Lenny Kravitz

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

• trick
• pulled it off
• case in point
• open up

• anachronism
• twist
• craft
• classic

• genuine
• retro

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

In recent years, popular music has been more and more about playing styles that were popular in the past with a new twist. While reliving the past can be boring or unhealthy for current music, some performers have so much talent that it doesn’t matter that they aren’t inventing a whole new kind of music. Lenny Kravitz is one artist whose real strength is his craft.

For almost two decades, Lenny Kravitz has made music inspired by rock ‘n’ roll classics. But it always sounds current and new. His newest album, It’s Time for a Love Revolution, is no different. Listen to Jason and Marni talk about it.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Jason

Marni

Jason:  So there’s a trick to being in a retro band…

Marni:  OK.

Jason:  ...and the trick, I think, is to sound, like, current and retro at the same time and I think Lenny Kravitz pulls that off.

Marni:  Oh, OK. I was like, “Who does that?” Case in point.

Jason:  Yeah, he sounds, you know, he always sounds ‘70s rock. But when you’re hearing it in 1989, it still sounds current. In 2008 it still sounds current.

Marni:  That’s true.

Jason:  Yeah, I mean, he just released a new album, his first album in four years, and I was worried he might be trying to do some fancy nonsense. I just didn’t trust that it would still rock but it’s still just like his other stuff. Like, it rocks and he still looks cool.

Marni:  He looks great. He definitely looks great. I remember being really into him early in his career and actually I saw him open up for Tom Petty and it was cool.

Jason:  He pulls off being retro without being an anachronism.

Marni:  So what is it? What does he have? What’s the…it’s not like shtick. That’s just his thing. It’s just very genuine.

Jason:  You’re right. You’re right. I think it is just very genuine. I think he has a real appreciation for music from the ‘70s and ‘80s, older funk bands, Prince, stuff like that…

Marni:  Definitely. It’s very evident.

Jason:  ...The Who. But I think it’s truly genuine. You’re right. I don’t think he’s posturing, he just is fashionable and cool.

Marni:  Well, he plays all of his instruments on his recordings. That’s amazing. That’s really impressive.

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