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Baptism
by
  • Record Label:
  • Release Date:
Baptism Image
Metascore
43

Mixed or average reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
4.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 41 Ratings

  • Summary: Kravitz handled virtually all of the instruments for this seventh album, which features a guest appearance from Jay-Z on the track "Storm."

Top Track

Calling All Angels
Calling all angels I need you near to the ground I miss you dearly Can you hear me on your cloud? All of my life I've been waiting for someone to... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

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.
  2. Billboard
    60
    A respectable effort.
  3. Q Magazine
    60
    Crass, brash, open freeway excess at its best. If only he didn't spend half the album apologising for them. [Jul 2004, p.118]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. ShakingThrough.net
    36
    There's precious little rocking to be found, and the turgid numbers that make up Baptism's bulk are bogged down by insipid clichés and half-hearted tempos.
  5. Blender
    30
    Kravitz has evolved merely from one set of retro-’70s surfaces to another, with uncharacteristically uninspired hooks.
  6. AllMusic
    30
    It's a shame and embarrassment, and hopefully it will be a temporary slump like Circus.
  7. Mojo
    20
    Tired and contrived-sounding.... Baptism? Craptism, more like. [Jun 2004, p.102]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 10 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 28
  3. Negative: 16 out of 28
  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 theMaybe 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. RhondaMc
    Mar 18, 2005
    10
    Awesome! This is up there with his best!
  4. JaspervanW
    Jun 23, 2005
    9
    One of the finest albums I bought last year. look forward to seeing him at Rockin'park Nijmegen.
  5. LaurenceH
    May 20, 2004
    3
    This CD falls falt. Maybe the only first single 'Where are we runnin' could have a minimum of interest... But, seriously, Kravitz This CD falls falt. Maybe the only first single 'Where are we runnin' could have a minimum of interest... But, seriously, Kravitz can do better. He should stick to P.O.D style, not his own.… Expand
  6. UnclePeanut
    May 21, 2004
    2
    Lenny's 2nd straight subpar album... at one time I thought each new record pushed in a different direction but this is retreaded stuff.
  7. LawrenceC
    May 30, 2004
    1
    NO WAY. This record was probably released to say ''Hey guys, I'm still in the game''... A shame, really. Stay away NO WAY. This record was probably released to say ''Hey guys, I'm still in the game''... A shame, really. Stay away from 'Baptism'. It sucks.… Expand
  8. DevinB
    May 18, 2004
    0
    Lenny has and always will be nothing more than worthless pastiche. His covers sap the originals of any power or emotion they may have had, Lenny has and always will be nothing more than worthless pastiche. His covers sap the originals of any power or emotion they may have had, his originals are equally soulless, structured from the ground up as a poor man's Hendrix. Very poor. Lenny wants so badly to be iconic, nostalgic and anthemic, but with Baptism he's proven once and for all that he's really just prosaic and moronic.… Collapse

See all 28 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

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

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