Apparently a lot of people don't seem to care about this album. I was really surprised to see that this is only the twentieth review for it. Basically, I've always been a fan of Lenny Kravitz, but like another reviewer said, things have been going south since 5. Take his last album, Lenny, for example: it was one of those albums that critics loved but fans hated. I agreed with the rest of the fans, because aside from "Dig In", it really didn't have much to offer. And I hoped that Baptism would be a step up, but it's not. But it's not a step DOWN either; it's more like an equivalent of walking in place.

Editorial reviewer Robert Burrow really reviewed this album well (and what IS going on on the album cover?), but I'll voice my own opinion here also. It's not to say that the entire album is bad, but I'll just say that it's a good thing his label picked "Where Are We Runnin'", "California" and "Lady" as the singles, because those are really the only completely good songs on here. There's also one of those not-quite-great, not-quite-filler songs: "Storm" with Jay-Z. It's better than Jay and Lenny's "Guns and Roses", but that's not really saying much.

The mellow songs on the album aren't impressive either. "Calling All Angels" really starts to drag after a while, but the biggest problem is that Lenny sings these smooth songs in very strange voices. This is obvious by listening to "What Did I Do With My Life" and the strangely produced "The Other Side". But the greatest mistake he made would have to be his choice to try to sing falsetto on "Destiny". That song actually almost gave me an earache.

There are also a few well-produced songs that have bizarre lyrics, like "Sistamamalover" and the failed party joint "Flash". And "I Don't Want to Be a Star" is the kind of song you'd expect to find on his first album, not his seventh. All in all, this album is really for diehard Lenny Kravitz fans only. The rest of us will have to continue rolling our eyes until he makes a decent comeback.

Anthony Rupert

Ahhh, this album sounds terrible. Totally terrible.

I miss the days when albums (especially Lenny's) were recorded on nice warm analog equipment. This CD sounds so bad I can't even listen to it. Don't get me wrong, I like a few of the songs on this album, but the way he recorded it is just awful.

Digital recording technology is good for getting a low-noise recording, but the sound of the instruments and vocals just totally suffer. If the peak level goes above 0 db you get nasty distortion and nasty clipping, which this CD has all OVER it! Pro tools recordings make live drums sound like junk. If you don't run the microphones through tube pre-amps and equalizers you get...well...this!

The good news is he does a lot of those Plastic Ono Band songs where it's just piano, bass and Ringo-sounding drums. I like those numbers a lot. He's done a lot of those in the past, but I don't care, they're always cool to hear.

I don't like "Storm" because it has rapping on it. I mean, if it was Lenny doing the rap that would be cool, but it's somebody else doing it.

Craig Ross appears on several tracks. He's a good musician. I wish he would do a solo album. He looks like Noel Redding in some pictures.

Lenny, wrap up all your pro tools equipment and dedicate to the VH1 school kids. Then go and dust off your old 16-track reel to reel and your tube pre-amps that cost more than a BMW! Listen to your album Mama Said and hear how warm it sounds and try and make your new music sound like that again.

Then we would all be happy again.

Also, the drumming is not good on this album. Previous albums and songs ("Is There Any Love In Your Heart") showed us that Lenny is quite proficient as a drummer. This album just sounds like he recorded 8 measure drum patterns and looped them for the whole song. Except he doesn't even put cymbals on the top like he did on the last album ("A Million Miles Away" where he recorded three crash hits and just copied and pasted them everywhere there needed to be a cymbal crash! Urgh...that sounds so robotic! Get an 808 if you want to do that!).

Songs on this album are o.k. The best song on the whole album is the last one, "My Destiny." The only thing wrong with it is it's just acoustic guitar and falsetto vocal. It's the one song he should have put some real drums on (with REAl-time cymbal hits, not copy and paste specials!)and maybe a wurlitzer electric piano, a light cello and a muted trumpet! And Hirsch on bass guitar!

I'm sorry if I am over-critical of this album, I was just very disappointed. This one and his last CD are not very good. And I imagine the next one he do with be worse, but I hope he will get better.

If you are a new fan, stick to his first four albums. They're all 5 star, no matter what anybody says. 5 and on are only for die-hard fans.

