Reviews (page 5 of 14)
Pronounced Zed Zed Top in the UK 🎩🎩
(74/100)
Tagged as "hard rock". Misleading. This is regular boring rock.
Pretty good, but not special. Fun and easy tunes to get into
Mostly not for me, but at least La Grange kinda slaps
It's perfect for a walk
Total nostalgia. Thought Eliminator was their only one with big bangers.
I thought I might enjoy this, however I didn’t…….
Perfect for you if you love guitar solos and naming US States so actually a pretty good fit for me.
I’ve always liked but don’t love La Grange. Wasn’t familiar with anything else here, which is all fine but not exciting
good as stardew valley bgm when i want to roleplay as a grumpy redneck
Bored shitless.
Ugh, southern rock. One of my least favourite genres thanks to this list. Yup maybe not as bad as the other one. Strong dislike the whole thing. 2 Heard before? No Owned: No: 39/157 (25%) Will I get? No
so so boring and all the songs sounds the same
Not my music, good listening tho, af least there's some variation in the album
Decent blues rock, it's got "La Grange" on it. Probably won't listen to it again but I didn't mind it while it was on. Score: C
Early blues rock album by a legendary band.
mid, have it on vinyl record tho lol
Didn’t get to listen to it maybe next time
Classic blues album, La Grange is a staple.
اغاني تفحيططط أبي اسمعهم بسيارتي
Enjoyable
Hmmm not for me
I can see why the only thing most people know about this band is that they wear long beards.
Great riffs and vibes. Makes me want to hang out at a shitty dive bar and drink some cheap beer.
not unlistenable but just got my genre. the slower songs were my favorite. saved: hot blue and righteous, have you heard?
Not bad, but very generic riff-based rock; the transitions between songs were so seamless (especially from "Waitin' for the Bus" to "Jesus Just Left Chicago") that I thought some of the songs were just one big extended song from the previous track
19. waiting for it to be over
Weltklasse.
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.
Almost perfect
- kyl seiskytluvulla on vaan osattu tehhä rentsii hyvää rokkimussiikkia
Meh pretty good
Muy buenas vibras
Just a huge amount of fun. Love it. 4.5* rated down.
ZZ Top can strum a great guitar sound but the songs themselves are not memorable aside from one!
I don't ride a motorcycle and my beard isn't long enough. Funny enough, of all their hits, I do not like La Grange
Fairly forgettable heavy blues rock. Waiting for the Bus and LaGrange are the highlights. I’m sure many people feel this is the “real” ZZ Top, as opposed to the MTV darlings they became in the early 80s, but those 80s songs were way catchier (hence all the hits).
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.
Has some mainstream classics here and they are deft at rifting their nuts off. Main issue I have is its a collection of nice rifts and not much to lift that out of the individual brilliance. Not to say there is no merit here as thats wrong. Contextually they smashed a hole in a genre here in the early 70s. A very unique style and that blues undertone. I could hear bands like Stone Roses in here with "Sheik" with their fairly epic metronome polished guitair sound. I dont want to bring context and impact to music industry into it so here be my score.
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.
Aside from “La Grange” (and, to a lesser extent, “Have You Heard?”), I don’t really connect with the songs. But ZZ Top’s sound—it’s a very particular brand of blues, y’know—is welcome. 3.5?
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
Ned wörkli mis, zu vell nor instrument, egitarre. Zu alt
One listen on the train in to work, gotta say that I enjoyed it. Would listen again.
Low 3 Was enjoying the production and cool cover, but its too samey
La grange is cool 🇺🇸🦅 MERICCCAAA
Yeaaaaa i drove to Mississippi and then i went to Californiaaaaa and i love my beer and smoking my beef brisket As repetitive as it is, it isn’t unbearable
The guitar tone is amazing but I dont think theres a lot of memorable material here. The middle is the best.
Decent album, blended into 1 song though.
Cool riffs and full sounds but nothing outside of La Grange that really stood out
That live show must have been absolutely electric. I'm mixed on this album, definitely some classics but there's a few songs I couldn't get much into.
Classic rock. It’s fine, bits of interesting blues and some great solos. Beer Drinkers and Hellraisers best song I was not familiar with. La Grange always epic
Fine
It just is.
