Black and White America
Black and White America | ||||
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Bahamas 2009–2011 | ||||
Studio | Gregory Town Sound, Studio Noir[1] | |||
Genre | Funk rock | |||
Length | 66:20 | |||
Label | Roadrunner, Loud & Proud | |||
Producer | Lenny Kravitz | |||
Lenny Kravitz chronology | ||||
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Singles from Black and White America | ||||
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Black and White America is the ninth studio album by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, released on August 30, 2011. The album also produced six singles released in 2011 and 2012.
Background
On his official website, Kravitz stated, "I don't know what it's called yet, it felt like Negrophilia, and then... it felt like something else." On December 13, 2010 Kravitz announced that the new album was to be called Black and White America, and it would be his first album on Roadrunner Records/Atlantic Records under joint label Loud & Proud.[2]
Lenny Kravitz traveled to
Later, Kravitz stated that even when Black and White America was created during his intentions to make Negrophilia, rumours commenting that the former grown up from the latter were "wrong information on the Internet which I wish would go away.", finally saying that "this has nothing to do with Negrophilia."[4]
As stated in an interview with The San Francisco Chronicle, Kravitz said that "The simplicity works for me. Being there that long put me at a place of peace and allowed me to focus on my art. That was really incredible."[5] When asked by The Miami Herald about how Kravitz compared this new album with his past classics, he answered that "I can't compare any of my music. They all just stand for what they stand for; they're just individual pieces, you know what I mean? The only difference is they're new."[6]
Kravitz announced on his official Facebook page that "Come On Get It", used in an
Promotion
Lenny Kravitz performed "Stand" on the Late Show with David Letterman.[7] On September 1, 2011, he performed "Rock Star City Life" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.[8]
Critical reception
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 6.2/10[9] |
Metacritic | 68/100[10] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
American Songwriter | [11] |
Entertainment Weekly | B[12] |
HitFix | B[13] |
musicOMH | [14] |
The New Zealand Herald | 4/5[15] |
Paste | 6.5/10[16] |
Rolling Stone | [17] |
Ultimate Guitar | |
Under the Gun Review | 8/10[18] |
Upon its release, Black and White America received generally positive reviews.
Rolling Stone writer Anthony Decurtis commented "Kravitz is most gripping at his most personal, but he doesn't sustain that intensity. Still, each of these 16 songs succeeds on its own terms, which is a vision for America beyond the black and white divide."[17] Remi of SoulBounce argued that "even as you play Lenny Bingo, marking off the familiar styles he dusts off over the course of the album, you'll find yourself weighing the 2011 editions pretty favorably against their progenitors."[21] Melinda Newman of HitFix said "Though everything Kravitz does here is deeply rooted in his stellar guitar work and the beat, it's his most experimental album in years". She added "Like Marvin Gaye or Al Green, Kravitz is able to blend both the sensual and the spiritual." and described the album "robust, full and uplifting."[13]
Ryan Reed of
Commercial performance
The album was more commercially successful in the European market, where it charted in the top ten in various countries, including a No. 1 debut in Germany and Switzerland. According to Oricon, Black and White America debuted at No. 20 selling 6,000 copies in Japan.[23] The album debuted at No. 17 in the US, selling 20,145 copies.[24] It has sold 61,000 copies in US since its release.[25]
Track listing
All lyrics written by
- "Black and White America" – 4:35 (Kravitz, Craig Ross)
- "Come On Get It" – 4:26 (Kravitz, Ross)
- "In the Black" – 3:24
- "Liquid Jesus" – 3:28
- "Rock Star City Life" – 3:24 (Kravitz, Ross)
- "Boongie Drop" (featuring Jay-Z and DJ Military) – 3:49
- "Stand" – 3:20
- "Superlove" – 3:29 (Kravitz, Ross)
- "Everything" – 3:38
- "I Can't Be Without You" – 4:48
- "Looking Back on Love" – 5:36
- "Life Ain't Ever Been Better Than It Is Now" – 4:17
- "The Faith of a Child" – 4:06
- "Sunflower" (featuring Drake) – 4:14 (Kravitz, Swizz Beatz)
- "Dream" – 5:11
- "Push" – 4:23
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
17. | "Love Casino" | 3:51 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Dance Around the Fire" | 4:04 |
2. | "Leaders of Tomorrow" | 4:13 |
3. | "What Do You Want from Me" | 3:10 |
4. | "War" | 4:13 |
5. | "Black and White America" (acoustic) | 3:09 |
6. | "Everything" (acoustic) | 3:06 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
17. | "Dance Around the Fire" | 4:03 |
