Van Zant - My Kind of Country

Brothers Johnny (Lynyrd Skynyrd) and Donnie (.38 Special) Van Zant have made a home for themselves at the intersection of Southern rock and contemporary country, all but blurring the boundary. Between the roaring road song that opens the album ("Train") and the weary road song that closes it ("Headed South"), Van Zant balance down-home party rockers such as "Goes Down Easy" and "It's Only Money" with the more serious balladry of "We Can't Do It Alone" (a spiritual sequel of sorts to "Get Right With the Man"), "That Scares Me," and "The Hardest Thing." Though the title song is little more than a banjo-laced string of country clichés and "These Colors Don't Run" is a patriotic bumper sticker, this solid sophomore effort should win the brotherly duo more country fans. --Don McLeese Amazon.com

Turnin' over in his grave...

Ronnie would have never written a song called, "These Colors Don't Run"! What happened to the Redneck Poets? I'll stick with Patterson Hood. October 2, 2008

The Van Zant's Fourth CD Together Is Great

MY KIND OF COUNTRY, the fourth album that brothers Johnny (Lynyrd Skynyrd) and Donnie (.38 Special) have done together is the equal of its predecessors BROTHER TO BROTHER, VAN ZANT II, and GET RIGHT WITH THE MAN. In other words, it's great! Like the previous three CDs, it would be equally at home on country radio stations (e.g. KMPS, KUPL, WPOR) and rock radio stations (e.g. KGON, WBLM, KZOK). The songs show a sense of pride in our country and our military, which is refreshing in a sea of records which have been a negative influence on me. The Van Zants' advocacies of sanctions against countries which falsely convict foreign visitors (e.g. Indonesia), increased funding for law enforcement, and capital punishment/life without parole for kidnappers make all four Van Zant CDs, including this one, essential purchases for both your ears AND your conscience. August 28, 2008

My review of the title, there, hows that?

I was pleased with this CD. Was in good shape, music was alright, no evidence of damage at all. Definetly a good addition to your music collection. November 25, 2007

Great CD for country and non-country music fans

"My Kind of Country" is the fourth VanZant CD and well worth the wait. VanZant "Brother to Brother" and VanZant II haven't been mentioned in prior reviews and deserve their kudos. All have songs that will have you singing long after the CD is over. "Get Right with the Man" certainly deserves the spotlight it has drawn, but "My Kind of Country" is a CD that both country and non-country music lovers will be pleased to add to their collections. Both Johnny and Donnie have distinct, strong voices that make them the legends they are today. You can feel the pleasure they get from singing and sharing their talent with their listeners. Can't wait to hear the next CD they do together. November 24, 2007

A Perfect Merger

As one reviewer put it here, Van Zant didn't reinvent themselves, country music came to them. This is an amazing story of what one genre of music is willing to except and promote, versus the stale, often generic rock and pop world that would have put a band like Van Zant out to pasture years ago. In fact, AOR radio has done that to this duo, who are seperately part of southern rock royalty. And no wonder. They can sing, play and write. Admittedly there's some extra pedal steel, where in southern rock, it might only be present in B-side or a deep album cuts. Even more interesting is that Donnie Van Zant is allowed to sing! In .38 Special, Donnie was the John Oates of the band, getting the non-single album cuts. Donnie's voice fits quite well with brother Johnny who has the best laugh in recorded music history. One listen to "Goes Down Easy" and you'll get my point. "That Scares Me" is more traditional country with it's laments of parenthood without perspective. These boys are totally okay being every cliche of southern life. Football, Jesus, an occasional adult beverage, bass boats, patriotism, NASCAR and any other steroetype you can conjur up. The verdict is there's nothing inherently wrong with any of this. In fact, if you want to be from the south, you need to act like southerners. And Van Zant is firmly confident in their southernhood. What you'll also get on "My Kind of Country" is fine production value, twin lead guitars, killer drums and instrumental accents like banjos, steel guitar and layered acoustic guitars. You won't find a more polished piece of honky tonk than this project.

One final element that makes this project commendable is repentance. These boys now seem okay in their own skin, they understand where they've been and where their headed. Whether it be a non-stop tour bus, or a past filled with guilty pleasure, the Van Zant brothers know they need to make a clean break with their past and leave an example of changed lives in their wake. This is a great illustration of how decadence can be turned around for good. You can't deny the force this kind of music has compared to most of today's rock and half of today's country. Great production, great material and a soon to be platinum sophomore country album. Look for "Goes Down Easy" to become a bar classic. November 18, 2007

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