When Lenny Kravitz made his debut album, he was known in select circles as the pierced, tattooed love boy of Lisa Bonet, the actress then riding high with a starring role on The Cosby Show. Kravitz turned out to be an artist in his own right, and a talented musician who wrote, produced, and played nearly all the instruments on Let Love Rule. He seems to know precisely what he wants to say on this album; trouble is, it's all been said before, by the likes of Prince, John Lennon, and Sly Stone. There is skill and craft at work here, but genuine inspiration is another matter. The thick patchouli scent around songs such as "I Build This Garden for Us," "Flower Child," and the title track is nearly suffocating, while the would-be protest anthem "Mr. Cab Driver" is rather undercooked. Overall, Kravitz's groovy love-generation vibe makes him rock's answer to Austin Powers. --Daniel Durchholz ... Read more

Asin: B000000WH0
Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. American Trad Rock    3. Neo-Psychedelia    4. Pop    5. Pop/Rock    6. Rock    7. Rock & Roll   

In Step embraces blues and rock without compromising the primal joys of either. This is Stevie Ray Vaughan's best studio album and the first he recorded sober. "Travis Walk" offers a heady rush of flat-picking, "The House is Rockin'" is full-tilt roots-boogie, "Let Me Love You Baby" and "Leave My Girl Alone" are sweet blues epiphanies, and the nine-minute instrumental "Riviera Paradise" is a truly soulful mix of blues and jazz. By now, just a year before his untimely death, Vaughan had also tamed his bawling voice into a rich instrument. In short, this 1989 session is Vaughan at his artistic peak. And the four compelling live performances added to this reissue--"The House Is Rockin'," "Let Me Love You Baby," "Texas Flood," and "Life Without You," all from the In Step tour--prove there was no studio trickery involved. It's raw blues-rock perfection. --Ted Drozdowski ... Read more

Features

• Extra tracks
• Original recording remastered

Asin: B00000ICN9
Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Blues-Rock    3. Electric Texas Blues    4. Modern Electric Blues    5. Modern Electric Texas Blues    6. Pop    7. Rock    8. Texas Blues   

Mother's Milk [Bonus Tracks]
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (11 March, 2003)
list price: $13.98 -- our price: $13.98
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

The Chili Peppers finally hit their stride with Mother's Milk, for the first time making their breakneck mix of funk, rap, and metal smooth enough to attract the masses, while keeping it raw enough not to alienate old fans. They've straddled that edge ever since.It didn't hurt that they offered a pretty mainstream cover of Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground" to introduce the album. That single though, and the rest of Mother's Milk (including "Knock Me Down" and the randy "Sexy Mexican Maid") is pure Pepper--from Anthony Kiedis's in-your-face vocals to Flea's chattering bass. Milk was also guitarist John Frusciante's debut with the group and he shines, especially on Jimi Hendrix's "Fire." --Michael Ruby ... Read more

Features

• Explicit Lyrics
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (61)

From Freaky Styley to BloodSugar... - RHCP at their best
Along with the Beastie Boys and Anthrax, this west coast quartet --the original line-up comprised of the two permanent members Anthony Kiedis (vox.) and Michael Balzary/Fles (bass) as well as lead guitarist the late Hillel Slovak and Jack Irons on drums who were replaced by John Frusciante and Chad Smith respectively which, except for a brief dalliance with Jane's Addiction lead guitarist, Dave Navarro, while Frusciante was detoxing from heroin dependence is the line-up at present-- deserves credit for the willful cross-pollenating of previously rigidly defined and hyper-compartmentalized musical styles that which in the mid-'80's was a no-no bordering on sacrilidge.For those like myselfwhose middle and high school years straddled this period, rock, pop, punk. rap/hip-hop, funk reggae/ska and jazz devotees were in clearly defined sub-cultures that segregated themselves from one another, creating a climate which had little tolleration for those free radicals in the system who saw the merits in Led Zeppelin, George Clinton/Parliament-Funkadelic, Black Flag, Run-D.M.C., Metallica, The Cure Sly & the Family Stone and Miles Davis simulaneously.Emerging in the early-'80's while the mainstream music culture was still in the grips of the hyper-compartmentalization that I previously mentioned, The Red Hot Chili Peppers took the bold step of combining the various musical styles they loved with equal zeal with a damn the torpedoes attitude as to whether or not the public would embrace them and their then-unique sound.They were indeed helped by the now legendary stage gimmick of playing clad only in kneehigh- tube sock worn over their respective genitals.Their sense of humor showed they didn't take themselvews seriosly and this contributed to their growing popularity.Their first album was actually recorded with different personnel on guitar and drums when Hillel and Jack decided they wanted to explore a another group but returned for the tour when those plans didnt work out.Freakey-Styley, their 2nd albu and a better one followed their self-titled debut, but they hit their full stride upon the relaese of their 3rd one, Uplift Mofo party Plan, the last one Hillel would contribute to due to a heroin overdose, a death which had a profound effect on the psyches of the remaining members, ultimately leading to Jack Irons exit from the band.Kiedis --who, in spite of the loss of his close friend, was in the grips of his own back and forth battle with heroin addiction-- and Flea decided to soldier on and, with the addition of John and Chad, commenced recording their next record, 1989's Mother's Milk featuring a cover of Stevie Wonder's funk classic, Higher Ground, and a tribute to Hillel Slovak, Knock Me Down.Most bands don't do well after the loss of one or more crucial members, but RHCP replaced one amazingly talented guitarist with another who was argably better where most bands are lucky to find merely competent substituesThey were able to retain and even expand that magic chemistry they had had with the original guitarist and drummer when Frusciante and Smith came on board.Their 5th album and sophmore effort with the new line-up, Blood-Sugar-Sex-Magic saw the Peps at the height of their talents, but Milk was a good preview of what was to come.

