Uncle Kracker Albums (4)
What The Critics Say
Five years have passed between 2004's Seventy Two & Sunny and its 2009 follow-up Happy Hour -- apparently not enough time for Uncle Kracker to re-conceive his way-mellow music but just enough time for him to adopt Auto-Tune and employ it on an interpolation of Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again." This sums up Uncle Kracker's aesthetic, how he channels hair metal and commercial hip-hop through soft rock pretty well, and there's surely some appeal to his easy grooves with his sing-song and sunshine choruses, some so ingratiating they worm into the subconscious no matter how much you resist. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Few folks are on the fence about Kid Rock protégé Uncle Kracker. People either love him or hate him. With Seventy Two & Sunny, his third solo disc, the latter rule most often applies, as Kracker blatantly pilfers from the likes of Bob Seger, the Eagles, and others on tracks like "Further Down the Road." Largely absent of originality, Kracker brews up airwave-ripe albeit sugary lovelorn dreck like "Rescue" and the doo wop novelty "Please Come Home." That's not to say Seventy Two & Sunny is all annoyingly tepid, as the alluringly sunny "This Time" fuses country and classic rock with inexplicably pleasant results. Elsewhere, Uncle Kracker delivers "Writing It Down," an uplifting piano ballad that is too good to dismiss. He also teams up with hit country musician Kenny Chesney to reprise the, ahem, magic of that artist's "When the Sun Goes Down." ~ John D. Luerssen, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
On his sophomore effort, Uncle Kracker (born Matthew Shafer) steps out from behind Kid Rock's turntable to prove he's a viable artist on his own. The album No Stranger to Shame is a collection of willowy jangle rock with Motown and rap influences thrown in. It kicks off with the Motown feel of "I Do" and continues through a journey of country on "Letter to My Daughters" and funky rap on "Keep It Comin'." No Stranger to Shame is vastly different from his rap-riddled debut, Double Wide. His full-time employer, Kid Rock, is only credited as executive producer, unlike Double Wide, on which the rap-rocker made multiple appearances. Uncle Kracker proves he can sing throughout No Stranger to Shame. His takes on "Drift Away," a duet with Dobie Gray, and "Baby Don't Cry" showcase Uncle Kracker's blues sensibility. No Stranger to Shame should keep radio busy for quite some time -- most of the songs remain in the listener's mind long after the CD ends. ~ Christina Fuoco, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
With Kid Rock's "Only God Knows Why" playing in the background, Kid Rock's protégé Uncle Kracker poses his mentor a question: "What if I don't make it?" It's hard to believe that a musician would open his major label debut CD with inspirational career advice from Kid Rock. But Kid Rock does know a thing or two about becoming a rock icon to legions of suburban teens and porn stars. As Kid Rock's self-proclaimed best friend/DJ/backup singer/multi-platinum co-writer/sidekick thug boy, Uncle Kracker has Kid Rock's MTV-ready charisma and raunchy rock-rap fur-lined coattails to thank for the existence of this album. Maybe there is something in his native waters of Detroit, but Uncle Kracker definitely takes full advantage of the opportunity and delivers an amusing, party-ready debut CD of country, rockabilly, and hip-hop-infused rock & roll that is guaranteed to please. Each song drips with Uncle Kracker's laid-back, white-trash, Detroit-worshiping, beer-swilling attitude. "Better Days" is a soulful, country-fried rock ode to drifting through life, ready-made for an afternoon of lawn chairs and sun. "What 'Chu Lookin' At?" is a declaration of moving on, dissing girls of the past, and partying on. "Heaven" is a memorial to the glory of Detroit that perfectly blends the twanging country guitars of "If Heaven Ain't a Lot Like Dixie" with testosterone-drenched hard rock. It's male bravado, plain and simple. Your opinion of Uncle Kracker, however, is largely dependent on your opinion of Kid Rock. Kid Rock's fingerprints are left all over the album, which is understandable considering he produced and co-wrote nearly every song. The album is even filled with samples from Kid Rock's breakthrough album, 1998's Devil Without a Cause. If you loved Devil Without a Cause and History of Rock, you'll find Double Wide a welcome third helping. It's more of the same; however, Uncle Kracker provides an added dose of melody to the Kid Rock formula with his gravelly, mellow, and rather soulful voice. It lacks the mosh-pit power of Devil Without a Cause but eclipses nearly everything on History of Rock. At times, the album does sound a bit recycled, but when you're having this much fun at a party, who really cares? Who knows how long the formula will remain fresh, but on Double Wide, Uncle Kracker hits like a full house of raucous dynamite. ~ Brian Musich, All Music Guide
