Tres Hombres

Didn't absolutely hate it like I expected to but it was fine, if a little bad in places. They tried a few things, not all of them worked.

3.5 - catchy of course

Or, as it's also known, that one with La Grange and some other ones. There's probably nothing much wrong with the other ones, other than them not being La Grange. Generally, you get a blues riff, some good soloing (Billy Gibbons knows his way round a fretboard) and some cliche lyrics. When that formula gels then it's a fun time But other times it's probably no better or worse than what you could hear in any bar in Texas. La Grange with its solid gold riff, its mumbled lyrics - "You know what I'm talkin' 'bout!" - and its absurdly over the top solos is in another league altogether.

Not bad

Просто, но очень хорошо. Люблю их. Прям попсо-роко-блюз

Classic blues rock from that little ol band from Texas, Monumental.

Which came first, the Ford Pickup Truck or ZZ Top? Some say this album inspired the F-150. Actually I said that Top tracks: La grange

This isn't highly rated here and I get why. It's ZZ Top's third album and it still feels a bit like they're still trying to find that formula. There are a few hits here that will live on in the first three tracks plus La Grange. But the rest, especially Hot, Blue and Righteous still feel like ZZ Top trying to figure out ZZ Top. Arguably, this won't come until 10 years later with Eliminator. But here's the thing with ZZ Top. This is either turn it up and roll down the windows music or twist off the beer cap and have another music. It's the low down groove that they get into (listen to the bonus track of the live version of Jesus Just Left Chicago, it just sits into that bass pocket and rolls). It's 12 bar blues with a Texas twist. It's not fancy. It's not supposed to be. But the bass drives, the guitar solos are great and when it's on, there's nothing else that drives the way it does. They're the Motorhead of blues rock - no need to rewrite the rules (or the song), we like it for what it is.

Already listened to it

Not my thing. Maybe if I was in a bar drinking beer and smoking cigarettes and it was the 1970s this might hit a little more but as is it’s for somebody else.

Not polished produced sound they later came known for. Beefheartian in places but generally quite average

Bloody hell. That was good.

3.5

Helt ok album. Det är zz top, man vet vad man får.

La Grange is a classic. It's impressive how far that riff goes for the song. Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers is fun. Sheik leans into the mexican theme lyrically and is cool enough music wise as well. The rest is good if your just huge into 12 bar blues, blues rock I suppose.

I mean, it's not bad, but there was no song that was "AMAZING" to me.

I don't remember loving it as much as I did when I was a kid, but damn. Guitar riffs gallore! Such a great vibe.

Cool

9 - EXCELLENT

Normally I can't think of anything more boring than contemporary blues rock, but these guys have always been cooler than the form. And weird enough to keep my interest. But mostly I just have "La Grange" stuck in my head all day.

Yeah this is a bit of me, crazy I haven't listened to more ZZ Top in the past. I'm going to try and keep my 5 stars for something that really slaps me around the face but this is really good.

Solid blues rock and some great guitar work.

Apesar de não ser muito o estilo de rock que eu curto, eu gostei. Os solos de guitarra são bem envolventes. Mas não escutaria novamente, por isso não dou 5/5.

highly satisfactory blues rock across the board. the curators for this list have a clear love for excellent guitar work, as this has been the best feature of many albums i've been given so far, including this one. my only gripe with this record is that it's a bit typical, not going too far out or forming it's own true identity, but it is still quite pleasant.

What a fantastic album! After yesterday's Led Zeppelin IV, the 1001 Albums Project has delivered two five-star classics in a row! I've listened to Tres Hombres before, but it's been a long time. Of course, I've always loved "La Grange," but listening to the entire album reminded me just how good ZZ Top was in their early days. The album starts strong with the great groove and guitar work of "Waitin' for the Bus," followed by the classic Chicago blues of "Jesus Just Left Chicago." "Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers" is a terrific rocker, while "Master of Sparks" delivers some entertaining storytelling. I also enjoyed the tender blues of "Hot, Blue and Righteous." My biggest discovery was "Move Me on Down the Line." This is classic rock at its finest, with the entire band firing on all cylinders. I initially thought it might surpass "La Grange" as my favorite, but hearing that familiar hit in the context of the album reminded me why it became such a classic. I'm calling them a tie, with "Move Me on Down the Line" getting extra points for being fresh to my ears. "Precious and Grace" delivers some fantastic heavy guitar work, and even "Shiek," probably my least favorite track, is better than most songs on plenty of other albums I've heard during this project. I gave ZZ Top's Eliminator five stars earlier in this journey, and while I still prefer that album, Tres Hombres is every bit deserving of the same rating. The blues, the boogie, the hard rock, the storytelling, and especially the musicianship make this a fantastic listen from beginning to end.

