JJ has produced at least 9 LPs (his first 9 btw) of great music that I have been listening to for the last 25 years. Also he has been a great influence (apart from MK and EC) to all american music, through the covers of his songs, from famous and multi platinum selling bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kansas, Dr. Hook, etc.
MKs covers are the closest to the JJ Cale sound these songs can get, since his guitar licks and his singing - wording are closer than anyone else's.
As for what one like and doesn't like, I find that my "barometer" for such things is the number of "spins" and the length of time I have given to the records. I dare say that DS records have received the most plays but it is hard to beat nowadays with all these things going in our lives as "grown ups", even if I constantly play only the MK solo records. That said I find the lyrics fine but I don't have any urge to break the code! They work fine in the back of my mind, forming their own stories using my personal knowledge and experiences.
