Rock N Roll Jesus : Kid Rock : Review : Rolling Stone

As its title suggests, this balls-to-the-wall album finds Kid Rock latching onto the verities of sex, drugs and rock & roll as a path to redemption -- both his and the country's. He'd never admit it, but hurt over losing Pamela Anderson fuels his appetite for salvation. She's the target of the hilarious country romp "Half Your Age," which proclaims Rock's new girlfriend to be "half your age and twice as hot."

Rock shows his wistful side, too. "All Summer Long" takes its inspiration from "Night Moves," by Bob Seger (Kid's Michigan idol), mashing up the piano lick from "Werewolves of London" with bits of "Sweet Home Alabama" for a story of sexual awakening. It's stirring stuff. And "Amen" imports a gospel choir to denounce religious hypocrisy, racism and pointless soldiers' deaths in Iraq. There's straight country, hard-edged rock, big soul balladry and rhymes declaimed over metal guitar. Throughout, Kid Rock extends the Seger-Mellencamp tradition of heartland rock -- its swagger as well as its vulnerability -- into a new era.

Kid Rock is the first to admit that he's "no saint" -- his immortal couplet (from "So Hott"), "I don't want to be your friend/ I want to fuck you like I'm never gonna see you again," amply makes that point. But his good-hearted faith in rock & roll delivers a powerful kick. As he well knows -- and Rock N Roll Jesus proves -- roaring guitars, truckloads of attitude and an unquenchable lust for life make up for a multitude of sins.

ANTHONY DECURTIS

(Posted: Oct 18, 2007)

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Track List

Play All

Rock and Roll Jesus
Amen
All Summer Long
Roll On
So Hot
Sugar
When You Love Someone
New Orleans
Don't Tell Me You Love Me
Blue Jeans and A Rosary
Half Your Age
Lowlife (Living the Highlife)
Guilty (Explicit Album Version) (track not available in Rhapsody)
Jackson, Mississippi [Live] (Non-Album Track) (track not available in Rhapsody)

Your Turn

Give us your review of Rock N Roll Jesus

Review 1 of 24

4of 5 Stars

First and foremost just the title of his album Rock N Roll Jesus alone is a statement, better yet a direct symbol or sign that 15-20 years from now Kid Rock will be inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. For the title itself is perfect. Though how quickly people forget that during the early 90's Kid Rock displayed this same kind ( if not better) statement with his album Grit Sanwiches for Breakfast,but back to Rock N Roll Jesus ( which would make any advent listener of Johnny Cash, Hank Williams Sr & Jr, Run Dmc, Steve Miller Band, Lynrd Skynrd, B.B King and ZZ Hill proud). For as much as this album is and belongs to Kid Rock, it is and belongs to what is good about music. Every song such as Blue Jeans and a Rosary and Amen is evidence that the past can be prosperous in the present and in the future be once again hailed as a classic. There are several peaks on this album, and before you can see or spot a valley its quickly saved. So I guess after all there is a Jesus, I mean a Rock N Roll Jesus.

Oct 14, 2008 07:58:35

Review 2 of 24

5of 5 Stars

I've been a fan of Kids since Devil Without A Cause came out. With every album the man has released, he has become more experimental and has taken risk after risk to ensure that the delivered product is as fresh as possible. On Rock N' Roll Jesus, he does this flawlessly and crafts a record that is good and so rich its ambition, that it hits every mark on arrival. From top to bottom, it's easily the best album of the year. Rocks a colorful dude and on cuts like "Lowlife", he manages to both poke fun and celebrate his boozy lifestyle. On "All Summer Long", he mixes Warren Zevon and Skynrd together to create one of the coolest summer hits in quite awhile. Rock manages to be apolitical on "Amen" (Rolling Stones biased editor wrongly noted an anti-war sentiment when it's clear Rock was simply writing about the pain of fighting in any war...Lose your annoying biases guys). The best cut of the entire record is "Blue Jeans And A Rosary". It's the best song Bob Seger never penned. Kid Rock is here to stay. Here's to more of the same in the near future.

Oct 2, 2008 18:08:46

Review 3 of 24

1of 5 Stars

Wow, this review shows how bad rollingstone sucks dick. "Amen" and "All Summer Long" are two of the least artistic songs to come out this year. You say that "All Summer Long" takes some cues from "Night Moves." Have you ever heard "Werewolves of London" thats the song he ripped off to pump out this fake southern bullshit. Then, you have the balls to praise "Amen", this sounds like some post 9/11 Toby Keith bullshit. If you didn't let your political views get in the way of reviewing every record you do, you would see that "Amen" has some of the worst/easiest lyrics of any pop song this summer. Kid Rock sucks and you suck for liking him.

Jul 17, 2008 14:01:54

Review 4 of 24

5of 5 Stars

I Like This Album Very Much. Every Song Is Excellent. Every Rock Album Today Should Sound Like This. You Know, That Old Classic Rock Sound. Today, Rock Music Sound Way To Sharp To Me, and Since Emo and Hip-Hop Music Is Taking Over The Music Industry, We Need This Kind Of Music Today. I Give This Album 5 Stars and One Day It Will Definitely Be a Classic From Kid Rock.

Rock and Roll Jesus 5/5 Stars
Amen 5/5 Stars
All Summer Long 5/5 Stars
Roll On 5/5 Stars
So Hott 5/5 Stars
Sugar 5/5 Stars
When U Love Someone 5/5 Stars
New Orleans 5/5 Stars
Don't Tell Me U Love Me 5/5 Stars
Blue Jeans and a Rosary 5/5 Stars
Half Your Age 5/5 Stars
Lowlife (Living The Highlife) 5/5 Stars (My Favorite Song on This Album

Apr 25, 2008 09:08:30

Review 5 of 24

Not Rated

Is this cd for or against Jesus? The music itself sounds good though.

Dec 31, 2007 10:15:07

Review 6 of 24

5of 5 Stars

I bought the c.d. after hearing So Hott on the radio. Never
bought a Kid Rock c.d. in my life, but baby I went back and
bought 3 more of Rock n Roll Jesus to give my friends. It's that
good!!!!!! There isn't a bad song on the c.d. and I can't get
enough of the music, the voice and the lyrics. You do ROCK Kid!
The whole c.d. makes me So Hott!!!!!!!!

Dec 6, 2007 20:59:27

Review 7 of 24

5of 5 Stars

Kid Rock amazes me with his music and style ! Being a loyal fan
sine the early 90s > he is incredible . Rock and Roll Jesus is just
another great combination of his talent and longivity to what he
does best ! Hats off to this performer who can jump the highest I
have ever seen > LOL This is why he has made it into my
paintings > he continues to deliver music that is genious !

Nov 18, 2007 16:12:26

Review 8 of 24

5of 5 Stars

Many of the songs on Rock N Roll Jesus make me feel.....be it happy,sad,raunchy,cocky,mad and like KR says that's when it's real. That's a plus in today's plastic Brittney Spear's world.
Now to address Stolenbike (10-07-07)you could have voiced your opinion in the following manner...."RollingStone needs to devise a new rating system....Kid Rock's RRJ can't compare to Radiohead's IR, then add some supporting evidence (lyrics, musical arrangement, vocals,theme etc). If your statement sounded intelligent enough, perhaps I would have even downloaded RH's new CD. BUT in referring to me as a "retard" (Kid Rock fans) I realize your taste in music would probably be much like your character - juvenille and shallow. Sorry Radiohead, you might have gotten a new fan but one of the present "retarded" ones prevented that.

Nov 14, 2007 14:00:30

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