Black and White America is the new album from veteran alternative-rocker Lenny Kravitz.  The artist has always wrestled with a muse for classic-rock and 70s soul and funk.  With two discs full of new material (on the deluxe version,) Kravitz seemingly leaves no stone uncovered in this retro-minded effort.

Most of the effort hinges on funk-guitar-fueled rock, such as the title track where the artist reminisces on his multicultural upbringing.  Hip-Hop standard-bearer Jay-Z guests on the reggae-styled “Boongie Drop”, but it seems like he’s phoning it in with treacly Caribbean-culture nods.  Comparative newcomer Drake seems more genuinely engaged on the searching-for-love themed “Sunflower.”

The artist slows down the tempo on “The Faith of a Child,” where he calls for listeners to “work together, we are one big family/ Join together, like the branches of a tree/ In this world of our neighbors, there is no community.”  The artist has been maligned for an alleged hippie fetish, but fortunately “Faith” doesn’t slide into self-parody like it could.

Kravitz’s brand of “let love rule” rock isn’t for everyone, but Black and White… is an energizing, inspirational, and non-ironic modern rock album that the open-minded will enjoy.

Buy here:  http://tinyurl.com/6774537