Raise Vibration is the eleventh studio album by Lenny Kravitz. The twelve-track self produced record was released on Roxie Records via BMG Rights Management on September 7, 2018.
While Raise Vibration had been hyped as a socially conscious record ,containing compositions that address issues plaguing the world. The album doesn’t stray too far from Kravitz’s standard M.O. of spreading the message of love, peace, and unity through his own unique blend of musical influences.
While for the most I did enjoy Kravitz’s eleventh studio record, I did have a couple of issues with it.
First, I thought it was commendable that a high-profile performer like Kravitz would use his music as a platform to shed a light or influence a change on some of the worlds social/political issues. However, on his latest release, I thought that he dropped the ball by not providing the listener a clear-cut solution. For instance on the albums so- called centerpiece It's Enough ,Kravitz dances around the issue and states the obvious ;” In the system, you cannot trust”, “And we all are just getting fucked”. This is something that we already know and/or have experienced. I found that his approach took away any sort of merit or urgency on these socially conscious tracks.
Second, there is no doubt that Kravitz is a proficient multi-instrumentalist and producer with a fine ear for musical detail. However ,even though his last few albums have been consistently well made, as a complete work they come across as uneven or slightly underwhelming. Raise Vibration does little to alter that trend. In my opinion with a reputable producer and some great studio musicians, there is no doubt that Kravitz could release a late-career highlight record.
In the end there still some great tracks to be found here . Like the stomping album opener; We Can Get It All Together, the funk/ soul /disco tinged; Low ( yes, that is Michael Jackson on backing vocals), the pop/funk; Majesty Of Love, the piano ballad; Here To Love, and the bluesy title track.
In my opinion this isn’t a bad album by any stretch of the imagination. Like I said with a little assistance ,Kravitz could finally deliver the album that fans have been waiting for.
