Prodigal Sun- the usual "I left home and worked my way up" song. Rap chorus rock hook.

Dark & Gray- sounds "I am the Bullgod".

Abortion- Fans of "Only God Knows Why" will like this. I'm not sure, but I think he is talking to the baby he said he and his girlfriend aborted in "Black Chic, White Guy" on DWAC. He appears apologetic and suicidal, far from his usual I'm drunk and ready to fight songs.

I wanna go back- a story about his getting a start in Detroit

Born 2 Be a Hick- It's Kid Rock singing Rockabilly. For the last year he has made his image as someone "straight out the Trailer." Well, this song was recorded in 1992 and is basically Redneck jokes put to music.

My Oedipus Complex- it is about Kid Rock's hate for his dad. Half of it is "Only God Knows Why" style, and the other half is "Bawitabaw" style. Fans of Eminem's "Kim" will like this.

If you grew up on Lynyrd Skynyrd and NWA get this


If These Are His Best Songs Then I'd Hate To Hear His Worst   June 2, 2000
VoodooLord7 (Oklahoma, USA)
8 out of 27 found this review helpful

It's pretty sad when you get a so-called "best of" from an artist like this one, and the songs on it are worse than what would be considered filler on albums by real bands.

American Badass is nothing but a big laugh. How long did it take to write that song? Five minutes? Let's see he samples a riff (Metallica's Sad But True, because the guitarists in the "band" aren't creative enough to come up with their own riffs), has some drums on it, no other guitar or bass (except for the little part at the end), and most of the lyrrics are either cliches, lies (saying he likes AC/DC, ZZ Top, etc.), or rehashings of his old songs (Only God Knows Why, etc.). You know you are far gone when you have to [borrow from] your own songs.

The other songs are, of course, no better. Particularly his early tracks on here. You think DWAC was awful? Man, you haven't heard this stuff! ....He pretends to be either heavy metal or rap, of which he is neither. Sometimes, when people won't buy that, fans of this "band" say that it is "rap-metal", that is an oxymoron people! Besides, he does it in such a way that neither fans of metal or rap will like his music, it is just appalling. For the love of God avoid [stuff] like this that is littering up the musical landscape and go out and buy some real music...!


Not worthy of 1 star   August 4, 2000
8 out of 9 found this review helpful

As you read this, I am plotting this man's death


Good intro to the Kid's early work   January 12, 2001
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

First off, don't buy this album expecting "Devil Without a Cause." There are a few tracks on this CD that rock like "Devil," namely "American Bad Ass," "Dark & Grey," "3 Sheets to the Wind (What's My Name?)," and "F**k That."

But a lot of it is pure rap, like "Paid," "Early Mornin' Stoned Pimp," and "I Wanna Go Back." These are passable, but let's all hope that when the Kid is in the studio recording the follow-up to "Devil," he realizes that his bread is buttered on the "rock" side of "rap-rock."

This CD isn't junk, however. Several songs explore the Kid's troubled relationship with his family. "Prodigal Son" is moving, but "My Oedipus Complex" is the most lyrically deep song Kid Rock has ever attempted. I almost had to stop my car when "Oedipus" came on, that's how hard it hit me. Those of us who've grown up with problems in the family probably never stopped to think of what it's like from the other person's point of view. On "Oedipus," Kid Rock wrote an entire song about his conflicts with his father. But the genius is that the first half is written from the son's point of view and the second half is written from the father's point of view. It's truly a moving song and forced me to re-evaluate my relationship with my father and how I've treated him in the past.

There's enough of "Devil Without a Cause" on this album to justify fans purchasing it. If you enjoy songs with some lyrical depth and personal meaning, you'll enjoy this CD, too. The lyrics and meaning are there, you've just got to look for them.


AAH   April 9, 2004
John (a place)
7 out of 20 found this review helpful

You know this guy did appeal to me at first, but if you have this CD youve heard American Bad Ass, right? Listen to Metallicas "Sad But True". He ripped off the guitar part completely. H e tries to be metal, hardcore rap, and country at the same time. Fails miserably. He is a talentless wigger. Wait...thats too nice. I hope he commits suicide.