I think my title pretty much sums it up for how I feel about this album. Uncle Kracker, to me, has potential but has not fully applied it yet. I bought it mainly because it was 2.99 for a new copy at my local record shop. I spun it, and felt a little dissapointed. I liked the cover of Dobie Gray's Drift Away--which confuses me because Dobie Gray is the lead vocalist, not the Uncle--and the song Keep it Comin', but the rest is too mediocre to buy it at full price. Fortunately, I got a great bargain so it's worth my money, but you need to wonder if it's worth YOUR money. I'm just not sure.

This is an excellent album. Who would have thought that Kid Rock's turntabilist could put out such a solid effort? This album is very diverse, easily flowing between rock, soul, funk, C&W and rap. He has a nice voice, very reminiscent of John Melloncamp. He even does a duet with Dobie Gray on the classic Drift Away.

Though very, very different from Kracker Double Wide album, i Still Give it 5 stars. This is not hip-hop like Double wide. this is straight memphis soul, Oldies Rock and Country. The Only Rap is the first and last songs. Theres A Bonus track Called AFTER SCHOOL SPECIAL.

Best song is THUNDERHEAD HAWKINS.

Uncle Kracker is the perfect example of a musical artist that has his connections to thank for him having a career - suffice to say, if it wasn't for Kid Rock, Kracker would be just your token DJ in a band, or maybe even serving up crawfish at a restaurant near you. Nothing that we have ever heard from has warranted the attention or radio airplay that he has received - the songs are all as soulless and vapid as his recording pseudonym suggests.

Kracker's debut album, Double Wide, basically presented him as a kinder, gentler Kid Rock - "comin' straight at ya from the Detroit trailer park, y'all", but less likely to raise hell, and you could take him home to meet your mother. That album did have a ubiquitous hit in "Follow Me" (which differed greatly from the rest of DW) and, not surprisingly, Kracker follows in the grand tradition of other lifeless corporate pop acts (Sugar Ray, Smash Mouth) and desperately tries to duplicate the sound of his past hit on the follow-up, No Stranger To Shame.

This album plants Kracker squarely in the realm of adult contemporary - everything here is tailor-made for the "listen at work" stations, but there is nothing redeeming at all about any of the songs here. Kracker had to resort to releasing a cover ("Drift Away") in a bid for radio play - it worked for him, but the fact that Dobie Gray sings circles around him casts a dark shadow on Kracker ... it was obvious that he couldn't carry the song on his own. If you like music that plays it safe, there's plenty for you to chew on here, but nothing artistically relevant or profound to speak of, and Kracker's trite lyrics and toneless voice certainly doesn't help any. Only on a couple of songs does the old Kracker rear his head, and as you would expect he comes off as Kid Rock's harmless little brother - maybe the Kid's buddies with him because Kracker's a performer that actually makes him look good.

In summary: Trivial pap from an unchallenging, irrelevant artist - more or less just music to nod your head to mindlessly. Appealing only because it's inoffensive fluff to play in the office, I can't recommend this to serious music fans.

I'm a huge country music fan and the first time I heard of Uncle Kracker was when he did the "When the Sun Goes Down" duet with Kenny Chesney. I loved his voice in that song, so I researched his music. I listened to songs on his website and loved every single one, so I just had to buy the CD! Every song is great. I am not a rap fan, though I do like some of Kid Rock's stuff. If you like country, pop and some blues, you will like this CD. My favorite song is "Memphis Soul Song". This is just an awesome CD and my new favorite! Sorry Kenny...have to put you aside for awhile!