Are You Gonna Go My Way
The irony ofAre You Gonna Go My Wayis that, by the release of his third album, Lenny Kravitz had finally started internalizing the influences of his musical heroes--Curtis Mayfield,Prince,John Lennon, andSly Stone--who had been so nakedly copped onLet Love RuleandMama Said. So what becomes the album's big hit? The title track, aJimi Hendrixrip-off if there ever was one. Kravitz backslides elsewhere, too: "Is There Any Love in Your Heart" is plainly drawn fromLed Zeppelinand "Eleutheria" fromBob Marley, while "Believe" takes a more inventive approach--its chorus is in the style of theBeatles, while the verses and guitar solo again recall Led Zep. What's especially damning about the album though, is that the more Kravitz strikes out on his own, the more lackluster his songs become, evidenced by the dippy come-on "Black Girl" and the weak psychedelia of "My Love."--Daniel Durchholz