Viril
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
Better than I was expecting. Exactly what I was expecting. Guitar driven, bluesy, not too bad.
6/10
ZZ Top is, well, ZZ Top. They are very recognizable, both in look and musical style. That music is guitar forward rock n rock.
El rock que hacen ya me gusta de base y el disco está guapo en general.
fun
Alterna-rocker kid me in 1986 would punch me in the face for saying it (I was no sharp dressed man), but I really like this ZZ Top record. It just has a feel, texture, vibe: thick, shuffling, bloozey, driving. The songs are nothing crazy but the way they play them--great.
Okay, interesting to hear the early version of ZZ Top. I knew only “La Grange.”
ZZ Top will never be known for sophistication, but who needs sophistication when you have killer riffs, catchy beats, and just good old 1970s Rock 'N' Roll singing? There is hardly a dull moment in this masterpiece. Estos tres hombres son geniales! Favorite Track: "Jesus Just Left Chicago".
7/10
perhaps fire...
When I picture “Masculine Rock,” this is what I envision. It was fun and explosive, and the song blended into one another quite well. Sheik blew me away, it stood out among the rest.
Chill classic rock album. I am sure that is has some historical significance, it's lost on me. My father listed to a lot of ZZ Top and I have a few of their vinyls but this one is just alright.
Got La Grange. Rest is sleeper. 3/5
Ah HOW HOW HOW HOWWWEE
I like the bluesy tracks, but would rather prefer a more cohesive sound across a whole album. This was all over the place.
Zztop playing this music please.
Pretty standard Southern blues rock. Some solid guitar playing and some great tunes, but nothing exceptional.
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
Swampy blues. Look at the difference in the number of listens between the big hit and everything else.
Three friends is a nice name for an album. i am going to go hang out with three of my friends now
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.
I feel like this is an album Randy Marsh would love. 3/5
Very solid 3.5 that I don’t mind bumping to a 4 because ZZ Top beards are iconic
I honestly thought it would be more interesting… it was just very… mid… and plain…
We get it, you have a motorcycle.
Fun record. I’ve always liked La Grange, but there are some other great tracks on here too.
0 songs added to my favorites. Would listen again if asked to.
ZZ Top are just so cool.
Bah c'est pas si mal ZZ Top
Really really enjoyed this one. An album where you don't really want to skip any songs is a good one to me. Definitely worth a listen or 5.
Rv
I'm not usually a fan of bluesy guitar-driven stuff, but this was pretty good. La Grange goes crazy, obviously.
nice grooves. it's funny to me that La Grange is pretty much the only one where they do the ZZ Top voice but it's the one everyone knows. Master of Sparks is my favorite
Rating: 5/10 Perfectly fine and listenable, and something I may never listen to in full again
Me listening to tres hombres: 🛌🛌🛌🛌😃🛌🛌🛌😃(live) I'm sure there's stuff to chew on here but not on my first and only listen 3.9/10
Has some ups, has some downs. Not that bad though. 7 Zed Zed Tops out of 10 Lizard Wizards
Not my genre, not my time. When reviewing these albums, I try to acknowledge the context with which it was released. I have found it becomes harder to appreciate the cultural significance of albums the older they are and you rely more on how the music makes you feel. I don't know much about blues or rock music yet to tell you how good I think this album is. La Grange is the only song I have heard and I must say it does get me charged hearing it. I think if I gave the album more of a listen, it would grow on me more. It's an overall tight production that I don't find hard to listen to but not one I am currently reaching to put on again. 6.3/10
Beards?
Before they were a record company product and were just a southern rock band having a grand time and making great music.
My God you're greasy.
As a child of the 80s, I feel a little dumb for not knowing that ZZ Top was around a good decade earlier. I did find this bluesy-rock to be more interesting than their big 80s anthems, but it's not really up my alley.
Outstanding rock
I'm more familiar with the later more rocking ZZ Top. I have to give them at least a 3 because the Afterburner tour was my very first rock concert at like 8 years old. I had no idea that they were the band for the song La Grange.
