...P>Lenny Kravitz has the amazing ability to take elements of 60s and 70s rock and make them sound completely modern. There is no Jimi Hendrix imitation on "Are You Gonna Go My Way." Kravitz and his musicians have no aspirations of being Hendrix...they KNOW there's only one. Some of the songs are driving and loud, others are soft and sweet, and Heaven Help is simply gorgeous. I bought this album as soon as it came out in the spring of 1993 and it has traveled with me everywhere I've gone. Whether I'm on a plane, train, long car journey, I can pop in this CD and know that I'll be entertained by an absolutely perfect rock album. They are truly few and far between, and this one is a masterpiece.

Lenny Kravitz follows up wildly successful multi platinum "Mama Said" with this chart scorcher that is sure to please anyone from the hard core metal junkie to the light reggae listener. It has sweet ballads crooned with Kravitz's soul searching tenor (Black Girl) as well as ear pounding guitar riffs (Are You Gonna Go My Way). He covers the emotional gambit along with a mind boggling array of instruments and recording techniques. He produces and writes almost all 11 tracks with help from members of his band Craig Ross and musical associate Henry Hirsh. He garnered many award nominations for this album and is virtually guaranteed future musical success with the unbelievable amount of vocal, musical and lyrical talent that he possesses.

GREAT ALBUM FROM START TILL
FINISH I HAVE NOTHING BAD TO
SAY ALL THE SONGS ARE GREAT.
I REALLY DIDNT PAY LENNY ATTENTION
UNTIL ONE OF MY HAD HIS CD IN
THEIR CD BOOKLET AND SAID LET ME BORROW THAT
CD AND SEE IF I LIKE IT OR NOT AND IT TURNED
OUT THAT I DID SO BROUGHT ALL HIS OTHER MATERIAL
WHICH IS EQUALLY ENJOYABLE AND EVERY SINCE I'VE BEENING
JAMMING TO HIS ALBUM.

It's hard to follow lenny album to album only to see people mentioning his abundant influences in a bad way. Lenny sounds like zeppelin, lenny sounds like lennon, lenny sounds like mayfield. There are so many bands and artists out there who do the same, in my opinion with less personal flare, and enthusiasm, but which are welcomed or even praised for it. Lenny is in a way like the kid in highschool who always gets frowned on for doing something even though he did the same thing that another kid was or will be welcomed for doing.

Poor lenny, it makes me feel bad for him. Because he really is a talented artist, as it can be seen in "let love rule" and "mama said", and even here, and it makes me wonder where he could have gone if he had more positive incentive, which i feel he justly deserved from his environment, for doing what seems to enjoy doing most, which is making more good music of the kind he likes to listen to.

After reading an editorial review on Lenny's album Are You Gonna Go My Way, me being a die-hard Lenny Kravitz fan, I had to comment against the cruel words.

First of all, how many artists out there can say that they have not had any other musical influences while writing their own music? If you listen closely to most popular music of today, it pretty much all sounds alike...that is probably why it is called "Popular Music". Although this album does have songs that have similarities to other artists, the majority of the songs were written, arranged and even produced by Lenny Kravitz! Like an editor said in his review "Believe takes a more inventive approach--its chorus is in the style of the Beatles..." yes, some of the songs do emulate the artists that inspire him but the key words here are "in the STYLE of the Beatles". But don't take away Lenny's credibility and ability to write his own songs by writing such harsh opinions. But now I would like to express my views on not only this album but also on Lenny as an artist.

Can you find me an artist that does not have music that reflects their influences? It is highly unlikely. Music is a source of inspiration, and influence. Musicians always have an influence and it will always be seen and heard through their craft. If anything, the fact that after hearing Lenny's album, you were reminded of artists such as the Beatles or Led Zepplin and Bob Marley, is a positive thing. To be in the same caliber of those artists is truly a compliment. Lenny can sound like other artists...but no one can sound like Lenny.

Although I have been a Lenny fan since long before the Are you Gonna Go My Way album, I must admit, that this album was probably the one that really made me open my eyes and ears to Lenny as an artist. His songs may sound familiar, but are definitely done in LENNY'S own way. He takes a sound, and makes it better. He perfects it. He takes a familiarity and gives it his own Lenny flare. He gives critics something to talk about.

I admire Lenny for being compared to other artists, but at the same time making his own music, writing his own lyrics, and playing many instruments unlike many of the artists today, which of course so many critics completely fail to mention. I will always love Lenny's music, his albums and will always "go his way"!

The Are You Gonna Go My Way album rocks.