Album Review: Kid Rock and the Twisted Brown Trucker Band - "Live Trucker" (2006)

Kid Rock, the redneck from the rust belt, has delivered what may be the best live album of the 2000's. Admittedly, that's not saying much, what with the music scene today dominated by acts like Ashlee Simpson and American Idol, but I digress.

Recorded in Detroit (including at Cobo Hall, where parts of the greatest live album in history was recorded 30 years ago), with lots of props to the hometown (from a shoutout to the Pistons to the Seger-esque lettering on the cover), Rock leaps out of the trailer to entertain with his potent blend of rap, Southern rock, classic riffage, soul and funk. He nods to Zeppelin and Skynyrd, gives the dearly departed Joe C. the spotlight on "Devil Without a Cause", and invites the trashy Gretchen Wilson to sing on "Picture". As an added bonus, the 70's-ish jam "Outstanding" as recorded at a sound check is included.

Only complaints are that "Jackson, Mississippi" and "Lonely Road of Faith" are not included. And I'm hopeful that a couple of albums down the road a DVD will make its way to store shelves.

I know from personal experience that there is absolutely nothing better than having a great beer buzz accentuated with a little blunt on a hot summer's night surrounded by friends old and new at a Kid Rock show. I've done this more than once and I certainly plan to do it again. If you want to know why, get this album and find out what you've been missing for yourself.

As Kid says himself in the liner notes, "if it looks good, you'll see it; if it sounds good, you'll hear it; if it's marketed right, you'll buy it; but ... if it's real, you'll feel it."

Feel it.

Overall rating: 9.5/10