Customer Reviews

Lyve

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I think this is a GREAT CD. I also have the DVD. Can't believe some people don't like Johnny. I think his brother Ronnie would be really proud of him. He sings great, even the old songs. As for not taking his singing seriously. He just has a good time with it. And Rickey Medlocke is AMAZING. I've been a Skynyrd fan for a lot of years. I think they are as Great now as they were before, if not better... lots of energy.

Johnny van Zant's lyrics are a little more genuinely redneck, perhaps, than his late brother's more tounge-in-cheek approach, and he says "arse" a lot more, but otherwise Skynyrd sound pretty much like you'd expect.
Only guitarist Gary Rossington and keyboardist Billy Powell are left from the original Skynyrd line-up, but you barely notice. Lynyrd Skynyrd version 2.003 sound almost exactly like the "real" Skynyrd did back in the 70s...thumping hard rock and rollicking boogie, big riffs and big hooks and a little bit o' country.

A discreet horn section has been added to the mix, and it sounds really good, actually. Just listen to this terrific rendition of the classic "What's Your Name", all clanging piano and soulful riffing, and a smoking guitar solo.
The band is really tight, but they never sound sterile; on the contrary, they sound as lively and joyous as ever. The three guitarists lay down gritty riffs with both precision and fervor, and trade off smouldering solos, and Billy Powell's piano is wonderfully prominent. And the set list is a nice mixture of classic songs from the Ronnie van Zant-era and a handful of the best songs from the then-current "Vicious Cycle"-album. Okay, "Red, White and Blue" is perhaps a bit too...something for a European like me, but almost everything else is just terrific.

The many highlights include "Pick 'Em Up", a stellar "Simple Kind Of Man", the aforementioned "What's Your Name", and of course the irresistable "Gimme Three Steps", all swaggering Southern boogie and a great vocal by Johnny van Zant.
Some listeners will probably feel a little grumpy about "Down South Jukin'", "Gimme Back My Bullets" and "Double Trouble" having been condensed into a five-minute medley. But they should be happy about the inclusion of relatively rarely-heard songs like "The Ballad of Curtis Loew" and the acoustic "Mississippi Kid". And "Sweet Home Alabama" is here as well, of course, as is "Free Bird".

This is melodic, high-energy rock n' roll of the highest order. "Lyve" probably won't cause anyone to throw away their copy of "One More From The Road" or the "Freebird" soundtrack, but it's lnice to hear how good this latter-day incarnation of the band actually sounds. Great fidelity, excellent production, and some 4 1/2 stars.
"Lyve" is not really a must-have album, considering the quality and quantity of live Skynyrd already out there, but it's just such great fun...

Many have said that the band died in 1977, but I think one listen to this will prove that just isn't true. The show starts off with the hard rocking "That's How I like It," from their Vicous Cycle album. The next two are stellar versions of What's your Name and "I Know A little," which has a great slide intro from Rickey and Hughie comes up with a great riff to further that intro while Johnny does his thing in getting the crowd to scream louder. Pick em Up is another great one from "Vicious Cycle." The next two are classics Simple Man and That Smell which has a great feedback ending from all three guitarists. The medley is superb and from there the go right into one of the highlights; "The Ballad Of Curtis Loew." Tuesday's Gone and Mississippi Kid follow. It should be noted that the band went all out for this one. They got a horn section for a number of songs, a string section, and even Steve Traum to play harmonica on Tuesday's Gone. Workin' 3 steps and call me the breeze kick some serious butt. Sweet Home is the obvious ending. The string section comes back for The Way and Freebird. This CD is even better than the last one because they kept Ronnie's intro for Freebird. BOTTOM LINE: This is a fine concert from the Skynyrd boys. Cartellone provides thunderous drumming while Rossington, Medlocke,and Thomasson do their thing. A must have for any rock fan!!!!!

I have always been a Skynyrd fan the first band was right where my head was at back then and I still love to hear the old tunes but the new band is singing about what life is like now. Check out the Vicious Cycle and Last Rebel CD's as well.
This Live CD is mostly covers of Ron's tunes.

Quoted from another reviewer:
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Having not grown up in the 70's, I was able to be completely impartial and take a look at both singers. I have to say that after hearing Van Zant, their new singer,whatever his name is, it really sounds like the group picked the fattest drunk loser in the crowd and said, you wanna sing songs and shoot up with us? I mean, this guy is worse than reality tv. No tallent. What does this guy do for this group? Nothing. Dont buy this cd, or anything after Van Zant. The group should have died in that crash along with the man. Harsh, I know, but true. If your still looking for Skynard CD's I recommend Self Pronounced and Second Helping. After that if you still want some Down south Junking... Check out Creedence Clearwater Revival.
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The singer is Ronnie Van Zant's younger brother, Johnnie Van Zant.

This live album is an incredible one. It proves that Johnnie has done an incredible job filling in the shoes of his older brother. I am sure Ronni would be very proud of his brother, and I am also sure Ronnie himself would have chosen no one else to fill his shoes.

After seeing Skynyrd and .38 Special twice on th "Vicious Cycle" Tour, this album took me right back to those concerts. Each song is well performed vocally and instrumentally. If you buy this album it is easy to see why there were people from 6 - 60 at these shows. Once again Skynyrd shows why they have been around for 30 years. Ronnie, Allen, Steve and Leon would be proud. Keep flying FREEBIRDS!!!

LYVE is tied with TWENTY, EDGE OF FOREVER, VICIOUS CYCLE, LYVE FROM STEEL TOWN, and THE LAST REBEL as the co-third-best Lynyrd Skynyrd album ever. The songs are all great, and it has some advantages over LYVE FROM STEEL TOWN, namely the inclusion of new live versions of "Tuesday's Gone", which encapsulates my feelings about deciding to skip Thanksgiving Dinner and Graduation at my old school, "Gimme Back My Bullets", and some of the songs from the two studio CDs that have come out since 1998. If you buy this album, you'll be glad you did.

My husband loves Lynyrd Skynyrd. I ordered this for him and he plays it alot. Loves it he says.

This is the Vicious Cycle album on steroids. It has many of the same songs as the other album, but a whole lot more and LIVE. This cd gives you the thrill of the Skynyrd crowd at it's best. I would recommend getting both the DVD and CD versions. Once you have seen the DVD, it really shows you why Skynyrd remains as popular as they are. The DVD has a lot of extras, but you will want to listen to the concert while on the go.

I would highly recommend this cd. Especially now that Billy Powell, Ean Evans and Hughie Thomasson are gone.