I did, and I tend to agree - it's all right, but not like something to write home about. I must have heard this record a hundred times back in the day, though! Not always by choice, FWIW. Even back then, I knew there was more exciting stuff to listen to.
Really a no brainer. While wholly committed, Lenny's peace and love schtick always seemed out of place and time. Sure, Sonic Temple is cock rocky but some days you need mindless driving rock. Today is one of those days.
100%. When I was writing this up, I was trying think back to what people were listening to and wearing. Let Love Rule is a good vibe, but it’s one that was non-existent where I was.
This is a tough one because neither are my favourite by each. For me it's Love (The Cult) and Mama Said (Lenny Kravitz), but Sonic Temple and Let Love Rule are long time favourites. I saw the Cult twice in 2024 and they still have it. Lenny, I'm not so sure. But in 1989 both were near the tops of their games. I don't have any Lenny in my record collection (yet), but I do have plenty of the Cult. Think I'll put one of them on.
It was only later that I realized that in fact I saw Lenny Kravitz open for the Cult in 1992 or 1993! The Cult was in a bit of a downward spiral at that point and Lenny kicked the crap out of them.
Interesting takes. In my opinion, I think you’re being too harsh on Lenny. I love that record so much. It’s not my favourite album of his but, for a first effort, it’s brilliant, especially if you consider that he wrote, produced, sang and played nearly all the instruments on it (which isn’t as common in the genre).
Fair points! My take was influenced by what was going on around me at the time and how this was received in my circle. Is he a virtuoso? No doubt. But it just seems like a tame record.
Yes, I see what you mean. Now that I can contextualise it, I can perfectly see how other records must have resonated a lot more. I discovered this record a decade and a half after its release, and coming from a different angle musically speaking, so to me it did strike a certain chord which I imagine wasn’t perhaps necessarily the case with the tough competition available in 1989.
I really dug 'Electric.' And yes, I felt I was in on the joke. It was a much better AC/DC album than 'Fly on the Wall'. With 'Sonic Temple,' it was like they joined the big boys in the arena. It didn't feel as intimate (I know that's a weird word to associate with any of this) as 'Electric', but like you said, it was a damn good time.
As for Lenny? Meh. Bless his heart. He's just never excited me. He always sounds like he's just skimming the surface, like the rich kid who has all the equipment, knows all the chords, can even dial up the dirtiest tones, but there's not a bit of depth. A shame, because I've spent over 30 years rooting for him.
The Cult wins in my book. I'm partial since my band of that day toured and opened several dates for The Cult and they treated us like we were the headliners. Like many bands that get better as they stick together for more than one or two hits, Sonic Temple seemed to be a pinnacle album before the ride started to descend and public musical interests were completely gobbled up by mainstream grunge bands. The Cult lived somewhere between AC/DC, Guns N Roses, LA Guns and other "hard rock" bands of the day. It was difficult to put your finger on exactly what the band was because Sonic Temple was so much more than what got the band to that stage in their career. That string arrangement on Edie? That was a big departure from the straight guitar drive of Love Removal Machine. Lenny has all these things going for him, too, but he's fishing in a different pond. I speak of the band as if they have disbanded but in reality I saw them last year and they were still a force and still on their game.
Love to hear that they are/were down to Earth guys! I also remember seeing them more on 120 Minutes than Headbangers Ball, and wondering why. Not in a bad way; it just felt like they were being played on the wrong show?
Good question. I remember seeing them on 120 minutes as well and always thought they were in the wrong category there. On another note, I always thought a tour with The Cult and Soundgarden would have been a great bill.
Great picks! I assume you’ve checked out the full bracket, then?
Yeah but I had to throw in the other 2 I was memory landing 🙂
All right fine, I'll listen to Sonic Temple today.
If you must!
I did, and I tend to agree - it's all right, but not like something to write home about. I must have heard this record a hundred times back in the day, though! Not always by choice, FWIW. Even back then, I knew there was more exciting stuff to listen to.
