User Profile
Drew Wilson
I review an electric variety of music ranging from the 70s to 2000s. Some of my favorite bands include Everclear, Guns N’ Roses, Alice Cooper and Drive By Truckers.
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Drew Wilson's Album Reviews
Lynyrd Skynyrd's fifth and final studio album, Street Survivors, was released just three days before a tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of six people, including guitarist Steve Gaines, vocalist Cassie Gaines, and frontman Ronnie Van Zant. Steve Gaines, who had joined the band shortly before, made an indelible mark on the album, contributing significantly as a songwriter, co-writer, and lead guitarist. Despite the devastating circumstances surrounding its release, Street Survivors climbed into the Top 5 on the U.S. album charts, cementing the band’s legacy as one of the preeminent acts in Southern rock history.
The album’s production was far from straightforward, involving two separate recording sessions. The first took place at Miami’s Criteria Studios under producer Tom Dowd, and the second at Atlanta’s Studio One, where tracks were remixed and rearranged to finalize the album's sound. The result was a polished yet emotionally raw collection of songs that showcased the band’s versatility and soul.
“What’s Your Name” is a crisp ditty driven by a groovy bass line delivered with tight vocal harmonies from Steve Gaines and Ronnie Van Zant. It sets the stage for that “That Smell,” featuring the Honkettes’ harmonies (JoJo Billingsley, Leslie Hawkins, and Cassie Gaines), is built around a chunky bassline, brooding guitar riffs, and heavy drum patterns.
“One More Time” delivers a 6/8 time signature that gives it a loose, Grateful Dead-inspired feel, enriched with Skynyrd’s signature Southern rock flair. “I Know a Little” is a funk-infused number built around syncopated beats and sharp piano work, brimming with swagger and groove. “You Got That Right” features seamless interplay between electric guitars, crisp riffs, and melodic solos, creating one of the album’s most upbeat moments.
The soulful ballad “I Never Dreamed” is carried by subtle percussion and heartfelt guitar licks, while the Merle Haggard cover “Honky Tonk Night Time Man” delivers a twangy guitar progression and rugged piano melody that capture the band’s honky-tonk spirit. The album closes with “Ain’t No Good Life,” which creates a rich interplay of slow smoldering rhythms and warm, twangy chords throughout the span of four minutes.
Tragically, the plane crash that occurred three days after the album’s release left the band shattered, with all surviving members sustaining injuries. The tragedy forced Lynyrd Skynyrd into a decade-long hiatus. In 1987, the band reunited with Johnny Van Zant, Ronnie’s younger brother, stepping into the role of lead vocalist. The lineup included surviving members Gary Rossington, Billy Powell, Leon Wilkeson, Artimus Pyle, and Ed King, ensuring that the Skynyrd legacy endured.
The album’s production was far from straightforward, involving two separate recording sessions. The first took place at Miami’s Criteria Studios under producer Tom Dowd, and the second at Atlanta’s Studio One, where tracks were remixed and rearranged to finalize the album's sound. The result was a polished yet emotionally raw collection of songs that showcased the band’s versatility and soul.
“What’s Your Name” is a crisp ditty driven by a groovy bass line delivered with tight vocal harmonies from Steve Gaines and Ronnie Van Zant. It sets the stage for that “That Smell,” featuring the Honkettes’ harmonies (JoJo Billingsley, Leslie Hawkins, and Cassie Gaines), is built around a chunky bassline, brooding guitar riffs, and heavy drum patterns.
“One More Time” delivers a 6/8 time signature that gives it a loose, Grateful Dead-inspired feel, enriched with Skynyrd’s signature Southern rock flair. “I Know a Little” is a funk-infused number built around syncopated beats and sharp piano work, brimming with swagger and groove. “You Got That Right” features seamless interplay between electric guitars, crisp riffs, and melodic solos, creating one of the album’s most upbeat moments.
The soulful ballad “I Never Dreamed” is carried by subtle percussion and heartfelt guitar licks, while the Merle Haggard cover “Honky Tonk Night Time Man” delivers a twangy guitar progression and rugged piano melody that capture the band’s honky-tonk spirit. The album closes with “Ain’t No Good Life,” which creates a rich interplay of slow smoldering rhythms and warm, twangy chords throughout the span of four minutes.
Tragically, the plane crash that occurred three days after the album’s release left the band shattered, with all surviving members sustaining injuries. The tragedy forced Lynyrd Skynyrd into a decade-long hiatus. In 1987, the band reunited with Johnny Van Zant, Ronnie’s younger brother, stepping into the role of lead vocalist. The lineup included surviving members Gary Rossington, Billy Powell, Leon Wilkeson, Artimus Pyle, and Ed King, ensuring that the Skynyrd legacy endured.
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