Let's go, H-town. This was way more tolerable than I was expecting, almost enjoyable. I like the lo-fi album cover, the relaxed drinking-at-the-bar vibe. It feels very authentic to me, like you're just hanging with a few dudes from Texas (not always a good thing). It does make me curious if their later stuff is a little more polished or even glammy. Realistically, though, I probably won't dig any further into their catalog. Glad I listened to this, though. Solid 3.49 stars. I would happily spend a week as one of these dudes hanging out in Houston in the early 70s at some dive bar. Probably on Westheimer next to a field full of cattle, in someplace that is now considered the "middle of the city," surrounded by parking lots and strip malls.
Over decades of listening to music, one thing I have definitively learned is that electric blues and blues rock are not my thing. As a child of the '80s, I only knew ZZ Top from the Eliminator era, and it wasn't until much later that I understood how far back they went (and that they're the ones who did that "how-how-how" song). Turns out I much prefer the stuff I saw on MTV, but the live version of "La Grange" is solid.
Another strong blues rock album, this time with a bit of a Texas twist. And beards. Long, flowing, beards. I feel you don't need to know anything about ZZ Top before hearing this album to know the guys who made it had some great facial hair. When Tres Hombres is strong, it's really strong. La Grange stands the test of time for a reason- it is a prime example of blues rock guitar done well. A few other tracks also showcase what it's all about. The remaining songs are just kinda there, though. They don't add a lot to make the album great all the way through. Even if they aren't bad, they're mostly forgettable. They also don't change up things too much, making it a tad bland as a whole. Despite the negatives, I rate this one as pretty good. I'd probably be more inclined to listen to the top songs on their own than sit back for the whole album again, though. Overall: 3.4/5
Just an entire groove of an album.
Great southern rock n roll. 5/5
ZZ Top's best, another southern rock staple that gets 4 stars for me. La grange and JJLC are always fun!
It’s just such boring rock music
yo i lowkey zoned out for this one
Genomgående stabilt album, 2.5 av 5
Really good expectations were lowww but it turned out really good
La Grange is always great!
Classic rock. Kjedelig og forglemmelig.
This was fine. Not amazing. Kind of sleepy at points, which you wouldn’t expect from ZZ Top. La Grange is an excellent song. A few at the front were decent. Nothing else really that great though. Pretty average.
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.
No private session used for Spotify. I have always liked ZZ Top's music, but never was really into it until I started playing the guitar again and started enjoying their music for that alone, this album is good for that and makes it fun listen.
very just ok tbh
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.
STRICTLY PENTATONIC!!! I like a ZZ Top as much as the next guy, but over the course of an album it's a little boring. As a kid this was all i wanted - fuzzy guitars, no bullshit (I hated songs with piano in them), never got the beard thing but generally was on board with ZZ Top. Now as a MATURE man I find it a little vapid. I'm a douche.
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
La Grange and Jesus Left Chicago are just so damn good. The rest is nice but never reaches the level of those two.
I don’t think this holds up. The playing is fine, and it’s not abjectly offensive, but not my thing
Love this one. Really solid classic rock, totally rooted in the blues, album that I hadn't heard before.
Personally this album hit different. It hits different because of the place it holds in my life as a child and because of my life at the time this album was suggested. It looms large in my childhood because there are radio hits here. Hits I always heard on what would become classic rock radio. But this is a full decade before they became an Mtv staple. Small point of comparison: there's an in studio performance of La Grange on the Howard Stern Show that you can find on YouTube. It's about the most badass thing I've ever seen. One thing that stood out was Frank Beard's drumming and how he plays the snare rim at the beginning. This is a swinging blues jam by nature. But Frank Beard REALLY swings on this track. It's one of those moments where you understand every member's contribution to the band. In early '24 I saw The Jim Irsay Band at the Shrine Auditorium in LA. Billy Gibbons was one of the featured guests of the All Star band. The drummer sitting in the band was none other than the legend Kenny Aronoff. The man is a percussion monster! An absolute god of modern drummers for hire. Somehow (?) he just didn't have that same swing as Frank Beard. Somehow, this drummer extraordinaire just couldn't quite get that same feel as OG ZZ Top. Don't get me wrong. He was in the pocket. He was just wearing a different pair of pants. My point is that the band's songwriting on this album (mostly Gibbons and Hill, but Beard on a few tracks as well) is so fucking strong and it shows. This band could bring it without gimmicks; without the (literal) fuzzy guitars, video vixens and tricked out hot rods. They had hooks and vibe all over this disc. The performances from every member were first rate. Very much worth the time to re listen. Probably doesn't deserve 5 stars but I also don't have any arguments against 5 stars
Classic
ZZ-Tops commercial breakthrough.
enjoyed and listened again but unlikely to relisten after this
Not that bad as far as boomer rock goes. Vocals annoying af. 4/10 Favourite track: N/A
Was ok, but a bit boring toward the end
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
Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers is going on the Bonnie’s queue
Me at 9y/o: Man, ZZ Top rocks! Me at 19y/o: Man, ZZ Top sucks. Me at 29y/o: Man, ZZ Top rocks! Quintessential beer drinking music. I’d do anything to grow a beard like that.
ZZ Top is one of my dad's favorite bands and I'll never forget what he told me about them. He said ""ZZ Top only has three songs that they do over and over again. Thankfully, those are three pretty good songs" One of those songs is La Grange.
4 estrelas . Não, 5 estrelas. Definiu o som da banda - e de certa forma , o som do Texas-Southern Rock
Somehow not mine. Dudes Music.
7/10
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 😂
Not a ZZ Top album I knew - enjoyed it
J'aime beaucoup la prod minimaliste. Mais album quand même ordinaire dans l'ensemble. La voix me gosse souvent.
Loved it. Definitely a great album, didnt want to skip a single one. Easy to listen to.
Sludgy as hell
This is another album that I don’t mind listening to, but I would probably pick other albums to listen to instead. I enjoyed the blues rock guitars and the growling vocals. I also like that they have an image and the fact that Billy Gibbon plays with a peso. Maybe 3.5 stars.
Didn't really get much out of this apart from a bit of bopping from La Grange if I'm honest. It's not interesting musically, lyrically or melodically.
That was unexpectedly funky. Ended up listening to it three times today.
very good yee haw guitar 10/10
good!
Neat, though it gets a bit repetitive at some point. 7/10
This is rock and roll. Bunch of dudes just playing great music and rockin' out.
This album was fine, most of it didn’t make much of an impact on me. Still not a bad album to listen to.
I'm not a huge fan of Southern Blues Rock, but ZZ Top sounds quite tight and focused on this album. Could imagine drinking a case of beer and smoking a carton of cigarettes to this album easily. 6/10
Just cool rock. Pearly Gates has got to be one of the best sounding guitars made. It straddles rock and blues wonderfully. la grange is an all timer.
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
ZZ Top is an interesting band. I have heard their music for so long without ever really knowing it. I definitely liked this album more than Eliminator, but not by much. It is very solid and has some really good songs, but a lot are just kind of boring. I had high hopes after the first couple songs, but it went downhill from there. I will say, though, I have a more favorable opinion on ZZ Top after hearing this album. There was variety in this album, but it just didn't all land for me.
This album is the definition of boomer rock. Guess I was born in the wrong generation to enjoy it? I didn't care much for the squeaky riffs and kinda weak bass, some of the vocals are a bit grating too. Like, if you're making blues rock and your bass isn't bassing you know you've failed. La Grange is a bop tho.
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
I would have sworn on a stack of bibles that hot blue & righteous was a ween song. this is dude music.
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
I liked this more than Eliminator, but it doesn’t especially stand out to me. Their music sounds like what they play in a Chevy car ad.
not my thing, definitely one for the boomers Would I listen again: eh Deserves to be on this list: maybe 3.2
Absolutely brilliant pioneering album, way ahead of its time x
I like the guitar :) definitely something to listen to while driving
If I played this album and asked you who this band was your 1st guess would be ZZ Top. Nobody sounds quite like them.
Bien! Un classique !
ZZ Top might be the coolest dudes ever.
Rock 101 style classic rock.
never actually listened to zz top properly and i didn’t hate this as much as i thought i would. will listen again
I rarely prefer an 80s sound to 70s but 70s rock just did not suit them
Just a steady blues rock album. Nothing spectacular and not really the ZZ Top I think of most, who were for me growing up in the eighties permanently thumbing a hot rod on a desert road.
