Kid Rock — Kid Rock

Last year Bob Ritchie reinvented himself and saved his career with "Picture," the lone great song on the otherwise terrible Cocky. With this new self-titled album, the Kid continues on that little-bit-country-little-bit-rock ‘n’ roll vibe, not quite striking the right balance, but certainly making a step in the right direction. The songs that capitalize on the "Picture" formula (one part rock ‘n’ roll swagger, four parts tear-in-your-beer country sadness), particularly "Run Off To L.A." (another duet with Sheryl Crow), are great, as are the Kid’s adventures with boogie rock at the top of the album. But, if he wants to be taken seriously as a legit artist, Ritchie has to get rid of the excessive vulgarity and, more importantly, the rap-metal. Still, he seems to be trying, and at this rate, by the time his next album rolls around, the Kid may have finally completely grown up.