Music Review: Kid Rock – Rock N Roll Jesus

Kid Rock is always in the news for something. Whether it’s getting arrested at a Waffle House, marrying Pam Anderson or going off about the lack of talent on American Idol, the man knows how to get attention. After selling over 20 million albums, Kid Rock has also proven he knows how to sell records. Rock, born Robert James Ritchie, has released his seventh album boldly titled, Rock N Roll Jesus. On the heels of his quick marriage and divorce with Pam Anderson, Rock N Roll Jesus is easily Rock’s most introspective album to date.

It was produced by Kid Rock and co-produced by Rob Cavallo, best known for his work on Green Day’s American Idiot and Dookie. Rock N Roll Jesus finds Rock moving away from much of the rap-rock that dominated his breakthrough album Devil Without A Cause and his subsequent release, Cocky -- sans the Sheryl Crow duet, “Picture.” Instead, Rock has created an album full of southern-fried, occasionally guitar laden tracks that seem to mesh well with his own sensibilities.

Rock N Roll Jesus begins with the title track, a heavy metal influenced rocker with a guitar riff that will hook you right in, trumpets blaring to emphasize the sound and female backing vocals to bring everything together. “Rock N Roll Jesus” is Rock’s attempt to bring back classic rock and in the process he gets his album off to a fine start. Rock slows things down on the next few tracks with mixed results. “Amen” features a gospel choir and piano accompaniment, with heartfelt lyrics about racism, political posturing, and soldiers at war.

He sings with conviction: “And as we sit free and well/Another soldier has to yell/Tell my wife and children I love them in his last breath/C’mon now amen, amen, amen./" While some listeners may think “Amen” is just another example of a hard partying rock star going soft for the female fans, it feels like Rock is after something deeper than that. Perhaps having visited soldiers in Iraq last Christmas, he was inspired. “All Summer Long,” borrows its opening guitar riff from Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves In London” and the rest of the song, an ode to teenage summer love, is sung to the guitar riff and piano breakdown from Lynyrd Skynyrd's song "Sweet Home Alabama." “Roll on” is a bluesy, saxophone laden tune about living the simple life with the woman of your dreams.

Article Author: Rebecca Wright

Rebecca is a freelance writer, concentrating in the areas of film, television and music criticism. Her B.A. is in the Humanities with an emphasis in film and writing.She holds an M.A. in American and British literature with an emphasis in dystopian …

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