Last of a Dyin' Breed

Music as an eternal life elixir

Rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd is already among legends owing to the ensemble’s ongoing existence despite all the things that have happened. The story of the American outfit began forty years ago and was close to ending too soon, when in 1977 an airplane crash took the lives of three members. Since then a lot of water has run under the bridge and the ensemble has lost a few more people, but those who remained refused to retire. In the new century, Lynyrd Skynyrd suddenly returned under the limelight. In 2009, their album God & Guns started eighteenth in the prestigious Billboard rating. The band’s record last soared so high in the late seventies. The collective which for years was known to younger listeners only due to that crash and thank to the classic hit Sweet Home Alabama, regained attention with top notch material again. On the heels of this success Lynyrd Skynyrd soon recorded another full-length, Last Of A Dyin’ Breed, which is already predicted to have a warm welcome from the audience and critics.

Same content, altered form

Led by vocalist Johnny Van Zant, brother to Ronnie Van Zant killed in that accident, Lynyrd Skynyrd one more time teamed up with producer Bob Marlette who worked on their previous record. Guitarist Gary Rossington highlighted the warm atmosphere in which the album was made. Each member felt at ease and played openly and enthusiastically. You can easily sense in the album’s tracks, beginning with the title track, Last Of A Dyin’ Breed, a vibrant song without the band’s signature soft sounding. Quite on the contrary, guitars are very intensive and delivered rough, which makes it a very nice concert piece. The not-too-young musicians are ready to share their energy one is likely to expect from rookies who have not yet played enough. On the other hand, as new as the form is, the content remained the same. Lynyrd Skynyrd keep playing trademark southern rock with some leanings towards blues and shades of country. The musical style may vary not only from song to song, but also inside one, but all of it is done properly, so that the record is still perceived as a whole.

This release is an event for the whole genre

Last Of A Dyin’ Breed has a very level set list without a single outright bad song. Yet, the album is short of true hits, like those anthems with sweeping choruses or heartfelt ballads which decorate the band’s old records. What deserves a word of praise, still, is solid instrumental work rich in catchy guitar tricks and bound by drums and bass working as one. Done with pathos, apparently, due to the age, and politically colored words, which were too many on the previous long player, author Johnny Van Zant now tries to bring in his lyrics an element of humor and intentionally creates ambiguities, like in Homegrown. At times, he goes way too far, which affects the entire track, like the musically flawless Honey Hole. Both, music and words, are penned and done splendidly in such cool songs as Good Teacher, or Life’s Twisted. Drawing the bottom line, it is time to say that Last Of A Dyin’ Breed will undoubtedly become a standout release in this genre for two big reasons. First, a big band like Lynyrd Skynyrd simply does not have strong competition here now. Second, which is more important, if you are not too picky about the lyrics, the material of the album leaves a very deep and strong impression.