It seems that over the years Skynyrds albums are becoming more and more country sounding.Now dont get me wrong, I love all there music from there first album with Ronnie and the boys right up to God and Guns.The boys seem to be losing some of the ROCK element in there newer albums.Southern rock will always have a element of country to it but the rock seems to be lacking lately.Hope the boys rock out on this next album!!!

I actually haven't listened to "God 'n' Guns" as of yet (I'm planning to do it, though!) but I still think that Skynyrd still can rock out! I'd say that the country influence has to probably be from Johnny and Donnie's venture into country music with the two country albums that they made - and I really like those a whole lot, to be honest.

Lynyrd Skynyrd's Roots are in Country Music.
Ronnie's favorite Singer was Merle Haggard.
Skynyrd Nation ROCKS..and it isn't the only one on the CD that does.If you have God N Guns,I suggest that you might want to get Disc 2..The one with Bang Bang and Hobo kind of Man plus some live Lynyrd..Just sayin'-
-RossingtonRules-

I wouldn't say they are all "country" and not rock.

On GnG, you had "Still Unbroken," "Little Thing Called You," "Skynyrd Nation," "Comin' Back for More," "Floyd," "Bang Bang"...

and quite a few on Vicious Cycle...

John5, who was on the latest Skynyrd cd, will be on this cd as well.

What passes for country these days seems to be getting more rock in it, so I suppose having some country in the rock is to be expected. I'm not sure about the other stuff out there. For some reason just thinking about "pop" music makes me want to gag. Probably too much Waylon and Willie etc.as an impressionable child......I remember my mother taking offense at the suggestive lyrics when my sister would play her Rolling Stones albums. I always wondered if she had ever been in the garage when Dad had his country music playing on the radio. "Daytime Friends and Nightime Lovers", "the night I hung my halo on your horns","Lonely Women make good Lovers", etc....Some of those made the Stones seem tame.Funny how what is music to one person's ears is just noise to another.

I know im going to hear about this reply i dig blackfoot and rick does play. The skynyrds songs but i think his input to the newer material is a flat influence that dont have the influence most skynyrd fans are accustomed to
ed king has it that influence
And Huey had it. But Medlocke is blackfoot not skynyrd sorry to offend anyone but its my opinion his music mix rolls on a different set of tracks or rails his influence is different .

I liked the last couple of albums, but there was a tinge of country to them, probably the songs that Jeffrey Steele wrote. I liked them, one because Jeffrey is one of my favorite songwriters, and two because I like the acoustic stuff. That goes back to the stuff Ronnie wrote as well. "All I Can Do About It" is one of my most favorite Skynyrd songs of all time.

As for Rickey's influence, he has said over the years that he writes the way he writes in so much as he doesn't go into writing trying to be or sound like someone else. It makes sense that songs that Rickey writes would be different from those of Ed or Allen so forth. I think the current sound is a blend of the styles and the outside songwriters, such as Jeffrey, Tom Hambridge and John 5, are as much an influence on the current sound as Rickey, Gary and Johnny.

I don't think their albums are anymore country than the records of any other line-up. I do believe that today's country is what Southern Rock was in the 1970's. Back then Charlie Daniels was Southern Rock, now he's country through and through. He hasn't changed his style, country music has just embraced a larger demographic over the years and that includes what most call Southern Rock.

I remember Rickey making the comment in the 2004 CMT Crossroads with Montgomery Gentry that Country made a turn and ended up at Southern Rock. If you really listen to today's country, it is true. I guess the Skynyrd albums of late are proof of that to some degree since people do hear the country influence so much.

God & Guns has a lot of rockin' tunes on it, but there is that tinge of twang on a few of the songs. John 5 is just as much a part of the twang as Jeffrey Steele as Rickey, Gary and Johnny themselves. Not sure who they are writing with this go around, but those outside writers will contribute to the sound of the record as well.

The next album is due this summer, from what I've read. They were/are in Nashville recording right now. I can't wait to hear it.

Rick Medlocke dont fit in Lynyrd Skynyrd.
His musical substance IS Blackfoot
I feel hes great just NOT in making new music with Lynyrd Skynyrd
Ed king Hughie Steve Randall Hall even it seemed there musical substance was more in line or in check on the skynyrd track of rail.
Yes ricks been with them and plays the songs well but i feel he holds Skynyrd back from being the Real Lynyrd Skynyrd it once was
Why did he leave in the early days?
Same now as then its two different types of musical input hes great on his. Own path just my opinion
As far as cointry comments ernest tubb. Hank thompson hank williams merle haggered are country music
The stuff nowadays is nashville factory music im not saying its all bad its just not what i call country music
And its sad all the great ones died or are dying off because the grand ole opery is losing the people with old style country talent to play
I like jimmy c newman on the opery but even hes getting up there
Alan jackson travis tritt are about the closest to the old country artist
The Van Zant was great but i dont consider that country music but folks do oh well times are changed im old and grumpyLOL

The Opry won't be the same once the older generations are gone. So sad really, I love seeing them more than the current artists I like. I realized the last time the last time I went to the Opry and watched Jean Shepard host her portion how old she really is and I am gonna miss her when her time comes. Travis and Alan are getting up there, but they are great ambassadors for their generation. I am going to the Opry in a couple of weeks to see Ronnie Milsap...hoping Jimmy C Newman and Other legends are out in force for that show - they are always the highlights for me.I can listen to Little Jimmy Dickens tell the same jokes week after week. :)

I saw Merle Haggard many years ago, was hoping to see him again next month but the show at the Ryman is sold out. Love Merle. :)

I haven't seen or heard much of the previous Skynurd lineups prior to Rickey joining. I am still a newbie really. Still learning and I still have many songs to listen to. I have a few DVDs so I have seen the lineups a little. I know the current lineup the best, but I have read a lot about the 73-77 lineups. Between 87 and 96 I still have more to learn. Started following Skynyrd in 2010 more intently - more of a casual fan prior. My favorites of the moment are more of the 70s stuff than anything else...I do love a bunch of tracks from Vicious Cycle and GnG, too. I just find myself listening to the older tunes more.

I love Blackfoot, too. Again, just started listening to them in force in 2010. Can't say I liked the post Rickey lineup, at least not the live album. Rickey is working with a new version of Blackfoot, not as a member but as a mentor and producer. I am interested in hearing what comes of that.

A long long time ago and I read this somewhere in my Skynyrd Travels Ronnie wanted to become Lynyrd Skynyrd's Manager. He also wanted to steer the band into Country Music and Southern Rock and Country music are closely related, you can call them cousins

=Hooty said:A long long time ago and I read this somewhere in my Skynyrd Travels Ronnie wanted to become Lynyrd Skynyrd's Manager. He also wanted to steer the band into Country Music and Southern Rock and Country music are closely related, you can call them cousins