Customer Reviews

Artimus Venomus

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There have been some negative reviews of this album claiming Artimus is a bitter man and this album is merely a means for him to vent. It did serve as a way for him to vent, but only about half of the songs are about his anger toward the big "Lynyrd Skynyrd" money machine. The reviewer who claimed that "Can't Get Off With Your Shoes On" was an angry anti-Scab Skynyrd song is a moron, plain and simple. That song has nothing to do with Artimus' feelings about Skynyrd. In fact, that song doesn't have an angry word in it. You really should listen to an album before you review it.
The first half of this album is devoted to Artimus venting. Artimus told it how it is. He read the mail of Judy Van Zant (Ronnie Van Zant's widow) and her former "gigolo" husband Big Jim. He gave Melody her just desserts as well as Johnny Van Zant. Yes, Ronnie WOULD spit if he saw what baby brother was doing with his band. Artimus weighed in on his former friends and brothers Gary Rossington and Billy Powell too. They have all chased the almighty dollar and turned the name of Lynyrd Skynyrd into a money making circus while abandoning the mantra of the orignal Lynyrd Skynyrd of putting the music first. Artimus is justified in his anger toward these people. They have all danced on the graves of Ronnie Van Zant, Allen Collins, Leon Wilkeson and Steve Gaines while screwing over living original members like Artimus, Ed King and Bob Burns. They have inflated bank accounts and empty souls. I guess that's a fair trade-off for them.
Anyway...the second half of this album is very positive. The song Million Dollar Farm is quite funny as it pokes fun at big time country stars who don't write anything they record and are essentially puppets in the music industry.
Artimus also employs the help of original Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Ed King on a couple of songs. He also got Jo Jo Billingsley and Leslie Hawkins who were 2/3 of the Skynyrd back-up singing group The Honkettes (which also included the late Cassie Gaines). Having done this, Artimus has an album that at times sounds more like Lynyrd Skynyrd than the band who currently tours under that name.
Artimus has really put it all out there for everyone to see. This album is full of heart. Artimus isn't trying to be Mr. Popular with this. He's just telling the story as he saw it and lived it. Ronnie Van Zant did that too.

This is a wonderful CD! Period. But to put to rest the comments about "Can't get off with your shoes on" is not an original song . Can't get off, was a song that was written & recorded in the very early 70's by a band called "Bare Foot Jerry" Hence You CAN"T GET OFF WITH YOUR SHOES ON!!!!
Artimus & Larry Goad, (Co-producer)were both fans of Bare Foot Jerry & since Ronnie Van Zant performed with his shoes off, it seemed a natural song to do. Actually Wayne Moss an original member of Bare Foot Jerry played guitar on that track.So there is no big conspiracy to that song being on the CD. Just thought someone needed to set the record straight.

This is one of the gifts that my son got. He absolutely loved it. We have been listening to it since he recieved it

The members of the Skynyrd legacy carry on. Artimus's way to carry on is to be as much LS while dissing his former band mates. That is key to understanding this album and AP's willingness to air out dirty laundry.
Note that 'Trust #3' trumps the original for its punch and immediacy. Upwards of 20% of sexual assault cases ARE false allegations. The guilty will try to hang their hat on that stat, but Artimus is a vegan for God's sake--he wouldn't hurt a fly.
I fully embrace what the Skynyrd members have accomplished. I love that little bro Johnny has inherited LS as a vehicle to present his talent ('God And Guns' ROCKS!). Listeners must overlook Pyle's vindictiveness even though it is authentic and therefore appropriate.
Notable is AP's remake of his own song 'Makes More Rock' which also trumps the original by being more 'southern'. The album opener (and title track) is a totally unabashed remake of one of my favorite LS songs 'Cry For The Bad Man'. Opening with a very Billy Powell like piano giving way to the carefully chosen sound of a prop-driven airplane and then is dominated by the catchy riff from track 8 of Gimme Back My Bullets. Tracks 2 & 4 could easily be Allman Brothers compositions with their featured slide guitar. Thematically, `Blood Sucking Weasel Lawyers' is a logical extension of `Don't Ask Me No Questions'. You just gotta love the rattlesnake tail shake sound that closes the song. `Spit' doesn't hold water even though it sounds like a song LS would compose and perform. `Knock Me Down' and `AntiVenom' (bluesiest on the album) stand up as good in their own right.
If you need more evidence of my thesis, note that the album cover art is like a close-up from Second Helping and reminiscent of its pale pastels.
Skynyrd was my favorite band in `75-`77--Artimus Venomous reminds me of why that was so. But it is so just like the south to start a civil war trying to protect economic interests above ethics. 4/5 stars.

Artimus rocks ! I have to say i've been a long-time fan of Skynyrd, and didn't know what to expect. Well, I played the latest God & Guns through once or twice, and can't remember the tunes. Not that it was bad, it's just so far away now from what Skynyrd should sound like. Not Artimus Venemous ! Been listening to this thing for three days straight! The word is "ORIGINALITY" ... Maybe Artimus is not the greatest vocalist (RVZ was in my humble opinion), but the songs (even the quirky ones) and production are great ! Check out the rockin' version of "Trust". Also check out "Dead Rock Stars..." Hey Artimus, did Jim really get a new pair of shoes??!!

I bought this product after listening to short clips of the music on amazon.I had no idea that the Skynyrd band was in such disarray.I know Artimus toured with the R C BAND, after the revival of the orginal group,who would not preform under the name Lynyrd Skynyrd. That was post crash. I loved the R C band and Dale Krantz (Rossington) voice. I guess that sometimes you can put it out and it just don't do no good.I will share a line that came from the,Gimme Back My Bullets record."Furthermore;In agreeance with all concerned the energy set forth in our fashion of music is dedicated to Del Pyle.Thomas Del Pyle. = Artimus... If you listen to this cd you can hear "I lit a fire under a southern rock band." The previous statement from the afore mentioned album will comfirm that.I also heard "that if I told you what my name was you would say who?" I know what your name is Tom.The man would laugh in your face,Tells much of what the truth is. Trust= like I remember it;however, a bit more to the point.Great cd. One deicated fan.I did listen to some of the other albums by Artimus,I must parrell these to a review ,I read about my friends sons band.The review was written in a local newspaper,stating that boys music was "A wicken onslought of distortion and screaming." I laughed excessively at the review.Screamology;has it's place when you need pumped up...Thomas Del Pyle,Please write me some southern rock that only you can.

Contrary to all the Lynyrd Skynyrd sycophants, this is an AWESOME CD!~!! If it pisses them off because Pyle puts it out there and calls a spade a spade TOO DAMN BAD! I for one am tired of the "corporation" Lynyrd Skynyrd has become. Johnny had tried a solo career with ZERO LUCK so he climbed up on his bros coffin and figured the world would accept him singing for L.S. The world did and as original members died off and were replaced the L.S. machine kept rollin. What is there like Billy Powell and one other sort of original member who actually played drums before they got big and now plays guitar and that's it???

GO FOR IT ARTIMUS!!!!! THANK GOD SOMEONE SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON RECORD!!!!

This is not a very good cd. Artimus needs to move on with his life. I have met him at a concert here where I live. It was in a small club with about 100 people in attendance. We talked a few minutes and he was very likable. The show was good, but he needs to get over not being LS's drummer anymore and just try to make good music.