Customer Reviews

Last Rebel

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Let me start by saying I'm not a knowledgeable Lynyrd Skynyrd fan. Of course, everyone knows Freebird, the greatest Southern rock anthem of all time, and just about everyone still mourns the loss of original front man Ronnie Van-Zant (as well as guitarist Steve Gaines) in a 1977 plane crash, but my familiarity with the band doesn't go much deeper than this. When I heard this album's title track The Last Rebel, though, I knew I had to have this album. As both a proud Southerner and a man who oftentimes finds himself in a minority of one on certain issues, this song appealed to me on two levels. The music and lyrics combine to evoke vivid images of a Rebel soldier, alone and defeated yet still proud and resilient, leaving the scarred battleground to return home; it's a haunting track that, through front-man Johnny Van-Zant's gritty, hard-driving vocals, evokes a vivid image of that Southern soldier trying to find his way home in a world that has changed forever.

The album as a whole is a little hit-and-miss, in my opinion. There are some really great tracks, but there also some tracks that really just don't seem to do anything for me. The band seems to be going through the motions at times, but when Johnny Van-Zant sings about the South and bemoans a way of life that is quickly disappearing, his voice roils with an angst-filled emotional power that takes the music to a whole new level. Thus are born such winning songs as Can't Take That Away, Outta Hell in my Dodge, Kiss Your Freedom Goodbye, South of Heaven, and Born to Run. What some will call "redneck" songs actually resonate with fans all over the country for their lament for moral decline, the demise of small towns and small town values, and the code of honor that has always been a part of being a Southerner. Can't Take That Away is a particularly timely song today, as it rises up to challenge those who want to denigrate the flag, do away with the Pledge of Allegiance, and take away any association with God from the United States. Those South of Heaven will always fight for the ideals upon which this country was founded, and that is what Lynyrd Skynyrd sings about.

A few tracks on this album seem to take the band away from their origins, and the attempt to inject a more pop-oriented sound into the music finds unhappy results. Good Lovin's Hard to Find and Best Things in Life have an element of "good time sound" to them but really don't speak to me at all. They aren't bad songs, but they become tiresome rather quickly. The album does end on a strong note, however, as Born to Run not only speaks to Lynyrd Skynyrd's core themes but provides plenty of opportunity to Gary Rossington to play his guitar the way he alone can play it. Overall, the positives far outweigh the negatives on this 1993 release.

To some Lynyrd Skynyrd are rollicking country rock with 'real' songs and anthems about, and for, ordinary everyday folk. For others they're cliched and archaic, unimaginative and irrelevant. Now ignoring the harsh fact that most music is in danger of becoming irrelevant due to the rise of computer games and virtual reality, etc., I tend to go with the former. Sure, they're predictable, as on 'Outta Hell In My Dodge' and 'Best Things In Life', but the vibe here is warm, flowing and somehow reassuring. 'The Last Rebel' isn't necessarily better or worse than their '1991' comeback record, but the title track itself is a real golden nugget, a poignant tale partly about the American Civil War. Another time, another place? Perhaps, but y'know, sometimes the spirit of the past can give us fresh hope for the future.

Ah, the second Skynyrd album since the crash. This album to me is just as good as Skynyrd:1991, and maybe a little better. To me, this album does not qualify as southern rock, though. This album is probably the most country-influenced album Skynyrd has done. It has a few hard-rockers, but for the most part, this is a country album (which is fine with me).
Some of the main hilights on this one are: "One Thing", "Outta Hell In My Dodge", & "Born To Run". There aren't really any songs on this album that I don't like. About half of the songs I would give 4-5/5, and the other half no lower than 3/5. If you liked 1991, buy this album.

to me lynyrd skynyrd will always be number one. i love sothernrock, theres a lot of my favorites out there. but theres just something about ronnie vanzant and the skynyrd band. i think there the greatest of all time. johnnys vocals are awsome aswell. sounds alot like his brother ronnie. i love this album its just awsome johnny's vocals are out of this world and they are all great. the last rebel tuches the heart and soul, and you can tell its a tribute to johnnys brother ronnie, if your a skynyrd fan this is for you. would make a great christmas gift. a fan always. kds,

As a long time Skynyrd fan, I was skeptical of their ability to put out new music which would measure up to their legacy. This CD has some awesome songs which you will love. If you love Skynyrd, but are getting tired of the old material, do yourself a favor and buy this CD. You wont regret it.

