Lynyrd Skynyrd – Vicious Cycle - Mott the Dog's Rock Music Reviews

905

5 Stars

*A typically gritty and vicious cover for Lynyrd Skynyrd’s album.*

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This album was released in 2003 and was the 12th under the Lynyrd Skynyrd Flag. It broke into the American Billboard Top 30, and although staying true to the band’s Southern Rock roots, it also included a large dollop of hard rock.

That is not really surprising considering the talent on show in the band at this time, stretching their influences out, not just staying on the old ways.

*The three pronged axe attack: Hughie Thomasson, Ricky Medlocke and Gary Rossington. Any one of them could’ve held down the lead guitar job successfully in any band.*

On lead vocals is Johnny Van Zant who took over the front man role when the band reformed after the tragic airplane crash that decimated the ranks of Lynyrd Skynyrd, including original lead singer Ronnie Van Zant’s death, Johnny’s brother. A formidable man in his own right.

There is an awesome triple guitar threat of original Lynyrd Skynyrd Guitarist and Songwriter Gary Rossington, Blackfoot founding member and chief songwriter Rickey Medlocke, plus Hughie Thomasson, founder of the Outlaws and again chief songwriter there, too. So Skynyrd were not short of a song or two.

Holding more than his own on keyboards was founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd Billy Powell.

*Right from the start of his career, Johnny Van Zant, like his brother Ronnie,*
*could hold an audience in the palm of his hand.*

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On bass guitar was Leon Wilkerson, the long time Lynyrd Skynyrd man, who tragically died during the recording of this album while still only in his forties. He played on only two songs, but the band wrote and recorded the song ‘Mad Hatter’ after his reputation for elaborate headwear. The song includes an emotional and heartbreaking solo from Gary Rossington.

Somebody had to be brought in to fill the role of bass player, and the unenviable job went to Ean Evans who filled the position with aplomb.

On drums was another new boy, Michael Cartellone, who was a very strong rhythm keeper (well you would have to be with this lot.)

Plus some very beautiful and voluptuous female backing singers who greatly enhanced the vocal department on record and were lovely eye candy on the stage.

*Lynyrd Skynyrd—driving forward in perfect unison.*

Even with this battery of musicians, session guys were called in to provide a bit of saxophone and the like.

As you would expect, the songs are first rate, and a lot were incorporated into the live show, settling in well with early Lynyrd Skynyrd classics. This is well documented as the band released a live album of the world tour to promote this album, unsparingly called Vicious Cycle – Live!

The songs are about drinkin’, fightin’, women, being on the road and being American. Really? What did you expect?

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The first song, ‘That’s The Way I Like It,’ sets the tone for the rest of the album, allowing all the members of the band to show their prowess.

The centerpiece of the album is ‘Red, White and Blue,’ probably the most patriotic song every written. It makes the hairs stand up on your neck as Johnny Van Zant sings the words and then the guitar orchestra take it to another level. Released as a single, it cracked the Top 30.

The album closes with a rocked up, revamped version of ‘Gimme Back My Bullets’ with the guitars crashing while Kid Rock joins in the fun.