Under The Influence -
Jam Band Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd

Well, when I first got word on this CD, I thought to myself, "that's just what we need, ANOTHER damn tribute album..."... But that was then. This is now, Under The Influence: A Jam Band Tribute To Lynyrd Skynyrd really kind of shocked me here. This has some of the great modern day Jam Bands, no we don't have Little Feat or Phish here, but we do have quite an assembly of some of the best in the biz. From Les Claypool to Big Head Todd and The Monsters and Blues Traveler.

The difference here is simple, these bands actually WERE for the most part influenced by legends Lynyrd Skynyrd and instead of just covering a song, they really pay homage to the band that went before. Lynyrd Skynyrd is possibly the MOST legendary band in Southern Rock history, and with southern rock making a comeback this year at the hands of Drive By Truckers (who contribute "Every Mother's Son" here) who are partially responsible for the resurgence of the Southern Rock sound. Well, to be completely honest, to real fans it never died anyway, but there is new life breathed into the genre for a new audience. 

For anyone who thought Southern Rock was dead, all you had to do was cross the Atlantic ocean where areas like Denmark and Germany have never let the sound die off. Under The Influence: A Jam Band Tribute To Lynyrd Skynyrd brings some great artists together, but the best part of the compilation is, although we do have some Skynyrd standards, we also have some less heard gems that you may not have heard on your favorite classic rock radio station's playlist. That is what really makes this CD great.

I have been a fan of the Southern Rock sound for some time, and the way these bands have re-created some of the better songs of Lynyrd Skynyrd is what really shines through. There is no way any album could paint a true historic tribute to the band, well maybe a box-set would work. The deal is there is enough here to wet your appetite, and maybe even wish for a volume 2. Standouts, yeah there are a few, the Drive By Truckers I mentioned earlier, Blues Traveler's rendition of Free Bird is spectacular, the Disco Biscuits on "Gimme Three Steps", and Moe teaming up with John Hiatt to give us "The Ballad Of Curtis Loew". The entire CD stands up, about 55 minutes of Lynyrd Skynyrd songs that aren't just copies, but the sonmgs are played with heart and even die-hard fans will be able to enjoy Under The Influence: A Jam Band Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd. Who knows, maybe this will even bring some new fans over to the Skynyrd camp.

   ( 5 Stars out of 6 )

1. Les Claypool - Call Me The Breeze

2. Galactic - Saturday Night Special

3. Gov't Mule - Simple Man

4. North Mississippi Allstars - Whiskey Rock A Roller

5. Moe With John Hiatt - Ballad of Curtis Lowe

6. Blues Traveler - Free Bird

7. Drive By Truckers - Every Mother's Son

8. Big Head Todd and the Monsters - Sweet Home Alabama

9. Disco Biscuits - Gimme Three Steps

10. Yonder Mtn. String Band - Four Walls Of Railford

11. Particle - Workin' For MCA