18. | "Leaders of Tomorrow" | 4:12 |
19. | "What Do You Want From Me" | 3:09 |
20. | "War" | 4:12 |
21. | "Black and White America" (acoustic) | 3:08 |
22. | "Everything" (acoustic) | 3:06 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
17. | "War" (bonus track) | 4:12 |
18. | "Black and White America" (acoustic) | 3:07 |
19. | "Stand" (video) | 4:54 |
20. | "Black and White America (Live at The Shack)" (video) | 3:02 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Black and White America" (acoustic) | |
2. | "Everything" (acoustic) | |
3. | "Liquid Jesus" | |
4. | "I Can't Be Without You" | |
5. | "Dream" | |
6. | "War" |
Personnel
Band
- Lenny Kravitz – vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, synthesizer, bass guitar, drums
- Craig Ross – acoustic guitar, electric guitar
- Harold Todd – saxophone
- Trombone Shorty – trombone
- Michael Hunter – trumpet
- George Laks – keyboard
Production
- Sy Kravitz – cover photo
- Mathieu Bitton – art direction, design, photography, handclaps
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
Certifications
|
References
- ^ a b c Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Black and White America – Lenny Kravitz". AllMusic. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
- ^ "Lenny Kravitz to Team Up With Roadrunner/Atlantic to Release 9th Studio Album". Roadrunner Records. February 16, 2011. Archived from the original on February 19, 2011. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
- ^ a b c Gardner, Elysa (August 2, 2011). "For Lenny Kravitz, 'Black And White' is a mixed blessing". USA Today. Retrieved March 6, 2012.
- ^ Sterdan, Darryl (August 29, 2011). "Lenny Kravitz a one-man gang". LFPress. Retrieved March 6, 2012.
- ^ Vaziri, Aidin (February 12, 2012). "Lenny Kravitz at 47: 'My best work is ahead of me'". The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 6, 2012.
- ^ Hamersly, Michael (February 24, 2012). "Lenny Kravitz Shatters Musical Stereotypes with a Wide-ranging Career". Hispanic Business. Retrieved March 6, 2012.
- ^ Sundermann, Eric (August 31, 2011). "Lenny Kravitz: 'Stand' on 'Letterman'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 20, 2011. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
- ^ Aitken, Peter C (September 2, 2011). "Lenny Kravitz performs 'Rock Star City Life' on 'Late Night with Jimmy Fallon'". Daily News. New York. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
- ^ a b "Lenny Kravitz: Black And White America". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
- ^ "BLACK AND WHITE AMERICA by Lenny Kravitz". Metacritic. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
- ^ Allen, Eric (August 30, 2011). "Lenny Kravitz: Black and White America". American Songwriter. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
- ^ a b Wood, Mikael (August 29, 2011). "Music Review: Black and White America". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 25, 2014. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
- ^ a b Newman, Melinda (August 30, 2011). "Album Review: Lenny Kravitz 'Black And White America'". HitFix. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
- ^ Burgess, Andrew (August 22, 2011). "Lenny Kravitz – Black And White America (Roadrunner)". musicOMH. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
- ^ "Album Review: Lenny Kravitz, Black and White America". The New Zealand Herald. September 7, 2011. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
- ^ Paste Magazine. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
- ^ a b Decurtis, Anthony (August 30, 2011). "Black and White America by Lenny Kravitz". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
- ^ "REVIEW: Lenny Kravitz: 'Black and White America'". Under the Gun Review. August 27, 2011. Archived from the original on January 11, 2014. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
- ^ a b "Black and White America Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
- ^ Allen, Eric (August 30, 2011). "Lenny Kravitz: Black and White America". American Songwriter. Retrieved August 31, 2011.
- ^ "Take A Trip To Lenny Kravitz's 'Black And White America'". SoulBounce. August 30, 2011. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
- Consequence of Sound. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
- ^ "CDアルバム 週間ランキング-ORICON STYLE ランキング". Oricon.co.jp. September 12, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
- ^ "News". HITS Daily Double. September 6, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
- ^ "Further Dealings: Lenny Kravitz's Roxie Records + Kobalt Label Services | Billboard". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 9, 2018. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ 28 Juin 2011. "Tracklist de Black and White America en exclusivité mondiale". Lennykravitzonline.fr. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
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