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ZZ TOP
"Raw: 'That Little Ol' Band
From Texas' Original Soundtrack" (BMG
Rights Management (US) LLC; 2022)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
As is stated clearly in this album's title, "Raw" is the soundtrack from the ZZ Top documentary (reviewed below).
Captured on this album are twelve of the band's best-known tunes. Trust me, you know them all. But you've never heard them played as purely, as honestly and as beautifully as they are here.
No audience (well, maybe a couple of crew members), no overdubs, just pure ZZ Top music from the top to bottom. It's about as pure a ZZ Top experience as you're likely to ever get. This band has been around so long that to call them "tight" would be a major understatement. They mesh together flawlessly, working as a single unit, generating their unique sound in a way that doesn't sound over-rehearsed or show any signs of stage fatigue. On "Raw," ZZ Top perform each track with style and gusto, and the stripped down sound is crisp and sharp and (I'll use the word again) pure.
If you're a fan of ZZ Top or have ever been throughout the years, "Raw" is an album you simply must pick up. It's the epitome of that classic ZZ Top sound, a completely unadulterated showcase of their legendary blues/rock style. I don't know that there will ever be a recording that captures it better and I'm okay with that as long as got this album in my collection.
For more information, check out http://www.zztop.com.
"That Little Ol' Band From
Texas" (Eagle Rock Entertainment; 2020)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
According to bassist Dusty Hill in the documentary film entitled "That Little Ol' Band From Texas," that very phrase may have been first intended as an insult of sorts but the band grabbed onto it and made it their motto and catchphrase. That's just one of the many amazing revelations you'll discover watching this fascinating history about how one of the world's biggest bands ... well, became one of the world's biggest bands.
Told by the three band members themselves, "That Little Ol' Band From Texas" covers every aspect of how ZZ Top came into existence and how they became three of the most recognizable people on the planet. The documentary uses recent interview footage, classic archive footage, new performance footage and even animation(!) to tell the band's story and there isn't a dull moment from beginning to end.
Billy F. Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard each get a chance to tell their version of the creation and success of ZZ Top and one of the things that's so impressive is that their stories fairly jibe. Recent Interviews with each of ZZ Top's members are intertwined with photos (some of them digitally animated) and concert footage that is a delight to see after all these years. Stories regarding their manager and good friend, Bill Ham--who passed away in 2016--are told via animation, a great way to get the information acrossed considering the man is no longer with us.
Some of the things you'll learn in this film are why the band took a three-year sabbatical, what the punk rock movement meant to their sound, and how they went on to sell 15,000,000 copies of their album, "Eliminator."
Some documentaries are dry, boring things that challenge you to stay tuned throughout. Not this one. With the band members' unique and individual personalities, along with special guest commentary by celebrity fans such as Billly Bob Thornton, Steve Miller and Josh Homme of Queen of the Stone Age, "That Little Ol' Band From Texas" is compellling stuff. Add to that some vintage footage, new live performances, and interviews with others who were there when it happened, such as recording studio owner Robin Hood Brians, ZZ Top publicist Howard Bloom and rodeo clown Ralph Fisher (you'll see), this is one of those rare documentaries that demands repeat viewing. My only complaint is that the film doesn't really explore anything after the release of "Eliminator," but the band has been going strong ever since that 1983 release. It would have been interesting to have some follow-up in those post-"Eliminator" years.
In addition to the main features, this DVD/Blu-Ray contains loads of bonus footage, too, including a stunning, more recent performance by the band at Gruene Hall and archival footage that clearly documents the band's evolution over the years.
After 50 years featuring the same line-up, ZZ Top remains perhaps the coolest rock'n'roll band of all time. "That Little Ol' Band From Texas" tells you all about the how, when and why. It's a great story from ... well, I was going to say beginning to end ... but it ain't over yet, so let's just say it's a great depiction of the ZZ Top story so far.
ZZ Top: Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, Frank Beard.
