Lenny Kravitz

In many ways, Lenny Kravitz's Let Love Rule is a thoroughly impressive debut. Like Prince, he plays nearly every instrument on the record, yet makes it sound organic and alive. Musically, it's a startlingly accurate replication of late-'60s psychedelia, crossed with a Princely groove and a heavy John Lennon fixation. Kravitz has no desire to move forward, he only wants to recreate classic rock, and as a result, Let Love Rule is an enormous, guilty pleasure. His songcraft may be derivative, but it's catchy -- the title track has a lean groove and a colorful chorus, "Sittin' on Top of the World" and "Does Anybody Out There Even Care" have strong hooks, and while the stately psychedelia of "I Build This Garden for Us" can sound like a parody, it is quite effective. Kravitz stumbles when he gets preachy (the awkward "Mr. Cab Driver") or flowery ("Flower Child"), but that doesn't diminish the pleasures of Let Love Rule. [In honor of the album's 20th anniversary, a deluxe double-disc version was released in 2009. This enhanced version included remastered tracks and assorted rarities, including original mixes, demo material, and live performances.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide