Tres Hombres

eh

Sound is too much Rock and currently not my taste. In former times especially in the 80s I liked ZZ Top more

Come on, who doesn't love some ZZ top

ZZTop это прям дефолт хард рок, прям олицетворение хард рока. А какие у них бороды смешные. Я фаном не являюсь, а знаю! Альбом приятный, ничего выдающегося. Такое рок-кантри душевное. Три

Love the hits, but don't need to revisit the misses.

One of the classics Top tracks: Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers, La Grange

Lots of classics. Some questionable spots. Precious and Grace is a new playlist add.

Background blues.

Not that exciting

I’ve heard people say ZZ Top is good but haven’t really listened to much of their music. It was pretty cool if not my usual style of music. This album contained their well-known track La Grange Listens: 2 Fave Track: Master of Sparks Rating: 3

I wonder how many times I’ve typed out something along the lines of “I first heard ${todaysBand} while playing Guitar Hero.” This is another one of those ones. I believe La Grange was on Guitar Hero 3. I do miss Guitar Hero. Tell them to make some more for me please? Songs I already knew: La Grange Favourites: Jesus Just Left Chicago, La Grange This is such a fun album. Three big hairy dudes all playing rock music together and sounding tight and soulful from track to track. It’s hard to believe that this was released in the 70s as much younger rock bands still have this same sound fairly frequently. To say that ZZ Top were ahead of their time is an understatement. Side question, since I’m British am I supposed to say “Zed Zed Top”?

Netter Slowrock, aber nicht ganz mein Fall.

I like the guitars. Blues gets a bit old sometimes idk

Lagrange is the stand out on this album. The rest of the album wasn’t very exciting to me. Just sort of “meh” blues rock and I’m not really a fan of the blues. It’s just a bit too formulaic for me. The shredding guitars stand out for sure but would probably enjoy the live show more than the recorded music.

do a barrel roll

Рок альбом с элементами блюз и кантри. Необычно чистое для того времени звучания. Нету явной многопространственности и накрученного на вокале ревера и в целом запись сделана довольно сбалансированно и чисто. Альбом довольно драйвовый, мне нравится) P.S. но треки довольно однообразные(

Ok

Very good!

Fun fact: I went to a ZZ Top concert when I was 11. I went to see them up close and they looked like newly decomposed bodies. I remember that night because that was the first time I had been hit on by an older man.

Stiff

Pleasantly surprised. I normally don’t like white boy blues, nor am I into zz top that I’ve heard on the radios, but this was good and enjoyable. Their blues influences were tasteful in this manifestation.

Now this is a rock album, an absolute banger! Love how distinctive and groovy it is, simply awesome and delivers everything you expect from ZZ Top. [0088/1001]

Better than the '80s album on the list.

Decent but not a big fan

Tres Hombres' title hints at a potential Latin lilt, but there definitely ain't none. Instead, ZZ Top serve up straight down the middle blues and rock & roll, done well. Especially La Grange. La Grange is done especially well. But it's all a bit too straight down the middle, too bound to the road.

I hadn’t listened to early ZZTop in a very long time. It was great to hear the essence of the band without so much modern-day production and layers. ZZ Top at it’s purest.

Fun guys as always. Plus their biggest hit is on this record

first time listening to ZZ Top, I like that it's toned down and kind of minimalistic, comparing to other over the top bands of the time

Good band and some cool guitar playing. The songs didn’t do really do anything for me. I’m kinda over the classic blues rock of the 60’s and 70’s. I’ve heard so much of it in my life that I don’t have any space to hear any more of it for the first time. I’d rather just listen to the Allman Brothers or something else that I like more. 2.5

This is maybe a 3 but it felt like a chore to get through. Really unoriginal and uninspired derivative blues rock.

I didn’t feel like there was anything interesting about this but I appreciated the length.

Pretty groovy, slightly repetitive for me, but Texas blues has never really been my thing, but surely as good as its going to get, pretty raw and the vocals are slick as hell. Also amazing guitar layers if not sometimes annoying, still see the beauty.

Couple of good songs and a good overall sound. Don’t think I’ll invest in this one again though

Pretty good, La Grange is a classic, and I really liked the first 2 songs from this album too.

Waiting for the Bus- 7/10 Jesus just Left Chicago- 7/10 Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers- 6/10 Master of Sparks- 7/10 Hot, Blue and Righteous- 6/10 Move Me on Down the Line- 7/10 Precious and Grace- 7/10 La Grange- 8/10 Sheik- 7/10 Have You Heard- 5/10 67/100

The album overall is decent...3 to 3.5 stars but La Grange was groundbreaking and has withstood the test of time 50 years later, pushing the album to a 4-star rating.

This is a really good album. I have always liked this era of ZZ Top most.

Really enjoy this one. Definitely going to listen to more.

It was a nice album to have as background music. Was easy to listen to and I could see it being a great accompaniment to an old fashioned in a chill bar.

La grange

I bet this album did great with weekend warrior dads, the guy who crushes beers in his garage to work on a project but really just wants to be away from his wife and kids. pretty standard affair for ZZ Top, La Grange is probably the standout hit so your mileage may vary with this one.

Some fine songs but La Grange slaps

wasn't really expecting to like this but you know what. it's fine. got some bangers here. not offending me. a haw-haw-haw

A high 3 stars- it definitely grew on me during my second listen! It's the kind of album where I'd enjoy the music if someone else turned it on in a bar or something but I wouldn't turn it on myself. I already knew La Grange going in and that remained the highlight of the album, although each song did have at least one part that I enjoyed. Generally fun guitars and bluesier/groovier than I expected in some parts, with a few fun moments lyrically. Last point- it's funny when an album has a song about a brothel sandwiched in between a few songs about the second coming of Christ.

This blows.

Compulsory listening!

Waitin' for the Bus- 3.8/5 Jesus Just Left Chicago- 3.3/5 Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers- 3.7/5 Master of Sparks- 3.6/5 Hot, Blue and Righteous- 3/5 Move Me On Down the Line- 3.4/5 Precious and Grace- 3.5/5 La Grange- 3.9/5 Shiek- 3.4/5 Have You Heard?- 2.9/5 Total- 3.5/5

Little bland in comparison to eliminator. But la grange might have the best quitar riff of all time.

Jesus Just Left Chicago Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers La Grange

Seems dated.

Good Lead Guitar

I feel like I've often overlooked just how polished and noisy this was for the time it came out. Obviously there were others doing similar things, but this is a sound that we take for granted so much nowadays that it feels easy to forget this was so special

The songs that really hit here are so phenomenal. La Grange is an absolute icon of a track. The blues are hard, heavy, and fast here. Favorite track: La Grange

4.5/5. Excellent, I really enjoyed this. Easy listening and very good. Definitely one I'd like to own.

Oh no, not more blues influenced rock for middle aged dudes... I mean, this one was okay, but even the iconic track La Grange didn't feel like anything special here once it just started having rambling guitar, which seems to be what every track here devolves into. This felt more like strutting down the street than biking down the interstate, and I mean that as a positive, but it is certainly clear why this band as a whole is more iconic than most of the tracks they produced, let alone a whole album.

It was okay.

Fun album

Meh.

only one real good song

Really enjoyed this. Only familiar with a couple of songs from this band but I think they were all pretty great on this album.

Nice but it's 3

Starts off strong. Not the best ZZ Top album and the rest did blur into one a little, but it was decent.

Classic Dad rock!

6.5/10

If this isn’t a 5/5 album I don’t know what is. With that classic hard-rock bluesy guitar sound and fantastic vocals, there’s a lot to love. It’s a consistent album in terms of quality and style which can be surprisingly hard to find so it’s very much appreciated when I do.

Eh, ZZ Top

loved beer drinkers & hell raisers, waitin for the bus, and the image of the mexican feast that accompanies the record

Glemte å følga med

Zz Top er topp

very palatable

Next 5 songs played by my Spotify Algorithm: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - I Need to Know The Animals - Brother Bill ( Last Clean Shirt) Tom Petty -Love is a Long Road The Who - Love Ain't For Keeping Led Zeppelin - Over the Hills and Far Away

Solid rocker with some real bangers.

3.1/5 This was better than I expected but still kind of boring. Best track: Precious and Grace

They have a good sound

not my thing

bluesy and sad but hitting me at a bad day

Nice to hear what ZZ Top sounded like back before the 80's. Good blues rock band. Not 100% what I'm into but good.

La Grange was good but everything else was ok.

A-HAW-HAW-HAW-HAW

Felt sort of generic

Nice

Leur commercial breakthrough avec La grange! Pas aussi nice que Eliminator, la barre était haute.

It's fine. Raunchy Southern 70's blues isn't really my bag.

Solid bluesy rock

Great Tejas rock

Great heavy blues weird southern rock stuff. Honestly I thought they played the same type of music as GnR and was highly surprised by this

Classic songs, decent album

This is a solid rock album. I only know the Classic Radio station rotation of ZZ Top hits, but there is a lot more to them. They're almost like a light Sabbath.

This album rocks! I love the understated blues, rock. They do a lot more than a lot of their contemporaries of that era of rock. ZZ Top and Thin Lizzy do a very similar interpretation of the blues and also injecting some rock to it. They really have some interesting grooves and jams on this.

First time listening to this. I was cleaning the garage and made for a great soundtrack for that

Power trio laying down basic, simple beats with straightforward Texas Rock guitar grooves blending southern and mainstream rock. Love that twang.

I really wish the list that this website is built around would be updated for modern music. It's going to be very annoying to listen to 800 albums from the 70's that I've already heard a dozen times. The occasional unknown work is what keeps me pushing forward though, cause I had never heard of Weather Report before and I absolutely loved that album. So anyway, onto more zz. I question how some of the albums end up in the list. I know that I am not the target audience but if you are going to curate a small-ish list of must listen albums then I expect no space to be wasted; that there isn't a bands full discography, only their best albums. And in this case, it feels like this album could easily be replaced by so many other things.

yeah naw dawg not feeling this at allllll

Cuatro estrellas!

das album riecht nach männlichkeit

I usually like ZZ Top a lot. Sadly most songs on this album were boring. I didn't enjoy them as much as I would have thought initially.

Two stars for zz top. But it was very boring.

So much better than the other ZZ Top album I got for this project. Simpler and more blues-y, both aspects I enjoyed. 3.5/5

This album fucking rocks

Enjoyed it. Lots of familiar favorites on here and wow, what sounds from the instruments!

White boi boogie - not great, not terrible

Not my favorite zz top album

OK. Sound doesn't feel that unique to me but the time the band has been together is impressive.

Mwah niet echt iets waar ik iets mee heb. Beetje mid sorry

Nope

Absolute banger from start to finish

Bluesy

Standard bluesy classic dad rock. Has a few iconic tracks, a good pace, good dive bar rock that I would rarely choose to listen to.

Like all ZZ Top, this is alright but a little boring. Their hit is on here so that helps.

good stuff

La Grange is such a standout. Otherwise, just okay.

Listening, I recognized that ZZ Top's production mix is something special. I enjoyed "Tres Hombres" three times, twice while working on my truck. Perfect music paired with auto work, beer drinking and hell raising. The quintessential low-key American badass soundtrack. 3.85

Didn't love it.

I've never been a big fan of ZZ Top as they were hugely overplayed in my youth and I got thoroughly sick of them. This is the first time I've listened to one of their albums from start to finish and it was just okay. Maybe I shouldn't have listened to it first thing in the morning!

2.75

a real bluesy southern rock record. La Garange hits with the force of a trailer truck.

I liked the vibe but I just wasn’t feeling the whole thing

Not sure what it was about this one but I really enjoyed it. It was chill yet upbeat. Nice background music

I was expecting to give this a 1, but they beat my expectations a little. While I listen to again: 0%

Not my favorite album, guitar tones and solos were fun until they all sounded the same. Skipped one on the album and the 3 live ones, band definitely sounded similar to their recordings which is pretty cool. Too repetitive for me to add any songs.

I enjoyed this more than most of the ZZ Top hits that are played on the radio.

Fun stuff, good in the background of the day, not completely my thing

The occasional interesting song or moment but mostly fine background guitar music

This was fun, I enjoyed it throughout. La Grange is an excellent song too. Guitar riffs were great

Loved this - such legends! Guitar sound was excellent. Will be listening to more of them.

Solid album and quite funky, I enjoyed!

Normally, I can never go wrong with some good old 1970s rock, but this album just didn't do much for me. The guitarist went absolutely wild in some of his verses, which was cool to see, but the vocals weren't my favorite.

I must be missing the memo here. So boring and forgettable

Trip Carter vibes, the best accompaniment to chilling or getting things done at home

Although not my favourite album of theirs ( Eliminator) this blues heavy rock is awesome.

Everyone know this album from the most famous song on it, la grange. Now that I’m coming back to it, I like the songs with a good beat, Jesus just left Chicago, and have your heard? are two songs that I would be able to chill too and just listen to the beat. Favorites have got to be have you heard?, Waitin for the bus, and Jesus just left Chicago. I’m rating it a 3, Would have rated it higher but EVERY song isn’t amazing

Good guitar but kinda mid

I never really got into them and this album still didn't do the trick. Talented but too hectic and just never really felt their groove. I'll stick with Zeppelin and AC/DC for rock legends of the 70's.

What bar bands WANT to sound like. Their guitarist went crazy. Mostly amazing record. Makes me want to have a couple brews with the guys around the fire in semi-cold weather if that makes any sense. Personal Favorites: Jesus just left Chicago, Hot Blues and Righteous, Have you Heard?

- "entspannter Rock", der mich nicht überfordert mit zu vielen Instrumenten - cleanes arrangement - chilliges Album mit einer guten Länge (33min)

beer drinkers & hell raisers isch min jam la grange au ned schlecht

Eh, It was fun and iconic but not too notable. Like the 70s

Really solid blues rock. Good guitar playing. Good songs. Pretty good.

Was way better than I thought it would be

Love zz top

Good

This is a decent hard rock. I like how some of the songs flow into each other. The album is kinda one note the whole time, but it was a enjoyable one note. Do I think this deserves a spot on this list... not really... La Grange was actually great though!!

Pretty alright Favorite songs were master of sparks and la grange

Pretty solid blues-y rock stuff. I'm a sucker for songs that are based on 12 bars blues stuff. La Grange is a banger even if it was overplayed for 50 years. Fav song- La Grange

I was surprised to find that I really liked the first two songs on this album and found most of it enjoyable enough to listen to. I do not like "La Grange," but that could partially be due to hearing it on the radio so much growing up. I just find the main riff a bit cheesy in that song. Overall, I can't see myself going back to this album, really, but it was a nice listen through once, and it's good to have a reference point for ZZ Top and this style of classic southern blues rock.

solid 70s hard rock outing

Groovy guitar tunes

Enjoyed it funk rock vibes

Prima album lekker oldschool waiting on the bus was favoriet

1973: a great year for music. Was this life-changing? No. Was it a grooving, driven, southern influenced listen? Absolutely. Exactly what you'd want when you think of ZZ Top featuring their number 1 song

Interesting but wont come back.

Okayish. There were good tries.

Buzzy bearded boogie rock. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.

three bros with three stars because of three meh songs

Good

3/5. A fun bluesy boogie album that is way more danceable than it has right to be. There are a few songs that are skippable for sure and but the good ones are pure rock and roll. It's fun and smooth but not a perfect album, just an okay bluesy rocking time.

Gritty, straight to the point blues. "La Grange" is the most popular song, but for me "Jesus Just Left Chicago" is the real highlight. 3.5/5 Would listen again

I listened.

Good instrumentation 3.5

nice groovy bluesy time. pace dips during the middle a touch for my liking so we lose a star

Solid Texas Blues/Rock. La Grange is a classic.

If these tracks weren't blasted on every classic rock station, every beer commercial and 90s TV show, I would have really liked this album. I've just heard LA Grange so many times it's grading now. Anyway, I still dig it.

Really only being familiar with La Grange, this album was interesting. It feels grungy and grimy. It is unpolished, yet musically, it is quite good. The heavy rock mixed with blues is a blend of music that I personally really enjoy. I should listen more to ZZ top.

Just incredible. Can’t believe this was 73. Their blues and rock are just perfect.

Two words: butt rock.

The blues can go miles and miles on some really simple, repetitive stuff if the band is having fun and taking care of its sound. La Grange is a classic. It's also the same blues, but the somewhat unique syncopated riff is distinguishing enough to set it apart.

Southern fried boogie blues rock served with a side of swaggering panache. Ultimate Americana

Muy mal?, no esta muy medio el Camino!

Classic pub rock, nothing particularly new but done very well. Surprised to see that this is 50 years old, timeless I guess.

Good fun blues, I guess.

Digging the blues rock and crunchy riffs, and La Grange is a classic. Not sure the fast cars, loose women and drinking beer tropes work as well today.

Really good start to my 1001 albums. Always liked ZZ Top, but never enough to really follow them. This album is great, and you can really tell the bluesy roots to their rock and roll. Will definitely listen again!

The hits are great, especially waiting for the bus. The rest is solid, but not especially memorable blues rock.

Old- man blues/rock. Best enjoyed with a pint of bitter. Liked this album a lot, but felt that the formulaic stock blues riffs and ostinatos made the album lack some much-needed spontaneous/free energy. Also hate tracks that fade out!

Very generic bluesy rick. Have to say I was a bit disappointed as a ZZ Top fan. All their hits are great but there were a few misses on this album

I was not thrilled they they gave me another zz top album two days after the first, but this one was way better. 70s zz top is way better than 80s zz top.

A good solid blues-rock album.

great album!

Boring. One good song

Solid. A few bangers. Favorite(s): Waitin' for the Bus, Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers, La Grange

Really enjoyed it. A great vibe.

Normally I'm not a fan of listening to rereleased albums on streaming because it feels like a chore shifting through all the "new editions" added to the albums. But for some reason I decided to play out the entirety of this album l, including the live versions at the very end. I'm glad I did, because it helped me experience the beauty of rock instrumentation a little better. This album really feels like such a perfect blend of soul, rock, and a little bit of blues sprinkled on top to make a beautiful jam session. This is exactly what it feels like: going to a club that plays "classic rock" songs with a bunch of friends and singing songs and drinking with a bunch of strangers. Strangely this was the first rock infused album that I've heard on the list so far and its a good way to start. 4 OUT OF 5 STARS. P.S. SHOUTOUT GUITAR HERO FOR HELPING ME KNOW "LA GRANGE" SONG.

This was fine. Didn't hate it and didn't really like it. It was just there.

4.5

One of my favorites! La Grange is such a classic song.

Good beards

This album is weird. The mix sounds off, things sound louder and quieter from track to track. This is supposedly ZZ Top's best album, "top Top" from what I'm told. But I wouldn't know. These boys are not for me. I do prefer Zig-Zag vs. Top rolling papers though.

Very good! I already loved ZZ Top so it wasn't a stretch to listen to this. I listened on YouTube and go the live versions and remasters. Great stuff!

I understand the cultural significance, but their songs all kind of sound the same to me. Again, not really my taste

Probably good.

Great album. I knew LaGrange of course and Jesus Left Chicago. Waiting for the bus and Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers also solid. A more bluesy and raw album compared to their MTV days in the 80s

almost every track is awesome favorites: waitin' for the bus jesus just left chicago beer drinkers & hellraisers precious and grace lagrange waitin' for the bus live is awesome

I need more lyrics but it was good work music Would listen again 5/10

Always a good time with zz

Some proper "old man's rock". 'La Grange' is a real classic, and even the rest of the songs mostly contain real catchy and memorable riffs. If that's exactly what you want you'll love this. I think personally it gets a bit boring after a while somehow. Very bread and butter rock, maybe I just wasn't in the mood for that. One thing that surprised in a good way was how well they sing.

Mostly generic bluesy rock. Parts of it were quite boring but it had some surprisingly progressive almost metally licks here and there. I never really enjoyed ZZ Top all that much, it is my type of music but I think there are other bands that just do what they try to do better. A weak 3.

It was ok

3.5/5 Deep southern rock sounds with a very strong lead guitar and throaty vocals. La Granges guitar riff is a classic

Not my type of music

Not really my “go-to” type of music but I like the jazzy vibe and they are obviously amazing musicians. Really enjoying the lead guitar, usually the most enjoyable part of the song in my opinion. If I was born in the 60s, this would probably be my jam… Pros: jazz-influenced, lead guitar is on point Cons: repetitive riffs when not playing solos, lyrics don’t really grab me Standout tracks: Waitin for the Bus, Beer Drinkers & Hell-Taisers, La Grange

8/10 fun stoner rock, not really my style but super well made La Grange makes me wanna go to home depot and complain about the price of 2x4s with all the other dads

Was ok nothing stood out much and wasn't really my thing

Rating: 3.5

I laid back so far, the back of my head rested on my ass.

I quite enjoyed this as a music history lesson. What were the origins of the 80s juggernaut ZZ Top? Turns out it was some solid, if not super remarkable, 70s Southern blues rock. The best song, clearly, is the classic "La Grange," which obviously owes a lot to John Lee Hooker. The rest, especially "Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers, is an enjoyable listen (except for the absolutely insufferable "Hot, Blue and Righteous." Ecch. Just wanted to put that out there in case anyone wants to fight me over that.)

Okay, the blues-rock sound of this early ZZ Top was not so bad. Still not awesome for me, but it’s a bit better than tolerable.

Have mercy. Fantastic guitar work and a gritty blues sound felt nostalgic and homey.

Over 700 albums ago, early in my 1001 listening ZZ Top’s Eliminator album came up. Since I was still calibrating my star scale, I gave that album a two. I have regretted that rating ever since and hoped for the opportunity to rate another ZZ Top album in the hopes of redeeming my injustice. So I was very excited to have the opportunity to pad a later ZZ Top rating and assuage my guilt. Unfortunately, this album is already so awesome that it easily falls between a four and a five. I love the bluesy sound. The guitar playing is gritty and wonderful. So today’s rating unfortunately contains little or no padding to rectify my previous misjudgment. But I’m very happy to have this in my collection now!

# 78 : Good album, has a couple of hits. I would not buy this album with my hard earned, but I would listen to it again.

Fun

Sounds like it would get played in a rubbish theme biker bar

Half killer, half filler. Every time you listen to La Grange, your chest hair density increases by 15%

Rock solid bluesy rock album and La Grange is an all timer but I don't find anything exceptional going on here. Highlights: Waitin for the.bus Jesus just left Chicago La Grange

I actually didn’t mind this one. Not too bad.

Truly some of the best rock instrumentals I have ever heard. No word of a lie. What a great listen, amazing music, immaculate vibes. Really puts you right back in the 70s. Incredibly smooth sounds, all produced to the highest quality. The album flows very nicely. Not a whole lot to critique on this one. It’s a solid 4 for me

The instrumentals are great. I’m not the biggest fan of some of the vocal performances on the album, especially on ‘precious and grace’. However, I found ‘Hot, Blue and Righteous’ and ‘Have you heard?’to be standout tracks. By no means is this a bad record, and it may be a lack of understanding on my part of the genre of blues music, but I’d felt like I’d heard this kind of music before and besides a couple of the tracks, it didn’t really stand out to me. On first listen, I’m giving it a low 3.

Great piece of blues rock. La Grange is still a classic and Master of Sparks is electric.

I need a motorcycle

Not a huge ZZ Top guy, a lot of the songs sound similar to me.

Couple of catchy tunes

Fav: La Grange LF: the rest I guess, it all felt pretty similar Mid 4

Just good, Rock and Blues, Nice album

Very rockabilly, could see myself coming back to a best of album

This album is very meh. There are a couple of songs I recognize from my youth, and two are decent tunes. But the rest are very predictable guitar blues tunes that never stray from the 3 chord blues structure. And they are all in the same key, so one song pretty much sounds like the other.

Album 169 of 1001 ZZ Top - Tres Hombres Rating : 5 / 5 Favorite Track : La Grange Awesome album. Rated as it is only in comparison to some of their other releases.

Good job zz top 3.6

Raw and delicious

Very bluesy. Listenable.

A Great 1-2-3 punch coming out of the gate on this album.

Really good album. More traditional blues and rock than their later chart friendly material but none the worse for that

I wasn't excited about this listen. I generally don't favor ZZ Top. This was good though. I'm glad to have listened to an entire ZZ Top album. They are not as bad as I imagined. La Grange is a great track, but one song doesn't make an album. However the rest of the album is solid and consistent. I kinda liked a few songs, nothing was bad.

It's a really solid album. Such a unique sound.

Straight ahead blues rock. Very easy to approach and enjoy. La Grange is an all time classic that defines "hitting a groove". Beer Drinkers and Hot Blue and Righteous stand out for me. Excellent.

