…I can already tell I'm gonna catch some flack for giving something by Kid Rock a rating THAT high, but hear me out before sending me expletive-laden mail doused in hatorade and blessed by Satan himself. But before I get to the actual review, I best start with my obligatory, vague bio on the artist. Kid Rock by this point could be considered a semi-veteran in the music industry, having cut three albums prior to this one. However, this was the one that broke him through the roof thanks to MTV and radio exposure, and the fact that a harder-edged version of what he'd been doing since '92 was the "big thing" at the time.

So, this here is a good party album. Cocky, fun-loving and rawkin' really hard. Kid, of course, is the main performer (doing vocals, some production, some mixing and string arrangements according to AMG). The focus here is really on the music. Really. With grooves this good, who CARES that Rock has an incredibly small palette of topics to rap about? His goal never was, never is and (probably) never will be to move you to change the world. His goal is to get the party started and get some asses shaking.

And he succeeds with the hellacious opener, (and his first hit) "Bawitdaba," "Cowboy," the title track, and… well… let's say tracks 1-10, then 12 13, and the "secret track" (I HATE THOSE) remix of "I Am the Bullgod" so I don't have to name each and every song. Each of them have a level of individuality to them. Not lyrically, but more in arrangement and music. Rock's main premises revolve around having money, being a pimp, or being "on top" (which he really wasn't before "Bawitdaba" hit). Oh well, at least he's somewhat clever in his rhymes and the music is great.

Gotta love the "headbanger" value of "Bawitdaba," "I Am the Bullgod," "Somebody's Got to Feel This," "Fist of Rage" and "Fuck Off," the best track on here. Nothing present on this CD rocks with this much ferocity and attitude. No, really, that is some loud "I don't give a fuck!" kind of music that very few people can really put out, Eminem being one. And how about that? Eminem has a little guest rap on "Fuck Off," too. Gotta love that guy. And "Roving Gangster (Rollin')" is another good track that I forgot to mention for whatever reasons. Beats the hell out of Limp Bizkit's "Rollin,'" though. Then again, the dial tone on a telephone beats that thing out.

Then there's the funk on the title track, "Wasting Time," "Welcome 2 the Party (Ode 2 the Old School)," "I Got One for Ya" and "Where U At Rock?," all of which kick some heavy, John Popper-sized ass (what's up with songs titled "Wasting Time" kicking ass? Kid Rock, DMB, Blink 182… all of their "Wasting Time" songs kick some). The title track perfects a 90's spin on (what may be a sampled, but I don't know) 70's funk groove, while "Welcome" sounds like something out of the 80's rap scene (which is a GOOD thing). The only real low point of these tracks is the phone messages that come before "Where U At Rock?," but they're not an actual track, nor are they part of the song, so, whatever. All is forgiven.

So what's left are 2 "soft" songs. Both are remarkable considering the lack of a real emotional center of this thing. "Only God Knows Why" (the obligatory ballad-single) is a sung (not rapped) ode to being tired, but striving on. Meanwhile, "Black Chick, White Guy" might be the best-written song here. The tale of Rock's love life (or at least the tale of how his son came to be) is a fitting closer (not counting the remix of "I Am the Bullgod"). It's also a pretty clever song, since getting a true-to-life narrative to rhyme that consistently is an interesting feat. Rock on, Rock. Rock on.

The only reason I didn't give this a "Classic" rating is because, well, let's face it. It'll be a cold day in hell when Rock can equal the greatness of the other albums I gave that rating.

Hey, didn't I say I didn't want to list the entire track list earlier, but wound up doing so later? Oh well.