I have never cared much for Lenny Kravitz, mostly because he has always come across as the poor man’s Jimi Hendrix. But Strut is unexpectedly solid, with one surprisingly good song after another. Occasionally, these good songs get very good, like during the five-track run from track three (“Dirty White Boots”) to track seven (“Frankenstein”), with a great song (“The Pleasure and the Pain”) in between that ranks as one of my favorites of the year. There is a strong emphasis on groove here, particularly on the title track. The slower songs don’t work as well, but Strut is a quality album overall, with lots of top-notch tracks from a seasoned craftsman. Recommended.