My knowledge of ZZ Top was their couple of 80s hits, which are quite catchy, but I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this as much as I did - nor be familiar with “La Grange” when I heard it. It showcased a variety of genres over a tight 35mins or so, and I particularly enjoyed their guitar work on “Waitin’ for the Bus”. How the tracks moved between genres was smooth - not as jarring as some transitions have been on other albums which have come up on this project. Had I half stars it would’ve got 3.5; however, as I don’t, and I didn’t love it the way I do the other 4* albums I’ve heard, it’s getting rather an unexpected 3 from me.
I really struggled to get into this but I don't know why. I kept getting distracted and listening to new releases that came out the same day instead. I went into this thinking I didn't know anything on the album, but of course I know La Grange. The album is fine just not really my cup of tea. I was trying to put my finger on why, but other than the slight disconnect that I associate music of this ilk almost entirely with watching Dean, Sam and Castiel defeat demons, I'm not sure. It is a bit too much "meandering jam session" in places so maybe that's it. Anyway, that means this should get a 2.5, but it's going to get a 2 because I don't have the nostalgia factor to bump it up to 3. 2/5
I’M TALKIN TO YOU, BROTHA!
a rockin jam
suprisingly good. 3.5
заебумба
Just ok
it was ok
Solid dad rock album
listened to
La Grange gets this album a 3/5. The rest of the album is pretty generic to be honest. I like ZZ Top, just wondering why there are multiple albums by them on this list.
VV Shit
Didn't make the strongest impression on me, some crazy guitar riffs in here and I went crazy for La Grange and its live rendition, but otherwise, just alright
I didn't know I had internalized enough blues rock tropes to recognize everything on this album. Very predictable, boring, and occasionally annoying. "Precious and Grace" is actually pretty good though, and most of it is inoffensive enough.
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.
3.5
I feel cooler listening to this music.
It's a little repetitive but I definitely love early ZZ compared to where they ended up.
Sympa le rock
Texas Blues just the way you'd expect it.
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
Not quite my thing, but I appreciate where it's coming from and the influence it had on a lot of the music I enjoy. Plus, La Grange is awesome.
Very Groovy, and the instrumentation is well done. Not my cup of tea, but a very respectable bluesy southern rock album. "Waitin' for the Bus" & "Jesus just left Chicago" are solid finds for me on this album. Admittedly, probably will only spin "La Grange" consistently. 3/5
Aldrig varit ett fan. Tycker det är tråkigt.. Som en tråkigare AC/DC
Nah
ZZ Top was always not really my favorite classic rock band and this kind of reinforces that opinion. This is a good album, but it’s very one-note and safe. Kind of like taking your motorbike down a road you’ve been down a million times. It feels good, but you not breaking any new ground. La Grange is an all-timer though, probably the band’s best song. Might low-key be the reason it’s here. Anyway, one star for each hombre. Favorite track: La Grange Other hits: Master of Sparks, Hot,Blue And Righteous, Sheik, Waitin’ For the Bus
Over decades of listening to music, one thing I have definitively learned is that electric blues and blues rock are not my thing. As a child of the '80s, I only knew ZZ Top from the Eliminator era, and it wasn't until much later that I understood how far back they went (and that they're the ones who did that "how-how-how" song). Turns out I much prefer the stuff I saw on MTV, but the live version of "La Grange" is solid.
Never listened to this whole album before. In a way it's kind of simplistic, but it's also a totally unique and fun sound that goes down easy and doesn't overstay its welcome. Billy Gibbons is appreciated but I would say underappreciated as a guitarist, not sure if he invented the pinch harmonic but I think safe to say he popularized it in rock music. Would definitely pick this up on vinyl.
Underwhelming might be too harsh. I was whelmed.
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.
The Platonic ideal of whatever you’d call this vibe of music; it instantly transports me to a dive bar with a row of Harley’s out front. There’s more charm and charisma here than their cookie cutter 80s output that more immediately comes to mind when I think of ZZ Top. However, unfairly or not, this comes on the heels of spending a day with OK Computer and it’s hard to take this on its face as a result; there’s just not much there to bite into. On a different day I might bump this up a star because it’s fun and fully realized. “La Grange” somehow hasn’t suffered from being played to death, unlike “sharp dressed man” and (blech) “legs,” two songs I never need to hear again.
I love me some ZZ Top. My favorites were, "Hot, Blue and Righteous," "Move Me on Down the Line," and "La Grange."
