Kid Rock – The Polyfuze Method (1993)

Early on in Kid Rock’s music career, he was not going well. His first album Grits Sandwiches For Breakfast was not very good musically, and had appalling sales. He lost his original record contract and had to renegotiate a new contract with another record company that took him on.

This album did not do too well either. It sold even worse than the previous album and left Kid Rock with another contractual ejection and in a very difficult situation. Still, it is actually interesting listening, to say the least. Let’s dive in and have a listen to The Polyfuze Method, which is extremely difficult to find in a real copy format, but the album is on YouTube in its entirety.

Fred is an amusing and tripped out sample of speech about drug use and spirituality. It sounds very tripped out and is merely a minute long. It leads straight into the next track.

Killin’ Brain Cells kicks off with some legendary samples and some funky guitar sounds before going into a quintessential Rap tune about being constantly wasted. There are some great lyrics here and breakdowns in-between the verses. Kid Rock was more of a Rapper with Rock influences at this point but is really on top here. Absolutely laugh out loud and great. Very clever.

Next is the awesome original Prodigal Son which begins with a good sample of speech about hard rock, entering with fuzz driven guitar, and the sampled breakbeat from Led Zeppelin’s When The Levee Breaks emerges. It is a wonderful listen and is super catchy. It had a great makeover on The History Of Rock compilation by Kid Rock that came later, but the original is just as good, just different. Nice job Kid Rock, although the lyrics are very selfish.

Following is The Cramper. A song about a rather annoying character in Kid Rock’s life, it is a good mesh of sounds and beats together. It’s slow, to begin with, but goes into a Rap/Rock tune with attitude, “Just like a little fucking fag, he always wants to get high, but never has a bag.” If you dislike Kid Rock’s profanities, best not to listen to this record. But seriously, it is actually pretty good listening. Good stuff by the little white Kid who can Rock.

3 Sheets To The Wind (What’s My Name) is a crowd chanting anthem for Kid Rock fans. The original here still sounds amazing today. It basically has Kid Rock rapping about his life and lifestyle. Drugs are heavily mentioned here, along with BBW women. It is enough to get Tipper Gore sweating and worried about the future of humanity with this sort of song. It’s just great music regardless. Bring back Kid Rock today, give this a listen.

Fuck U Blind is the original crude and rather trashy version of the song. It has some ordinary lyrics, but the intent is still there. The chorus is a great screamed chant, which is very good, and catchy. It’s a rant, but a good one at that. Awesome.

Next is a hilarious take on the Wild West in Desperate-Rado. It’s a witty, intelligent, and lyrical journey about Kid Rock’s sort of cowboy rodeo. The guitar samples here are really awesome. If this were re-released and remastered today, it would blow anything done by 6ix9ine away in an instant. Awesome stuff. A hilarious listen, and demands repeat on your music player.

After that wild ride, we have Back From The Dead which starts off with some great guitar samples before going into a great Kid Rock groove. It tells about Kid Rock and his life up to the point of 1993. It’s a brilliant listen once again. Kid Rock swears like a trooper, but the music is classy here. Keep the politically correct minorities away from this song, they will despise this music. Great for a laugh.

My Oedipus Complex (yes, that is the name of this track) is a take on Kid Rock’s early life at home under his oppressive father, at least according to Kid Rock. It’s a rant about personal issues. It is a moody and deep number about an unusual topic. Good to hear, another solid Kid Rock effort. Apparently, Kid Rock’s Dad wasn’t impressed by this song, who can blame him for that?

Balls In Your Mouth is likely a true story from Kid Rock. It’s an interesting story featuring some interesting porno samples in the chorus, and a great story of sexual desire and expression. Laughable stuff lyrically, but still, a pure slice of genius by Kid Rock.

Next is Trippin’ With Dick Vitale. It’s obviously very well crafted with a load of samples here for your amusement. It’s tripped out and a cool listen, nice sort of thing to chill out with Kid Rock. It’s hilariously good, and one of the best tunes on this album. Laugh out loud stuff.

A short excerpt from Kid Rock, T.V. Dinner, has some random TV channel changes before going into the next tune. A little weird, but okay.

Pancake Breakfast is a statement from Kid Rock about what he likes doing best in life. It’s a great lyrical and musical pastiche with various guitar samples to brilliant effect, and just sounds mint. This album is way ahead of its time, it would have been suitable to release it 10-20 years later. But, that’s life. Kid Rock was a futurist, maybe? You be the judge here.

Blow Me refers to immoral pursuits and lyrically sets an agenda for Kid Rock musically. It is a good listen, not so much as other tracks here. But it is amusing, at least.

Next is In So Deep which is about deep and meaningful “pursuits” that Kid Rock was into. It has a killer guitar riff and is a very short piece, less than three minutes. It’s over before you know it. Good stuff by Kid Rock.

Lastly, we have the extended tale of U Don’t Know Me, sampling The Doors, which has Kid Rock telling you a tale of his life. It’s a great story and finishes this album off very well. Listen and chuckle to yourself, Kid Rock is a musical comedian.

Okay, not the greatest album ever. It is far from being as bad as the reputation that it usually receives, however. It’s an entertaining listen. Kid Rock is a crude, rude genius. Period. Give this a listen with a good sense of humour, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

7/10