Great title. Pretty good album. Perhaps it shouldn't be a surprise that {$Kid Rock} decided to follow his {^Devil Without a Cause} blueprint for its follow-up, since that was the record where he figured out how to mix "the {\hard rock}/{\Southern rock} with the {\hip-hop}," creating a towering, powerful original blend of {\country}-fried {\metal}, {\heartland rock}, knowing {\arena rock} posturing, {\old-school rap}, and classic {\American hard rock}. It was what he planned to do from the outset, so why should he give it up now that he could finally do what he always wanted? Still, there's no denying that a sequel simply does not pack the punch and the surprise of the original, no matter how well it's constructed, and that's why it initially is easy to view {^Cocky} as a bit of a disappointment, since it not only offers nothing new, it seems considerably tamer than its predecessor. How could it not? Not only does {$Kid} have nothing to prove this time around -- he not only went platinum, he did it ten times-plus and then landed {$Sheryl Crow} and {$Pam Anderson} -- he no longer has his midget sidekick, {$Joe C.}, around to enhance the Midwestern carnival atmosphere of his entourage. That wild, white-trash {$Fellini}-esque vibe is missed, as is the overwhelmingly great songwriting of {^Devil}, but if not viewed as direct competition with its predecessor -- which is, after all, the great {\hard rock} album of the late '90s, filled with great sounds and songwriting -- {^Cocky} is a pretty good sequel. One that roots itself deeper in {\classic rock} than in {\hip-hop} and one that isn't as gonzo or as funny, but is still much, much funnier and looser than any of its competitors, while rocking much harder. If the songs aren't classics or if it tends to drift instead of staying focused like {^Devil}, it still is better than anything else in {$Kid}'s catalog and anything else from his {\rap-metal} competitors (he makes all of them sound like rank amateurs), and it has better riffs and earthier rhythms than any {\hard rock} artist since {$38 Special}, while retaining a true Michigan flavor. That might not make it the equal of {^Devil Without a Cause}, but unpretentious, blue-collar {\hard rock} hasn't sounded this good in nearly 20 years, and that's reason enough to celebrate. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide