Reviews (page 3 of 13)
cool
Great guitar licks. I feel like I need to be in the middle of a Texas field party drinking Miller High Life with a 100 of my closest friends around a big bonfire to appreciate this properly. I hate Texas, but we all need to get out our comfort zones from time-to-time. This is a great album.
One of my favourite albums. The perfect mix of dirt, party vibes and a sweet hint of salvation. Praise be!
Classic rock blues - all killer no filler
This took me by surprise. My knowledge of ZZ Top was hostorically 80s ZZ Top. This album is a banger!
A proper blues rock album with riffs reminiscent of later hard rock that shows the underrated influence of the band on everything that came later. The production is great, while still raw and filled with bar venue energy. Maybe a few more big hits or stand out songs to make it even better, but still deserves the full 5 stars from my end.
Great album!
Love it, a classic hard rock sound! Saved tracks: Waitin' for the Bus, Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers, Master of Sparks, La Grange,
This one's on my list of albums that everybody else should hear before they die.
Love it. Classic ZZ Top, and a solid album all the way through.
Great
Have mercy.
Classic AF. Love the blues riffs
I love zz top, and I love this album.
Great breakthrough Album for ZZ Top. Lots of love and radio play for most of the tracks rockin blues grooves throughout. Only soft spot for me was “Move me on Down the Line” -just doesn’t measure up to the rest of the album.
Lotta good southern rock here.
sempre bom curtir esse som
This is a great album, and its absolutely crazy how completely together and tight ZZ Top is as a band. All great tracks - 5/5
Discazo
Loved it
Good old Blues. I like it
I already loved ZZ Top but I didn’t know that every song on this album was a banger! Great one to listen to. I saved the whole track list.
Un discazo de principio a fin. Cortito, al grano, y lleno de buenos riffs. Aunque no deja de ser rock en el estilo Texas, la verdad es que en estas dosis pequeñas y bien cuidadas no tiene desperdicio y no se siente como un gimmick repetitivo. Tal vez si me echara toda la discografía o un disco de éxitos me cansarían, pero en este caso se ganaron sus 5 estrellotas.
A true Classic - loved it
An amazing album, with just about the greatest collection of guitar tones ever.
I love this damn album, but I’m biased because #texas
So many good songs
Beautifully produced, chilled vibes
Riffs and Licks
Fun bluesy rock n roll.
Probably represents ZZ Top's sound better than any other album they released. Solid rock & blues. Bought it when it was released, listened to it periodically since. A great album. Didn't need to add it - owned it for decades.
good one
5 out of 5
I love this album, it was very nostalgic. ZZ Top is badass!
I love this album it is a classic
What a classic!! Growely vocals, jamming blues guitar, slick drum riffs. I listened to "Master of Sparks" at least 5 times in a row - I couldn't get enough of it. I've heard a lot of songs off of this album, but not all of them, and not all together.
ZZ top is the best
Good album
This was a great album. Really bluesy!
This is at least a 4, maybe my first 5!? Several songs I really like. I'll listen closely to the rest.
Lepsze niż pamiętałem
great album, some classic songs on there
Great example of their basis in blues, storytelling, and Texas boogie.
Great classic rock
Anytime
La Grange is an all-timer and the rest of this album slaps alongside it!
Who doesn't love ZZ Top?
Groovy rock for old men with beards that is surprisingly killer.
I did not like 80s zz top. In fact they were a turn the station band. Listened to this and it was great what the feck happened to them.
I liked this album a lot more than Eliminator from 1983. Their sound on this album was heavier and a lot more “Texas blues-rock” than the more mainstream rock sound of Eliminator. Early ZZ Top like this is the sound every band playing in a smoky roadside bar should aspire to be. It also doesn’t hurt to have an all-time song like ‘La Grange’. Really good album to drink beers and have fun while it plays. Solid 4/5
Unbeatable in the pantheon of Southern Rock music. It has some of the greatest guitar riffs and pays good respect to blues music. 9/10 [KEEP]
Damn, this was good
This is the music that abruptly stops when I walk into the bar where I'm about to be murdered. 4/5.
Fucki La Grange is such a banner of a tune! Most of this album is really good but for some reason there's a few songs they put the guitar away, which seems.like a waste of time. But peak ZZ Top is incredible!
pretty fun, 10 songs in 33 min.
I feel like this album being on the list is a reason why Eliminator shouldn't be on it. This is much better in just about every way. I like the over-the-top southernness on all of these songs. Bonus points for making the simplest blues song with Waitin' for the Bus and managing to make it sound good. The whole album is pretty damn simple, to be fair, and much like Waitin' for the Bus, it all sounds pretty good.
this record is really good. simple lyrics with catchy riffs. had me grooving and feeling funky. standout songs for me were "beer drinkers & hell raisers", "hot, blue and righteous" and "la grange". this record would be playing if i'm in the desert and want a tint of blues music.
Cool.
This album sounds like barbecue.
Its the best bikermusic can get, medium 4 for me.not mutch to say other than reminding me of old trucker games i played.
Very good performance
ого лучше, чем я думала
4 because this is definitely the best album to come out of this putrid genre, perspective matters
Really solid album.
Solid album Standout songs: Jesus just left Chicago Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
Het is eigenlijk te mooi dat deze na muddy waters komt. Album is eindeloos goed. Imo perfecte uitvoering van blues rock, met echt specifieke southern sound erbij. Je hoort ook mooi terug dat bands over het gehele rock spectrum hebben geleend van zz top, wat meer latere blues rock, en revival soorten, maar ook gewoon metal bands. Iedereen wil die groove.
8/10
Tres Hombres is what ZZ Top sounded like before the beards became a costume and the synthesizers arrived to sand down the edges — raw, blues-rooted Texas boogie with no production sheen and no apologies. This is the record that turned a regional curiosity into a real band, and hearing it now it's easy to understand why. Billy Gibbons is the central fact. His guitar playing sits deep in the Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf lineage — dirty, economical, groove-oriented in a way that prioritizes feel over flash at every turn. "La Grange" is the landmark, built on a John Lee Hooker boogie riff that Gibbons makes completely his own over the course of five minutes that don't waste a second. But the record earns its rating before La Grange even arrives — "Waitin' for the Bus" and "Jesus Just Left Chicago" run together as an opening sequence that establishes the band's coordinates immediately and delivers on every promise they make. The blues DNA here triggered a specific memory: a former band that used to play "Crash on the Levee" from the Basement Tapes, reimagined through exactly the kind of ZZ Top filter this record makes inevitable. The origin story involves guitarist Loren "Hot Sauce" Huggins falling asleep on an ant hill after considerable whiskey, a resulting fever dream of ZZ Top covering Dylan, and a version of the song that transformed something ramshackle and mellow into something considerably less so. That's the kind of band folklore that lives forever, and Tres Hombres is exactly the record that could conjure it. The rhythm section locks in and stays there. The songs are short and unpretentious and don't overstay their welcome. The whole record has the quality of a band that knows exactly what it is and has no interest in being anything else, which in 1973 Texas meant blues-soaked rock played with total conviction. A strong four that earns the blues DNA comparison honestly. Not quite the irreplaceable peak expression of the tradition that would push it to five — that conversation belongs to Hard Again — but an excellent record by a band operating at the top of their pre-fame powers.
I've only known ZZ Top from the 80s, when they were playing up their long beards and spinning guitars schtick. But they are legit southern blues rock dynamos. Fun lyrics, singing guitar solos, and total vibe. Southern rock through a blues filter, with a side of gospel. Great sound.
Pretty solid classic rock. Loved the opening track Waitin, 5 stars on that one, the rest 3 and 4.
I saw these guys at Virgin Free Fest once. They were fun, like this album. Very interesting intersection of blues and white-man-rock-and-roll that works better at some times than others.
Lot of fun. Only thing preventing it from being a 5 star for me was that the slower change of pace songs in the middle were bleh. The hits really hit though. Favorite intro song of any album so far
Great beards, great music
This was a great record outside the classic La Grange (which is GREAT). Lots of fun and great guitar riffs
Before all the embellishments, just good old-fashioned bar room blues, with some cracking tracks.
Good even though I got lost in the middle a little
Bluesy and funky.
Classic Rock and Roll. It's a little stereotypical at this point, but those stereotypes have to come from somewhere.
This album should be considered as Rock canon. I'm not the hugest ZZ Top fan but this album is an absolute powerhouse. Very enjoyable listen from start to finish.
Bluesy rock from some of the absolute masters of their style. Easy to forget how easy they made this seem.
Awesome. Texas blues rock
Nasty nasty nasty electric blues. Mid heavy electric guitar tones only rivaled by AC/DC. Very listenable, especially by guitar players. My only criticism is the quality of vocals compared to the later hits that I am more familiar with. A few surprises are on this album if you only know the hits.
not as good as Joni Mitchell’s Blue
Very enjoyable. Less cheesy than their more famous 80s output.
4 for hard rock Amazing thing from the 70's Fav song: Hot, Blue and Righteous
Amazingly groovy Southern rock. Great boozy, bluesy vibes.
Very iconic, every song has a similar BUT unique sound to it
Very good. Warm analogue 70ies sound. Contains a few classics.
Reviewing ZZ Top’s Tres Hombres is like taking a dusty, beer-soaked road trip where the highs are soaring but a few bumps slow you down. The album thrives on its foundational grit, delivering instantly catchy, blues-infused guitar hooks on tracks like "Waiting for the Bus" and the energetic "Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers," while boasting some stellar, pristine production work on "Master of Sparks" and the velvety smoothness of "Hot, Blue and Righteous." However, it’s a bit of a sonic mixed bag; some tracks suffer from questionable mixing choices—like the oddly recessed drums on "Move Me on Down the Line"—and others fall flat due to bizarre lyricism and uninspired melodies, particularly on "Sheik." Ultimately, Billy Gibbons' consistently spectacular, fiery closing guitar solos carry the weaker moments, and that uncanny, deeply familiar blues-rock groove makes the record a highly enjoyable, classic 4/5 experience that feels like an old friend you've known forever, even if you're hearing it for the first time.
Really great album. Fantastic flow and some of the best guitar playing you'll ever hear. Really good listen overall. Obviously, "La Grange" is legendary, but "Jesus Just Left Chicago" was my favorite off of this one.
this belongs to a sunny day, 10:45am, with the birds chirping and nowhere to be. good rhythm, easy lyrics, and a sense of comfort between all 3 bandmates made my first ZZ Top experience a very good one.
One of their finest albums in my view, the opening three tracks are classic early era ZZ Top, long before their MTV reinvention. The single La Grange is a belter.
This album sounds like a sweaty summer night with friends. I have no complaints.
Yeehaw! This is perhaps one of the most American (more specifically, Texan) sounding albums ever made. It's mostly simplistic, fairly juvenile bluesy rock. The lyrics aren't very good, and neither are the vocals, but the guitar playing is pretty good. The riffs are strong and memorable in most songs, and there's definitely some energy here. Yet the songwriting almost lacks the charisma and character to make up for the album's downfalls. This is a good album with 1 great song("La Grange"). The rest of it is just good but basic classic rock. This is a good album, but it's not exactly life-changing even for this avid fan of classic rock.
I hope my 4/5 rating is not only because I’m comparing this early ZZ Top to the 80s commercial iteration that I find so unmoving. But this really is some solid blues rock. The songs have great hooks and (almost) no song overstays its welcome. Several familiar songs from AOR radio days. Nice musicianship. Rounding up to 4.
Another one of those albums it looks like I am going to end up liking despite my best efforts to reject it based on fan base/ and or the appearance of the band members. God. I think ZZ Top generally has represented everything I despise about a certain type of man. But… in the sanctuary of my home/ headphones - this album rocks! So, well I guess it gets a 4. Not as familiar with its content as I thought I would be. Boolean: yes, glad to hear before I die.
It is the breakout album for ZZ. I liked them in the 80s and like them now. It is no tube snake boogie, but still.
Straight up blues rock. Straight up blues rock. Some great guitar solos. Listening to this is to see how the '80s emphasis on MTV and making hits really did not service some bands, ZZ Top among them. In the '80s, ZZ Top weren't so much musicians as characters in a ZZ Top cinematic universe filled with hirsute biker dudes and scantily clad women.
I think I said in my one-star review of Eliminator that ZZ Top was capable of making good music. This is what I was talking about. Jesus, La Grange, and Move It On Down the Line are the best but it's all pretty listenable.
Better than Eliminator. Jesus Left Chicago and La Grange are classics. But man that is one of the ugliest album covers yet.
Short Review: Dirty, loose, and effortlessly cool. Blues rock stripped down to swagger, groove, and attitude. Feels like heat, dust, and beer-stained confidence. Favorite Track: “La Grange.” That riff is immortal. Simple, greasy, hypnotic, and impossible not to move to.
Another blues rock album by a bunch of white guys from the 70s, quelle surprise... ...however this is annoyingly good. Fun, unpretentious and they fucking shred. Listening to this I feel like one of the characters in Dazed and Confused. Loving it.
4*
Just want to drink a beer and eat some ribs now!
80s took ZZ Top to horrible direction but this is just good with without any nonsense.
I kept thinking Hot Blue and Righteous was gonna turn into Purple Rain for some reason. La Grange will always bang. You know what you're getting from these gents.
This album increased my aura points by one million. If every song were La Grange this would be a 5.
Solid bluesy rock, with the emphasis on bass riffs.
8/10
Cracking rock Gromit! I liked everything a great deal - bluesy things are not the style I gravitate to, but then I listen to music like this and know it's great stuff that I've missed out on until now! :) Definitely a fun listen and something I'd stick on again happily! :)
This album is 🔥
Fav is hot blue and righteous, I liked the songs
La Grange is an objective banger. Rest of the album has pretty bad ass riffs as well.
Classic southern rock, influenced a lot of what I listen to now. High energy and fun
Groovy as all shit. "Master of Sparks" has this righteous second guitar thing creeping in the background. Everyone sounds great and sounds great together.
Like getting a can of cheap beer poured over your head (complimentary). Loses a little steam after the first 2 songs (LaGrange is unimpeachable, but I've heard it sooo many times).
Lol, one of the weakest album covers I've ever seen for a band that actually kinda rules. It looks like it was designed on Microsoft Paint, or if someone's grandmother put together a page for her grandson's band's scrapbook but didn't care to apply too much actual effort. But who cares cause album art is more of a bonus to the actual album anyway. I could listen to Billy Gibbons play just about all day. I'm jealous of his talent. As far as the songs go, there's no real reinvention of too many wheels. If you like smoky barroom blues, this is pretty great. I happen to like that just fine, so I like this record pretty good. It does get a little "paint by numbers" blues progressions at points, but it's pretty enjoyable. 7.8/10 I probably have to round up to 4-stars just based on La Grange. The record as a whole probably doesn't quite get there, but it's not a 3-star "whatever" record either.
Pretty good. The most popular song is still the best but I did favorite a couple songs
Top – Tres Hombres (1973) On Day 125, I took a trip through some Texas boogie. After multiple listens, I can say it was a great experience that maintained a solid groove throughout. The opening pairing of "Waitin' for the Bus" and "Jesus Just Left Chicago" was especially great the transition between the two is perfect. Other standouts like "La Grange" and the closer "Have You Heard?" really hit the mark for me. The album is great, consistent, and has that blues grit that makes for a high-level listening session. While it doesn't quite reach a 5 for me, it’s a definitive 4/5 and a classic I’m glad to have finally heard.
Liked it
A classic classic rock album. I can’t say that every song deserved its own guitar solo though a handful did. I found a few songs that are getting added to the rotation, so color me impressed!
reminds me of my dad but also highways
topcheg
Me gustó el álbum, buen rock clásico con temones como La grange
Ope, more bowling alley music. Enjoyable.
Nice guitar riffs, 4/5. Favourite song: Jesus Just Left Chicago
Quite tragic that I didnt have a beer and a cigarette whilst I was listening to this 😔 makes me feel like a 50 year old Texan dad (I’m a 17 year old girl) La Grange is a timeless classic love it 🔥
I love this album. I remember listening to it with my father, but it always feels like it’s missing something to be a 5/5
One of my favorite from ZZ. Great guitar riffs and bluesy music.
It was good to hear the whole album. I liked it more than I thought I would. It gives me faith that there will be more interesting music ahead on this list. Please cut back on the folk and obscure British pop.
It was pretty solid, a bit different than I expected musically
Two extremely cool guys presenting a brilliant album that has you feeling like you’re deep in Texas , driving a ford pickup and living the dream. Brilliant album with a very cool live track at the end
Surprised how much I liked the heavy guitar riffs of these guys. Of course I know ZZ Top's style, but it was refreshing to hear very strong musical talent on top of decently constructed lyrics.
Liked this more than I thought I would but then again I'm a sucker for guitar. Every aspiring guitar player thinks their blues scales sound like those on Jesus Left Chicago.
287/1001 ZZ Top - Tres Hombres Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ✅ A lot bluesier affair than the previous album of theirs I was given and enjoyed it just as much.
Just some solid rock. Wouldn't mind if the full album had just been the La Grange guitar licks.
Cranked it and immediately grew a beard and ended up at a Trump rally.
tres home FAVS (top 3): waitin for the bus; master of sparks; hot, blue and righteous mençoes honrosas: beer drinkers & hell raisers, la grange gente no começo eu fiquei caramba muito bom!! mas dps ficou meio -_- ou so perdi o interesse no meio mas o inicio é MUITO bom e o resto é... bom KKKKKK nao é ruim obviamente! nota final: 4/5
it was pleasant to listen to but I don't think I'll ever listen to this album again or remember any song from it.
Super!!!
This band is famous to me for Gimme All Your Lovin and Legs. Didn’t actually know about their blues output, that’s embarrassing. This was wonderful, loved the intelligent blues rock and kinda wished they hadn’t gone down the Aerosmith/Van Halen etc etc route of giving MTV exactly what they wanted to hear and see.
Ох этот блюз, великолепно
This is a laid-back and self-assured set of songs. The clean and unfussy production lets the hot-fried boogie shine through without adornment: The drums are crisp, the bass is clean and you can hear the chicken scratch of Billy Gibbons’ deft guitar playing. I would’ve loved to hear Prince cover “Hot, Blue and Righteous.”
No self respecting Texan would EVER disrespect that little ol' band from Texas! All hail ZZ Top!
Blues classic, absolute masterful and full of fun!
I like this way more than I feel like I should. It's like AC/DC but actually good? You still have some amazing guitar playing and absolutely killer riffs, but it's just more chill and most important of all, the vocals aren't annoying as hell. And it makes this just a really cool and straightforward classic rock album.
This feels like old-man-rock but it certainly vibes with me. Maybe it's the bass use, I'm a sucker for bass
Not all of the songs are great, but a few of these are certified bangers.
FIREEEEE🫶
Have heard all the well known songs on this one a million times. A lot of classics. Definitely a great album
Solid
Banger
This is a good album, very classic ZZ Top. If you like that biker bar sound, this album is for you. If you don’t like that sound, this probably isn’t for you. Album 25, March 23, 2026
More bluesy than I expected in a good way
Æ digge den her
Enda mer peak Guitar Hero. Resten av plata er også sabla god.
Detta var både bra og kult! 8/10
Positiv overraskelse. Føler de henter inspirasjon fra flere sjangre. Funk, soul, rock.
Positivt overraska.
Hørt på solsenga på Granka. Ypperlig chille-rock? Får lyst på pils og sigg imens jeg løser kryssord.
Hell yeah! I was glad this came up. Straight up Americana Texas blues rock in the coolest way possible. I don't know that I've heard the album as a whole, but man it's an enjoyable experience.
* ZZ Top is gr8 * epic :guitar-emoji:, talk to me * Every song is a banger, just a real easy listen.
Really enjoyed this one. The three live songs added at the end of the album were a great addition with the extra riffs and solos. La Grange is an absolute classic and now I can add Jesus Just Left Chicago to the classic list too
Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers Master of Sparks Move Me On Down The Line Precious and Grace Sheik
Waitin For The Bus Jesus Just Left Chicago Move Me on Down the Line La Grange Sheik
I’d usually think this kind of album is average but I really liked this one. Really no filler on it, it just goes.
Not bad....bit funky...la grange i’ve been hearing that on the radio since a child was always wondering where It came from.
Hell yea
It's nice...For an album that was made 70s'
This has been a great week for albums. And this one is great too.
One of the guys voices sounds like the word “yarl” but I love it
Decent music, great guitar. Vocals are whatever but that's always been ZZ Top for me.
3.5 - I think of the song La Grange every time the nearby Kentucky city comes up. This was an enjoyable listen.
Not bad
Solid blues rock before they got ridiculous. La Grange is a banger.
Great classic album! So many good songs!
A little more dated sound than I expected, but I love the album anyway.
I’ll start by admitting that ZZ Top is a band I’ve never given much of a chance. When I was a teenager in the 80s their music was everywhere. I didn’t dislike the music, their popular tunes at the time seemed kind of silly. It probably didn’t help that this was the dad rock of my generation. I didn’t hate their music, but it was always just background sound. There are many bands I’ve previously discounted that I’ve discovered as the decades have ticked by, but for whatever reason ZZ Top has not been among them. My first listen of Tres Hombres for this project is probably the first time I’ve given a serious listen to ZZ Top album from start to finish. Of course I’d heard La Grange before, but I don’t recall any of the other tunes. I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. This is a great mix of blues with enough early rhythmic metal thrown in to keep things bouncing along. There is some undeniably great guitar work happening throughout. I still think I was right about ZZ Top being somewhat silly. Where I erred was failing to realize that it is perfectly okay, even enjoyable, for a band to hear a band that is just having fun making some solid rock and roll. I’m glad I walked into this with an open mind. I’m still not convinced that I’m a ZZ Top fan, but I do intend to listen to more of their early work to make sure this is true. Overall, a fun listen.
Great stuff on here, really enjoying getting into ZZ Top
Im not a massive fan of zz top. Waitin for the bus: 6/10 Standard blues song. Jesus just left Chicago: 6.5/10 Cool transition into this song. Beer drinkers and hell raisers: 6/10 Master of sparks: 5/10 Hot,blue and righteous: 6/10 Move me on down the line: 5/10 Precious and grace 5.5/10 La grange: 7.5/10 Sheik: 4.5/10 Have you heard: 6/10
Great blues rock
I think our group has already established that ZZ Top is good. People should listen to them. No need to gild the lily. Give 'em an extra half-star because they are easy to find when your music collection is alphabetized.
70s ZZ Top is the bestt
Песни ковбоев, скучающих в очереди на заправке
Another essential dad rock album Master of Sparks had time signature changes (i might have made this up) which was sick af hell yeah
Suono bello pieno, un bel rock anni 70
mejor que los cucharas
Much better than expected. Thought everything would sound like La Grange or Sharp Dressed Man.
Foot stomping, blues driven, hard rockin'. Very enjoyable. Possibly 3 out of 5, but those ZZ Top beards bring it up to 4 out of 5.
Two words: La. Grange.
Much better than Eliminator
The lead guitar in this album is definetly some of the best guitar soloing I've ever heard. All songs were good, but I'd say the bass and drums didn't really get my attention, especially considering that the foundation of some tracks just sounds like a blues-rock standard. But again, what really takes the focus during many parts is the lead guitar, which is out of this world. That alone guarantees at least a 4/5 rating. And beyond the incredible guitars, it was overall a great album, so a 4.5/5 for now. Could become a 5/5 with future re-listens. Highlights: every single guitar part. And no, I won't shut up about it.
Esperaba un disco lleno de canciones aceleradas, de guitarras eléctricas en ebullición y ritmo salvaje. Equivocación. Ciertamente las guitarras tienen todo el protagonismo, pero juegan a favor de cada tema y no reclaman más de lo que deben. Al final, los ZZ Top nos regalan un gran disco de blues rock alejado ya de conceptos clásicos, que ya abraza la etiqueta de southern rock, de la cual son más unos exponentes. Alguna balada muy destacada y se quedan en el recuerdo “La Grange” y “Waiting’s For The Bus” sobre todo.
Might be my fave ZZ Top album. Definitely ZZ Top at their gritty, dirty Texas best.
I don’t have much to say about this. It was good, not amazing, but still a great album. I’m surprised it’s not listed as blues rock on here; it sounds like it should be.
Not bad for two guys with beards who aren't named Beard and one guy without a beard who is named Beard... These tres hombres have put together a southern/blues rock album that grooves from start to finish. "La Grange" is a highlight for me, but that honestly might be guitar hero nostalgia. Not the greatest album ever made, but definitely a fun way to spend some time.
-I thought ZZ Top were uncool when I was younger -- this was a case of listener error. ZZ Top are very fucking cool. -This band is TIGHT. Yeah the guitars shred, but the rhythm section is also groovy as hell. There's nothing better than a great power trio. -ZZ Top get a lot of credit for influencing later hard rock and heavy metal bands, but I hear their fingerprints all over punk. They have a real stripped down, no bullshit aesthetic. Every song is just as long as it needs to be.
White boy can't have a little motion?
close to 5 stars
Oh, hell yeah. Some REAL MUSIC. I feel like I should be out on a deck sucking down some cheap beer and shooting the shit with some buddies. I'm really digging the unapologetic rock and blues sound. Song after song has been a constant head-nodder. Easily the best album I've heard so far, closer to the sound that I normally listen to already. ZZ Top, I tip my Stetson to you. Among my favorites: Waitin' for the Bus Sheik La Grange Master of Sparks Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
Good
Great! No complaints, would have them on as background again 4
веселенький такий, кайнда рокі кайнда джазі, кул
I bet Texas was cool as hell when there were legit freaks and weirdos before it turned into the Stepford tech bro hell it is now. ZZ Top brings the boogie rock. Crack open a Lone Star and shake yo ass.
Listened previously. Expectations: High - Verdict: Great - This album is so replayable. Great riffs and the groove from start to finish just puts me in a good mood. I want a beer now.
The boozy sunburnt uncle of QOTSA's debut. Dope AF
Very '70s but, exceptionally, I liked it. Three musicans, nobody else.
This album is near perfect and should get more recognition and praise. Has great singles, yet cohesive without being boring and one noted. Album is consistently good and keeps you guessing and moving. This is on a must own list for me.
Really good: just some solid grooves and nice flourishes
well it wasn't bad
Базированный блюз-рок от самой техасской группы, это альбом с ровным и качественным материалом, где музыканты не то чтобы творцы, а скорее скилловые ремесленники, которые мастерски делают свое дело в узких рамках жанра. Слушается хорошо, но и 10 песен - максимум, что можно вынести не устав. La Grange тут явно выделяется, и это отличный пример, как из простого стандарта буги можно сделать хит на все времена. 3,5 из 5, но своими бородами они дотянулись до 4
Приятный батярок. Почему - то думала, что ZZ Top какие-то металлюги. Забыла добавить отзыв о pixies в истории : вот это настоящее открытие. Была на их концерте году в 2014-2015 и мне вообще не понравилось : чувствовалось ноль энергии. Зато в этом дебютнике её хоть отбавляй! Лайк
Album 98. Tres Hombres — ZZ Top (1973) This rock album is badass. It's like comfort rock for me. It's trying to be hard rock, but in its own way. It's not hard rock completely. It's also not classic rock. Somewhere in the middle. It has blues, groove and southern influence. It makes it even more fascinating than it would be without it. La Grange is iconic as hell. 4/5 Liked songs: — Jesus Just Left Chicago — Hot, Blue and Righteous — Move Me on Down the Line — La Grange
I picture a hazy, smoke-choked bar where three dozen patrons chain-smoke Marlboro Reds, nurse longneck Budweisers, and tap their boots in time with music rolling off the stage in thick waves. Up there stand Dusty Hill, Billy Gibbons, and Frank Beard, locked in, wringing every ounce of grit from their instruments and flooding the room with the finest Texas blues imaginable. That’s the scene that plays in my head when I listen to Tres Hombres. It’s stripped-down and direct, yet somehow filthy, intricate, and alive all at once.
Solid blues rock album. Much better than their 80s pop rock.
GOOD
Jesus Left Chicago and LaGrange super hits !
Eu não conhecia a banda e não esperava muito do álbum, porém achei ele muito bem produzido e elaborado. O álbum me trouxe uma boa sensação, e me fez lembrar do estilo old school do rock. Seus solos de guitarra eram bem impressionantes e as músicas em geral eram muito boas.
King album, bra gitarr och sjukt bra trumljud, älskar kicken
I really enjoyed this album. It was a great listen from start to finish and my first full intro to ZZ Top! It was a fantastic album and I enjoyed it a lot. I just wish Spotify didn’t have the live songs at the end of it.
calm, funky, inspiring
Love these jams
Out and out Rock n' Roll
Dive bar vibes, nice and greasy.
Zztop , drew heavy influence from blues greats including BB King, you see the name resemblance? True to form, that little ole band from Texas still rocks and a fun listen
Me gusta para dejar de fondo
Great album - I think I enjoyed the live stuff more than the recorded stuff
"Gospel-infused blues" as Yahoo Scout described it. Great jams (despite the 70's strained vocals). Something I'd come back to.
Fun, repetitive. Chill. Impressive.
Nice slice of Texas blues and snarly boogie to give this album some life. Solid stuff from this Texan trio.
Classic album, with some filler tracks that almost sound like a pastiche of the band - likely due to the influence that the three beards have had on the genre.
Suave como una tostada de sudor, semen y esmegma en una calurosa tarde de verano tejano.
I hadn't realised they started so early. This album is very good bluesy rock just bordering on metal in places but holding true to what they called Texan Rock.
Great album, cool band name. Standouts: Waitin' for the bus, beer drinkers & hell raisers, move me down the line, master of sparks
very fun listen favorites: jesus left Chicago move me on down the line la grange
actually soooooo fun
I don't think I would have ever listened to an entire ZZ Top album if it weren't for this project. I knew the radio hits but never explored further. To be honest, they have a time and place. I'd listen to this one again in a dive bar or on a road trip.
A great, bluesy album. Also, have you seen their beards?
Yesss sir, ZZ Top coming in hot with some top tier bangers. Waiting for the Bus and La Grange are both 10/10 songs for me, so funky, groovy, catchy, and with some fun lyrics to boot. Like cmonnn that break in La grange is legendary, bumm de du de du de bummmmm de du de du de dummmmmmm de du de du deh duu dedelehhhh!! You know exactly what Im talking about here.... the melody played in your head as you read that. This album was short n sweet, so I gave it quite a few listens throughout the day. I wasnt 100% sold on the slower songs, felt like they were missing some of that driving force and funk that the quicker songs had, although they were needed to break things up, just coulda used a lil more somethin somethin. The guitar on this album shreds hard, even through some of the slower, bluesy moments. Plus nothing overstays its welcome either, with a runtime of only 33 minutes, they get in n out and leave you wanting more (atleast I do, gonna check out some more ZZ fosho) 8/10 overall
Solid but there's one or two clunkers.
Rating: 7.5/10 Short Review: Very solid collection of rock songs. Songwriting isn't necessarily standout, but these guys add a lot of personality to these songs which I think really makes the album.
These are the roots that made these guys great. They did catch a bit of the 80s synth flu for a little while which hurts their reputation in my mind. But this is the good stuff. 3.5 stars, round up for badassery
For pretty much never being in the mood for this genre, this album is pretty great almost all the way through. Was a little bored some of the time first time through (Hot Blue and Righteous and Sheik felt like they just soak up any of the energy that I was feeling), but everything started to fit together nicely on second listen and those lower energy songs actually give you a little bit of a reset to go again. Waitin' for the Bus into Jesus Just Left Chicago is a great opening combo.
Loved the overall vibe of this album. Reminds me of summer. Fav song is sheik
I was excited to find out what my birthday listen would be and honestly had a great time with this one! Can see why La Grange is one of their top songs, imagine was an influence on The Black Keys. Would listen to again.
This was a good album. Never heard all of it before, La Grange is a banger. Reminds me of a dive bar in Texas
Loved the bluesy sounds and continuous drive of the guitar riffs. Great vocals, too.
ZZ Top album number 2! Well, actually, this is the first of the two they have on the list chronologically, but it's the second one I'm listening to, so shut up. This album's cool. I can see why this and Eliminator were both included on the list. The two albums are pretty different from one another, so they don't really feel like redundant inclusions or anything. Tres Hombres is MUCH bluesier than Eliminator. This is full-on blues rock and there's really nothing else you could describe it as other than "good." I think I have a slight preference for the more hard-rock focused sound of Eliminator, but I can absolutely see why others would have the opposite feeling. It's all about personal appeal, really. I will say that I'm not as big on the vocal delivery on this album, but the instrumentation more than makes up for it. The riffs are super cool, with some of the highlights being "Jesus Just Left Chicago," "Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers," and of course, "La Grange." That's the big hit from this album and for good reason. It's such a cool song. I do think that there's actually a bit more variety here than on Eliminator, which is a point of praise in this album's direction. I don't have much more to say. Tres Hombres is just cool. Low 4/5.
Favourite Songs: Master Of Sparks La Grange
Cool
Killer 1-2 opening with a great transition. Doesnt quite hit the same heights following that but remains a good slice of Southern Blues Rock throughout.
fun!
I don't think this collection really needs two ZZ Top albums, and I'm kind of torn between whether it should have only included this or just "Eliminator" (so maybe both? But they're just not that good or interesting...). I like the more obvious boogie blues roots on this album, and a couple of their tracks have rightfully stayed on classic rock radio for many (many many) years, but I'm also struck at how much more generic-sounding this album is, even with Bill Gibbons' distinctive voice. My favorites of the lot were "Waitin' for the bus", "Master of sparks", and of course the epic "La grange", as well as "Sheik"; I also enjoyed hearing what seems like the *very* rare co-lead vocals of Dusty Hill on "Beer drinkers & hell raisers". I was really torn about a rating (especially after generously giving "Eliminator" four stars), but thankfully "La grange" pushes it firmly into four-star country (Texas style).
good stuff from everyone's favorite bearded texan rockers. the album comes out swingin with a couple bangers up front, then pulls you back in for the all-time classic la grange. as a texan though, let me tell you that there's really nothing going on in la grange. don't you dare put it on your bucket list because i will find out. you have to drive a few miles off I-71 to even get to the subway restaurant, which is notable because when we stopped there on a road trip years ago, there was a whole lot of hoopla going on. the owner of the subway location is still (at the time of this writing) in a lengthy legal battle with the city to use an electronic sign outside his restaurant that's banned because of a local ordinance. subway sign drama has been going on TEN YEARS STRONG! everything's bigger in texas, including our inconsequential legal battles. oh yeah anyway this album is good too. 4 stars.
This is Texas blues / boogie rock! Waitin' for the Bus/Jesus Left Chicago and La Grange are classics. The songs that stray are weaker though.
I didn't realize this was 1973. I grew up with Legs and thought them a weird 80s band and had to retroactively discover them. I appreciated listening to this album in full. How have I never appreciated "Muddy Water turned to wine..."? 1 star just for that line. Super tight album which I actually wish they would have let a few songs run a bit longer but love how you can't catch your breath before another song hits you. A couple of misses but "Jesus Just Left Chicago" and the immortal "Waitin for the Bus" and "La Grange" make this easily 4 stars.
Excellent blues rock album, great guitar, love the vocals including the live performances, like the lyrics. Obviously narrow scope and sound but works really well as a blues album.
I did not expect to enjoy this album. A great example of bluesy rock, guitar and vocals were brilliant and heavy throughout, a very rough cut (in a good way) album. If I was a 50 year old dad I would probably give this a 5
I'm kinda suspicious talking about this record, because my band has some ZZ Top in the setlist, including the great opening pair on this album. This two tracks, alongside Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers and, obviously, La Grange, make this album a very solid record. The other six tracks are good, nothing super remarkable, but good tracks. And boy, the 70's ZZ Top is incredible. The dry tones, just drums, bass, guitar and vocals, few to none overdubs. Pure blues and rock and roll album.
I repeat. ZZ Top was one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to. It’s no Eliminator but still very good.
Classic 70s rock. La grange is my standout.
Good album. Very well produced.
This is a great way to spend half an hour or so. Precisely my brand of southern / blues rock - hip shaking riffage and catchy vocal inflections which brought Clutch to mind, with a real confidence and swagger to it along with a tangible thread of experience and nous. You could say that many of the tracks here follow a similar template, but there was enough variety through the smaller details to ensure that each of them had their own distinctive character. Onto the wishlist this goes.
The blues brothers, ecco cosa mi ricorda O di quel periodo in cui rivotavo al freak out pub Blues rock, rock blues, assoli da paura, La Grange atomica, Jesus just left Chicago bellissima Gran bell’albim
felt like a real american
“THATS Angela’s dad!?” (Bones reference) Listened before. Love this album and the guitar solos. Every song has a different vibe
Again an album where I knew only one song. I like several ZZ top songs, but they're spread out over albums and it's nice to be reminded of which ones are in what.
have not heard before favourite: la grange and have you heard? least favourite: hot blue and righteous
Pretty good, but not special. Fun and easy tunes to get into
good as stardew valley bgm when i want to roleplay as a grumpy redneck
Classic blues album, La Grange is a staple.
Enjoyable
Great riffs and vibes. Makes me want to hang out at a shitty dive bar and drink some cheap beer.
I hope you like guitars. They're wonderfully played and recorded, here. ZZ Top marks one of the more popular American iterations of white guys playing really loud blues and it's very catchy. It's full of sexual innuendo and ribald humour -- often juvenile, even -- but that, also, is an early blues tradition. Dusty Hill (bass) and Frank Beard (drums) make up an exceptionally tight rhythm section. Frank, ironically, is the only member of the band you might see pictures of sans-beard. Gibbons is a masterful blues player. He doesn't have the touch of any of the Three Kings (Freddie, Albert and BB), nor does he have the speed of Stevie Ray Vaughn but this is a bit more rock-inflected than the Kings and more accessible (read: simple) than SRV (plus, Billy has outlived Stevie by 35 years and counting, which helps with his popularity). I don't think this will totally shake your tree if you're familiar with their singles or the style, generally. It's a blues-rock power trio without the pretension of Cream. It's a bit like BBQ: simple and delicious. 'Master of Sparks' has a little dual-guitar stuff that foreshadows Maiden. 'Hot, Blue and Righteous' shows off their very real singing chops (and the tension in the verse reminds me of part of 'Purple Rain'). 'La Grange' is a boogie giant that's worthy of any band's canon (seriously -- that's an all-timer in my books). Biggest surprise: the whole band was 20 when this was released. There really must have been little to do in Texas for Gibbons to be this competent at that age. The guitar tone is actually pretty historically important. It's a very early and well-formed example of this sound (hot take: way better than the Beatles sounded in the same year). But that's for the six-string nerds and debatable in its long-term importance. I really enjoyed this album but I've gotta stick to 4/5; it's not quite the pinnacle of musical achievement.
One of the most masterfully produced albums I've ever heard. Every instrument is so clear. Many of the songs are simple blues stuff, but the southern boogie style gives it a dance-ability that a lot of blues doesn't hit. Very surprised at how good this is after hearing Eliminator yesterday.
Muy buenas vibras
Just a huge amount of fun. Love it. 4.5* rated down.
An excellent old school rock album. There was something effortless about it and it was somehow an “easy listen” despite heavier elements at times. Can’t say I followed the lyrics closely but easy to tap along to.
I have had a soft spot for ZZ Top since I was a long-haired kid looking for classic electric guitar riffs. This album is kind of slow and plodding in places, but it has a decent groove, some hard hitting riffs and it breaks out into some killer solos. What was most interesting was how spacious and clean the recording sounds. It's so much more accessible for the ear than many rock albums. This exposes all the individual performances and really stands up to a critical listen. 'The Grange' was the only track I already knew and it was nice to revisit it because it's a cracker. A really unique, lazy, blues-rock banger. I listened through a few times to decide on my rating, but overall I really enjoyed the album. Still stands up over 50 years after it was made.
Usually can’t stand southern blues rock but they really bring something special.
Love it
My only complaint is it's not long enough. 4/5
Found it more interesting than the other zz top album
i never thought this challenge would make me a zz top fan! eliminator is better though
El rock que hacen ya me gusta de base y el disco está guapo en general.
fun
I like the bluesy tracks, but would rather prefer a more cohesive sound across a whole album. This was all over the place.
Texas Blues Rock. ZZ Top is one of those bands that got me into classic rock and music. My dad loved em. I got their greatest hits in the 1st batch of cds I ordered from Columbia House.
Classic rock
Bass beats, I didn't like the lyrics and it was too country for me, but the drums were absolutely fire to listen to. 8/10
This is where the true ZZ sound became a thing for all to appreciate. The opening duo of "Waitin'.../Jesus..." can't be played without one another and rock radio honors that. ZZ Top took the blues, added Texas jam and created a badass sound that would resonate for another 50 years and beyond. Classics like "Waiting For The Bus" (that solo is so good), "Jesus Just Left Chicago", "Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers" and a Mt. Rushmore Of Rock song like "La Grange" (850M listens!) is serious firepower on one album. Toss in glue tracks like "Master of Sparks", "Hot, Blue & Righteous" (took me to church!) & "Have You Heard" and you have a solid rock n' roll album. I have to admit that "Jesus Just Left Chicago" (and their "Blue Jean Blues") led me to explore roots Blues and find out where that sound originated from. ZZ Top made me a Blues fan and turned me on to all their heroes! Influence, right there! Hits, staying power for the band & this set of songs, a continuous radio presence + one cross-generational mega hit. This album is the cornerstone of becoming a household name and eventually their enshrinement in the R&R Hall Of Fame.
8/10 ZZ Top are one of those bands I didn't take seriously - their image, to me in the 90s, was one of embarrassing old men getting all her up over impossibly long legged blondes. Now I know they were much better than that. Grizzled, hard rocking, hard riffing blues rock. Excellent.
Very solid 3.5 that I don’t mind bumping to a 4 because ZZ Top beards are iconic
Fun record. I’ve always liked La Grange, but there are some other great tracks on here too.
ZZ Top are just so cool.
Has some ups, has some downs. Not that bad though. 7 Zed Zed Tops out of 10 Lizard Wizards
Before they were a record company product and were just a southern rock band having a grand time and making great music.
Just an entire groove of an album.
ZZ Top's best, another southern rock staple that gets 4 stars for me. La grange and JJLC are always fun!
Really good expectations were lowww but it turned out really good