Reviews (page 6 of 13)
I have never listened to a full zz top album until now. It was pretty darn good. Great guitars and drumming. Favorite tracks were La Grange, Jesus Just Left Chicago, and Sheik.
I wonder how many times I’ve typed out something along the lines of “I first heard ${todaysBand} while playing Guitar Hero.” This is another one of those ones. I believe La Grange was on Guitar Hero 3. I do miss Guitar Hero. Tell them to make some more for me please? Songs I already knew: La Grange Favourites: Jesus Just Left Chicago, La Grange This is such a fun album. Three big hairy dudes all playing rock music together and sounding tight and soulful from track to track. It’s hard to believe that this was released in the 70s as much younger rock bands still have this same sound fairly frequently. To say that ZZ Top were ahead of their time is an understatement. Side question, since I’m British am I supposed to say “Zed Zed Top”?
Рок альбом с элементами блюз и кантри. Необычно чистое для того времени звучания. Нету явной многопространственности и накрученного на вокале ревера и в целом запись сделана довольно сбалансированно и чисто. Альбом довольно драйвовый, мне нравится) P.S. но треки довольно однообразные(
Ok
Pleasantly surprised. I normally don’t like white boy blues, nor am I into zz top that I’ve heard on the radios, but this was good and enjoyable. Their blues influences were tasteful in this manifestation.
Now this is a rock album, an absolute banger! Love how distinctive and groovy it is, simply awesome and delivers everything you expect from ZZ Top. [0088/1001]
Better than the '80s album on the list.
Fun guys as always. Plus their biggest hit is on this record
first time listening to ZZ Top, I like that it's toned down and kind of minimalistic, comparing to other over the top bands of the time
Pretty good, La Grange is a classic, and I really liked the first 2 songs from this album too.
The album overall is decent...3 to 3.5 stars but La Grange was groundbreaking and has withstood the test of time 50 years later, pushing the album to a 4-star rating.
This is a really good album. I have always liked this era of ZZ Top most.
La grange
Little bland in comparison to eliminator. But la grange might have the best quitar riff of all time.
Jesus Just Left Chicago Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers La Grange
Good Lead Guitar
The songs that really hit here are so phenomenal. La Grange is an absolute icon of a track. The blues are hard, heavy, and fast here. Favorite track: La Grange
4.5/5. Excellent, I really enjoyed this. Easy listening and very good. Definitely one I'd like to own.
It was okay.
Really enjoyed this. Only familiar with a couple of songs from this band but I think they were all pretty great on this album.
loved beer drinkers & hell raisers, waitin for the bus, and the image of the mexican feast that accompanies the record
Zz Top er topp
very palatable
A-HAW-HAW-HAW-HAW
Nice
Solid bluesy rock
Great heavy blues weird southern rock stuff. Honestly I thought they played the same type of music as GnR and was highly surprised by this
First time listening to this. I was cleaning the garage and made for a great soundtrack for that
Power trio laying down basic, simple beats with straightforward Texas Rock guitar grooves blending southern and mainstream rock. Love that twang.
Cuatro estrellas!
So much better than the other ZZ Top album I got for this project. Simpler and more blues-y, both aspects I enjoyed. 3.5/5
This album fucking rocks
Enjoyed it. Lots of familiar favorites on here and wow, what sounds from the instruments!
Bluesy
good stuff
Listening, I recognized that ZZ Top's production mix is something special. I enjoyed "Tres Hombres" three times, twice while working on my truck. Perfect music paired with auto work, beer drinking and hell raising. The quintessential low-key American badass soundtrack. 3.85
I enjoyed this more than most of the ZZ Top hits that are played on the radio.
Fun stuff, good in the background of the day, not completely my thing
This was fun, I enjoyed it throughout. La Grange is an excellent song too. Guitar riffs were great
Solid album and quite funky, I enjoyed!
Love zz top
Groovy guitar tunes
Buzzy bearded boogie rock. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.
Good
nice groovy bluesy time. pace dips during the middle a touch for my liking so we lose a star
Southern fried boogie blues rock served with a side of swaggering panache. Ultimate Americana
Classic pub rock, nothing particularly new but done very well. Surprised to see that this is 50 years old, timeless I guess.