Few albums in rock history have captured the spirit of the American Southwest quite like ZZ Top's "Tres Hombres." Released in 1973, this iconic record not only solidified ZZ Top's status as rock legends but also became a timeless classic that continues to resonate with music enthusiasts of all generations. From its electrifying guitar riffs to its lyrical tales of life on the road and love gone wrong, "Tres Hombres" is a Texas-sized masterpiece that still packs a punch. The album kicks off with "Waitin' for the Bus," a blistering blues-rock number that immediately sets the tone for what's to come. Billy Gibbons' gritty, soulful guitar work and his distinct, growling vocals make it abundantly clear that this is ZZ Top at their best. The transition into "Jesus Just Left Chicago" is seamless, with Dusty Hill's thumping bass and Frank Beard's tight drumming locking into a groove that's impossible not to bob your head to. The song's lyrical storytelling, coupled with its bluesy, swaggering guitar solos, creates an infectious energy that captures the essence of a night out in the Windy City. One of the standout tracks on "Tres Hombres" is undoubtedly "La Grange." It's ZZ Top's signature song and for a good reason. The relentless boogie rhythm, the unmistakable cowbell, and Gibbons' fierce guitar licks all combine to form a track that's impossible not to dance to. Lyrically, it tells the tale of a notorious Texas brothel, and the band's performance on this song is pure, unadulterated rock 'n' roll energy. "Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers" and "Move Me on Down the Line" keep the momentum going with their raw, blues-infused rock sound. The latter, in particular, features some of Gibbons' most blistering guitar work on the album, showcasing his mastery of the six-string. The album also takes a mellower turn with "Sheik," a soulful and introspective instrumental track that showcases the band's versatility. It serves as a moment of respite before launching into "Have You Heard?" which closes the album with a bang. The track's fiery guitar work and driving rhythm bring "Tres Hombres" to a powerful conclusion, leaving listeners craving for more. "Tres Hombres" is not just an album; it's a time capsule of 1970s American rock. ZZ Top's fusion of blues, rock, and a dash of Texan swagger on this record is nothing short of spectacular. Each track flows seamlessly into the next, creating a cohesive listening experience that keeps you hooked from start to finish. In conclusion, "Tres Hombres" is an essential addition to any rock music collection. ZZ Top's masterful musicianship, memorable lyrics, and unrelenting energy make this album a true classic. Whether you're a fan of blues, rock, or just great music in general, "Tres Hombres" is an album that should not be missed. It's a testament to the enduring power of rock 'n' roll and a testament to the enduring legacy of ZZ Top.

Great album. A very fun listen.

It's a classic album but just weak for the most part. Couple of good songs

too old

I like bluesy rock tunes so I expected to enjoy this a bit more. It just fell a bit flat for me, the guitars were impressive enough, there just didn’t seem to be any passion, on the vocals especially. I suppose they’re going for a bit of a slacker delivery which can definitely work but this album was straight up dull. The ballad like tracks sucked what little energy there was. Never so much cared for La Grange either, the riff is awesome but the song itself is meh. Huh I guess I just don’t like ZZ Top. 2.5 stars

I'm fairly certain this album precedes the facial hair for which the band is ultimately known. I expect plenty of riffing and southern, bourbon-infused rock music. Waitin' for the Bus delivers on all expected fronts. Has an undeniably tight groove with Billy Gibbons letting his frets shine toward the back half. Fine blues rock song that doesn't really go anywhere; I could see this being played in a bar as background music and not really getting anyone's attention. Not really much standing out through the first four tracks. Fine background music, but nothing remarkable. Hot, Blue and Righteous (clearly not fans of the Oxford comma) is a scaled back blues ballad. Something here really reminds me of Purple Rain by Prince, which makes me uncomfortable. The spacious guitar work is almost Gilmour-esq in its control and tone. Precious and Grace stands out. Lead by an attitude filled riff that feels sort of like southern-Zeppelin and the vocal snarl that ZZ Top is so known for. Opens up to a sprawling instrumental section with some slide guitar. Kind of a weird tune, but I enjoyed it. La Grange almost feels like it stands alone relative to the rest of the record. First of all, it fucks. Second, it just has a different character about it than the rest; feels like it got the "hit single treatment" where the rest are kind of flat. Sheik is another one that stands out on this record. Its got an undeniable groove about it that would lend itself nicely to some improv jams through the middle. This album is a very soft 3 for me. Nothing is particularly bad, but the last three songs are really strong.

ZZ Top shreds. Love the southern twang of their catalogue. Wasn't paying the greatest attention (like most albums), but this was a solid, raw, guitar heavy album. Probably a 3.5 for me, but I'm in a good mood and ZZ Top have great beards.

