Record #523: Lynyrd Skynyrd – (Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd) (1973)

By and large, I don’t really get Lynyrd Skynyrd. What little thought I do spend thinking about them is frantically changing the radio station anytime I hear “Sweet Home Alabama” (I really, really hate that song).

But when I separate the band from their rabid, Rebel-flag-waving fanbase and that one super obnoxious single, I can sorta actually get into it.

Despite whatever reservations I have about Skynyrd—and Southern Rock in general—they’ve contributed a few indelible tracks to the canon of rock and roll. The three biggest contributions are on this disc—”Tuesday’s Gone,” “Simple Man,” and “Free Bird,” which is an amazing song, even if it has basically become a punchline at this point.

Each of the three tracks would be a shining star in any band’s catalog. They’re epic, soaring ballads that feature some of the greatest guitar solos ever. But the fact that they’re all on the same disc—let alone their debut—is enough to elevate (Pronounced…) to classic status.

Even if the rest of the tracks are a bit lackluster. Which…they are. Besides those three classic tracks, the rest of the album is pretty forgettable. By the time “Simple Man” kicked in, I had already forgotten what the first song sounded like. The deep cuts are all pretty generic honky-tonkyin’ Southern Rock. And while this record may have written the Southern Rock guidebook, it doesn’t sound revolutionary to modern ears. The brooding, bluesy “Poison Whiskey” is the only cut that does anything to grab me.

Skynyrd is undeniably at their best when they let themselves rip fiery guitar solos across long ballads. And luckily, that trio of perfect tracks make up about half of the entire album’s running time, so the rest of the songs can get away with being mediocre.