I realize most people think my preferences in music are as diverse as whoever is in the top 40. The Biebers and Spears of the world entertain and I'd be lying if I said I hated them, but this is not what I listen to at home. I get very tired of listening to one band at a time, so Pandora has become my go-to music source. To give you an idea of my "stations," I'm listening right now and the last seven songs have been by The Forecast, Social Distortion, Benedictine Monks of Santa Domingo, Michael Jackson, Geto Boys, Cher and currently Rancid is cranking away.
Now it would be much easier to write a blog on overrated bands, because there are so many. People might be shocked at some bands I consider overrated, but chances are their listing would be responded to with a "figures," followed by a smirk and an eye roll. So I thought about bands who are great, some even considered great, but not mentioned when best bands are talked about. Sure there are bands out there who have a few hits more than you figure, but I'm talking about a band that was consistently great.
For me, that band is Lynyrd Skynard. Some may scream and want to run for the hills with the thought of having to hear "Freebird", but not me. I always hate when die hard Zeppelin fans say they hate "Stairway to Heaven." Face it, it's the most overplayed song of all-time, but it's easily one of their two or three best songs and arguably one of the ten best rock songs of ever made. The same can be said for "Freebird." Sure it's become a southern anthem, but it's because it's great. I remember seeing a live version one night on TV that lasted nearly a half hour. Say what you want, but it was brilliant. Look at their first album as a whole. "Freebird," "Tuesday's Gone," "Gimme Three Steps" and "Simple Man." Four tremendous songs all on a debut album. Then there is the anti-segregation protest song "Things Going On." Back in the early 70's in the south, this was a huge risk made by the band.
A year later they come out with Second Helping. An album featuring the classic "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Swamp Music." This alone would qualify it as a huge album, but this album also features lesser known gems such as "I Need You," which is one of the coolest bluesiest songs they have. Then there is "The Ballad of Curtis Loew," a song about a young white boy being mesmerized and inspired by the guitar skills of an old black man. Beautiful song. There's also heroin battle song "The Needle and the Spoon," which was obviously a very personal song.
They followed this with Nuthin' Fancy. Probably the lesser of all their albums, but it contains "Saturday Night Special," which has been covered by tons of bands. Lesser known, but solid songs like "On the Hunt" and "Cheating Woman" are incredible.
Their fourth album Gimme Back My Bullets feature the title song, which is a gritty song about the right to bear arms. Double Trouble is about as Southern Rock as you can get. Guitar riffs and a female chorus mesh perfectly with the southern Twang of Van Zandt's voice. These coupled with "Cry for the Bad Man" and "Every Mother's Son" make this another classic.
Their fifth and final album featuring the original members, before their tragic plane crash was Street Survivors. Five albums produced between 1973 and 1977. Three double platinum, one platinum and one gold. Street Survivors was their third double platinum album and came out just three days before the death of Ronnie Van Zant. The album starts with the ultra catchy hit "What's Your Name," followed by one of my personal favorites, "That Smell." The A side also contains another great unknown "One More Time." The B Side isn't a blockbuster, but does contain great songs like "You Got That Right" and Merle Haggard's "I'm a Honky Tonk Night Time Man."
Five albums in four years. Three songs which are rock anthems and many more hits and hidden gems. It makes you wonder what could have been had that horrific crash not taken place and ended what was one of the best bands of the 70's. Say what you want about Freebird. Heard it too much? Sorry, there's just something about it's mellow beginnings and the build up to the frenzied guitar solo, which has to be one of the most recognized guitar riffs ever. Maybe in 2012, after hearing it 2000 times, it has lost it's luster for most, but I can't imagine hearing this for the first time back in the mid 70's It must have been amazing. A great great band!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VX3cbFJ3lYU
Now it would be much easier to write a blog on overrated bands, because there are so many. People might be shocked at some bands I consider overrated, but chances are their listing would be responded to with a "figures," followed by a smirk and an eye roll. So I thought about bands who are great, some even considered great, but not mentioned when best bands are talked about. Sure there are bands out there who have a few hits more than you figure, but I'm talking about a band that was consistently great.
For me, that band is Lynyrd Skynard. Some may scream and want to run for the hills with the thought of having to hear "Freebird", but not me. I always hate when die hard Zeppelin fans say they hate "Stairway to Heaven." Face it, it's the most overplayed song of all-time, but it's easily one of their two or three best songs and arguably one of the ten best rock songs of ever made. The same can be said for "Freebird." Sure it's become a southern anthem, but it's because it's great. I remember seeing a live version one night on TV that lasted nearly a half hour. Say what you want, but it was brilliant. Look at their first album as a whole. "Freebird," "Tuesday's Gone," "Gimme Three Steps" and "Simple Man." Four tremendous songs all on a debut album. Then there is the anti-segregation protest song "Things Going On." Back in the early 70's in the south, this was a huge risk made by the band.
A year later they come out with Second Helping. An album featuring the classic "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Swamp Music." This alone would qualify it as a huge album, but this album also features lesser known gems such as "I Need You," which is one of the coolest bluesiest songs they have. Then there is "The Ballad of Curtis Loew," a song about a young white boy being mesmerized and inspired by the guitar skills of an old black man. Beautiful song. There's also heroin battle song "The Needle and the Spoon," which was obviously a very personal song.
They followed this with Nuthin' Fancy. Probably the lesser of all their albums, but it contains "Saturday Night Special," which has been covered by tons of bands. Lesser known, but solid songs like "On the Hunt" and "Cheating Woman" are incredible.
Their fourth album Gimme Back My Bullets feature the title song, which is a gritty song about the right to bear arms. Double Trouble is about as Southern Rock as you can get. Guitar riffs and a female chorus mesh perfectly with the southern Twang of Van Zandt's voice. These coupled with "Cry for the Bad Man" and "Every Mother's Son" make this another classic.
Their fifth and final album featuring the original members, before their tragic plane crash was Street Survivors. Five albums produced between 1973 and 1977. Three double platinum, one platinum and one gold. Street Survivors was their third double platinum album and came out just three days before the death of Ronnie Van Zant. The album starts with the ultra catchy hit "What's Your Name," followed by one of my personal favorites, "That Smell." The A side also contains another great unknown "One More Time." The B Side isn't a blockbuster, but does contain great songs like "You Got That Right" and Merle Haggard's "I'm a Honky Tonk Night Time Man."
Five albums in four years. Three songs which are rock anthems and many more hits and hidden gems. It makes you wonder what could have been had that horrific crash not taken place and ended what was one of the best bands of the 70's. Say what you want about Freebird. Heard it too much? Sorry, there's just something about it's mellow beginnings and the build up to the frenzied guitar solo, which has to be one of the most recognized guitar riffs ever. Maybe in 2012, after hearing it 2000 times, it has lost it's luster for most, but I can't imagine hearing this for the first time back in the mid 70's It must have been amazing. A great great band!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VX3cbFJ3lYU
Comments
Post a Comment