Lenny Kravitz and Ray LaMontagne

It should be known that I am a fan of Ray LaMontagne - am not a fan of Lenny Kravitz. After reinjuring my hip last week running, I've turned to swimming. When I'm swimming, I'm not focused on how much I hate it and how much I hope I don't get hurt - like I did when I was running.

The first day I swam at the gym, it was about 6:15am and there were three of the five lanes occupied. So I chose the one on the end, nearest the clock. I wouldn't be wearing glasses (obviously), and my eyesight is awful at best. So I didn't want to zone out and be late for work. Doubtful I would swim so long that I would magically lose track of time on my first day, but you can never be too careful.

It was gloriously quiet in the pool. And I did zone out (and subsequently hit my head on the side of the pool, but there was no injury). The 2nd day they had the XM blasting. Apparently nothing stimulates swimmers like Light Rock. Then, tucked between "Ray of Light" by Madonna and "It Must Have Been Love (But It's Over Now)" by Somebody and the Somebody Else's, was "Fly Away" by Lenny Kravitz.

This is the same guy who sang "Rock and Roll Is Dead" fifteen years ago, and it was awesome. I actually loved "Are You Gonna Go My Way" - not just the song, but the whole album. And now he's on The Heart. So here's my question: In an industry where image is everything, do you think Lenny Kravitz cries because he's now entertaining people trying really hard not to die swimming (me) and four other people doing water aerobics? Does Lenny just sit back and enjoy his money, or do you think he's in the studio with Slipknot trying to recapture some credibility?

In other, credible music news, Ray LaMontagne will release a new album. I don't know when, but it's called Gossip in the Grain. Here's this, from his website: Recorded with returning producer, Ethan Johns in Box, England, and touching upon a range of styles and musical settings - spanning pastoral folk, railroad blues, front porch country, and plangent balladry - Gossip In The Grain proves to be Ray's most creative and emotionally expansive collection to date.

I don't know what "plangent" means. But I can't wait to find out...