For more information, check out http://www.zztop.com.
"Live
in Germany 1980" (Eagle Records; 2011)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
There's no such thing as bad ZZ Top, and this CD featuring the band's 1980 live performance on Rockpalast in Germany is still further proof of that statement.
There are several outstanding things about this live CD. First, it was recorded during the "El Deguello" era and, in fact, contains six of the ten songs from that album. It's a snapshot of ZZ Top history and, as such alone, is a fascinating listening experience.
Second, this album was recorded during a live performance that pre-dates the band's hugely successful "Elminator" album which - as great as it is - marked a departure from the band's bluesier sound.
The album sounds great, with the band sounding as rough and tumble as ZZ Top's ever likely to sound. It's a crisp, clear recording but the band sounds just a live band should: raw, dynamic and ... well, live. This album has been the subject of many a muddy bootleg out there, and I've heard a few of them. Unlike those, this recording is bright and clean.
Perhaps the only disappointing thing about ZZ Top's "Live in Germany 1980" is that it's yet another vault release from a band that desperately needs to get some music out there. C'mon you Little Ol' Band from Texas, let's got some new ZZ Top recorded and out to your fans!
ZZ Top: Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, Frank Beard.
For more information, check out http://www.zztop.com.
"Live
From Texas" (Eagle Records; 2008)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
In my review of ZZ Top's live DVD, "Live From Texas," I said that I wished there was a CD of the show so I could take it along with me in my car. Well, my wish has been granted and that CD is now available.
There's not much more I can say about this CD than I said about the DVD (see below) but, having listened to this CD several times now, I can reiterate how much I enjoy the band's performance here, all these years after they originally wrote and recorded these songs in the studio. The songs are a little different in some ways, of course, but they are very much the same songs we all fell in love with back when they were first released.
The recording here is bright and clean, especially for a live album, and the track-listing is pretty much nothing but a greatest hits collection. Nothing wrong with that.
My only complaint with this CD is that the band's cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Foxey Lady" didn't make it from DVD to CD. Too bad. As I said in my DVD review, it was one of my favorite parts of the live show.
ZZ Top: Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, Frank Beard.
For more information, check out http://www.zztop.com.
"Live
From Texas" (Eagle Vision; 2008)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
There's a lot that makes this live DVD featuring the good ol' boys from Texas great. First and foremost, there's the performance. Throughout "Live From Texas," the legendary ZZ Top performs seventeen of their biggest hits and they all sound incredible. Instead of the slick, high-tech sound that the band is famous for on their studio albums, their musicianship and attitude here are those of old bluesmen. The songs sound fresh and authentic again, almost stripped down and raw. And the band seems to have fun playing them that way. The stage set is cool and blue and looks great on an HDTV. I'm not a big fan of concert DVDs but this one I watched from beginning to end and I will watch it again soon. I only wish there was a live CD to go along with it so I could take it along with me in my car.
The bonus features are a lot of fun as well, showing some real creativity on the part of whoever conceived them. First up, we have the band discussing the history of ZZ Top while they play a couple of hands of poker - fun and interesting. Then there's the backstage happenings before a show in Dallas, plus a photo shoot session. Finally, the icing on top of this cake is a live performance of Jimi Hendrix's "Foxey Lady," which ZZ Top brings to fiery life; another track I wish was available in audio.
Fans of ZZ Top will love this DVD and those who haven't revisited the band in a long time will find "Live in Texas" to be like spending an evening with old friends. Old friends with cool guitars, awesome cars and long beards, perhaps, but old friends nonetheless.
ZZ Top: Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, Frank Beard.
For more information, check out http://www.zztop.com.
"Mescalero"
(RCA; 2003)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
That little ol' band from Texas return with a new CD that celebrates a little of their high-tech "Eliminator" sound and a lot of their bluesy, fuzzy guitar signature.