ZZ Top was always categorized as “old man rock” in my mind but I’m really glad I listened. Love the heavy guitar and rockabilly influence

Fine southern classic rock. Not a whole lot stands out, but it's all perfectly cromulent. "La Grange" is of course a classic. Great riffs, great solos, but not enough to make me listen to more ZZ Top.

I like this. Degüello is my favourite of their albums, but of course everyone knows the song, La Grange. Straightforward Blues rock by fantastic musicians. Already in my rotation so 3/5 for this one.

Alte-Säcke-Bluesrock, sehr schön und gefällt mir besser als die späteren Radioknaller von Eliminator.

Started off strong - I really liked the first three songs - great guitar riffs and it totally rocked, and of course LaGrange, but the rest were pretty mid. You can definitely tell I'm not alone in that sentiment based on play counts. (3)

639/1089 - Sheik was kinda cool. Most was pretty forgettable. I recognized LA Grange but I don't want to listen to the same riff for an entire song unless the riff is super dynamic and varied.

Meh. La Grange is a classic, sure, and the guitar playing is good, but ZZ Top has never really done it for me. Not crazy about the vocals. If I want some straight classic blues rock I’m more likely to put on Canned Heat.

Wow. Honestly very surprised by how much I enjoyed this record. Lots of really good, rocking songs. I felt so... MASCULINE!! Seriously tho, great rock record. Very very close to a four.

they're boogying. is this more worth listening to before you die than flamenco? no. wait what's that chord progression in precious and grace???? halfway thru. "peo-ple cry-ing" is the lyric in whatever song uses that progression. neil young southern man. oh turns out zz top is stealing it from neil. oh lol also turns out i have grossly misheard the lyric "bull-whips crack-ing". anyway 3/5 leaning towards 4/5.

- Apparently I am a ZZ Top basic bitch, because I find their later, commercial tracks more iconic. Nothing bad here, per se, but much of it seems to be missing what I think of as the ZZ Top sound. - "La Grange" is the best track here. Not even a competition.

I was going to make a joke about ZZ meaning snooze but this was actually pretty solid. Tight as a drum, lean and precise with just enough swagger and character to keep things interesting.

Déjà écouté avant. Derrière leur boogie rock texan objectivement assez primaire (ce qui n'est pas toujours une maivause chose), ZZ Top affichent sans faux semblants leur sens du fun, leur ambition de divertir l'auditeur sans prise de tête. Avec un atout majeur, le travail de titan à la guitare de Billy Gibbons, qui sans être un magicien de l'instrument, enchaîne riffs ravageurs et solos pleins de groove sans discontinuer. Difficile de ne pas être séduit, d'autant que Tres Hombres a le très bon goût de ne pas s'éterniser et de s'arrêter juste au moment où il commence à tourner en rond. Top : Precious and Grace Flop : Have You Heard?

Entiendo q la más conocida sea "La Grange" porque es buenisima mal, pero si alguien quiere escuchar el albúm solo por esa se va a llevar una mala impresión. Me gusta el sonido, para mí "Waitin' for the Bus" la mejor, y la peor "Jesus Just Left Chicago" srry

A very bluesy Hard Rock album. One of ZZ Top's best. It's a lot more bluesy than their other albums. It's one of the most influential albums of the 70's. It was a really good album!

6.5 / 10

kinda boring

meteen de sfeer van een americana kroeg met motoren en leren gilets en lange baarden

I never did get on particularly with ZZ Top - the kind of band for whom a 'Greatest Hits' would have done me fine. Still, this was enjoyable enough, and I can see why it's beloved of some. Really, though, 'La Grange' is all you need. Oh, and maybe 'Jesus Just Left Chicago', if only so you can sing AC/DC's 'Ride On' while it plays.

