CD Review: Lynyrd Skynyrd - Last Of A Dyin’ Breed

Written by Colin McNamara Saturday, 15 September 2012 14:34

Artist: Lynyrd Skynyrd
Title: Last Of A Dyin’ Breed
Genre: Southern Rock
Release Date: 17th August 2012
Label: Roadrunner Records

Album Review

Ever since their anthem ‘Sweet Home Alabama’, which has been covered, stolen, and reinterpreted to so many other artists’ content, LYNYRD SKYNYRD remains one of the biggest influences in Rock today. Bridging the gap between classic Rock’n’Roll and the slower, blues oriented Country, SKYNYRD pretty much became the definition of Southern Rock, similar to how PANTERA became the icon of Southern Metal. Of course, in today’s world, the idea of Southern Rock isn’t what it used to be. Most who listen to SKYNYRD that are newcomers would pass it off as Country, or “old timer Rock”. In a world where the spectrum seems to embrace Rap, Dance, and Extreme Metal, there just doesn’t seem to be much room for such a sound. SKYNYRD seems to know this, but instead of shying away quietly into the background, they make a stand more defiant than ever with their latest effort ‘Last of a Dyin’ Breed’.

The album lives up to its name. Chock full of heavy, yet groove oriented tracks like ‘Last Of A Dyin’ Breed’ and ‘Do It Up Right’, these tracks echo the fun that people are nostalgic for from the music of the past. They echo the hits like ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ and still have enough fire in them to appeal to fans of the harder music out there. For those lucky enough to get the bonus tracks, ‘Low Down Dirty’ is one of the heaviest tracks the band has done to date, composing powerful riffs with a sharp edge that could rival that of METALLICA. SKYNYRD is great at telling down to earth stories within their music that people can relate to rather than the same themes over and over that tend to populate modern music simply because it is liked by everyone. There are also the slower, Country inspired pieces like ‘Start Livin’ Life Again’ and the classically touching ‘Ready To Fly’ may put some to sleep, but the emotional impact is ten times greater. For SKYNYRD fans, the band keeps up their tradition with perhaps improvements on production and new stories to tell, but nobody has to fear them shifting to generic drivel. For new fans, it takes some time to hear an album that is aggressive with melody and doesn’t bellow at them, but this hybrid of Country-Rock will certainly command attention.


Tracklist

01. Last of a Dyin' Breed - 3:51
02. One Day at a Time - 3:46
03. Homegrown - 3:41
04. Ready to Fly - 5:26
05. Mississippi Blood - 2:57
06. Good Teacher - 3:07
07. Something to Live For - 4:29
08. Life's Twisted - 4:33
09. Nothing Comes Easy - 4:13
10. Honey Hole - 4:35
11. Start Livin' Life Again - 4:23
12. Poor Man’s Dream - 4:07
13. Do It Up Right - 3:56
14. Low Down Dirty - 3:14


Line-up

Johnny Van Zant – lead vocals
Gary Rossington – guitars
Rickey Medlocke – guitars
Michael Cartellone – drums
Johnny Colt – bass
Mark Matejka – guitars
Peter Keys – keyboards


Website

http://www.lynyrdskynyrd.com/


Cover Picture




Rating

Music: 8
Sound: 8
Total: 8 / 10