Review: Kid Rock – First Kiss

Kid Rock has covered diverse musical genres in his 25-year career: hip-hop, rock, country. His latest record, First Kiss, falls between the lines of Americana and blues-based rock music, a nod to the classic heartland rock of the 70s and 80s that defaults as contemporary country today. This evolution for Kid Rock has been quite conscious with his soul as a musician and songwriter informing him of where he needs to be as an artist. The now 44-year-old recent grandfather no longer has his ear to the streets with the goal of keeping up with popular trends in music. Therefore he’s comfortable with making songs for the people who genuinely dig what he does. At the same time, having a sense of realness to write songs that reach his audience, there are new trails, he feels, that need to be blazed. As a songwriter, he’s mastered the art of taking the great history of music from the past and incorporating it into what he’s feeling today. He doesn’t write with a lot of people or do other people’s music. Instead, he pours his heart out into a song so that people can make the genuine connection. And while some of that can get a bit provocative when it comes to political or ideological views, he is still bettering himself as a musician. For Kid Rock, that means becoming a better guitar player, a better piano player, and a better singer, despite having already devoted his life to this art form.

The lyric writing on First Kiss is the real highlight of the album. Take the title track, for instance. With its pop country guitar melody, this tune is the most compelling ode to reminiscing about puberty and puppy love between high-school students in Small Town, USA. “Drinking Beer With Dad” is another one of great sentimental value with details of simpler times that are completely familiar. “Good Times, Cheap Wine” is a honky-tonk version of the more laid back bayou-tinged “Good Time Lookin’ For Me”. In keeping with showing homage and honor to the legends before him, Kid Rock pens two songs for his biggest influences: Johnny Cash and Hank Williams Jr. aka Bocephus. The first of the two songs, actually titled “Johnny Cash”, is moreso an affirmation of romance like that between the legend and his beloved June Carter Cash. The intro to the song totally brings to mind Lynyrd Skynyrd’s  “Sweet Home Alabama”, which Kid Rock has called the greatest song of all time. Then there’s “Jesus and Bocephus”, a deeply spiritual organ-driven bluegrass ballad that draws on the emotional rawness of finding strength in the time of weakness. Nicknamed “Bocephus” in his childhood, Hank Williams Jr. has been a longtime friend and mentor of Kid Rock, whom he introduces as his “rebel son”. The two have performed together on many occasions and consider one another family, which makes the tribute all the more special.

The one bona fide point of contention on the album is the highly politicized “Ain’t Enough Whiskey”. The song is sure to draw inflammatory criticism, and rightfully so. There’s mention of foolish monkeys in suits aka politicians with their laws and rules, budgets and spending, the NSA, NRA, and something about “red-blooded, white boy blues”. He’s sure to lose a few fans there, though perhaps not his core audience. At the end of the day, First Kiss is an unapologetic mix of country, rock, and blues from Detroit’s native son. The only thing left on his music bucket list, Kid Rock has said, is to jam with Chuck Berry, the father of rock ‘n’ roll, or R&B legend Fats Domino.

Written by Mai Perkins

Originally from Los Angeles, Mai Perkins is living a genuine bona fide love affair with NYC and the music that keeps its spirit moving. While spending the majority of the last decade in Brooklyn, many of her adventures around the globe are documented on her blog: Mai On The Move! www.MaiOnTheMove.com

Author’s rating for First Kiss

Pop Magazine’s official rating for First Kiss

Rating key
MASTERPIECE a must-have
SUPERB for heavy rotation
EXCELLENT a great achievement
VERY GOOD a respectable result
GOOD worth checking out
FAIR an average outcome
WEAK not convincing stuff
BAD an underwhelming effort
VERY BAD quite a waste
FAIL a total failure