I have trouble, sometimes, separating a band's music from the band's fan base. In the case of Lynyrd Skynyrd, even at just the mention of the band, what immediately comes to mind are white trash hillbillies festooned in Rebel Flag merch screaming something about their "heritage." It seems that at some point in 2012, the band stopped using Confederate imagery on their album covers, but that's too little too late and it hasn't stopped their mouth breathing fans from rocking the stars and bars. With that being said, I was shocked to actually enjoy the first half of this album. It's the sound that every southern rock band has tried to emulate but usually fall well short of achieving. "Tuesday's Gone" has been used in so many film soundtracks that it's kind of cliche at this point and I'm fairly certain I've been to a Southern funeral or two at which it's played, but it's honestly a pretty solid tune. Speaking of cliches, this album ends with "Free Bird." I hate this song. But, if you go to a concert to see any band of any genre anywhere in the world and someone doesn't yell "Play Free Bird" in between songs, did you really go to a concert? 2 stars. I'd almost allow myself to give it 3 for "Tuesday's Gone" and the album's pretty solid first half, but I'm sticking with 2 because their fans can really suck.