I would never choose to listen to this, but it is OK.
Not bad, not amazing, it's one of the more inoffensive things I've listened to on this list.
My previous review still stands. Can't get into it really. "Other than “La Grange” and “Jesus Just Left Chicago” I wasn’t overly bothered. I’ve never been much of a fan of ZZ Top."
Middle of the road bluesy rock. Or maybe it's decent for that style - it's just not my jam.
Bluesy. Overall…. Eh. I’m mean I guess it was better than I expected. I do like La Grange though. Probably deserves a 3, but I don’t really like it
Surprisingly really good
This is just not up my alley and I think primarily it’s the vocals for me. Better than I thought though and have a newfound respect for ZZ Top.
I’m sure, like Fleetwood Mac, it’s not cool to prefer 80s ZZ over 70s but while this is quality straight up, honest, no—frills, blues-based rock goodness, I often find myself wishing for some of the polish they would add later on. If it’s gonna be this stripped back, I want it as raw as possible, so I’ll go back further I think. I’ve deffo got Rio Grande Mud but maybe I need to score the 1st album for the real grit. Still it’s impressive for as far back as ‘73. They even leave some breadcrumbs for AC/DC here and there. Glad the Dr Hook harmonies were restricted to that one track at the end of side one. 3.5 stars really. It’s a big ask not to like the Top.
Very fun listen. Had never listened to a ZZ Top album all the way through.
Solid Rolling Stones knock off. You could do a lot worse.
Decent album, but kinda boring - it feels like a recipe applied to every song
No one does Texas boogie like ZZ Top. They have a lot of great albums, among them this one. Songs like Waitin' for the Bus, Jesus Just Left Chicago, Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers, La Grange are the standout moments.
It's alright but nothing stands out I didn't save a single song
It’s a cool rock kind of vibe but not something I’d listen to on my own. I do like Move Me on Down the Line though, that’s a bop.
Yess
6/10 Not the most inspired album, but a decent listening experience. Highlights: Precious and Grace Master of Sparks Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
Actually didn't mind it. "Waiting for the Bus" has a cool sound to it. Most other tracks are bluesy and it's alright, but I kinda stop following along. Good music for biker people.
Ah, yes! Brings back memories, a great southern blues rock album. Def at least 4 stars for this bad boyy. Just rated 4.5 on RYM so I might give this one 5 stars here just because!
Something good that came out of Texas. ZZ Top rocks! Some classics on this album
Great power blues album. La Grange always a standout, Master of Sparks also a favorite.
Kjenner igjen, setter ikke stor pris på.
Didn't ever consider ZZ Top to be my bag but this is a cracker.
Tres Hombres is an excellent introduction to the rawer, gritter version of the band that may be lost on listeners only familiar with their later work like Eliminator. A true masterpiece and essential for anyone who wants to understand ZZ Top. To read more, copy/paste: https://tinyurl.com/5h22vv37
I recognized a couple songs, La Grange being the main one. Not much of a fan of ZZ Top
This was great fun and I really enjoyed the different style to their famous album Eliminator
It's alright
I haven’t really listened to ZZ Top before and I wasn’t really expecting to enjoy this, but it proved me wrong. Not sure I’d listen to it multiple times though as towards the end it started sounding a bit same-y, but once was enjoyable.
Bluesy rock is a genre I normally really like but this didn't really grab me.
Not bad for jazz
Прекрасно. Давно знал про ZZtop, но почему-то никогда не слушал их дальше eliminatora, а оказуется есть такой мощнейший альбомчик еще. Хочу иметь его на виниле Кстати, очень заметно влияние именно этого альбома на Black Keys. Теперь я понял источник их звучания
Yeah just a good bluesy rock album. La Grange is good.
So different from their 80s stuff. Pretty unique sound
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
There's such reverence for ZZ Top so I was excited for thos album, but I'm underwhelmed. It's... fine. Full of guitar parts, and Beer Drinkers and Hellraisers is a banger, but it's all a bit... soft. Nothing bad in there but everything feels a little safe and sterilised.
