Baptism
by Lenny Kravitz
  • Record Label: Virgin
  • Release Date: May 18, 2004
User Score
4.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 41 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 41
  3. Negative: 20 out of 41

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  1. Mab_987
    May 5, 2013
    10
    Maybe it's partially because I have a nostalgic attachment, given that this is pretty much the first album I ever owned, but I think the negative reception this album got is highly undeserved. It's packed full of infectious hooks, emotive lyrics & nice guitar riffs. It shows Lenny's unique combination of rock, soul, pop & R&B on a lot of tracks, but this is easily one of of his moreMaybe it's partially because I have a nostalgic attachment, given that this is pretty much the first album I ever owned, but I think the negative reception this album got is highly undeserved. It's packed full of infectious hooks, emotive lyrics & nice guitar riffs. It shows Lenny's unique combination of rock, soul, pop & R&B on a lot of tracks, but this is easily one of of his more ballad-driven albums, showing a lot of insightful introspection in beautiful tracks like I Don't Wanna Be a Star, Baptized, What Did I Do With My Life, The Other Side & Destiny. Meanwhile there's some great raw rock songs here too, like Where Are We Runnin, Minister of Rock & Roll, the soul-tinged Flash & my personal favorite California. Usually my reviews are longer than this but I really just wanted to make a case for an album I have a strong personal attachment towards given the absurd 4.8 average user score.… Expand
  2. markj
    Jul 3, 2005
    10
    Mint!!! best album, loved it!!!!
  3. KoenD
    May 22, 2004
    10
    Lenny rocks! Give this CD a chance...the more you listen to it the better it gets. It's his best album in years!
  4. omara
    Sep 8, 2006
    10
    great
  5. RBrown
    Dec 10, 2004
    10
    Excellent offering for true Lenny Kravitz fans...The more you listen to it....the better it gets!
  6. RhondaMc
    Mar 18, 2005
    10
    Awesome! This is up there with his best!
  7. JaspervanW
    Jun 23, 2005
    9
    One of the finest albums I bought last year. look forward to seeing him at Rockin'park Nijmegen.
  8. richardj
    Nov 27, 2006
    8
    This is not a bad Lenny Kravitz album atall compared to 5 or Lenny which i think are weaker then this, this has a lot a mixture of old Lenny sound "Mama Said and Are you gonna go my way" to the new sounding "5 and new tracks from the greatest hits", the only criticism I have is it is pretenious but Lenny has been in the industry for over 15 years so he has a right to be. Tell me soemone This is not a bad Lenny Kravitz album atall compared to 5 or Lenny which i think are weaker then this, this has a lot a mixture of old Lenny sound "Mama Said and Are you gonna go my way" to the new sounding "5 and new tracks from the greatest hits", the only criticism I have is it is pretenious but Lenny has been in the industry for over 15 years so he has a right to be. Tell me soemone else who comes up with albums as good as this in the genre? If your a fan of Lenny Kravitz or like some of his music buy this and give it a few listens then make a more rounded judegment! Also Paul V tell that commetn to Prince aswell maybe? You have to be influenced by someone.....it's how music develops and evolves!… Expand
  9. DaveV
    May 27, 2004
    7
    If it ain't broke, don't fix it. This is classic Lenny Kravtz, you either like him or you don't
  10. PeterR
    Dec 25, 2005
    8
    I love the dynamicism and polish of this album. I love Lenny's lighter more acoustic songs. I love this album.

Awards & Rankings

65
#65 Most Discussed Album of 2004
93
#93 Most Shared Album of 2004

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
43

Mixed or average reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 10
  3. Negative: 5 out of 10
  1. Rolling Stone
    70
    Somewhere along the line in his career, he fully absorbed his pantheon of Sixties and Seventies influences and began to sound like no one but himself. The confidence that results from that growth -- along with the knowledge that comes from having made records for fifteen years -- is apparent throughout this album.
    Read full review
  2. Mojo
    20
    Tired and contrived-sounding.... Baptism? Craptism, more like. [Jun 2004, p.102]
  3. Blender
    30
    Kravitz has evolved merely from one set of retro-’70s surfaces to another, with uncharacteristically uninspired hooks.
    Read full review
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