Customer Reviews:
 4 1/2 stars. There's no shortage of live Skynyrd out there, but this is a really fine album nonetheless October 14, 2008
Docendo Discimus (Vita scholae)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
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...
Almost, but not quite there. April 24, 2010
Father tyme (Essex, UK)
The main problem with this album is that despite being a good performance it somehow comes across as more of a tribute to the original Lynyrd Skynyrd, than a genuine outing by a legendary band.
Sadly the grit and honesty that was so much a part of the original Skynyrd has been replaced by too much polish, which for me is never a good thing for a live album.
That said the band do play well, much of the newer material is worthy of the band's name, but I just felt a little short-changed on the overall experience.
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