Under the Influence: A Jam Band Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd

1	Call Me the Breeze / Les Claypool 3:50
2	Saturday Night Special / Galactic 3:59
3	Simple Man / Gov't Mule 7:56
4	Whiskey Rock a Roller / North Mississippi Allstars 4:34
5	The Ballad of Curtis Loew / moe. 4:53
6	Free Bird / Blues Traveler 5:38
7	Every Mother's Son / Drive-By Truckers 4:47
8	Sweet Home Alabama / Big Head Todd & the Monsters 3:37
9	Gimme Three Steps / The Disco Biscuits 3:34
10	Four Walls of Raiford / Yonder Mountain String Band 4:05
11	Workin' for Mca / Particle 7:12

Barnes & Noble

Lynyrd Skynyrd might not be the hippest name to drop in some circles, but chances are, if you scratch the surface of any band that's powered by guitar, you'll find at least a trace of the southern rock pioneers in that DNA. This 11-track tribute set bears that out from top to bottom, with devotees taking on tunes both iconic and semi-obscure. Some, like the North Mississippi Allstars, who dig into the brawling "Whiskey Rock a Roller," focus on the full-tilt-boogie aspect of the Skynyrd legacy, while acts like Gov't Mule -- responsible for a steely "Simple Man" -- take on the blues-busting side of things. Several bands take pains to put their own imprint on the tunes, from the Disco Biscuits' space-funk retooling of "Gimme Three Steps" to the Yonder Mountain String Band's hoedown-ready "Four Walls of Raiford." And, having heard those shouts from the audience for decades, the folks who compiled the disc couldn't help but include "Free Bird" -- and Blues Traveler prove themselves up to the task of taking on the ultimate southern rock anthem. Perfect for heads-down, no-nonsense partying -- and you don't even need to be a southern man to appreciate it. David Sprague

All Music Guide

This Sanctuary label cash-in comp features a host of the current crop of "jam bands", including Blues Traveler, Les Claypool, Galactic, Big Head Todd, Gov't Mule, Yonder Mountain String Band, and moe. (featuring John Hiatt on vocals) playing Lynyrd Skynyrd covers. Thom Jurek