I've always been impressed with the fact that Skynyrd (the core members anyway) were a working band for *10 years* before getting signed & releasing their first album. And the last 5 of those years were with the same lineup that made that first album. Not only does that show incredible perseverance, it's one of the things that makes a real band great - years of playing live together and paying dues. These guys were seasoned pros on their first record, and they sounded like it.
I like pretty much all of their music, however I consider "Street Survivors" to be something of an under-rated masterpiece. Steve Gaines was an absolute mofo on guitar, may he rest in peace. "That Smell" may be over-played, but skip ahead and listen to Gaines on "Honky Tonk Nighttime Man" or "I Know A Little." Holy moly!
Quite possibly my favorite Lynyrd Skynyrd song. I suppose "bullets" can be read literally, but I think it's a metaphor for "moxie" or "confidence" or "power." The groove on this song is so thick and tight yet airy and loose. That's the contradictory energy that LS was able to seamlessly create so often, and what makes them legendary in my eyes.
Yes, a metaphor, of course. I hope I have that covered in the last paragraph. Van Zandt echoes Emerson and Thoreau here, the great American ideals. Legends, indeed.
I've always been impressed with the fact that Skynyrd (the core members anyway) were a working band for *10 years* before getting signed & releasing their first album. And the last 5 of those years were with the same lineup that made that first album. Not only does that show incredible perseverance, it's one of the things that makes a real band great - years of playing live together and paying dues. These guys were seasoned pros on their first record, and they sounded like it.
I like pretty much all of their music, however I consider "Street Survivors" to be something of an under-rated masterpiece. Steve Gaines was an absolute mofo on guitar, may he rest in peace. "That Smell" may be over-played, but skip ahead and listen to Gaines on "Honky Tonk Nighttime Man" or "I Know A Little." Holy moly!
Yes, "I Know A Little" is monstrous. And his vocal on "You Got That Right."
And “Ain’t No Good Life.”
Quite possibly my favorite Lynyrd Skynyrd song. I suppose "bullets" can be read literally, but I think it's a metaphor for "moxie" or "confidence" or "power." The groove on this song is so thick and tight yet airy and loose. That's the contradictory energy that LS was able to seamlessly create so often, and what makes them legendary in my eyes.
Yes, a metaphor, of course. I hope I have that covered in the last paragraph. Van Zandt echoes Emerson and Thoreau here, the great American ideals. Legends, indeed.
I’ve heard it was bullets as the charts (number one with a bullet) and how their previous album, Nuthin Fancy, didn’t fare as well as the others.
I choose not to think of it that way, though, and more open to interpretation like y’all have been discussing.
The charts explanation makes sense. Like you, I prefer to see a character in an American story. That's the good stuff.