Tuesday 4 September 2012

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Second Helping (1974)



The second helping from Lynyrd Skynyrd and the follow up to the massive important debut album.

Second Helping starts with the hit single and very influential Sweet Home Alabama. A song which was a direct answer to Neil Young's Southern Man epos. A song from a northerner which did not paint the southern states of USA in a positive light. I have read both lyrics and I have to admit that Lynyrd Skynyrd has a valid point. Sweet Home Alabama is a very important identity building song and a badge of pride. It is also by many miles the best song on this album.

The rest of the album features a triple assault guitars attack. The songs are less immediate than the Alabama song. They are still good though. The music is typical southern rock with the basis in gospel, blues, rock and country. An eclectic mix, but it works.

Ronnie Van Zant is brilliant as usual and the guitars is also excellent. The rest of the band does a brilliant job too. The songs are good, but nothing more. This albums says U S A and the southern states in big letters. It is an album well worth checking out.

3 points

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