Well, this has the second-best song about waiting for a bus I have heard, after Satellite High's The Bus Is Late. Other than that, all that struck me was that this was a lot more Southern Blues-y than Eliminator (which I had heard from ZZ Top earlier on this list), but I enjoyed Eliminator more.

1973 -- 3rd studio album -- Southern rock / blues rock / boogie rock / Texas blues -- lead single La Grange; "We could tell that we had something special. The record became quite the turning point for us. The success was handwriting on the wall, because from that point we became honorary citizens of Memphis;" "... full of characters and doings so steeped in caricature – yet presented straight-faced – as to invite skepticism. The album is stuffed with color and flavor, much like its famous gate-fold photo on the inside: a gut-busting couple of plates of food from the much-beloved but now-closed Leo's Mexican Restaurant on South Shepherd near Westheimer." I listened but don't feel anything about ZZ Top. I'm good.

La Grange alone is worth it. Not the best, but I like me some Southern rawk. 3.5

3.5 pretty good

You know what, I kind of completely wrote off ZZ Top as being just another corny 70s blues band, but this had some serious swagger I wasn't ready for. The album starts out with a solid groove and never lets it go, delivering chuggy bass lines and a soundscape that made me feel like I stumbled into a dusty dive bar in the middle of the desert in the best way. There's really no better description than that it sounds like Texas come to life. Probably the most stereotypically "America" album I've heard so far on this list, and there's a certain charm to that sound that I can't deny. Gave me the serious urge to shotgun a beer and play a game of pool. 3.5/5 rounded down Favorite tracks: Waitin' for the Bus, Master of Sparks, La Grange

Solid album. You can bang this album out. Perfect length and good old rock and roll with a touch of blues.

Really well done hell yeah Dad rock is absolutely my type of music. Their hits are still good and they’re lesser known songs are also very good, which was a surprise.

As is common I think for most, I only know ZZ Top for their massive hits, which are fine in themselves, but I was surprised to find this album really engaging and enjoyable. They show a bit of restraint and control over their sound that makes it all the more effective. Fun listen, I’d come back to a couple tracks.

Worlds best bar band

An enjoyable listen with some fun moments. Not too serious, not too silly. Lags a little at times but was definitely worth a listen. Probably a 3.5.

3,5

I like this way better than their later, kitschier stuff. Some very cool guitar work and vocals. I can see why this was a big influence on bands like QOTSA and Monster Magnet

mucho mas tranqui eliminator pero igual me gustó, buen rock con sus altos y bajos muy agradable de escuchar

Why?

I am familiar with ZZ Tops' 'Eliminator'. This is more blues-rocky but really good. 4 stars

I just finished up a Bones rewatch, so the timing was perfect. La Grange is obviously a banger, but most of this album was just a touch too restrained for me. Rating: 3

Es ist der Moment, in dem ZZ Top ihren staubigen Texas‑Blues endgültig schärfen. „Waitin’ for the Bus/Jesus Just Left Chicago“ eröffnet das Album wie ein durchgehender Highway‑Groove, und „La Grange“ ist dieser unsterbliche Boogie‑Riff‑Klassiker, der bis heute jede Kneipe zum Nicken bringt.

Not bad. Some nice playing but a bit too bluesy for me.

I have to be in the mood, but when I am those blusey grinds just hit. I enjoyed this album, more then I thought I would.

fun roock album made my day a bit better

Great album, a perfect ZZ Top album really, whenever one is in the mood for such a thing

this was fun

Hot, Blue, and Righteous shows a lot more range than I anticipated from ZZ Top.

was hoping to like this because it is an early album of theirs, but not so much

Pretty damn fun. This isn't electric all the way through, but there are a lot of great tunes, and those tunes are fucking solid. Just gets your heart pumping. I like this a fair amount more than Eliminator. Dirtier, edgier, bluesier. And they nail that style. An easy reach album.

As novelty acts go they're pretty good in that they have two memorable songs, but unfortunately only one is on this album, and the rest are entirely forgettable.

definitely a zz top album. Sounds like zz top.

boring generic rock

Some songs are great, others not so much.

Would have loved this when I was 10 years old. The American Status Quo

This is the second ZZ Top album I’ve listened to on this list, and I now understand where they got the swagger that they had later in their career. This is soulful, grimy; and so damn cool.

