Design By Humans
Published On: Tue, Nov 27th, 2012

Kid Rock: Rebel Soul

Kid Rock
Rebel Soul
(Atlantic)

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A great hand-clappin’ back beat moves opener “Chickens In The Pen” from Kid Rock’s blazin’ ninth studio release, Rebel Soul. Bluesy “Let’s Ride,” Kid’s anthem to our military, is low, tight and a straight rocker with a strong commercial chorus. But the looser, electric jive strut of “3 CATT Boogie” is the best tune for me at the beginning of this 14-song soup (great lyric here).

“Detroit, Michigan” is a name-dropper with some trilling electric guitar backing and horns, honky  tonk piano and great backing vocals. One of Kid Rock’s strengths is in his simple yet effective production, certainly evident on Rebel Soul. The title track has a strummed acoustic as its base. “God Save Rock n Roll” and “Red Neck Paradise” are fun rockers. “Happy New Year” is a sweet, county-influenced love hello, and marching snare and organ open the driving “Celebrate” (great leads guitars here). Then we’re into some electronic drum rhythm and effected vocal round an acoustic on the only slow tune, “The Mirror.”

I like “Mr. Rock And Roll” with its synth opening and female vocal moans into straight ahead rock. “Cucci Galore, with its soft female rap, flangy guitar and bass pop behind Kid’s vocals sounds the most like old Kid; it’s another great tune. There’s a sweet piano on the bluesy “Cocaine And Gin” and the easy roll of the high sing-able chorus of “Midnight Ferry,” which ends what is yet again another great album of good, solid rock songs that are well-produced, played, sung and written by Kid Rock.

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Kid Rock: Rebel Soul