Lynyrd Skynyrd - Thyrty: 30th Anniversary Collection (Limited Ed) (CD)

All Music Guide

This one's a tough call in many respects. First there is the notion of 30 years. Of that time period, only a very short chunk of it produced the tracks we consider Lynyrd Skynyrd classics todaythe earliest period when the band was fronted by the late Ronnie Van Zandt. This was a band who may have been influenced by the Aklman Brothers with their guitat attackthree and sometimes four guitars would stalk a Skynyrd stagebut rather tan try to imitate the Allmans (a blues band who were such a singular entity anyway and can hardly be termed "southern rock", they created their on identity as a rock and roll band. It was Skynyrd who invented the deep south's redneck rock genre and they spawned so many imitators it became a parody. These cats, however, could play and write. Of these two discs, the lion's share of the material is devoted to the original band whose string of hits is dizzying to consider even today. All of the expected material is herefrom "Free Bird and "Tuesday's Gone," to "Gimm...e Back My Bulletts'," that Smell," and "Sweet Home Alabama." Also included for better or worse is the LS that carried on some years after Van Zandt's death and has been carrying on with Johnny Van Zandt fron ting the band looking like a carbon copy of his older brother. This may piss off a lot of purists, but it needn't as this material is solid, rocking and drenched in bluesif lacking originality a bit in the writing department. Fans of the band already have what they need and this is no prize on that level in any way. Newcomers may be temped by the price point but would do better with All Time Greatest Hits as a proper introduction. - Thom Jurek, All Music Guide Read more Less