"Mescalero" is a true ZZ Top classic, with the veteran band delivering sixteen(!) tracks of smoldering blues that smoke their way out of your stereo speakers like the delicious aroma of thick juicy steaks from underneath your closed barbeque lid.
Sorry. I had to get a barbeque comment in there somewhere.
The best term to describe the sixteen songs on "Mescalero" is "smoldering." The songs never reach the furious pace of such ZZ Top classics as "Legs" or "Sharp Dressed Man," but they move along at an almost leisurely clip, allowing for the unique and instantly identifiable guitar of Billy Gibbons to fill each song to the brim with that bluesy rock'n'roll sound that band has made their won for decades.
Unlike other more recent ZZ Top records, "Mescalero" doesn't have a bad song on it. That's even more impressive when you consider that there's more songs on this CD than on the previous ones. And each song is a unique (sometimes even somewhat bizarre) and very strong number. To go through every song and describe its individuality would be tedious. Better for you to experience it yourself.
The bottom line is that ZZ Top has returned to the top of their game, not that they ever strayed very far from it. "Mescalero" may very well be their best album in more than a decade.
ZZ Top: Billy F. Gibbons - guitar / vocals; Dusty Hill - bass / vocals; Frank Beard - drums.
For more information, check out http://www.zztop.com.
"XXX"
(RCA; 1999)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
The five words on the side of this CD tell you all you really need to know about ZZ Top's "XXX" CD. They read, "Drum, bass and fuzzy guitar."
That's it! What more do you need to know about a ZZ Top album? If you love their unique sound, you probably love all of their albums (some less than others, agreed). "XXX" is no exception. It's a ZZ Top album through and through. And, if you're a fan of this band, you can't help but love it.
The CD begins with "Poke Chop Sandwich," a groovy little boogie number with all the trademark ZZ Top sounds: the aforementioned drum, bass and fuzzy guitar plus laid-back vocals and spacey lead riffs. It's cool stuff. Next up is a quasi-industrial number entitled "Crucifixx-A-Flatt." Although the two aren't really similar, it brings to mind the band's hit, "TV Dinners." It should be also noted that its chorus gets about as close as we're likely to see ZZ Top attempt rap. Next up is "Fearless Boogie," a flat-out blues song that makes no bones about being bluesy. "36-22-36" begins with a blues harmonica and is immediately followed by that trademark ZZ Top guitar fuzz-n-blip. It wouldn't be a ZZ Top CD without an ode to women on it and this song accepts that responsibility. "Made Into a Movie" is another blues number, a slow-paced number with Godzilla-stomp guitars that needs to be played at the highest volume your speakers can handle. Next up is "Beatbox," a fast-paced little ditty that starts out like a Blind Melon Chitlin number and then morphs into a ZZ Top chorus. "Trippin" sounds like it was an outtake from the "Eliminator" album that was excised because its guitar was a little too daring to fit the highly commercial (and freaking brilliant) "Eliminator." Dreadmonboogaloo" is the last studio song on the CD and it's a staccato guitar number with lots of spacey ZZ Top effects and vocals. This number should turn into a big dance hit or wind up on a lot of television commercials. It's a hip, almost-instrumental track that's really cool.
The final four tracks on "XXX" are live recordings "collected from around the world." These four songs are incredible live performances from the band whose live shows simply must be seen and heard to be appreciated. The first song is "Sinpusher," a medium-paced number that is reminiscent of many ZZ Top songs. The band's cover of "(Let Me Be) Your Teddy Bear" is blues heavy and stone cold cool. "Hey, Mr. Millionaire" features a guest performance by Jeff Beck on vocals and "Belt Buckle" sews up the entire CD with a plain ol' blues jam.
What makes "XXX" so great is the fact that it represents the best of both worlds of ZZ Top. The bluesy sounds that highlight their early years are here in greater success and quantity than previous releases while the band really seems to have fun with the special effects and tricks that made their later recordings so popular.
That and the fact that it's ZZ Top - what else do you really need?
ZZ TOP is Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard.
For more information, please visit the band's website at http://www.zztop.com.
The band also suggests you visit the Delta Blues Museum online at http://www.deltabluesmuseum.org.
"Antenna"
(RCA.; 1994)
Reviewed by Jeff Rogers
“Antenna” was the first ZZ Top album released under the RCA record
label and this CD also featured the first time ZZ Top had a song listed that used part of the title from their
album (track No. 6 -- “Antenna Head”). They followed that word game by
naming their next two discs after songs that appeared on those albums. Just some useless trivia if you ever need to boast at a party.
On "Antenna," ZZ Top continues to stick with the formula of blues-rock and hard rock to churn out a great release. The guitar tone on this CD sounds a lot like the one on “Tres
Hombres.” I went back and listened to both CDs and compared them. Even though there’s a twenty-one year difference between the two you can still hear the fire in Billy Gibbons' gut when he plays. The production is superb, and that’s what keeps the original sound strong and
keeps it fresh even today as well.
Since ZZ Top has such a strong fan base it’s hard to disappoint fans who expect them to put out great guitar
music. While listening to this disc, I sometimes felt like Joe Satriani was playing guitar. The blues sound is here and,
after searching my mental guitar file, I could hear some strong similarities,
strange as it seems. If you get the chance, listen to this disc again and
compare Satriani’s work before and after this disc. See if you can hear what
I’m talking about.
ZZ TOP is Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard.
For more information, please visit the band's website at http://www.zztop.com.
The band also suggests you visit the Delta Blues Museum online at http://www.deltabluesmuseum.org.
"Afterburner"
(Warner Bros.; 1985)
Reviewed by Jeff Rogers
When ZZ Top first introduced their brand of music they did so with a style that no one has been able to
match. Sure, other bands have tried to sound like the
little ol' band from Texas, but nobody has cloned them yet. This is a good thing, and with each
and every album, you can expect fuzzy guitar, driving drums and lyrics that will
keep you smiling.
"Afterburner" has all the same tones you'd expect with some synth added in on “Rough Boy” and a pop sounding “Stages”
(searching for a possible new fan base, perhaps?) being just right for radio. Because you can always expect the same
great music from ZZ Top, fans won’t be disappointed. The critics might whine
about needing something new and different but they're missing the point. As long
as ZZ Top gives the fans what they expect, we will always listen with
anticipation and excitement.
"Afterburner" is just as good as the band's previous “Eliminator,” but just
different enough to make you sit up and take notice. It belongs in any ZZ Top
fan's CD collection.
The best songs here are “Sleeping Bag,” “Stages,” “Rough Boy” and “Velcro Fly.”
ZZ TOP is Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard.
For more information, please visit the band's website at http://www.zztop.com.
The band also suggests you visit the Delta Blues Museum online at http://www.deltabluesmuseum.org.
"Deguello"
(Warner Bros.; 1979)
Reviewed by Jeff Rogers
ZZ Top continually crank out the same music style CD after CD,
(well, album after album since this one is originally from 1979). Why would they change
anything? The sound is gritty and bluesy although the bearded boys slick this album up with a little more shine than before, so that gives it something extra.
The lyrics are in a humorous form. “A Fool For Your Stockings” is evidence enough. Each track offers up
the Top's trademark sound and, even though this vinyl Frisbee is 27 years old, it shows that they knew what worked and
never forced anything. Hot cars, hot women and good blues are all you need to make this Texas trio pen a
great tune.
Those looking to add a little boogie rock to their collection could easily start with this CD.
The best tracks are “I Thank You,” “I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide,” and “Cheap Sunglasses.”
And you've heard them all.
ZZ TOP is Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard.
For more information, please visit the band's website at http://www.zztop.com.
The band also suggests you visit the Delta Blues Museum online at http://www.deltabluesmuseum.org.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2022 by R. Scott Bolton. All
rights reserved.
