The solo in the Kid Rock/ Sheryl Crow tune drives me nuts for that same reason. He hits some notes that me say "Holy Christ!!" every time I hear it.
I guess that's the vibe they're looking for.
I think that the whole out of tune thing is really because the "artist" simply can not hear themselves. Has anyone actually taught them how to hear the way the play? It will never be socially accepitable!
Maybe its a deeper than that......like the notes weren't meant to be together. ya...see where thats going. That works on a couple levels..........deep man, deep.