny's solos are ridiculously simple.

I don't get why people think he's talented just because he plays a lot of instruments. He doesn't play a single one of them that well.

Fiona01 said:

So he can play drums, bass, guitar and piano - big whoop.

I've seen him on keys and at the most he just plonks out a couple of chords - he's certainly no Tori Amos. His guitar playing is average, all the difficult solos are played by that guy who looks like he wants to be Marc Bolan. All of Lenny's solos are ridiculously simple.

I don't get why people think he's talented just because he plays a lot of instruments. He doesn't play a single one of them that well.

I think he's pretty talented. A music god, no, but he never said he was in the first place.