Rock 'n Roll Jesus

my sister joined the party and recommended that i listen to kid rock's latest cd, "rock 'n roll jesus." now, i happen to like the kid. in small doses. i like how he's over the top. i have said for many years, to anybody who has cared to listen (a very small number), that i think rap and comtemporary mainstream country music are basically the same genre. no, it's true. i realize they may sound different, and the lifestyles that they glorify may not be the same, but it always seems to me that most of the songs are about glorifying the singer's lifestyle. the rappers brag about sex, and bling, and killing people, and selling millions of CDs, and making lots of money, and try to make us think that we wish we could be like them; the country folk talk about what a simple life they lead, how they don't have a lot of money but they love god and family, how they drive a pick-up truck and wear jeans, and try to make us think that we wish we could be like them. i'm not saying that's the only type of song you'll find among rap and country, or that none of the self-glorifying songs from either genre are any good, but....there's too much of it for my tastes. i prefer songs that tell a story. so, there's my theory. now, along comes kid rock and proves my theory--he glorifies his lifestyle with both country- and rap-inspired songs on this CD, along with southern rock, blues, soul, and gospel numbers, too. a true renaissance man :) i really like the big hit from the CD, "all summer long." it's fun and catchy--and it's a story song! i really like "new orleans" as well. it's boogie-woogie rootsy sounding and, while it doesn't tell a story, it gives you a taste of new orleans. the other songs on here are mostly listenable-to, with a number of good moments, but i don't think any of them are as solid as those two. the couple of times he goes back to his rap ways fall pretty short of his previous stuff, and while his other attempts at country or other musical stylings are admirable....they fall a little short of the mark as well. so, i give "all summer long" and "new orleans" a solid A; i give him a C+/B- for the rest of the album, which had some pretty good moments in it. thanks for the recommendation, kunk!