Close in vocal range to DMX, Griz bends his muse to the service of rap-metal, but borrows from early ’90s hardcore. He employs an album formula that Kid Rock has refined: an old school boast number, then a slower pro-girlfriend number (“Backbone”), then a pro-America song (“American Freedom”) and finally a rockin’ cover (“Born to Be Wild”). Rinse, then repeat until brain is numb. If My Evolution had been released five years ago, it could have been a pop radio staple. Good thing it wasn’t.

Previously published on Splendid

12/29/2004