Baptism | 
| Artist: Lenny Kravitz
Label: Virgin Records Us
Category: Music
List Price: $18.98
Buy Used: $0.01
You Save: $18.97 (100%)
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Rating:  91 reviews
Sales Rank: 31015
Format: Enhanced
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 84145
UPC: 724358414523
EAN: 0724358414523
ASIN: B0001XAMC2
Release Date: May 18, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Minister of Rock 'n' Roll | | • | I Don't Want To Be a Star | | • | Lady | | • | Calling All Angels | | • | California | | • | Sistamamalover | | • | Where Are We Runnin'? | | • | Baptized | | • | Flash | | • | What Did I Do With My Life? | | • | Storm | | • | The Other Side | | • | Destiny |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Album Description
UK reissue reissue combines the retro rocker's 2004 & 2001 albums, packaged together in a clam shell box. CCCD. EMI. 2004.
Amazon.com
On Baptism, his seventh album, Lenny Kravitz writes, arranges, performs, and produces every track. The trouble with working alone is that there's little quality control; some of the songs here really could have benefited from a bit of that. Not to say that Baptism is a complete dud of an album, indeed, the worst thing about it is its awful cover. "California" has a catchy, power-pop bounce that's actually reminiscent of Fountains of Wayne, with its fuzzy guitars and handclaps, as well as its un-Kravitz-like short running time (just over two-and-a-half minutes). But then "Sistamamalover" veers deep into Prince territory, with a groove that's too contrived, too dull, and too long. And there's some of the self-indulgence of a satisfied, middle-aged rocker apparent on "Minister of Rock & Roll" and "I Don't Want to Be a Star" (it's easy to sing about wanting only "a Chevy and an old guitar" when you're living in a massive mansion). The best tracks are the most straightforward, fun ones: the aforementioned "California," the ZZ Top-inspired "Where Are We Runnin'?" and the Stones-sounding "Flash." Kravitz should loosen up more and leave the angst to the teenagers. --Robert Burrow
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| Customer Reviews: Read 86 more reviews...
 Batism. The album that brings Lenny back August 19, 2004
H. R. Rondilla (Calgary, Alberta Canada)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
I could easily just write the word "Awesome" and explain this cd thoroughly, but it deserves way more praise than that. I must say that Baptism is the album where Lenny comes back, and back with a vengance!!!! Every single song on this album really felt like he was singing from his heart, like the lyrics had meaning rather than just sounding good. Not only were the lyrics good, but also the music is just as good if not better! If every song were an instrumental, I'd enjoy it just as much. Although I am a little saddened that his former drummer Cindy Blackman is no longer part of his band, I must say the new band (including the back up singers) are great. The music was put together, written, aranged and performed greatly. The ballads were simple, but beautiful. Perhaps it is the simplicity, which made it so great for his ballad "Calling all Angels" track 4. It was pure and he wasn't trying so hard...it just came out simply sounding great. I also thought "Baptized" track 8 was a ballad that was written with feeling and soul.
Now on to my favorite part of this album.... the faster, more upbeat, ROCK n' ROLL songs!!! Tracks like "Lady", "Flash", "Where are we Runnin'" and "I Don't Want to be a Star" made me want to dance, move, tap my feet and slap the steering wheel while listening and driving! These were songs that truly brought us back to the true Lenny. Not so much cookie cutter...the Lenny we all love and going from tracks like "Minister of Rock n' Roll" to "Storm", really showed that diverse side of Lenny. He can easily go from Rock n' roll to a more r&b, hip-hop song; something only Lenny can do so graciously. The only negative thing in my opinion is that for "Storm", it would've been better without JayZ. I like JayZ and all but I really didn't see the need for him in this song.
Overall, this album is worth buying whether you are a Lenny fan or just a fan of good music.
 Where ARE we runnin'? December 2, 2004
Anthony Rupert (Milwaukee, WI)
20 out of 26 found this review helpful
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
 Impressive December 14, 2004
S. Kathleens
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I had never really been a big Lenny Kravitz fan before i heard "Lady" on the radio. After falling in love with that song, i chacked out this most recent cd and was very impressed with all of the songs. He is upbeat, funky, and original.... a perfect mix.
"Lenny Rules" December 11, 2004
Brandon@ (Arkansas USA)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Some people like this albulm some don't.I really like it.
There are several great songs on this albulm like Lady,
California & Were are we runnin? If your a lenny kravits
fan its the albulm to buy!
Baptized May 18, 2004
Josephll (CET)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
"Baptism" is certainly better then his last album "Lenny" there's more variety on it aswell. Lenny goes back to his older days with catchy guitar songs like "Minister Of Rock N Roll" But he also proves his lyrical skills and make some very soft ballads such as "Calling all Angels". There's plenty of trademark Lenny songs here too, like the singles released from the last 2 albums. Most of the songs are pleasant with a few exceptions but otherwise i think this is overall among the better Lenny albums. It proves maturity and musical skills, so all you doubters take a look.The album starts with one of the best songs "Minister of Rock N Roll" which is both catchy and a great guitar song. Reminds me abit of classic stuff like "Are You gonna go my way". lenny defenitely wanted to show off what he's capable of. "Don't Wanna Be A Star" is a midtempo song where Rock Wannabe Pharell Williams appear. Yet another great guitar solo here. "Lady" is also a midtempo song, but it lacks a real hook. "Calling All Angels" is a beautiful piano ballad though, don't think i've heard Lenny like this before. It's deep and lyrically wonderful, a bit too long though. "California" is a trademark song, reminds me a bit of "Fly Away". "Sistamamalover" is good, a guiatar song that won't make any Lenny fan dissapointed. "Where are We Runnin?" it's so so, fast but we've heard it before. "Baptized" is one of many slow songs here, It's Romantic with good lyrics. "Flash" is one of my favorites, fast rock n roll song with good hook. "What Did I Do With My Life" and "Storm" are slow but forgettable. "The Other Side" is yet another piano ballad and quite good. It get's faster on the hook. "Baptism" is a very good album that reaches not only Lenny fans, great variety and a few top songs. Give it a try, it's a very fresh new start and you'll find both old skool rock and some more modern Lenny Stuff. Recommended.
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