James Arden checks out the garage rockers latest album.
The Christian rock band from Brighton bring religion to the masses.
Recipe for modern R'n'B album: liberal helpings of guest rappers and an overdose of sexual euphemisms.
First of all, the titles. "Rock N Roll Jesus", "So Hott", "Amen", two song titles featuring both words "Love" and "U", and the unignorable "Blue Jeans and a Rosary". The lyrics alone are, in their own way, a small masterpiece. The brain is baffled by lines such as: "It’s another night in hell, another child won’t live to tell, can you imagine what it’s like to starve to death? Come on now! amen amen, I said amen amen." The range of topics tackled is remarkable: existential ponderings ("All my life I’ve been searchin, All my life I’ve been uncertain"), love ("You’re so hot, I wanna get you stoned, Yeah, C’mon, Yeah", or the charming "I fuck hot pussy until it’s cold") and heartfelt personal confessions ("Two packs and a pint a day, To hide the shame, And wash away the pain, Aww the pain"). Just one more, I swear it’s the last one: "I like stars and bars but I ain't no Nazi, So fuck you, fuck you in the nose." I kid you not – these are the real lyrics.
The music could kindly be described as "generic", but perhaps words such as "god-awful" and "dreadful" might be more accurate.
The music itself – a mix between country and stadium rock – could kindly be described as "generic", but perhaps words such as "god-awful" and "dreadful" might be more accurate. Aerosmith, Bon Jovi and Creed comparisons beg to be made: insipid tunes punctuated by soulless riffs, framed by cringe-inducing backing vocals. Sampling "Sweet Home Alabama" in "All Summer Long" does not scream originality, and the slow-rock ballad "Roll On" doesn’t score Kid Rock any extra points.
The press release helpfully says that Kid Rock "hustled in the Detroit underground for over ten years" before becoming "one of the greatest artists of our time". Considering the undeniable comedic value of the album, it has to be said that it could do with a bit more tongue-in-cheek – he actually seems to believe his own hype. But although the humour of it wears off quite quickly, Rock N Roll Jesus does offer some moments of hilarity.
Make sure you don’t miss his January/February 2008 UK tour dates.
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