Peace,

Keith

Fans and non-fans, alike, should by now know what to expect from Lenny Kravitz... fun, catchy, cliched rock music at it's most unadulterated, guiltiest, and most pleasureable best. BAPTISM is more of the same. If you're a fan...this is a good thing. If you're not... well, why are you listening anyways?
One should not scrutinize Mr. Kravitz too deeply. You may not like what you find. A Lenny Kravitz album is like a drunken binge...yeah, it can be a fun ride, but you may end up hating yourself in the morning.
Is he original? No. Are his lyrics sincere? No (see "I Don't Want to be a Star"). Catchy song, but could you honestly see Mr. Kravitz, with his model-esqe fashion style and new flat ironed hair do, cruising in a "Chevy" and playing an "old guitar"? However, the real question is... is HE sincere? I think so. Hell, considering many of today's most popular artists... that's reason enough for me to stand behind him.
This is a fun (if at times boring, "Calling All Angels") album that should make any Lenny Kravitz fan pleased. If you like Lenny Kravitz, don't be fooled by the negative reviews. This is Lenny...being Lenny.

The lowest moment in the history of rock and roll was when Aerosmith appeared with N'sync and Britney Spears at the super bowl halftime- I cried- I also cry with every commercial, appearance, and sell-out songs Lenny keeps on chugging out- I was a big fan when he still had some pure emotion, soul, and actaully cared about his music- but songs like Dig In and Lady make me wish he would just dissappear forever- such cliche, obvious, pop songs written for Gap. Lenny, please go back and listen to Sister, or Rosemary, or What the F are We Saying? and try to rememebr what it was like to make semi-decent music. Did he actually write these lyrics or was it Hallmark? Can anyone actually write and sing these lyrics without wanting to stab themselves in the gut? I could write more meaningful lyrics while taking a crap. How mcuh more $$$ do you need?

I'm crazy for this little lady
I'm freaking for my little baby
'Cause she makes me feel good
She's so fine

Don't need all my other ladies
I'm beggin' for this little lady
'Cause I tell you she's cool
She's divine

I know she's a super lady
I'm weak and I've gone hazy yeah

I'm crazy for that lady
She's chic but she's not shady yeah
Sophisticated lady
And she makes me feel good
She's so fine

Never knew there was such a lady
That would make me want to straighten
Out my life at this time but I find
I'm thinkin' 'bout this pretty lady
I would love her good as my own baby (?)
'Cause you know she's no fool
She's refined

I know she's a super lady
I'm weak and I've gone hazy yeah

I'm crazy for that lady
She's chic but she's not shady yeah
Sophisticated lady
And she makes me feel good
She's so fine

Yeah
Don't you know she blows my mind
All the time
'Cause she makes me feel good
Like a real woman should
Yeah
She's so mine
Yeah

I'm weak and I've gone hazy yeah

I'm crazy for that lady
She's chic but she's not shady yeah
Sophisticated lady
And she makes me feel good
And she makes me feel good
And she makes me feel good
She's so fine

Yeah
Don't you know she blows my mind
All the time
And she makes me feel good
Like a real woman should
Yeah
All the time
Yeah
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah

This slab blows in reverse really hard . I gave it 2 stars since he at least has a better voice than a lot of popular singers but let's face it , this guy has not written a good song or broken any new ground since at least 3 wives ago. His marketing / image is basically "Huggy Bear" on platform heels and he's got the brothel to back it up.

I usually don't do this but here is a breakdown of the song list on this latest discharge from rock's presiding pimpster of majestics. Keep in mind every song is practically a recycled scrap harvested in between slappin' ho's.

Here you go:

1. Minister of Rock 'N' Roll - Pimp of Rock 'N' Roll
2. I Don't Want to be a Star - we know how you feel , we don't want you to either.
3. Lady - Styx beat you to that name about 25 years ago.
4. Calling all Angels - Train already used that one this year , plus what are pimps in need of angels for?
5. California - no comment
6. Sistamamalover - need to keep that to yourself Weezy.
7. Where Are We Running ? Far enough away so we can't hear this heap !
8. Baptized - too vapid for commentary.
9. Flash - in the pan.
10. The Other Side - Where there is hopefully better music .
11. Destiny - retirement and alchoholism.

If you buy this one you will feel like you have heard it all before and be overcome with a profound feeling of emptiness after realising you just flushed your money .