Are You Gonna Go My Way

Lenny Kravitz occupied an unusual position in pop music throughout the '90s. His interests were pure classic rock and soul, but he connected as a self-assured modern-day rocker. He managed this by using his considerable musical talents to weave an updated sound into his retro grooves. The title track here is a brilliant example of everything Kravitz does right. The hyperactive guitar riff recalls Jimi Hendrix’s “Ezy Ryder” in spirit and tone, but Kravitz cements the hook in a modern funk that never succumbs to recreating another era. Throughout his third studio album, he continues to mine a psychedelic atmosphere that’s as much Prince as The Beatles. “Believe” whispers and hums along to a circular, keyboard-rich arrangement, while “Heaven Help” is a piano ballad that would’ve fit nicely on an early-‘70s soul album. “Just Be a Woman” and “Sister” are quiet and gentle, sounding like Curtis Mayfield visiting The Beatles’ White Album. “Eleutheria” trips up in a reggae groove. The peace and love Kravitz preaches never goes out of style.