Good ol American southern rock right there. I could listen to ZZ top all day

Was definitely hoping for some more La Grange type songs on this but still was enjoying it, just nothing that special. Probably won't come back to most of these though.

good fun rock 3.4

I almost always skip La Grange and Sharp Dressed Man when it comes up on some random playlist, and that’s kind of 98% of ZZ Top songs I can name? This was fine 🤷🏻‍♂️ They’re extremely technically proficient and the production value is unreal. I respect it for sure, but this kind of blues is not something I seek out, and this doesn’t change that.

need to relisten

Great day for this album as I will be listening live in five days. Right time to get into the mindset

I used to have a ‘Beer drinkers and hell raisers’ ZZ Top t shirt when I was about 17, and to this day I dont know why as I’d only heard about 2 songs. Id have loved this though if I’d had heard it. I was biiig into blues rock; and this is about as blues rock as it gets. Theyre known for how tight they are rhythm wise for a 3 piece, and it shows in this. It’s not really my thing anymore, but it is pretty pretty good.

Know a little bit of ZZ Top but no albums, this delivered what I expected. They are more talented than your average classic rock band so everything is a bit more interesting. They have the required swagger of this sort of music nailed down as well. Not really pushing the boundaries too much but it's great for what it is, would be happy to hear more.

I always thought ZZ Top were a rock band, so I was pleasantly surprised by this bluesy stuff. Only pleasantly - it is a pretty solid, unexciting album. La Grange and Mastber of Sparks were my favourites, but nothing else stood out.

Not really listened to any ZZ Top before, I knew them more for their cameos in the TV series Bones. I liked the Blues Rock style, but it never seemed to elevate to that next level. It was enjoyable and short enough that I'd probably listen to it again. Highlights: Jesus Just Left Chicago Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers La Grange

Don't think I've listened to zz top before... I like bluesy rock, although, I didn't enjoy this as much as I feel like I should've for some reason. The opening few tracks are good and la grange was great. However, I feel like some of the rest of it was lacking a little bit. Thought "hot, blue, and righteous was particularly bad . I wanted a lot of it to be more bluesy and heavier rock. The 3 live tracks at the end of the album I listened to were really good though, bet I would enjoy it much more live 3

Classic: I love a good lil bit of classic rock and ZZ Top are exactly that. They are so incredible American in such a good way with this whole album irradiating power riffs and just dad rock. The ending of three live songs kept it exciting and interesting although the repeat of 'La Grange' wasn't to my approval. Overall it was a sick album but not quite a 5/5.

The music that you listen to driving through the vast open fields drinking bourbon and eating raw meat. The very primal album.

Great album by zztop. Can really see the blues roots with this group!

Meh

Four stars for the music, five stars for the album name.

Good gritty rock album.

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.

Solid blues romp. Some ZZ Top classics. I love it, but maybe I don't listen to enough blues. Waiting for the bus and La Grange are top notch ZZ Top. Really good. If I gave CCR a 5, I have to give this a 5 as well.

Raw, bluesy, swampy in its own non-CCR way. ZZ Top had many more albums than I would have guessed.

Incredible album. The ZZ Top cats brought their A game on this album. Not an average song on it. Top 3 songs for me are Waitin’ for the Bus, Master of Sparks, and La Grange. -Klep

Pretty good, honestly. Can't say I'm a huge fan of anything other than La Grange, but it's certainly listenable. Probably would've been fun live Favorite Track: La Grange 3/5

Wow, a lot of these riffs are super repetitive! Also they are responsible for inspiring a lot of shitty acts, though I am grateful for their influence on Josh Homme who does this type of rock best, in my opinion.

Really liked it. Was interesting to see some of the bluesy licks that were prevalent in the album to be used to ubiquitously today.

Enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Had a kind of elemental simplicity - like a southern rock Ramones. I've heard La Grange a million times with no idea of who it was - assumed it was someone like John Lee Hooker

The three homies? Let your beards blow in the wind as you cruise down a dusty ass road listening to these good old boys bring it!

Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: not really my thing Favourite song: Track 10 - La Garange

Another of these dime a dozen, clichéd rock bands who think they are the shit. I'm sure this is what i needed to hear before I die.

good boogie rock

Just regular dad stuff

Noh rokkia...

Yeah more dad rock

Du rock qui ne peut nier des origines américaines

bom

Pretty solid rock record. I will say that I had never heard of ZZ Top so when i read the album title i thought it was gonna be a bit more spanish than it was.

seeee 7/10

My first album from the generator. An absolute classic right out the gate. I've owned this for decades, always loved the greasy Mexican food pic on the inner gatefold. Tons of blues, swagger and groove. This will always be a 5 star album.

I liked the music on this album better than their 80's stuff. Too guitar heavy. A lot of elements that I like in other music-- bluesy rock, gritty vocals--doesn't seem to come together in a way that I like it. La Grange, the one song I knew before listening to this entire album, has a better balance of beat and guitar.

"master of sparks" just sounds like a very good QOTSA song.

Another really enjoyable ZZ Top album, there was some songs I felt were a bit filler-ish but the rest, really really enjoyable, it’s definitely a high end 3.

Didn't realise how long these guys were together- their 2 best albums 10 years apart. This is really good southern rock- chilled and easy on the ears.

What's not to like...Nice start to a morning commute ! 1973 release that was their breakthrough album...La Grange - iconic instrumentals...I thought move me down the line had a bit of mick jagger about it 😀

Fantastic album with the unmistakable Billy Gibbons & Dusty Hill magic. I only discovered it about 5 years ago. In a different life and time, I would have loved to have watched these guys play the blues. RIP Dusty - uncomplicated but brilliant bassist. Standout tracks: Waitin’ for the Bus Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers La Grange Sheik

Sheik - best track. Great rhythm section. however not my thing, too Bible-belt rock.

