Uncle Kracker

Uncle Kracker—whose sappy 2001 single “Follow Me” first brought him national attention—began his career behind the turntables under the care of fellow Michigan native Kid Rock, before moving on to the position of rapper and then eventually to radio-friendly crooner. Although he shares some of Kid Rock’s proudly crude ’n’ tacky image and taste for Southern rock, his 2009 album, Happy Hour, remains focused on bouncy, puffed-up soft-rock numbers that would almost work just as well for Train. At least Mr. Kracker’s got a sense of humor about the business, happily confessing his singing is “complete with cliché and metaphor ya heard before” on “Another Love Song.” Still, the guy is pretty shameless—last year’s Happy Hour: The South River Road Sessions attempts to put a “country” spin on six songs from his last record, with predictably lame results. 

Updated 11/14/2011