On Black & White America, Kravitz explores race issues to the happy bubblegum disco-funk sounds of his childhood. While Kravitz (who wears his influences liberally on his sleeve) has always sounded very retro, he has never before immersed himself in the sounds of one era so singularly and to the point of caricature as here. Horn and gang vocal stabs pepper the unashamedly cartoonish 70’s funk of the title track, in which Kravitz recounts the interracial marriage of his parents and the racial hostility they endured from others. Liquid Jesus sounds like early Michael Jackson with lyrics as creepy as latter day Jackson (‘Liquid Jesus wash me over/Wash me down’). Whether this musical stereotyping is there to offset the weighty topics is unclear, but, even as Kravitz remains transcendently hopeful throughout, the effect is sadly comical. On the ridiculously titled Boongie Drop we are subjected to an equally ridiculous rap by Jay Z as DJ Military brings us firmly back into the 21st century. There are no obvious standout tracks and I get the sense that he is in a happy space in his life and with this album is more concerned with painting a picture with the sounds of his early childhood than setting the mainstream music world on fire with retro-inspired hits. Definitely one for serious fans only.
REVIEW: Nic Roos
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