Rebel Soul
On the title track to Kid Rock’s latest album, *Rebel Soul*, Detroit’s native son offers something of an autobiographical sketch about his inimitable career. The song’s homage to “high plains drifters and midnight misters dancin’ with the devil’s rock ‘n’ roll” is an appropriate centerpiece to an album loaded with Kid Rock\'s signature fiery lyrics, big guitars, and high-volume attitude. But despite his insatiable taste for a raucous party, a tune like the pro-soldier anthem “Let’s Ride” shows that he isn’t afraid to tackle challenging contemporary concerns.
Like most of the albums Kid Rock has made since the turn of the century, Rebel Soul, his ninth, doesn’t snugly fit into just one genre. It’s a little bit country, a little bit rock ’n’ roll, and even a little bit hip-hop on one track. And it’s a whole lot of uneven songs crammed into an overlong album that tries hard…
Rebel Soul is a very safe affair, full of platitudes and conspicuous all-American gestures.