Basic but that’s not to say it’s bad. It’s better than the more mainstream “eliminator” as it focuses on classic blues rock more which they are clearly good at. It’s a little repetitive but mainly because it’s just one genre, it is relatively short though which actually makes it better as it prevents further repetition. There’s nothing really groundbreaking or unique to this but they are just good at what they do, the guitar’s great, drumming is all it needs to be, bass also all it needs to be and the vocals are decent but fit the music well. Favourites: move me down the line. Other than that there were no standouts but all the songs are consistently decent at least. Overall, 6/10.
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 ...!
ZZ Top before they were very commercial sounded good, they really refined their sound down the line, but I don't think they strayed too far from where they started musically.
La Grange was clearly the highlight, but the rest of it was just ok.
I did not expect to enjoy this as much as a I did. A surprise win from the 1001 albums. This was some fun blues rock beginning to end with the last few tracks being some kicking live tracks that made me wish I was older than 2 when they were sounding this good!
A solid, 70s rock album. This is the only ZZ Top album I’ve ever owned, and as much as I enjoy it I don’t feel the urge to check out the rest of their catalogue. I’m sure purists will say otherwise, but this is fulfilling enough. Some great songs. Worthy of your time. Not sure how “essential” it is, but a good album nonetheless.
Generic blues rock. Didn't feel essential at all, but not terrible. Favorite song: precious and grace.
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:)
ZZ top. Can't complain.
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 is kinda boring? Or like, inoffensive. I was expecting more grit and edge.
3/5
Very dull. Did not enjoy
Nothing new here, just ZZ Top hard committing to a mixture of blues, rock, and a bit of country, all with a heavy-for-it’s-time twist. This record was recorded/produced really well though, it’s quality of sound stood out to me consistently for something made in 1973. “Precious & Grace” is my non-La-Grange pick for this project. Soft 3/5
A haw haw haw haw
Guitar heavy 70s blues rock? Sure! Though La Grange is clearly a stand-out song, there's definitely more to this album than the one song. Good listen
This album kicked so much ass, that my speakers filed for workers comp.
Killer guitar riffs and a Muppet voice.
Not their best album but definitely worth a listen. Several throw away tracks but was the beginning of them finding the groove that would really define their sound.
I just really did not need to hear another 70s blues rock album.
Cool rock
"Waitin for the Bus" and "La Grange," plus filler.
Just a classic rock sound.
Probably the okayest album on this list. I never once considered giving it above or below a 3. La Grange is a great song, though.
Quality
I had never heard a ZZ Top album. I obviously know who they are, but never took the time to listen to them. Boy was I wrong in doing that! I really enjoyed this album. Great songs, great riffs, and just playing great music.
Nice classics but the sound felt too familiar throughout the record. Will not listen again.
Eh. Had higher hopes. This is great fuel for the take me and Eli r developing that classic rock is just not the best genre. I think I grew out of it. That being said la grange rips
Is La grange awesome? Yeah! Are several album cuts pretty cool? Absolutely! Do I need to listen to this album again? Probably not!
I was expecting to like this album despite not knowing many of the songs on it. I definitely loved it a bit more than I expected. Stronger blues sound than some of their later work I think.
Fun straightforward album. Not sure I would put it on this list.
Nice blues-rock album. La Grange is such an anthem, I love it. It deserves 3 stars just for that. Heh, a haw haw haw, now I need a beer! Favorite tracks: Precious and grace La Grange
Old school rock. Great album.
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.
This album isn't music as much as it is a vibe. Waitin' for the Bus is a modern re-imagining of the haunted rockabilly classic Mystery Train. Jesus Just Left Chicago is laidback and effortlessly cool. Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers has a rare but very welcome vocal contribution by the bassist. Master of Sparks and Hot, Blue, Righteous don't stand out by themselves but work perfectly fine within the context of the track list. Move Me on Down the Line injected some energy. Precious and Grace feels like a filler track. But La Grange is the crown jewel of this album and instantly recognizable. Sheik has got a nice rhythm but doesn't quite live up to La Grange. I kind of wish the bassist sang more, he sounded better than the lead singer. Otherwise, this is the type of album that ends up on a show like Sons of Anarchy.
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
It was fine, nothing really jumped out at me but less cheesy than zz top I'm familiar with
Loud.
The lost review. Middling wannabe biker dad rock. Boogaloo to the discount bin. 2
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.