No matter how much of a Puritan you happen to be, it's hard not to like Kid Rock. He is the quintessential offspring of our pop culture. Cashing in on the market-sure formula of testosterone-toting hip-hop mixed with crunch chord, southern flavored, blues rock, the Kid knows what he's doing. In spite of the title, Cocky finds Kid R less intent on bashing out "Regular Joe makes good, so let's party-hearty manifestoes" and if he isn't careful he might find himself re-named Kid Country. Hanging out with Hank Jr. has had what I think is a positive effect on KR's songwriting. In fact about half of the tunes on Cocky could be considered Country, at least in a Lynyrd Skynyrd "Free Bird" kind of way. Also evident is the influence of fellow East coast forerunners, particularly Aerosmith and Ted Nugent.

His white-trash romance-gone-bad duet with Sheryl Crow is downright listenable. You're alright Kid, now go get me a beer, y'knucklehead.