Search - Lynyrd Skynyrd :: God & Guns

The music lives on....

Steve | 09/30/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

""God and Guns"..... I bought the two disc special which contains six extra cuts. I see a lot of people referencing this album as more of a "country music" type album. I disagree. What people have to realize is that its not Skynyrd sounding "country" its current day country music sounding more and more like "Skynyrd".



This album has OUTSTANDING studio quality sound. The guitars scream loud and clear, Johnny VanZant does an awesome job delivering the message. The lyrics are strong and true. There is a little bit of something for everybody on this album. The Great "All American" Band. God Bless Lynyrd Skynyrd. The music proudly lives on."

Lynyrd Skynyrd "God + Guns" = Songs, Sounds, & Themes like t

Gary Covington | Louisiana | 09/30/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a very welcome new release by Lynyrd Skynyrd. This is their first release of new material, since 2003's "Vicious Cycle" Album. This is hard rocking, great, Southern Music, with Southern Themes, and some Strong Messages. Rickey Medlocke said "We've never been a political band, but if you listen to the lyrics, you'll know where we're coming from". This Cd contains all TOTALLY NEW MATERIAL!!!



This album cd was recorded during 2007, 2008, & 2009 mostly in Nashville. Also, during part of this time, Skynyrd was on their "World Tour" with Kid Rock on the "Rock + Rebels" Tour. However, they made time in between gigs to get into the studio and record this ablum. Also, during the recording of this album CD, Ean Evans their bassist, and Billy Powell their piano player, and Original Band Member both died. Roughly half of the songs on this cd include Billy Powell on the piano.



This album cd is dedicated to Ean Evans & Billy Powell as follows:



"TO OUR BROTHERS, BILLY POWELL, AND EAN EVANS, AND THEIR FAMILIES. WE TRAVELED MANY MILES, AND MANY A SHOW TOGETHER. YOUR LIFE AND SPIRIT WILL ALWAYS REMAIN WITH US,ESPECIALLY WHEN THE HOUSE LIGHTS GO DOWN. LOVE, GARY, DALE, JOHNNY, RICKEY, MICHAEL, SPARKY, AND CAROL".



The line-up in the liner notes include the following:

Gary Rossington - guitar

Billy Powell - piano

Johnny Van Zant - lead vocals

Rickey Medlocke - guitar

Sparky Matejka - guitar

Ean Evans - bass

Michael Cartellone - drums

Dale Kranz Rossington & Carol Chase - background vocals



The liner notes also list some other musicians included in recording this cd, these include John 5 (Marilyn Manson's guitarist), and Rob Zombie.



The Lynyrd Skynyrd Website list the addition of the following new members:

Peter Keys - keyboards - The new keyboard player after Billy's death.

Robert Kearn - bass - The new bass player after Eans's death.



The song set is as follows:

1.Still Unbroken (they've been through hell, but ther're still unbroken)

2.Simple Life (kinda has the theme of "Simple Man")

3.Little Thing Called You

4.Southern Ways

5.Skynyrd Nation (This is about 1st, 2nd & 3rd generation, Lynyrd Skynyrd fans forming a "Skynyrd Nation", and about rocking with the rebel flag)

6.Unwrite that Song

7.Floyd

8.That Ain't My America (This one has a strong message!!!!)

9.Comin' Back for More

10.God & Guns (Contains a strong message "God & Guns make us strong", & "Don't let them take our God & Guns away")

11.Storm,

12.Gifted Hands ( a great tribute song to the ,"gifted hands" of the late/great, original member),& plane crash survivor, Billy Powell.)



This is a great one, by the legendary Lynyrd Skynyrd Band, and I highly, gladly recommend it. This band has been through hell many times, but yet they still rock on, just as good as ever. This release is "AWESOME". Thanks, and May God Bless!!!"

God and Guns and Lynyrd Skynyrd

Kenny A | Perth, Western Australia | 11/03/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"We have two 1 star reviews, not on the CD but complaining this is not Skynyrd - I say, get over it!



I also grew up on the Skynyrd diet, loved the music and thought it died in '77 but that was over 30 years ago and those that have said the band has matured and evolved are right. There have been many personel changes and you can't tell me this isn't one of the most unlucky bands around but they have kept the name alive, they did reform as a tribute to the original band, they did reform and they have produced one hell of an album.



Yes the music has changed, yes country has caught up with it but lets face it country music now is more like southern rock than country music ever was back in the seventies so I guess that says everything.



Hey it's 29 years since I last saw Skynyrd live and I know I have matured in that time so why shouldn't the music? I loved Skynyrd back in the 70s, I thought I wouldn't buy another Skynyrd album but through the music of the Rossington Collins Band, the Tribute Tour (where I cringed at the re-recording of traditional classics) to a band today keeping the music and legend alive, people should take these guys as they come, listen to the music as it is today and like the band have done, move on!



God and Guns is an album for today from a bunch of guys that have earned the rights to being Lynyrd Skynyrd. From the heavy entry of Still Unbroken, sounding a little bit like Nickleback through a range of southern classics to the final Gifted Hands, playing the bird for free, this is great southern music and if you think it smacks of country, let me ask where today's country comes from, the American South.



If you can't get over Skynyrd in the 70's don't buy this CD but honestly, you don't know what you're missing."