Lenny Kravitz's `Circus' wallows in unoriginal, stagnant material

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RATING: * * *

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by Heather Smith

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Again, with Lenny's fourth album, Circus , I am disappointed in the quality of songs and musical experience of the production. The album is reminiscent of Are You Gonna Go My Way? which has perhaps one good song on it. Circus does not incorporate many different styles and sounds like Mama Said does. Instead, on Circus , Lenny stagnates in music stolen from 1970s funk and lyrical themes from his earlier albums.

For example, "Tunnel Vision" sounds like a funk song with a harder 1990s edge to it, but it has Jimi Hendrix written all over it. Again in "Thin Ice," Kravitz replicates the 1970s sound yet gives his '90s message. He says that people have no excuse to be a social problem. Drug dealers, pimps and the like need to clean up their acts because they are walking on thin ice and will inevitably fall through. "Don't Go and Put a Bullet in Your Head" is a repetition of the message and musical sound of "Tunnel Vision" and "Thin Ice."

He returns to his old theme of a poor girl who is innocent yet in a bad situation, found in "Rosemary" and "Flower Child," to create "Magdalene." The theme is dull -- he's used it on three out of four albums -- and the music is no better.

This album could be filed under religious rock because it is so intensely focused on God in Kravtiz's life. He expresses his devotion to God and encourages all to join him in his journey to Heaven. There are three songs specifically devoted to God and the worship of Him. I used to appreciate his unique spirituality and belief in loving one's neighbor, but on Circus , his spirituality focuses on God and becomes too preachy and annoying. Lenny is so concerned with overt messages of his religious beliefs that he has lost sight of the simple spirituality that was so evident, beautiful and non-threatening on Let Love Rule and Mama Said .

Aside from his borrowing from the past, the tunes are simply not creative. Muted vocals are often projected over boring background music in an attempt to appear surreal.

The only redeeming songs on the album are "Rock And Roll is Dead," the first single, and the only ballad, "Can't Get You off My Mind." These two songs are relatively creative lyrically and rather catchy musically.

Kravitz wrote all the music and lyrics for the album except on the title track, "Circus." It's a shame that his music has deteriorated so much since the first album, but some remnants of his glory still remain on the new album. His gorgeous vocals and intense, personal guitar solos can be found on Circus . His vocals also help redeem this album.

Although Kravitz has been headed downhill since the release of Mama Said , there is still hope. His latest album isn't all bad -- it is simply about the same as his third album and therefore stagnant. Kravitz fans should check out the album because it is definitely his mind floating through the music. I would not recommend this one for first-time Lenny listeners, though. Instead, check out his earlier stuff (at used CD stores since that's where his greatest stuff is located).

In March, Kravitz should be coming through Houston although no specific dates have been set yet. His show will definitely be worth seeing since he will play songs from all four albums, which will include his greatest tunes yet. Maybe, just maybe, he'll play "Butterfly" for me.

This item appeared in the Arts & Entertainment section of the September 29, 1995 issue.

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