The American 'southern rock' band Lynyrd Skynyrd already scored hits in the first half of the seventies with Sweet Home Alabama and Free Bird, songs that are still regularly played on the radio in 2003. The end of Lynyrd Skynyrd seemed near when three of the six band members were killed in a 1977 plane crash. However, the three remaining members were back in the re-establishment of the band in 1987.
The place of the deceased singer Ronnie Van Zant was taken by his younger brother Johnny, who turned out to have an equally fine sandpaper voice. The first albums of the 'new' Lynyrd Skynyrd were qualitatively disappointing. Partly for that reason, we were positively surprised by the new album Vicious Cycle, which is released exactly thirty years after the legendary debut Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd (1973). This is by far the best CD since the re-establishment of the band. The characteristic Lynyrd Skynyrd sound with three lead guitarists is back and is still rock solid. Vicious Cycle features fourteen excellent new songs, including the funky Dead Man Walking, the solid All Funked Up, a strong remake of the Lynyrd Skynyrd classic Gimme Back My Bullets (with Kid Rock) and the beautiful ballad Red White & Blue, for which someone like Jon Bon Jovi would kill. (MvP) a strong remake of the Lynyrd Skynyrd classic Gimme Back My Bullets (with Kid Rock) and the beautiful ballad Red White & Blue, for which someone like Jon Bon Jovi would kill. (MvP) a strong remake of the Lynyrd Skynyrd classic Gimme Back My Bullets (with Kid Rock) and the beautiful ballad Red White & Blue, for which someone like Jon Bon Jovi would kill. (MvP)more