Review - Way better than I expected. Great guitar work. As always with this era, the more bog standard blues stuff is a bit bland but there's enough here to keep you interested. Score - 6.5/10 Need to listen? YES

Very good

4.75 Stars My dad listened to ZZ Top a lot when I was a kid. I never put the two together, but I think this had a direct influence on why I loved the early Black Keys. This is one of my favorite albums of all time. Only reason it's not a 5 star is that it's not groundbreaking or deeply "artistic". Its southern blues rock done exceptionally well. There are no skips on this album. Even the slower songs like "Hot Blue and Righteous" gets better upon re-listens. They do just enough from song to song to keep it interesting and engaging. Tight blues riffs give way to lose and boozy blues riffs. Rock songs that make you want to drain a beer and yell out "Hell yea!", rock songs that make you want to party and rock songs that make you want to chill. Of course "La Grange" is an all timer. But the whole album is great and would recommend it to anyone who has a pulse.

Not my bag at all. MOR boring rock. Heard it before? ❌ Listen again? ❌ Rating out of ten? 1️⃣

This wasn't as one note as I'd expected and I definitely rocked along a little bit. The live songs were highlights for me and I never got bored. I won't dread them if they appear again.

I can't recall which mix this is - in fact I dont know, but I do recall this being a classic album. This is one of the most famous boogie-blues albums, and a very good one it is too! Listening to it again made me want to listen to The Rock Professor's (Chris Prior) again. A solid 4/5 from me.

Solid blues rock album. Sometimes hovers toward hard rock, but this album is very bluesy overall. Enjoyed this one a lot more than Eliminator.

лютая имба из техаса

It’s zztop. Bit laboured. Nothing new. Competent but not scintillating.

The Good: We get to see a great western comedy! The Bad: That my Spanish is so bad, thus no Chevy Chase, Martin Short or Steve Martin... The Ugly: Imagining the afore mentioned with ZZ style beards... Fuck me, this was so enjoyable on the second listen! It has soul, it has funk, it has rock, and blues and even a little country... what a great melting pot of music. Also, one can hear where Joe Bonamassa got his sound from. Also, chalk another 5* up to the '70s!!! Would give 6* if I could

(8.6) Awesome transitions between tracks

I am angry, disappointed and confused that ZZ Top have multiple albums on this list

No

65

Great album! Right in my jam! Solid playthrough and some bluesy rock never fails! Zz Top is a masterclass of a musician. Timeless.

This album rocks! Waitin' for the Bus La Grange

a haw haw haw haw

me: "ooh, zz top for tomorrow" partner: "ooh, which one?" me: "tres hombres" partner: "is that the gatefold one?" me: "i don't know, it's green...." partner: "DUDE. look up the gatefold. it's great." me: "wow, you got so excited you called me dude. heading to discogs now." partner: "when you see it, you'll understand." album was pretty whatever

La Grange is a top ten all time driving song, +1 stat

Fuckin A! Now we're talking...Goddamn it, so fucking good. 20 stars out of 5.

I could listen to this over and over which is impressive. It's not necessarily music I am going to sing along to, it's music that will just make me feel warm and happy on the inside. I am from Texas so I imagine there is underlying nostalgia BUT not for a specific song, just their overall SOUND. This music doesn't sound too Texas, it just IS Texas. It brings me home, it brings me to a bar in Austin, it brings me to a casual Wednesday evening at a restaurant with a rocking live band, brings me to a free concert in the park. This is the rock version of Texas Country and I didn't realize how much I need this sound in my life while drinking a beer on a warm spring day. I also realize why maybe my husband, not from Texas, might not appreciate it as much as I do. This is home and we need more of this!!!

i like top enough. the guitar playing is great, as is the overall pastiche, but i don't know about the tunes. "la grange" is obviously very memorable, but much of the rest i'm having a hard time recalling. the highlight is "jesus just left chicago". "eliminator" is the superior zz top album.

Yeah I’m not really into this style of rock

One of the fine rock trios ever formed. They bring their version of blues and rock on this release. Some songs make you want to get up and groove to the beat and others get you down laid back chilling with the blues. Great lusten.

Did they really need 2 albums on this list? (Also 300 down, we’re almost a full year in)

Really good!!