Partway through "It's Just Another Fine Day (In This Universe of Love)," the opening track of
Blue Electric Light
,
Lenny Kravitz
starts singing "lockdown!" -- an unmistakable allusion to the limbo of the COVID-19 pandemic. This timely reference dates
in a way the music painstakingly avoids. A classicist to his core,
Kravitz
purposefully conjures spirits of rock past, taking particular effort to evoke
Prince
this time around. "TK421" replicates the Purple One's computer-age update of
James Brown
, "Honey" glides to a refurbished smooth soul groove, and "Let It Ride" is a full immersion in new wave funk. The heavy dose of
shouldn't be taken as a de facto tribute to one of
's primary influences but rather as an indication of the retro-rocker's intentions for
: it's a party record for a dark age. Apart from that aside to lockdowns as well as the occasional pleas for love and togetherness, there are no direct instructives percolating through
. Instead,
keeps the tone bright and light, emphasizing sparkling surfaces and hooks so large they're intended to carry listeners through the rough spots. When he gets heavy, as he does on the churning "Paralyzed," the intent isn't gloom: it's catharsis. "Paralyzed" provides just enough friction on the soul-heavy
to give the album momentum, the brisk sequencing emphasizing the record's abundance of cannily crafted pop tunes. Stylistically,
may not be trying anything new, but his decision to prioritize good vibes above all else generates an unusually satisfying record from the rocker. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine