Reviews (page 4 of 13)
Was about to put a 3 bc it's classic daddy rock album, nothing extraordinary but there is La Grange which is maybe the best rock a papa song, some other cool stuff to,
There's moments where it's so jazzy and the guitars are shredding and it's everything. Then there's parts where I feel like I'm driving passenger with a friend's conservative and mildly intoxicated dad. Low 4 high 3.
Growing up in Texas, the classic rock radio station did not play CSNY or Steely Dan but they did play ZZ Top. Despite their mammoth success, they remain criminally underrated outside of their home state. I'm fascinated by their mid-career evolution to become stars of MTV, but this early album perfectly presents their ample chops and hooks in a dry, straight-talking, no-frills production style. Too many good songs for there to be a favorite, but 'Move Me On Down the Line' showcases their range as songwriters and foreshadows their later pop success.
Not what I was expecting when I saw the name XD too, but to be honest, I only knew sharp dressed man. Was not expecting long haired cowboys singing the blues.
Always a fan of La Grange, and hadn’t listened to the whole album so this was nice.
Classic, soulful rock n’ roll.
Kind of like an American AC/DC. They do one thing but do it extremely well. La grange gets my rock dick rock hard
I have a special memory of going to a ZZ Top concert with my entire family back in the early 2000s in Green Bay (bratty teenage sister included). Some of the Gibbons solos were mind blowing A timeless rock act here. Jesus just left chicago and La Grange are mega hits. Crazy to read that these guys opened for Hendrix and the Doors in their previous band 3.5 stars and rounding it up
Love this one. Really solid classic rock, totally rooted in the blues, album that I hadn't heard before.
Classic
There's just something about ZZ Top that gets me going. Those dudes are masters of the Texas Blues and red hot guitar riffs. Waiting for the Bus is one of my favorites in the ZZ Top catalogue. The riff and driving bassline are packed into that 12-bar blues is next level, not to mention the seamless segue into Jesus Just Left Chicago (keeping with the bus theme) is such a great start to the album. And of course, La Grange which turns me up. If you ever find yourself in Texas, you got to make it a requirement to bump this album. Top Tracks: Waiting for the Bus, Jesus Just Left Chicago, La Grange
Listened to this a couple of times over the weekend and whilst none of the tracks jumped out at me it was overall a pleasant listening experience. I only really know ZZ Top from their two big 80’s albums (Eliminator and Afterburner) and haven’t really ever listened to them beyond those - and even then not often and probably not in the last decade or two. I liked this album. It’s now Sunday evening and I’m on a ZZ Top kick having queued up Eliminator and Afterburner on Spotify 😂
Sludgy as hell
That was unexpectedly funky. Ended up listening to it three times today.
good!
This is rock and roll. Bunch of dudes just playing great music and rockin' out.
This was pretty good! I wouldn't throw it on any ol time but this was decent.
top plaat met enkele pareltjes... begin klonk zelfs als een soort van Talking Heads...
The best kind of weird
The pinch harmonic in La Grange does things that modern metal does not do. I dont know why it is such an iconic moment in the song and when I hear it in other songs it feels out of place. The rest of the album is great 4/5
Banger after banger except for that mediocre ballad by comparison. Still, even the non-radio hits were really groovin and made me understand how Josh Homme was inspired by Gibbons. So glad he doesn't play a Gibbons, too. 8.5/10
A great bluesy rock album by an excellent trio. La Grange is so weird to be because it sounds nothing like Billy Gibbons but hey it's iconic. The rest of the album almost has this grunge quality which is cool. Great stuff from Tres Hombres
Bien! Un classique !
ZZ Top might be the coolest dudes ever.
never actually listened to zz top properly and i didn’t hate this as much as i thought i would. will listen again
a rockin jam
suprisingly good. 3.5
заебумба
Solid dad rock album
My uncle has played in bar bands for my entire life. He plays bass and sings one song, La Grange. His deep bass voice is perfect for the intro, and he finds the key each time and rocks the house. When I was a little kid, this was magic. It still is at 35. 4 stars because Uncle Art crushes it.
A real fun and bluesy, hard-rock album lead by the rock standard "La Grange" and driven by energetic guitar work. Other stand out tracks for me are "Waitin' For the Bus", "Masters of Sparks" and "Precious And Grace". (ZZ)Top!!!
Nothing like I expected. Very blusey.
I feel cooler listening to this music.
It's a little repetitive but I definitely love early ZZ compared to where they ended up.
An excellent rock record from the early 70s. I’m a sucker for that bluesy southern rock sound and this album is one of the best of that brand. The guitars sound fantastic and extremely groovy. The vocals and the drums are also excellent. Obviously “La Grange” is a classic with an amazing riff, but I also loved the opener, “Jesus Just Left Chicago”, “Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers”, “Master Of Sparks”, “Hot, Blue, And Righteous”, and “Have You Heard?” This album was excellent full of great grooves and fun songs
Never listened to a full album before but ZZ Top always felt like a bit of a novelty band. This album showed that there is real talent behind the beards and gimmicks.
Overall fantastic sound to this one. There's maybe a five star album accross the two ZZ Top albums on this list. Just makes you want to rock but not in the misogynistic or violent way.
I love me some ZZ Top. My favorites were, "Hot, Blue and Righteous," "Move Me on Down the Line," and "La Grange."
Very fun listen. Had never listened to a ZZ Top album all the way through.
Something good that came out of Texas. ZZ Top rocks! Some classics on this album
Didn't ever consider ZZ Top to be my bag but this is a cracker.
This was great fun and I really enjoyed the different style to their famous album Eliminator
I was already familiar with several songs on this album. This is a good rock album, and it contains one of the best songs of all time in La Grange. Waitin' for the Bus and Jesus Just Left Chicago are also very strong. That said, there really isn't a weak song on here. I may not always choose to listen to the full album over the best songs, but I would listen to this again for sure.
Of course La Grange aside, I did not know I loved ZZ Top that much. Almost feels as if they are teasing a bigger sounds to come on each song - really enjoyed it 4.2/5
Very nice, Texas blues!
God blues rock. Der er godt gang i den og mange flere gode tracks end bare leading singles. god overraskelse.
Can't get enough of Hank Hills cousin
classic Texas boogie
Damn fine album from my youth!
So di aver già ascoltato questo disco in passato, infatti quando l'ho visto ho detto bon bon Oggi andiamo easy. E infatti ...!
Classic American dad rock
Kul, ZZ Top pa res pojma nimam kako naj bi zvenel. Vse kar vem so dolge brade in sončna očala. Prv komad, "Waitin' for the Bus" je tak mal funky, odsekan ritem. Suddenly majo orglice solo. Najs. U, in skor neopazno smo v drugem komadu, bluesovskem "Jesus Just Left Chicago" (who knew, da je bil tam vs ta cajt?!). Tud ful fajn. Naslednji ni moj fave, ampak to je pomojem, ker me spomne na Rock Otočec vajb. (A se kdo sploh še spomne Rock Otočca?) Začetek "Master of Sparks" je tko nenaden, da me je kr ustrašil. Mogoč mam prenaglas zvočnik. Je pa kul komad. Ena balada, to cool me down. Ampak, kaj je "Hot, Blue and Righteous"? (Hiter gugl mi pove, da je očitno to že od takrat debata med folkom.) In solidno šopamo naprej. In, o fak. Poznam en komad. "La Grange". Ampak, od kod? (Piše, da je to en njihovih najuspešnejših komadov, tko da je že nekak prišel do mene.) To je prou tak album, za v nek lokal, kjer zavohaš pir, koj k vstopiš notr, slišiš biljard in po zraku se vije cigaretni dim (se prav, lokal, ki (na žalost) ne obstaja več). "Sheik" ma tak kul vajb, konča se pa zanimivo nežno, z zvončki? "Have You Heard?" zaključuje album z bluesovskim komadom, k ma kinda verna besedila?
recht kuuli songs! biz eintönig, aber insgesamt es kurzweiligs album mit dancable, singable und pfiifable songs:)
Tres estrellas Ah, fuck it, La Grange is a monster, four it is!
This is the old school ZZ Top Sound. If you like Texas Blues you're going to need this one in your collection.
This album kicked so much ass, that my speakers filed for workers comp.
Cool rock
Nothing extraordinary here, just solid boogie blues rock doused in old beer and grease. A consistently sold set of tunes with great guitar riffs and a rhythm section that keeps the whole thing chugging along. It’s not art of the highest order, but it is relentlessly fun.
The guitar on this album is amazing. The bluesy sounds on the tracks are a little hit or miss for me but man when it hits, it hits hard. Easy 4/5
This album feels like it is best listened to while taking a fun road trip through a vast landscape. Love the improv style of most of the guitar riffs and solos. Especially dig the tracks waitin for the bus beer drinkers and hell raisers, la grange and sheik as a cool change of tempo. High quality record through and through.
This was a banger. Who doesnt love a little zz
The bearded boys surprised me here. I actually quite enjoyed this listen. Simone but groovy and not yet masochistic and misogynist. “La Grange” is an all-timer. And some other good swampy blues songs along for the ride.
pretty gas
Despite having one of the laziest album covers of all time, the third album from ZZ Top catapulted them into the mainstream thanks to "La Grange," which has been a staple of classic rock radio ever since. Good ol' Texas blues rock.
Thought that the instrumental was top notch and did a good job and keeping the sound they were trying to get across consistent throughout the album. Production was different, although I thought that it fit their sound nicely. Move Me on Down the Line and La Grange stood out
I have fond memories of my dad playing Eliminator in the car when I was a kid, but this is my first real exposure to 1970s ZZ Top. There's nothing here as flat-out fun as Gimme All Your Lovin' or Sharp Dressed Man, but as blues boogie rock goes, I liked this a lot.
fun!
Better than Eliminator!
ZZ Top aren’t new to me, I own a copy of _Eliminator_ on vinyl, but I can’t claim to have a well rounded knowledge of them. I did already know two tracks from this though, _ La Grange_ from Guitar Hero 3 and _Precious and Grace_ which QOTSA covered as a bonus track on their album _Lullabies to Paralyse_. It seems like an album that would grow on me and their bluesiness is certainly a sound that vibes with me. I enjoyed this and would definitely come back to it.
Hot, Blue and Righteous is a skip. The other nine tracks? I'm vibing. Hard rock is definitely one of my preferred genres, and ZZ Top even make that Southern white guy blues rock thing enjoyable for me.
So pleasantly surprised by this. Way surpassed my expectations. To be honest I knew nothing about them apart from one song (La Grange, coincidentally on this album - cheers Guitar Hero), and that they have a lot of hair. I was immediately hooked by the first track, and thoroughly enjoyed listening until the end. I have some, possibly insane, takes about this album: I reckon this record is more influential than it appears, there’s just way too much on this album that connects directly to more modern stuff for it to just be a coincidence. There’s a real funk and groove to the whole thing. At some points I heard whispers of Red Hot Chili Peppers, vocally Billy Gibbons (thanks Google), falls somewhere between the gravelly baritone Eddie Vedder and the same sort of laid-back vibe of Anthony Kiedis. I felt the whole thing was effortlessly cool. Standout track for me was "Precious and Grace", just thought it was really fun. The beginning of "Move Me on Down the Line" came on and it sounded like Reptilia. Surely it can't just be me, but maybe ZZ Top is just way more influential than I thought, I feel like you can hear its DNA everywhere - but that might be because it's so old and everything's been done already.
This album is like driving from north out of Los Angeles on a family road trip. Foolishly, you underestimate how much fuel your SUV guzzles, and you see no sign of a petrol station for miles. Finally you reach one, but it is a pretty deserted looking truck stop with an adjoining diner called “Bubba’s Food Hut”. You count a row of about 12 or 13 Harley Davidsons parked up outside. “Let’s just get petrol and get right back on the road” you say to your family. Showing minimal appreciation for your nervousness, your 8 year old daughter complains that she needs the bathroom and is hungry. You say your prayers and venture into the diner. Expecting to be met by a group of aggressive thugs, instead you see a bunch of fellers in their 60s. They smile and nod their heads at you as you take your seat. You go to the counter to place your order, but the waitress calls you honey, and tells you to sit down because she’ll be right over. One of the old boys walks by you as you had back to your table and says hello. You smile politely, still not overly keen to get stuck in conversation, as these guys look like they’ve done some shit in their time. The man realises you’re from out of town, and excitedly asks the waitress to get a round of root beers for your family, on him. He also asks if there are any of those colouring in sheets for your children. You enjoy your root beers and order meals (made up of brisket, ribs, wings, mac and cheese and absolutely no vegetables), and end up having a great time. Several of the other bikers make conversation throughout the meal, and wish you a happy holiday.
A very accessible ZZ Top album.
Ratings: 5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background Good fun, love the southern boogie rock. Breezy album that never wears out its welcome.
A very successful boogie rock album, and for good reason. From the first track you're hit with a great jam that seamlessly transitions into the second track, a great mastering decision. Lots of fun blues and southern tracks throughout, and La Grange speaks for itself.
Everybody loves the Reverend Billy Gibbons, and this is a major reason why. Texas Roadhouse style colors in juicy, deep-pocketed grooves. A little smattering of smoke and whiskeyed harmonies gives this album the perfect char to the seared outside.
great rocking album!! Beers, bourbon and BBQ, yeehaa!
Enjoyed this one, good fun
I'm not supposed to like ZZ Top or Lynyrd Skynyrd! What is happening??
mmmm how-how-how!
ZZ Top's Third record. Released the day I was born. Classic records gonna classic. And this is an undeniable classic record just for the opening 1-2-3 punch. Add in La Grange and you have this record in a nutshell. The rest of the songs are good, if a bit generic, Texas blues.
This is really good! A few weaker tracks sprinkled among some absolute classics. A four.
Great 70's classic rock. Driving beat and a mean guitar.
426/1001
ZZ Top songs have such a distinct and recognizable guitar tone that you can tell it is them straight away. La Grange is iconic and also make me want to call GEICO. Sheik had some delicious guitar licks, Tom Morello-esque. Haven't listened to much Blues music before, but I'm thinking I need to explore this genre more. I enjoyed this album more than I expected I would! Favorites: - Precious and Grace - La Grange - Sheik
I’m thinking this style of blues-rock is up my alley. Having only heard La Grange before, this album was a pleasant surprise and super easy to listen through a few times while working. Time to grow out my ZZ Top beard, I guess. Favorite tracks: - Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers - La Grange - Sheik
I really like the vibe!!! It' s rock i guess and i love the guitarrr!!! This is what makes the songs amazing. Vocals are pleasant to hear and harmonies also goated. It feels so naturally made and played, so its easy to listen like a background. I like it!! i'm gonna come back to it for sure!!!
I love La Grange and Have You Heard?
Good ol' country rock. La Grange is a famous classic
Some of the best southern blues-rock you’ll ever hear
Wow. Really enjoyed this
honestly i was pleasantly surprised i REALLY enjoyed this album. i also think the live version of la grange is better than the studio version!
Surprisingly good. I thought this would be almost country southern rock. But I was amused with this album. I am going to listen to it again soon,
Killer blues rock! There are some heavy, hard-rocking moments that helped me see the connection between blues and heavy metal. There are also some wonderful, soulful tracks too. ZZ Top has a nice range. They do some sweet jamming on this too! Excellent music aside, this has to be one of the worst album covers I’ve seen on the list so far. That shade of green doesn’t fit the music. There’s a weird negative space above the title. None of the photos are good photos. And the font is kinda cheesy. It’s always funny to me when a band with this much talent has no taste in album art 😂
A great album from a great band. ZZ Top makes some of the top of the line blues rock, and "La Grange" is one of the top songs of all time in that genre. I dig them a lot, and while I feel like they don't have a super extensive catalogue of big hits, when they do give you one of the standout songs you can't help but groove to it, feel it, and love it. I will say that if this record is on this list, then I would hope that "Eliminator" is on the list as well, which has more standout tracks than the singular "La Grange", even though that song is probably their best one. My pop-up video fun fact about this band is that guitarist Billy Gibbons was one of Jimi Hendrix's favorite guitarists. Imagine that?
'Well, I'll be riding on the bus 'til I Cadillac.' These tres hombres from Tejas greatly shorten the formulas given to them by the Allman Bros, but they're cut from the same cloth. Like Duane, Billy Gibbons plays an effortless lead slide, and like their Jacksonville brethren, ZZ configure honky-tonk lore into appropriate blues and boogie programs. But unlike the Bros, whom I adore, the three guys appreciate economy and demand of their listeners a sense of humor: 'A-haw, haw, haw, haw / A-haw, haw, haw, haw.' They also wear their influences on their sleeve, sounding like the Stones on 'Move Me on Down the Line' and The Meters on the unexpectedly funky 'Sheik.' I'm not moved to play this any chance I get, but its pleasures are hardy and real.
Hella fun.
Listened to this on the way to a campground to hang with some old college buddies. Perfect! Great record to get ready for some beers, whiskey, cigars, and good time around a fire.
Not really the ZZ Top I think of. I think of more the 80s Eliminator era. This was 70s blues rock. Not a bad listen.
Bluesy and dirty. I enjoyed it.
Great album
good southern
Fun blues album.
Круто 😎
There are 3 types of people in the world. Women, children, and those with beards.
Love these guys
Fantastic blues rock. Set the standard for all the AOR dudes that followed. What's fascinating about this record for me is that you can hear hints of what ZZ would become in the 80s, but this is still fundamentally grounded in 1970s tones.
Quite liked this! Dirty blues, nothing too innovative but it sounds good, I probably love it more than their later more commercial wok (although that was fun too). A 3-4 but I'm in a good mood.
Great album all around
Слушал с удовольствием.
I have a soft spot for ZZ Top. I think I like them most when they got all cheeseball in the 80's, but this album is also pretty good, and has plenty of the Billy Gibbons guitar playing that I love. 3.7/5
Was a fun vibe
I like there vibe, all the way through, a good tough/cool guy rock sound. No slow love songs, just groovin rock start to finish
I bet this is great in a stadium. Just fun all around.
I started getting La Grange in the algorithm after listening to other 70s albums in the list. I haven't heard anything else before. The first 2 tracks are great, then it drags to La Grange, which is also great. It's a solid 4, but too much filler to be higher.
It was surprisingly good. I never thought I would like ZZ Top, but I really enjoyed this album.
Pretty solid. Southern rock in its goodness - guitar riffs - Rock - Yea man. 3-4 stars
Rock on brother!
I liked it very much!!
4/5
Do I detect some soul vibes
I remember back in 1961, Houmous & Chutney were perceived to be at the peak of their powers (no one knew that peak would last 60 years). ZZ Top were supporting and up and coming. They lost a shave poker game with Len Houmous, they had to shave off their beards right before their gig. Luckily they managed to forge some beards out of a mop head and some spiders webs. They never played Len at cards again. 3.5 4/10 Master of Sparks
7/10 absolutely fun. 7-29-2025
I always enjoy hearing ZZ Top whenever they pop up in the podcasts I listen to, but I'd never listened to a full album of theirs. I liked this a lot. I could listen to them all day. Fun, energetic, clean, with a great rock sound and great guitar licks.
Would be 5 stars if there was a little more beard
Rock so bluesy you can smell the cigarette smoke and stale beer.
7.5/10
Cover 5 Great music basically about nothing or whatever just tunes to bop to.
Just great rock n roll from this Texas power trio. 4/5 #123
I was mostly bored with the studio tracks, but really engaged with the live tracks. They have much more energy and seem to be having a lot more fun in live performances. Hey, but that's what it is really about . . . Right? So my score is about the live tracks. They found that energy for studio recordings later. Certainly by the time they recorded Eliminator.
Great album - very typical of that pre-Eliminator ZZ Top sound. Just funky, mostly up tempo blues boogie. Also, typical, it's a ZZ Top album with some killer songs and a few that aren't as great. Still overall, it's a great one.
It’s a great album. There are licks for days. The sound is very compressed and the guitar tones are incredible. It’s very much what it is. Every song sounds pretty similar which I think is just a function of how specific and unique their sound is. Not a criticism but I do get a bit tired of it after a while. The vocals are absurd.
Classic rock as classic rock gets... 3.5
The hits absolutely rock, the rest of the album is really solid texas 70's rock, solid listen but only the hits stand out.
I know this one! Great record. A few non standout tracks in the middle bring it down slightly.
I've spent most of the generator complaining that I don't really like blues but I like ZZ Top a fair bit, I think because they take the blues and give it a bit of character. It's perfect beer drinking music Billy Gibbons has the uncanny ability to make anything he plays sound easy, and I love his voice too There are a couple tracks I'm not keen on but there's nothing I dislike. Just a good time Highlights: Precious and Grace, Master of Sparks, Waitin' for the Bus
Helt ok. Gikk tom for strøm på hodetelefonan før æ rakk å høre hele, men det hørtes ut som forventa og gøy å høre «La Grange» i en ikke-mashupversjon.
Somehow all I know of ZZ Top is that they're just three dudes with long beards now. It never occurred to me to check out their catalogue. Why don't they turn up on any Spotify radio stations?? I listen to plenty of dusty folksy legit country rock stuff. Kinda bums me out that the bangers from this album make me think of commercials.. but ZZ Top is probably cool with it cuz money. I feel like these dudes aren't trying to prove anything to anyone. They're cool. Doin their thing. Being three hombres. Had fun!
Great blues rock with some gems.
Classic blues rock album from one of my favorite bands. It's raw and southern and has so many good riffs and good grooves.
Nice
Blues guitar
i like
Classic ZZ!
You just can't argue with that nasty riff on La Grange. It just DEMANDS to be turned up to the point of hearing damage. I'm always amazed at how much sound a good three piece band can put out ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Great! Blues rock, guitar heavy, very Stevie Ray Vaughan. Gritty, dirty sound, chewy. Don’t like Hot, Blue, and Righteous La Grange is awesome
Enjoyable! Grungy, grimey, incredible roadtrip music of the American countryside. It doesn’t overstay its welcome and doesn’t try anything too be anything it’s not. Not something I’d revisit but I liked it.
straight fire
A classic for a reason
I liked this more than Eliminator; maybe I was just in the mood for some blues rock today. La Grange is solid, I also liked Master of Sparks a lot. Sneaks into a four, I think
Un Gran disco , siempre un tanto eclipsado por la canción the grunge , un verdadero temazo eterno he incombustible. Un Disco aconsejable y disfrutable en su totalidad .
Good album. Some rough edges but maybe that’s the charm.
Solid album. Lots of known songs. Always loved the bluesy ZZ Top
Waitin' for the Bus - 4/5 Jesus Just Left Chicago - 3/5 Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers - 4/5 Master of Sparks - 5/5 Hot, Blue and Righteous - 4/5 Move Me On Down the Line - 3/5 Precious and Grace - 5/5 La Grange - 5/5 Shiek - 4/5 Have You Heard? - 3/5 Average score: 4/5
Good
I mean, I like ZZ Top as much as the next guy. La Grange fucking slaps and those beards were hot 🔥🧔🏼♂️, but there had better be a god damn Iron Maiden album down the road if you got room for TWO fucking spots for ZZ Top on this list.
Actually sounds soulful and not just cookie cutter Texas blues riffs and cheesy double entendres. Surprisingly good.
I wish all ZZ Top was 70s ZZ Top!
This was very solid. There was a dirtiness to this record, raw and almost grungy. La Grange is a timeless banger and the rest of the album doesn’t quite reach that high but it’s still solid
What's not to like?
great blues rock record - classic ZZ Top. As always Billy Gibbons’ guitar playing and vocals are masterful - truly one of the best blues guitar players to ever live
Back and forth between a 3 and 4, there are way better blues albums and way better rock albums, I like it but not sure I love it. La Grange is of course amazing, not sure on the whole album, may take some reflection. I think I'm going to give it a 4, I think musically I love it but I just don't love the vocals on a lot of the songs.
ZZ Top is one of those bands I've been aware of for a very long time, but where I've only listened to maybe a few tracks and never sought out. If someone had asked me to guess what an album of theirs sounded like I wouldn't have guessed this but rather something harder. I've enjoyed my time with the album, it's pretty nice driving music Standouts Waitin' for the Bus La Grange 4/5
The sound of dad rock, and guitar hero!
Let down your beard, Rapunzzel.
Had I heard this album before I heard Eliminator I would have been a huge ZZ Top fan. It was years before I knew the songs on this album were done by the same band that did “Legs”. I have never heard move it on down the line before today. Great song.
Pure electronic Texas blues. Great stuff, always top notch whenever I listen. 3.5/5
That was so much better than I thought it would be tbh
Solid Bluesrock
Boogie-rock classic
Overall: 7/10 I prefer this early bluesy side of ZZ Top to their later stuff. The solos are so much fun to listen to. There really isn't much to complain about, I just had a good time with it. Fav Song: La Grange Least Fav Song: Move Me On Down the Line
Didn't blow my hair back or anything, but a solid southern blues rock entry. 4/5 Highlights: Jesus Just Left Chicago La Grange
Fun album, 70s hard rock. Favorite track: La Grange other picks: sheik, waiting for the bus, jesus just left chicago
One of the greatest bar bands around. Everything’s bigger in Texas including the sound these tres hombres make.
meanwhile this is cool as all hell
beer drinkers and hell raisers is right
Strong album, and a solid album. But 4 of the songs really stand out and there are a few mediocre tracks, keeping this one at the four star level. ZZ has a sound of their own and it’s pretty great.
Who knew Just three guys with basically three chords could kick it.
Alright this kicks ass, and I really wasn't a fan of 'Eliminator'. I wonder whether that was a "bad headspace" thing, or if this album is just executed better. Probably a bit of both - in general this album feels less eagerly bombastic and a lot more slick, sort of spacious and psychedelic as well, especially with a song like 'Jesus Just Left Chicago', all while still packing all the punch that I was hoping for out of a ZZ Top record. I mean this oversaturated white blues-rocker music was everywhere in the early '70, but the execution here is something to behold and it makes the record stand out in a way. Not every song hits, but in general the riffs are immaculate - just listen to 'Master of Sparks' and that almost bluesy take on an Iron Maiden-esque interlude on 'Precious and Grace'. 'La Grange' is THE ZZ Top song, with iconic albeit exaggerated vocals kicking it off and this squealing guitar sending it off, and the entire song is backed by this simple yet addictive riff. I mean if punchy was a song it'd be this one. Never really thought I could enjoy ZZ Top as much as I just did, but goddamnit this scratched an itch I didn't even know I had.
Kovaa jykevää rokkia. Pistää pään nyökkymään. En tiiä voiko tästä paljon muuta sanoa. On ihan monipuolista, kaikki kappaleet ei ole niin suoraviivaista menoa, vaan on chillimpiäkin kappaleita. Parhaat: La Grange, Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers, Hot, Blue and Righteous
Nice
Punchy and fun, liked it more than reloader for sure
Growing up in the 80's and 90's, my impression of ZZ Top was formed by hearing the radio edits of Eliminator/Afterburner-era songs on the radio. So when people described ZZ Top as a "great guitar band" I kind of always rolled my eyes. Then, I listened to their early catalog, and realized they really are a great guitar band. Is it anything crazy unique or special? No. But, it doesn't try to be anything it's not - just good, straight up southern rock and roll. And they are one of the better bands to do it.
Ja, das isch scho ächli här. Ich liebe ZZ Top. Ä Band, wo mich scho sit de Jugendziit begleitet Sit de Dusty Hill leider nüme debii isch, sinds nüme gliich guet.
waiting for the bus hani seeehr standard bluesrock gfunde. jesus just left chicago isch chli spezieller mit de dünne gitarre und au de huere vezerrte. geeeils solo billy. jaa beer drinkers i ha gern bier. bi master of sparks merkt mer wie troche das album gmischt isch, ide laut.de review heissts das machis ziitlos und findi stimmt. find de song jetz nöd suuper. hot blue and righteous hübschi 6/8 ballade. move me down the line isch okaay, ich chelc wie das album erfolgriich gsi isch domols es isch würklich alles huere tight. precious and grace au seehr troche direkt und tight. la grange isch so geil, es baut so uf de shuffle isch sooo suber und s riff isch soooo hard. uf s erste solo moduliere au geil. he sheik isch chli whack von text her?? sehr arsch?? isches funny?
hahaha daa sinds nachli jünger gsi hä finds bis jz sehr geil bluesig beer drinkers and hellraisers isch en riese titel hahahah hot blue ans righteous isch seehr schön! ahh la grange kenntmer! mami hemmer das album hüfig glost? have you heard RIESIIG, erinneret mich chli ah ccr han jz nöd soo vill ufgschriebe aber für am morge suuuper album. schrammt knapp amene 5i verbii chli blues, chli catchy, mengisch schneller, mengisch langsam und es hammer albumcover
Great bluesy fun. 3 full stars alone jist for La Grange which is one of the greatest guitar riffs of all time. The Slower songs aren't as good though.
Wow! I was pleasantly surprised by how good this album was. I am familiar with their later more ‘commercial’ output but this is much earthier and real sounding. I recognised The Grange but hadn’t realised it was these boys! Great stuff.
I liked this more than I thought I would. This is just good, clean TEXAS rock and roll. Need to listen to listen to them in a dancehall with a few beers.
45 minutes of hard driving Blues infused Texas rock that never overstays its welcome, good to great as this genre would be added on to by others, but you can't dispute its groove.
ZZ Top feels like the type of music I should be riding a motorcycle in a leather jacket too. They have the more punk version of (dare I say?) Skynyrd in terms of vocal similarities and bass rips. I did enjoy this album though and it introduced other sides of this band I had never heard before.
7/10 I enjoyed Songs added to playlist: - waiting for the bus - jesus left chicago - move me on down the line - sheik
This album is awesome blues rock from start to finish!
Cool
I’m pleasantly surprised by how much I didn’t hate this. In fact, I liked it quite a bit. The mumbly singing and the lead guitar taking turns like they’re having a conversation is what did it for me. Good bluesy sound that separates them from other boomer rock of the time (like Deep Purple) while also remaining a pleasant listen unlike other Blues Rock albums at the time (Rolling Stones). It had enough moments to put it in the 4 range
7,30
Great groovy album with some variety.
A fun bluesy time
Great guitar and blues. Not every song is amazing, but they all evoke something.
Tres Hombres is ZZ Top hitting that sweet spot where blues, rock, and a little bit of Texas swagger all collide perfectly. The riffs are huge but still groove effortlessly, with Billy Gibbons' guitar tone sounding as thick and dirty as a summer dust storm. Songs like La Grange and Waitin’ for the Bus/Jesus Just Left Chicago are stone-cold classics, mixing boogie rhythms with a raw, unpolished energy that keeps the whole album lively from start to finish. There’s a looseness to Tres Hombres that makes it so fun to listen to it never feels like it’s trying too hard. It’s straight-ahead, beer-soaked blues rock played with just the right amount of grit and flair. Maybe not revolutionary, but it’s rock solid and full of life, and it shows ZZ Top doing exactly what they do best.
A bit easy, would have gotten 3 if not La Grange was on it.
Tons of classics on this one. I forgot about Waitin' for the Bus and Jesus Just Left Chicago.
love the bluesy vibes
I really enjoyed these guys.
Tres Bad Ass Hombres!! These guys created a whole ass sound!
Classic ZZ! Just great southern guitar rock!
Say what you like about them, but they can sure put down some fuzzy Blues rock like nobody else - a great listen, even when you can barely understand what they're singing!
THIS is prime ZZ Top. LaGrange, Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers, Jesus Just Left Chicago, Waiting on the Bus --- all prime slabs of Texas Power Blues/Boogie.
I was born in Texas, and this music connects me back to that raw rock/bluesy sound that feels right at home. Impressive guitars and rhythm across the album, but also somewhat homogeneous and lacking range. The standout is the studio version of La Grange - just tight, syncopated heat that sets a mood.
Seminal blues rock.
Thank God for ZZ Top. I have to save five stars for their album Rio Grande (which better be in here somewhere).
Solid album.
excellent stuff . 4
Enjoyed this a lot. Not familiar with many of the tracks beforehand but the whole album is locked into a really solid groove
Just as good as the first ZZ top album, great guitar, vocals, drums. I’d say eliminator was a bit better but that opinion might change if I listened to both albums again.
Enjoyable
Fun boogie rock album with a lot of interesting songs.
Well I was pleasantly surprised at this and I knew several of these songs already. Pretty solid 70's rock and I shouldn't have dismissed them by not listening before. Overall a solid 4 star album for me.
This is a near perfect album. Pre-MTV ZZ Top is amazing Texas Blues. 4 stars.
Absolutely classic rock vibes. Driving to class to this album during a storm goes so hard. Brings me back to a time when my anxiety and blood pressure was a "normal" level.
Mmmmm, the sweet sounds of the desert. If you're out here looking for some flashy playing, over-the-top singing, and theatrics, you've come to the wrong place. Tres Hombres is a laid-back odyssey and a homage to the desolate American highways, featuring simple rhythmic playing and alternating sparse arrangements, like on " Hot Blue " and " Righteous, " or some heavy, rousing tracks like the first three songs. Side A blows it out of the water with the infectious compositions, while the other side is a bit more meandering (even if it has La Grange). Still, a really great album. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
good Album. of course La Grange is the best song
Fun stompy clap Folk-Rock. Not the most complex just pure ZZTop enjoyment, nothing more, nothing less.
8.5/10
Ptn c'est bien
Adored
C'est bon
Old guys in a garage jamming out. Awesome bluesy boogie rock solos. Theres a song named Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers. 'Nuff said.
Great blues album. I enjoyed it
Blues funk hard rock soul and whatever LaGrange is. The best ZZTop album! Billy Gibbons has few peers.
Good stuff
Good, little album. Surprisingly melodious.
Perfect for sitting in the park in the sunshine reading and having a solo picnic lunch. Some of the songs felt a tad samey, but I like them. Didn't realise how similar CCR and ZZ Top feel.
Great blues playing. None of the hits I know by them but pretty consistent. Enjoyed it
hah this is just rock + blues + funk nothing too crazy...
Solid and La Grange is an all time classic.
I listened to this while doing math homework and it made me know math! It's a great album, felt a bit too triggeringly American at times, but besides that it's just great and raw. La Grange made me lose my mind!!
Always thought these tres hombres’s music was more in line with AC/DC than it was with Hendrix. I’m still hesitant about their 80s stuff, but I’m certainly much more of a fan after this album. Good stuff. Muy bueno
A-how-how-how-howww! I've listened to Tres Hombres before -- partially because my dad plays it once in a blue moon and partially because it was in some Amoeba "What's in my bag" video (Dave Grohl maybe? Prolly nah. Also shout out to Jason Mantzoukas for putting me on to "Painted Shut" by Hop Along. Very good.) It was good. I'd listen again. I found it much more remarkable than Eliminator (probably because i listened harder).But nice country rock music stuff!
Not as fun as Eliminator but it is what it is. Rock our with your beards out.
Tres Hombres is bluesy and rocky and wonderful. There is some real meat on this album.
Really enjoyed this album Too often forget that behind the loud cars, beards, and fuzzy-spinny guitars lies a really talented band. Solid listen end to end (even la grange which I often skip on the radio) Will have to dig into more of their back catalogue
They still sound great. A sound as iconic as their beards.
Strong 4
Rating: 3.5/5 (Rounded to 4) Genres: Southern Rock and Blues Favorite Track: La Grange Honorable Mentions: Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers, Master of Sparks, Waitin' for the Bus A zany, unapologetic, dad rock album with some lyrics that's as raw and dirty as the guitar. A fun listen, makes me want to ride into the sunset on a highway. Especially loved the transition between Waitin' for the Bus and Jesus Just Left Chicago :)
The bluesy guitar and bass is incredibly interesting to listen to. The vocals and lyrics are less consistently interesting, but there are some stand outs. The middle trio of Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers, Master of Sparks, and Hot, Blue and Righteous is quite a compelling sequence.
Very 70s, very Forest Gump. Thoroughly enjoyed for when you’re in a rock mood.
great album. would definitely listen to it again. Great instrumental, nice vocals, easy to listen too, feel good. last song on the album (have you heard) instant outro song. greatly composed
surprised at how much i enjoyed this album. added a few songs to my library, listened beginning to end and never considered turning it off. simple, catchy, easy to listen to.
Really surprised how much I enjoyed the album. Very bluesy but a bit faster and heavier. Jesus Just Left Chicago was my favorite but entire album was enjoyable. Will listen again.
One of the first albums I bought as a teenager. It still slaps hard. Not an every day kind of listen for me these days but I still it consider it as really good and is my favorite ZZ Top album.
This was a fun romp, this feels like it is a foundational album for future rock and even metal. There’s some nice heavy riffs in here that allude to the parallel sound of black sabbath or the later on High on Fire. This album will stay in rotation when I want something fun and immediate. Tasting: 4.25
Pretty solid album, definitely influential, just not my favorite genre of rock
4 Ah-haw-haw-haw's out of 5.
Nice
Good record but not great. I do enjoy listening to this one but it never reaches greatness. ZZ Top really is a unique band with a unique sound that's hard to find anywhere else.
A very solid and fun ZZ Top album. They always bring a rocking good time. Always enjoyed them as a kid, but never spent much time on their pre-80s stuff. So this was a cool album to get acquainted with.
😎😎😎
Muy buen disco. Temas de rock-rock, rock-blues y rock-country, con distintas voces. Top.
Nice blues-laced rock & roll. Great first album.
Bluesy
This one is not complicated. Blues, Beards, Beer, Texas, nice girls-ah. Steeped with classics. The riff from LaGrange will never grow tiresome.
It’s been a long time since I gave these dudes a full listen through. And although I came into the ZZ Top fold around the El Loco album, this one was a real cool listen. This is more than just 12-bar snooze blues. This is riff-driven dynamic stuff with some pepper on it. Pretty timeless.
Blue, brews, bruises and beards. Never rocked a full album from these dudes before, but this was solid.
God damnit this is great. The consistency and quality of ever song is amazing. It just flows together. Never gave these long bearded rocking motha fuckas enough of my time. Respect. ✊
I was at a 4* based on the opening riff alone. This hombre me gusto mucho. 4/5
What a pleasant surprise! I only knew the post-MTV ZZ Top music, which I find very generic. This album is MUCH bluesier than the one in this list from the 80s, which I just had assigned to me earlier this week. This band really went backwards musically over time. They became a shtick.
Very fun and engaging. Got exactly what I expected in some quality southern blues rock, but a surprising amount of musical diversity from a blues album, which came across excellently. Wasn't blown away by anything, but very enjoyable overall. Top tracks: Waitin' for the Bus, LA Grange, Sheik
Great ZZ Top!
буквально HELL YEAH альбом, чилловый такой на самом деле
a really funky and jaunty blues album. compared to other blues albums, this one is a lot more energetic which makes it stand out a bit. i feel like if steely dan write blues music, it would probably sound like this. some tracks are better than others, but this album is a nice little gem in between all the more well-known albums... a side dish for an appetizer, to put it into perspective.
Great album for a Saturday afternoon listening session. Whiskey on one hand and a nice cigar on the other.
I liked this a lot more than the other (later) ZZ Top album we had on this list. It reminded me of Thin Lizzy and Stevie Ray Vaughan and stuff. It started well, then the middle got a bit boring, but then there came a song I know very well as Queens of the Stoneage covered it! Think I might come back to this album.
Not a huge fan of ZZ Top but this is a good album. 4 stars or B+.
Not the best musicians but fun beats, blues, and lyrics. Unique sound.
Solid rock and roll. Doesn't demand a lot of attention but is fun throughout.
Really enjoyed this, knew a few of the songs going in. Set me up to find a big riff playlist after I had Precious and Grace stuck in my head for a few hours.
Clean and direct sound production. A treat to listen to especially if you're on a blues/rock twinge. Their voices with that closed room reverb give a distinct impression of being in a old, smokey country bar in the middle of nowhere Texas.
Blues / Bluesrock
A couple of surprising songs on here, including Hot, Blue and Righteous. The rest is exactly what I think when I think of ZZ Top.
Really enjoyable album with some wicked riffs and motifs. La Grange is a fantastic song, it just bounces around my ears so pleasurably. The album itself is really well contructed, everything fits into a beautiful flow to create a Houston-Blues masterpiece. Heaps of fun and nice to listen to in the morning with my coffee whislt getting the work day ready, and I can imagine it would be just as nice in the background of a catch up with mates, alcoholic beverages in hand. I like!
I had a lot of fun listening to this! 3.5 rounded up
I was mind boggled to see this was an early 70's album. I thought it was like a mid 80's thing. That matters because not only was it ahead of its time in a lot of ways, but it never really aged, even in 2025! This IS a fantastic album no doubt. Really what an epic band this was! I can easily see adding this to a party night playlist and seeing people ask "what song is THAT?" and being blown away that it is a song from 1973! Yeah, this is absolutely worthy the 1001 album playlist!
Nobody does rock minimalism as perfectly as this.
I was dreading La Grange coming up on the latter half of the album since I've over played it so much over the years - but once it hit it was still a jam. Solid Texas blues. "Hot, Blue and Righteous" was the stand out song this listen through.
Every time I hear this record, I want to hop in the car and start hauling ass down the highway.
Solid album...classic texas blues style. La Grange is such a classic. I would say it's a little bit boring as it's the same stuff over and over, but that ZZ Top sound is so iconic, that it's really fine.
Excellent tunes from the OG beard bros
Really cool sound.
Just groovy goodness
For this review, I will not consider the live tracks added to the expanded edition from 2006. Well, I’ve already heard the other ZZ Top album on this list Eliminator two months ago, and Tres Hombres is easily the better of the two. This decision boils down to the live percussion, more laid-back compositions that maintain emphasis on the guitar riffs, and less embarrassing songwriting. This album is straightforward Texas blues rock affair, and sticks in that lane without much deviation. If you’ve heard the single “La Grange” before, then you have a good idea what this album sounds like. It’s not mind blowing, but it’s efficient in its execution, from the one-two punch of “Waitin’ for the Bus” and “Jesus Just Left Chicago”, into cuts like “Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers”, “Master of Sparks”, “Precious and Grace”, and “Move Me On Down the Line”. Tres Hombres is an overall fun album that doesn’t waste time. Give it a listen.
I enjoyed this and would like to listen again at some point!
A good album. Everything you want from ZZ Top. Most of the emphasis is put on the instrumentals. Good times.
smells like cigarettes, pool tables, and awesomeness!
like it
Pretty cool album. Had more to it than just the biggest hits. 4/5
Very fun zztop
Love me som ZZ!
Rock on La Grange
The version I listened to had three live bonus songs at the end. These were nice but I preferred the sound quality of the ten studio recorded songs. Classic rock from the 70s.