As the second studio album from the brand new Skynyrd, it's still a solid effort. People will always say that The Last Rebel isn't a great as Second Helping or Nuthin' Fancy, but does that mean it's nothing but garbage? NO! This is still a great CD, and it has some wonderful songs that could match the liveliness of older, more classic songs. "One Thing," "Can't Take That Away" and "Love Don't always Come Easy" can be highly recommended for major Skynyrd fans. "The Last Rebel" and the closer "Born to Run" remind me of why the new Skynyrd doesn't fail.

All in all, this is still a splendid album from one of my favorite Southern Rock bands.

Grade: 9 out of 10

Also from Lynyrd Skynyrd
Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd (9.8 out of 10) Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd
Second Helping (9.8 out of 10) Second Helping (Reis)
Nuthin' Fancy (9.9 out of 10) Nuthin Fancy
Gimme Back my Bullets (9.8 out of 10) Gimme Back My Bullets
Street Survivors (9.9 out of 10) Street Survivors
Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991 (9.6 out of 10) Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991 (Original Recording Remastered)

Rebel was the second studio album from the re-formed Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1993. Original guitarist Ed King was back in the fold as well as Gary Rossington, Leon Wilkinson, and Billy Powell from the classic version of the band. "Rebel" is a decent enough album, but they would go on to do better stuff once King was gone and Ricky Medlocke (Blackfoot) was brought into the band. Most of this album is pretty average southern rock. Not bad, but not great either. The lyrics are rather clichéd and the music is fine, but not particularly noteworthy. Two exceptions, and the highlights of the album, are the title track "The Last Rebel" and the closing track "Born To Run". Both of these are great songs and feature the best of what Skynyrd is all about, solid instrumental work and well thought out lyrics. The album is probably worth owning for these two tracks alone. All in all "Rebel" is an average Skynyrd release. Not bad, but they have done better.

I bought this cd for the song "South of Heaven" there are good songs on here, but it's not the best cd they've ever put out. I would still recommend it to skynyrd fans though.

THIS IS AN EXCELLENT LYNYRD SKYNYRD ALBUM CD. IN MY OPINION THIS IS ONE OF SKYNYRD'S BEST ALBUM CD'S. THIS ONE WAS RECORDED BACK IN THE EARLY 90'S WHEN YOU HAD THE TRANSITIONAL LINE-UP WHICH INCLUDED CUSTER ON DRUMS, ED KING ON GUITAR, AND RANDALL HALL ON GUITAR. IT ALSO INCLUDES THE MEMEBERS WHO ARE STILL IN THE LINE-UP - JOHNNY VAN ZANT, GARY ROSSINGTON, THE LATE LEON WILKESON, AND BILLY POWELL.

IT CONSISTS OF 10 GREAT SONGS, SOME HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: "GOOD LOVIN'S HARE TO FIND", "ONE THING", "CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY", "THE LAST REBEL" (THIS ONE IS ABOUT - A CONFERATE SOLDER, AND GARY ROSSINGTON), "OUTTA HELL IN MY DODGE", "KISS YOUR FREEDOM GOODBYE", "SOUTH OF HEAVEN", "LOVE DON'T ALWAYS COME EASY", AND "BORN TO RUN" (THIS IS NOT THE BRUCE SPRINGSTEN SONG - THIS ONE IS MUCH BETTER AND IS VERY UPBEAT - JOHNNY DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB ON LEAD VOCALS ON THIS ONE ("BORN TO RUN, CAN'T YOU SEE WHAT THE GOOD LORD HAS DONE FOR ME...").

WELL AS I DESCRIBED ABOVE, EVERY SONG IS A HIGHLIGHT, THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS ONE GREAT ALBUM CD.

THIS IS A GREAT ONE AND I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!!!

This cd is just the second album recorded after the plane crash. It's the end of Artimus Pyle's drumming, & helps re-establish Lynyrd Skynyrd as the greatest Southern Rock band of all time. Some fans have to realize in order to go on new members have to be added. Johnny is not tryin to be his brother, just himself. This album is a really good one. Just put it on and listen to the music, it's pure Lynyrd Skynyrd. There will always be some songs that are better than others, it's that way with all bands, but you can hear the LS heart beating, and that's all it takes to know they are still rocking.