Really a no brainer. While wholly committed, Lenny's peace and love schtick always seemed out of place and time. Sure, Sonic Temple is cock rocky but some days you need mindless driving rock. Today is one of those days.
100%. When I was writing this up, I was trying think back to what people were listening to and wearing. Let Love Rule is a good vibe, but it’s one that was non-existent where I was.
Most of our hippies were of the Widespread Panic variety.
This is a tough one because neither are my favourite by each. For me it's Love (The Cult) and Mama Said (Lenny Kravitz), but Sonic Temple and Let Love Rule are long time favourites. I saw the Cult twice in 2024 and they still have it. Lenny, I'm not so sure. But in 1989 both were near the tops of their games. I don't have any Lenny in my record collection (yet), but I do have plenty of the Cult. Think I'll put one of them on.
Mama Said is fantastic!
It was only later that I realized that in fact I saw Lenny Kravitz open for the Cult in 1992 or 1993! The Cult was in a bit of a downward spiral at that point and Lenny kicked the crap out of them.
Interesting takes. In my opinion, I think you’re being too harsh on Lenny. I love that record so much. It’s not my favourite album of his but, for a first effort, it’s brilliant, especially if you consider that he wrote, produced, sang and played nearly all the instruments on it (which isn’t as common in the genre).
Fair points! My take was influenced by what was going on around me at the time and how this was received in my circle. Is he a virtuoso? No doubt. But it just seems like a tame record.
Yes, I see what you mean. Now that I can contextualise it, I can perfectly see how other records must have resonated a lot more. I discovered this record a decade and a half after its release, and coming from a different angle musically speaking, so to me it did strike a certain chord which I imagine wasn’t perhaps necessarily the case with the tough competition available in 1989.
I really dug 'Electric.' And yes, I felt I was in on the joke. It was a much better AC/DC album than 'Fly on the Wall'. With 'Sonic Temple,' it was like they joined the big boys in the arena. It didn't feel as intimate (I know that's a weird word to associate with any of this) as 'Electric', but like you said, it was a damn good time.
As for Lenny? Meh. Bless his heart. He's just never excited me. He always sounds like he's just skimming the surface, like the rich kid who has all the equipment, knows all the chords, can even dial up the dirtiest tones, but there's not a bit of depth. A shame, because I've spent over 30 years rooting for him.
That’s a great analogy! I was trying to grasp at something like that, but couldn’t articulate it.
The Cult wins in my book. I'm partial since my band of that day toured and opened several dates for The Cult and they treated us like we were the headliners. Like many bands that get better as they stick together for more than one or two hits, Sonic Temple seemed to be a pinnacle album before the ride started to descend and public musical interests were completely gobbled up by mainstream grunge bands. The Cult lived somewhere between AC/DC, Guns N Roses, LA Guns and other "hard rock" bands of the day. It was difficult to put your finger on exactly what the band was because Sonic Temple was so much more than what got the band to that stage in their career. That string arrangement on Edie? That was a big departure from the straight guitar drive of Love Removal Machine. Lenny has all these things going for him, too, but he's fishing in a different pond. I speak of the band as if they have disbanded but in reality I saw them last year and they were still a force and still on their game.
Love to hear that they are/were down to Earth guys! I also remember seeing them more on 120 Minutes than Headbangers Ball, and wondering why. Not in a bad way; it just felt like they were being played on the wrong show?
Good question. I remember seeing them on 120 minutes as well and always thought they were in the wrong category there. On another note, I always thought a tour with The Cult and Soundgarden would have been a great bill.
I’m going to echo what others have said: not my favorite album from either of them. I have copies of Love and Mama Said, which are both fantastic.
It comes down to: I love Fire Woman a lot more than I love Let Love Rule. Had it been Mama Said against Sonic Temple, I would vote Lenny.
Same!
I don't love either album...gotta go Sonic Temple, I think. There is decent guitar work there.
Fair! Neither of them particularly grabs me, either.