Justice are vapid in the same way that Van Halen are vapid, which is to say a great kind of vapid. Lenny Kravitz is, as John Darnielle wisely put it, “an imitation of an imitation of Jimi Hendrix/that’s really pathetic”. There’s no comparison, the potential of 15 years of Robert Evans-grade coke notwithstanding. But I guess Justice have to cancel out the greatness of their “LoveStoned” remix somehow.

@natepatrin: “Are You Gonna Go My Way” > anything that Justice has done

also, i like “Always On The Run.”

@Maura: I don’t think you heard me right. I said “LoveStoned” remix.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WT6TLF4Gx7Q

I know it’s become something of a sport to trash Kravitz, but dude’s first three albums have all sorts of jams. It wasn’t until “Circus” that he really lost the plot.

And the guy has enough of a catalog of hits to kill in concert. I was amazed to see him easily control an Aerosmith crowd when he opened for them a couple of years ago.

@Maura: IAWTC — those are the two major outliers in Kravitz’s career. Slash works fiery magic on “AotR.”

Am I the only one on here who really, really likes “It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over”?

I mean, sure, the guy’s ridiculous, but I’ll take him over Justice any day.

@slowburn: no, i like it too!

@slowburn: I do, too (it’s also his biggest chart hit), but it’s a solid level or two below “AYGGMW” and “AotR.”

The problem with Lenny (besides the horrifying lyrics) is that he takes himself too seriously. If he kinda played it up, made it a campy, cheeky thing like Tom Jones or something, we’d all be into it. His production aesthetic is great. But it’s all so serious.

@Lucas Jensen: “Taking Oneself Too Seriously” (LK) shouldn’t be a bigger sin than “Making Crappy Music” (Justice). (And I know LK has made loadsa crap too, but I can’t think of a single non-annoying Justice song.)

@slowburn: Oh, I don’t disagree.