Not bad, but gets a bit repetitive. Definitely full of good songs, but a lot sound the same.

tres

Well I've definitely heard La Grange. First one I recognize. Meh it was okay. Only 2 stars.

"Waitin' For the Bus", "Jesus Just Left Chicago", and "La Grange" are enough for this album to get 5-stars. But that the rest of the album is DAMN good is just icing on the cake.

Waitin' For The Bus- Ok I see it (4) Jesus Left Chicago- Better Better (4) Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers- Once again it's aight (3) Master of Sparks- Guitar Riff carried (3) Hot, Blue, and Righteous- Gave Me Blues(2) Move Me on Down the Line- THEN I HEARD RED ROOSTER (5) Precious and Grace- DUNNIN DUNNIN (4.5) La Grange- Unnecessarily fire (5) Sheik- Okay Okay (3.5) Have You Heard? - Decent Eh (2.5) Waitin' For The Bus (LIVE)- Same stuff but even better (n/a) Jesus Left Chicago (LIVE)- (n/a) La Grange (LIVE)- (n/a)

Reasonably varied for what is, effectively, a pretty standard blues-rock album. A nice range of guitar tones and just the right balance of sloppiness/tightness. With that said, after listening I can only really recall one song - La Grange. A good example of the genre, but unlikely to convert you if you're not already a fan.

Old time boys, doin old time tunes. 4 chords and the truth, baby.

I came to ZZ Top with Eliminator, and I played it until the wheels fell off. So it took me a long time to learn about the origins of the Li’l Ol’ Band from Texas. I didn’t have much taste for the sound of Texas swag-rock, but this album is a blast. It’s fun! It whips, it rocks! Yeeeahhh! Guitars!

Excellent guitar work in all songs, highlighting "Precious and Grace", but it still sounds too old (in the sense of outdated and not classical) for my taste. I bet it was great in 1973 but nowadays is just one more. Good for whom likes old-fashion rock music

Second day in a row getting ZZ Top. I don’t know that they both deserve to be on this list, not sure which I’d choose. Maybe neither. ZZ Top is a fun listen, but I don’t know if any of their albums belongs in the Top 1001. This is a good album, don’t get it twisted. They were very early in showing off their signature sound that made them unique. A very mellow and muddled country-blues-rock sound that you can put on any time you want some easy listening music. It’s good times. This album has more heart than some of their later stuff, but, as a tradeoff, is done sloppier. Instrumentation and production aren’t at their best here. Lyrics are a tad one dimensional as well. The fact that it’s clear the band is really into their music even though the sound is so relaxed is what makes this album so fun. This project shows more range than their later work. Also, can’t believe people are sleepin’ on “Hot, Blue and Righteous”. Truly the hidden gem on this album. I’d love to own this album and throw it and enjoy it on whenever I’m feeling all at one with everything. 4/5

La Grange is a good song, but most of the album doesn't have that same groovy feel to it and just feels a little more like your typical classic rock. It mostly felt kind of flat and even the songs with good riffs didn't have anything else to build on

ZZ Top are the kings of what they do, but this album struck me as quite same-y. Big respect but low score sadly :(

I always preferred ZZ Top's earlier albums to the synth-driven 80s soft rock that was to come. This isn't my favourite album but it still has some great tracks on it, including Jesus Just Left Chicago and La Grange. It gets a bit lost on the way, so it's not quite a 5-star album, but an easy 4 stars.

wow that cover sucks hard

ZZ Top are pretty consistently an act I enjoy more than I'd expect myself to. I wasn't particularly excited for this album, but it does actually sound pretty good, has a cool swagger to it and great guitar riffs. A few of the songs here are kinda duds which bring it down from a 3.5 for me, but overall, still pretty solid.

I didn't expect to like this album. I'd never heard of this band before, but the cover, band name and album title all brought to mind something that was maybe a bit silly. I was imagining some kind of goofy, overproduced reggae pop or Latin pop. It wasn't what I expected- it was actually way better- but still wasn't my favourite album I've ever heard. It ended up being bluesy rock, which was a pleasant surprise. I wouldn't say the goofiness I was expecting was entirely not there, but it wasn't bad enough that I couldn't take any of the songs seriously. The musicianship isn't bad. There are two singers, one whose voice I much preferred to the other. Neither are the lyrics, though there's a bit of a fixation on holy/religious imagery to describe the blues. You get the impression that these guys worship the genre a bit too much. The only song I absolutely couldn't stand was "Sheik," which just made me cringe. Overall, I found the whole thing a little pretentious. Ironically, they were trying too hard to seem... authentic and unaffected. Because those things are "cool." They're part of that "bad boy" image associated with blues and rock. I bet ZZ Top saw that in all their idols, and here, that's who they're trying to be. I guess that's just how it is: you're either great or you're trying to be great. Favourite tracks: Hot, Blue and Righteous, Have You Heard?