An improved classic.
To me, this is the epitome of what the Chili Peppers represented at their peak. Fun funk and rockin' punk. If "Uplift Mofo Party Plan" wasn't my personal fave, it would easily be this. It opens perfectly with "Good Time Boys", then drops their first real hit "Higher Ground". And though I love those songs and "Knock Me Down", it's tracks like "Magic Johnson", "Stone Cold Bush", and "Sexy Mexican Maid" that make this so damn great. The original album alone is awesome, but then this disc is remastered, and has SIX bonus tracks. All of them are good, including the two more Hendrix covers that they drop. Of the re-issued first four albums, this is definitely the one to get. It'll make you feel 17 all over again.

Early RHCP works
This definitely did not suit my style and this being an early Red Hot Chili Peppers album blended punk, rap and metal together and every song except 'Knock Me Down' sounded like a mish-mash of sounds rather than music. Maybe its because of my leanings toward rock that I feel this way.

The Later works of the RHCP's like Californication sounded much better than this. ... Read more

Asin: B000078DOI
Subjects:  1. Alternative CCM    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Funk Metal    4. Pop    5. Rock   

This Is the Sea
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
list price: $11.98 -- our price: $11.98
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Reviews (17)

Landmark stuff - dig in!
Mike Scott's big music is at its biggest and best on this album.After this he went Celtic with "Fisherman's Blues", and I didn't quite go along for that ride.However, I am still digging this 20 years later.An indelible memory from my college years is being pressed up against the stage at the Roxy when the Waterboys took the stage on this tour, and hearing the count off on "Don't Bang The Drum". Unforgettable.

"Don't Bang The Drum" combines a trumpet intro worthy of Arturo Sandoval, and kicks into a ripping overdriven Les Paul hard rock tune that punctuates itself with mandolins and violins."The Whole of the Moon" is a mid tempo rocker (with the requisite dueling trumpet solo amid a prominent piano motif that would definitely show up prominently in future World Party music) that is still fresh.

I could go through every song on the album, but others have already done so.I also urge you to listen to the mp3s and decide for yourself.This album is all about layered music, from a simple percussion, piano, bass, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, that gets more interesting with violin, mandolin, trumpets, percussion.Each part is interwoven and takes a few listens to get it all.From Dylan, post-punk, and Celtic influences comes something original and enduring.The songs are beautifully written, arranged and performed.Enjoy it!It's a great album.

flight manual
You know that part of you that thinks you can fly? That same part that makes it hard to look at the sky when it's full of stars, or makes you feel the depth of everything when you are watching a huge storm down by the ocean?This is the album to speak to that part of you. WARNING, though, after listening you might just find yourself a little discontent with the office and may even be tempted to run away to Ireland where melancholy and passion are just little more normal.

Amazing album!
This review is in regards to the EMI remaster 2 cd release on April 20, 2004. The bonus cd of extra tracks that didn't make the original release are every bit as good as the tracks on the original album. Having a hard timecategorizing this album 'cause at times I hear songs that U2 could have released or even Springsteen and yet it can be called alternative rock/ folk rock but it's not as simple as that. It is simply very good, strong lyrics and melodies and not dated as one would think considering it was originaly released in '85. A pleasant surprise for me, having listened to it three times thru, and I rarely ever do that. recommended. ... Read more

Asin: B0000089BG
Sales Rank: 71261
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

Good to Be Back
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 June, 1991)
list price: $9.98 -- our price: $9.98
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Reviews (8)

Tries too hard to sound like Everlasting.
This album wants to sound like her previous hit Everlasting.But it tries too hard at most times.Some ballads want to sound like I Live For Your Love too much, especially Miss You Like Crazy.But there are some songs like I Do with Freddie Jackson that succeed.I heard both albums and surprisingly, Good To Be Back copies Everlasting's hit making formula way too much. Starting All Over Again is like that too.Natalie should have given this album its own identity and that's why it didn't perform as well as her previous one.

Natalie Cole Good To Be Back
Natalie Cole's 1989 Pop-Rock Album Good To Be Back was a perfect way for her to end the 1980's,because she ends it on a possitive note.The songs are Safe,As A Matter Of Fact,The Rest Of The Night,Miss You Like Crazy which sometimes makes me think of my grandmother's 1987 death,I Do her duet with Freddie Jackson,the title-cut Good To Be Back,Gonna Make You Mine,the remake of Dionne Warwick's Starting Over Again,Don't Mention My Heartache,the personal I Can't Cry,and the Remake of the late Dinah Washington's Someone's Rockin' My Dreamboat.

I miss you like crazy
Recently my wife passed away and this was our favorite song. It brings me to tears every time I play this song but this way I will never forget her.. ... Read more

Asin: B000002H9B
Sales Rank: 35219
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. R&B