Kid Rock ROCK & ROLL JESUS

Personnel: Kid Rock (guitar, acoustic guitar, lap steel guitar, banjo, piano, Moog synthesizer, talk box, drums, percussion, programming); Marlon Young (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar, lap steel guitar, mandolin); Al Sutton (vocals); Kenny Tudrick (guitar, drums); Jason Krause, Bobby East (guitar); Jimmie Bones (harp, piano, keyboards, background vocals); Connie Ellisor, Karen Winkelmann, Eberhard Ramm, Bettie Ross, Jim Grosjean, Anthony LaMarchina, Carl Gorodetzky, Pamela Sixfin, Alan Umstead, Catherine Umstead, Gary VanOsdale, Carole Rabinowitz-Neuen (strings); Rayse Biggs (trumpet, horns); Tim Akers (piano); Lawrence Fratangelo (drums, congas, timbales); Stefanie Eulinberg (drums, background vocals); Aaron Julison, Andre N. Jones, Barbara Payton, Karen Newman, Laura Creamer, Sylver Logan Sharp, Thornetta Davis (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: Kid Rock; Rob Cavallo; Al Sutton.
Recording information: Blackbird Studios, Nashville, TN; East Iris Studios, Nashville, TN; The Allen Roadhouse.
Author: Kid Rock.
Photographer: Clay Patrick McBride.
Unknown Contributor Roles: Paul T. Kwami; Wesley Trigg.
Once the straight country-rock of his single "Cocky" struck a chord with the public, Kid Rock seemed more interested in filling the shoes of Southern rock pioneers Lynyrd Skynyrd than upholding his throne as hip-hop's white trash punk. His 2007 album ROCK N ROLL JESUS completes that transition. A big album that bowls straight up the middle, ROCK N ROLL JESUS is Kid's homage to the grits and gravy of classic rock, a 21st-century update of FM radio fare from the 1970s.
Gone for most part is his hip-hop posturing and in-your-face putdowns; in their place are invocations of Skynyrd, Bob Seger, Steve Miller, and the like. "All Summer Long," a bouncy, sunny tune that bears a striking resemblance to "Sweet Home Alabama," is a case in point; while "Roll On" has the smooth-rolling feel of the Eagles' early work. Rock cuts loose, to be sure, as on the head-banging "So Hott," but even these tracks are injected with a retro feel, summoning classic AC/DC more than anything from the '00's. Longtime Rock fans might miss the bad attitude, but fans of classic '70s rock should feel right at home.

• RSD Release Date: n/a
• Released: 10/9/2007
• Genre: Pop
• Format: CD