One of my all time favorite jokes goes, "What is the difference between a pig and a drummer?" "A pig won't stay up all night to fuck a drummer!" While the joke is far from politically correct and offensive to livestock, I break it out for you because Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer, Artimus Pyle, is known as one of the wilder skin-bashers around. Yet, on his new album Artimus Venomus (to be released March 13), Pyle shows us there is another side to his persona.

Artimus Venomus just flat out rocks. The CD is a winner from start to finish. While many of the songs often echo the music of Lynyrd Skynyrd, they are also more complex. Elements of country show up periodically throughout the disc's twelve tracks. I would also venture to say the album will please the often fickle jam-band crowd, as the album is filled with extended solos and song structures that go a step beyond Skynyrd's radio-friendly numbers.

There is a lot of southern mentality to be found on Artimus Venomus. I don't mean that in an insulting "this is redneck music," sort of way. What I mean is the southern ethos of "live free or die" is present throughout the album. Songs like "Blood Sucking Weasel Attorneys," "Dead Rock Stars' Widows," "Giggolos," and "Pocket Money" remind me a lot of the work of the late great Warren Zevon.

While I find the drummer stereotype of only being interested in playing and partying is dead on more often than not, one listen to Artimus Venomus proves that Pyle is an exception to the rule. Artimus Venomus is a highly worthwhile listen.