Lynyrd Skynyrd was one of the most popular bands of the 1970s. But their fatal plane crash in 1977 put a huge dent in the rock world, taking the lives of lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, and backup singer Cassie Gaines. Though the band essentially folded for 10 years before reuniting, the legacy they left was incredible. Their debut album came out in 1973 and was an instant success. Though it is not their best-selling album, it contains some of their most iconic songs. Though Lynyrd Skynyrd was tragically cut short, their music still lives on.

I Ain’t the One

This is a great introduction for the band, and this song incorporates everything Lynyrd Skynyrd does well, which is what all debut songs should be. It combines blues and rock altogether, with an amazing guitar riff by Gary Rossington. This song is very high energy, and does a great job as the first track on the album. I give this song a 9/10.

Tuesday’s Gone

This is one of Skynyrd’s more popular songs; a big reason for that is its being in classic movies like Happy Gilmore and Dazed and Confused. It’s a slower song compared to the first, and it has a sad feeling to it. Zant’s vocals really set the mood for this song and are very emotional. Throughout the whole 7 minutes of this song, the tone is consistent, which is what I think makes this song so great. I give this song a 10/10

Gimme Three Steps

This is my personal favorite song from this album. It makes a switch from Tuesday’s Gone’s slow, sad feeling to a high-energy tone. This song is very catchy, and the riffs throughout this song are what make this song my favorite. Everything about this song is amazing, and there’s nothing much else to say about it. I give this song a 10/10 as well.

Simple Man

This song switches from bad to a slow build, and a tone that has a deep meaning to it. The song is about a conversation between a mother and son, and Vant’s vocals carry this whole song. It’s a beautifully written song, and it’s another one of Skynyrd’s more popular songs for a reason. I give this song a 9/10.

Things Goin’ On

This song is very bluesy-sounding, and it’s a calm and laid-back song. The lyrics are surprisingly progressive for a Southern rock band like Lynyrd Skynyrd, as the song is about issues like poverty. Overall, it’s a solid song. Not much else to say about this song. I give it a 7/10

Mississippi Kid

This song is very different from the rest of the album. Instead of the hard sound that Lynyrd Skynyrd is known for, it sounds more like softer folk-rock. Rossington uses an acoustic guitar instead of an electric guitar, giving the song a simpler feel. Another good song here. So far, there has not been a song I do not like. I also give this song a 7/10.

Poison Whiskey

This song opens with a great riff by Rossington and goes back to the blues sound, in contrast to Mississippi Kid. Zant’s vocals have a deep meaning about the danger of overdrinking. Somehow ironic coming from the band’s reputation. The song itself is pretty good. I like this song more than the last two, mostly because of the heavier sound. I gave this song an 8/10

Free Bird

This is by far the most popular song on this album. It may be a bit overplayed, but it is still good. This song is 9 minutes of art. From the vocals of Zant to Rossington’s easily recognizable guitar playing, its slow builds up into a legendary guitar solo that some say is the best of all time. By default, this song is an easy 10/10

Mr Banker

This song is a slower, soul-rock genre. Zant’s vocals carry the weight of this song, and it creates a haunting feeling. The guitar, played by Ed King, is a slide guitar. The tone of the song is created from this. This is actually my least favorite song on the album. It’s slow and does not really build up to anything. I give this song a 5/10

Down South Junkin

The first thing I noticed from this song is how catchy the opening riff is. It really pulled me into the song. It’s the epitome of southern rock and Lynyrd Skynyrd as a whole. If there were a song that summarized Lynyrd Skynyrd, this would be the song. It combines blues and hard rock perfectly. This was a great finale to the album, so I give this song a 9/10

Overall, Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd is a great debut album. The album really solidified the rise in popularity of Southern Rock, and its unfortante that a band with amazing talent was cut short. This album had only one song I did not like, and had a good amount of 10/10s from. With that, I give this song a 9/10