“When U Love Someone” says, “Before you think about yourself, think of someone else.” Despite dicey language and dubious religiosity, “Amen” rants against societal ills, urging fans to be agents of change.
Kid Rock’s hypocrisy (stumping for “our Creator and our Savior,” then using “g–d–n” on the same track) is surpassed only by his bad-boy posturing. Nearly every song talks about getting high. On the title cut he says, “Ya don’t need a Bible … I’m gonna save your soul.” A religious girlfriend puts equal faith in a “bad seed” lover fueled by “two packs and a pint a day” (“Blue Jeans in a Rosary”). Four songs spew the f-word. One of them, the rap-rock diatribe “Sugar,” injects random pop culture references into an ode to casual sex. Another says love isn’t on the agenda, but raw lust is (“Don’t Tell Me U Love Me”). “So Hott” is a randy proposition, with moaning backup singers. The artist mentions having strippers at his shows. He holds cigars and a revolver in liner photos. “Lowlife” is about a stalker with an affection for cocaine and firearms.
A little righteous indignation and lip service to the Creator can’t begin to atone for the depravity on Rock n Roll Jesus. One chorus says it all: “It’s all sex, drugs, rock and roll … And you can see I practice what I preach.”
Paul Asay has been part of the Plugged In staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including Time, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter @AsayPaul.
