In 1990, Kid Rock landed a 100,000 dollar record deal with Jive, only to be unceremoniously kicked to the curb when Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast, his corny debut, was much less than a blockbuster. Displaying the pluck that would contribute to his eventual stardom, Rock was undeterred by the chilly reception. He moved to New York City, signed on with indie label Continuum, and in 1993 released The Polyfuze Method. While it isn't much better than its predecessor, the album doesn't swipe as shamelessly from established hip-hop acts, and represents a significant leap forward not only in the development of Kid Rock's unlikely mixture of classic rock, hip-hop, and country influences, but his own trailer-park pimp-daddy persona. While the 2 Live Crew-style bass workouts of Grits Sandwiches aren't as prominent, The Polyfuze Method does borrow liberally from the militant, congested sound of Public Enemy, as well as N.W.A. However, Rock isn't even in the same lyrical universe as Chuck D, so the influence doesn't seem like blatant theft. If anything, Polyfuze Method's beefed-up production is a plus, as it strengthens Kid's occasionally weak raps by shouldering some of the centralizing pressure. "Killin' Brain Cells" features big percussion and a funky guitar sample underneath lines like: "People wanna know what I'm thinkin'/But I don't care/So I keep my thoughts in a bottle of Cuervo." The song foreshadowed the confluence of blind bravado, hard liquor, and rocking beats that would become such a successful formula with 1998's Devil Without a Cause. "Prodigal Son," "The Cramper," and "Fuck You Blind" feature similar sounds and themes; the latter's live guitar and percussion was a definite break from the prevailing hip-hop sound in 1993. Unfortunately, these relatively promising tracks can't save The Polyfuze Method. The album's second half is plenty raunchy, but songs like "Balls in Your Mouth" can't get by with lurid porn samples alone. The unfortunate slow jam "My Oedipus Complex" isn't good for anyone, either. The Rock himself may have delivered the final verdict on The Polyfuze Method. Many of its better songs were later re-released on the post-Devil Without a Cause retrospective History of Rock. However, they were also re-recorded or largely reworked by Kid and his new band, Twisted Brown Trucker. Despite its strong suggestion of what was to come, Polyfuze Method doesn't really go anywhere. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide
Kid Rock (Bass), Kid Rock (Guitar), Kid Rock (Producer), Kid Rock (Main Performer), Bill Grant (Bass), Michael Clark (Producer), Michael Clark (?), D-Square (Producer), Bob Ebling (Drums), Mike Henry (Guitar), Chris Peters (Bass), Chris Peters (Guitar), Peg Leg Sam (Harmonica), Jon Slow (Flute), Dono Zoyes (Bass)
The Polyfuze Method is the second album from Kid Rock, released in 1993 on indie label Continuum Records. The album has been long out of print and nearly impossible to find at any store, but can still be found used for sale on the Internet. In 1997 Kid Rock re-released the album under the title The Polyfuze Method Revisited, but the re-release has also been out of print for some time now. The Polyfuze Method Revisited contained three tracks that weren't on the original version - "I Am The Bullgod" and "Rollin' on the Island" from the "Fire It Up" ep from 1994 and the demo "Rain Check". There was a European release of the album that left off the skit "T.V. Dinner".
"Back From The Dead" and "U Don't Know Me" were released as singles. "Back From The Dead" was actually released as a single in 1992 before the album was released and was a minor hit on college radio. After arguing with his bosses on whether to release "Prodigal Son" or "U Don't Know Me" as a single the label won releasing the latter. The label paid for the very low-budget music videos of "U Don't Know Me" and "Back From The Dead", but due to poor promotion both videos received little to no airplay and tanked badly. In 1994 Prodigal Son would be a promo single for his "Fire It Up" ep, which featured mainly tracks off the Polyfuze Method and a cover of Hank Williams Jr's " A Country Boy Can Survive" with the before mentioned "I Am The Bullgod" and "Rollin On The Island".
Prodigal Son, 3 Sheets To The Wind, Fuck You Blind and My Oedipus Complex were re-born in 2000 on the The History of Rock. The were completely re-recorded from the original versions. I Am The Bullgod was released on Devil Without A Cause as well, becoming his first hit song. During his 1999 tours he performed "Balls In Your Mouth" from the album as well.
