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Lynyrd Skynyrd

Vicious Cycle  Hear it Now

RS: 1of 5 Stars Average User Rating: 3.5of 5 Stars

2003

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Seventies Southern-rock giants Lynyrd Skynyrd continue to defy reality with their ongoing career: Now down to only two original members, Skynyrd have kept rolling as a live act with the late Ronnie Van Zandt's sound-alike little brother Johnny in front, and have been replenished over the years by veterans of bands such as the Outlaws, Blackfoot and Damn Yankees. But sometimes being around ain't the same as living. An echo of the Skynyrd sound is present on Vicious Cycle, but the soul is sure gone on these smug songs offering endless praise to Mama, flag-waving and drinking. Kid Rock's shout-till-you're-hoarse cameo on a remake of "Gimme Back My Bullets" does manage to bring some life to the party. But nothing can forgive the shameful, pandering "Red White and Blue," a Toby Keith-style piece of jingoism with a guitar solo nicked from "Freebird." The best that can be said of Vicious Cycle is that it will give a few die-hard Skynyrd fans one more reason to cheer at state fairs and foodfests across this great land. They'd be better off going for the corn dogs.

RICHARD ABOWITZ

(Posted: May 20, 2003)

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Review 1 of 2

wvareb1980 writes:

4of 5 Stars


The writer that gave a review of this Album obviously is not a true music fan. He reaches back to the Lynyrd Skynyrd of the 70's yet probably doesn't even know any of the 70's Lynyrd Skynyrd tunes except what you hear on the classic rock radio stations. I was not around during the original Lynyrd Skynyrd but there is not much that I don't know about the oringinal or current band. I've been to 10 shows with the current band and none of them have been at state fairs or food fest. In fact....none of them have been with a crowd under 13,000 people either. I was there when the band set a record for event attendence in The Mahoning Valley in ohio with over 14,000 fans in the middle of a field with the only other national act being on the bill being Ted Nugent. And like another post said...I have never seen a corn dog for sale at one the shows.
The Vicious Cycle album is a good album, Is it Classic Skynyrd....NO...should People stop expecting classic Skynyrd out of this current Skynyrd...YES! It's an unfair and unrealistic comparison. The new band is not the old band and never will be. No band will ever equal the original band. To say that vicious cycle was a shallow album is proof that the person diodn't listen to the album except for the first 10 seconds of each song. I'm a huge Kid Rock fan but I didn't really care for the remake of Gimme Back My Bullets but when was the last time a album came out where you liked every single song?
the reviewer may call us Skynyrd Fans Rednecks that are hanging on to the past but that's ok..I don't mind that title..I think i'm in the majority when I'm with 13-20,000 plus fans on any given nite having a hell of a good time while watching Skynyrd on stage instead of being one person in a little poor excuse for an office cubicle writing reviews bashing older the older bands because they still have not bent over for political correctness like the writer who wrote the bad review has done.

Oct 20, 2006 06:36:49

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Review 2 of 2

almokar writes:

3of 5 Stars


After reading Mr Abowits' review I felt it necessary to give a review by someone who "actually" listened to the CD and wasn't a liberal (Red, White and Blue is a good tune..although for some reason in this day and time is "unpopular" with liberal critics to perform or write a patriotic song). The truth is this is not the Lynyrd Skynyrd everyone knows and loves from the 70's, however don't be so quick to dismiss this CD. In addition to the aforementioned "Red, White & Blue" this CD also contains some other noteworthy tracks such as "Dead Man Walking", "The Way" and "That's How I Like It". I feel this is not the best CD with Johnny Van Zant on vocals the songwriting isn't as solid as it was on "1991" or "Twenty". However,for the southern rock fan who wants something new for their tastebuds it's worth buying.

PS I have seen Skynyrd several times and I haven't seen corndogs for sale at any of the concerts I've been to. Although I have seen copies of this magazine at several flea markets and garage sales that line bird cages quite well!

Sep 1, 2006 12:31:58

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