Really good start to my 1001 albums. Always liked ZZ Top, but never enough to really follow them. This album is great, and you can really tell the bluesy roots to their rock and roll. Will definitely listen again!
The hits are great, especially waiting for the bus. The rest is solid, but not especially memorable blues rock.
great album!
Really enjoyed it. A great vibe.
Normally I'm not a fan of listening to rereleased albums on streaming because it feels like a chore shifting through all the "new editions" added to the albums. But for some reason I decided to play out the entirety of this album l, including the live versions at the very end. I'm glad I did, because it helped me experience the beauty of rock instrumentation a little better. This album really feels like such a perfect blend of soul, rock, and a little bit of blues sprinkled on top to make a beautiful jam session. This is exactly what it feels like: going to a club that plays "classic rock" songs with a bunch of friends and singing songs and drinking with a bunch of strangers. Strangely this was the first rock infused album that I've heard on the list so far and its a good way to start. 4 OUT OF 5 STARS. P.S. SHOUTOUT GUITAR HERO FOR HELPING ME KNOW "LA GRANGE" SONG.
4.5
Probably good.
8/10 fun stoner rock, not really my style but super well made La Grange makes me wanna go to home depot and complain about the price of 2x4s with all the other dads
Okay, the blues-rock sound of this early ZZ Top was not so bad. Still not awesome for me, but it’s a bit better than tolerable.
Fun
Truly some of the best rock instrumentals I have ever heard. No word of a lie. What a great listen, amazing music, immaculate vibes. Really puts you right back in the 70s. Incredibly smooth sounds, all produced to the highest quality. The album flows very nicely. Not a whole lot to critique on this one. It’s a solid 4 for me
Great piece of blues rock. La Grange is still a classic and Master of Sparks is electric.
Just good, Rock and Blues, Nice album
Raw and delicious
A Great 1-2-3 punch coming out of the gate on this album.
Really good album. More traditional blues and rock than their later chart friendly material but none the worse for that
It's a really solid album. Such a unique sound.
Straight ahead blues rock. Very easy to approach and enjoy. La Grange is an all time classic that defines "hitting a groove". Beer Drinkers and Hot Blue and Righteous stand out for me. Excellent.
ZZ Top shreds. Love the southern twang of their catalogue. Wasn't paying the greatest attention (like most albums), but this was a solid, raw, guitar heavy album. Probably a 3.5 for me, but I'm in a good mood and ZZ Top have great beards.
Good ol American southern rock right there. I could listen to ZZ top all day
Great day for this album as I will be listening live in five days. Right time to get into the mindset
I used to have a ‘Beer drinkers and hell raisers’ ZZ Top t shirt when I was about 17, and to this day I dont know why as I’d only heard about 2 songs. Id have loved this though if I’d had heard it. I was biiig into blues rock; and this is about as blues rock as it gets. Theyre known for how tight they are rhythm wise for a 3 piece, and it shows in this. It’s not really my thing anymore, but it is pretty pretty good.
Know a little bit of ZZ Top but no albums, this delivered what I expected. They are more talented than your average classic rock band so everything is a bit more interesting. They have the required swagger of this sort of music nailed down as well. Not really pushing the boundaries too much but it's great for what it is, would be happy to hear more.
Classic: I love a good lil bit of classic rock and ZZ Top are exactly that. They are so incredible American in such a good way with this whole album irradiating power riffs and just dad rock. The ending of three live songs kept it exciting and interesting although the repeat of 'La Grange' wasn't to my approval. Overall it was a sick album but not quite a 5/5.
The music that you listen to driving through the vast open fields drinking bourbon and eating raw meat. The very primal album.
Great album by zztop. Can really see the blues roots with this group!
Four stars for the music, five stars for the album name.
Good gritty rock album.
good boogie rock
Didn't realise how long these guys were together- their 2 best albums 10 years apart. This is really good southern rock- chilled and easy on the ears.
Fantastic album with the unmistakable Billy Gibbons & Dusty Hill magic. I only discovered it about 5 years ago. In a different life and time, I would have loved to have watched these guys play the blues. RIP Dusty - uncomplicated but brilliant bassist. Standout tracks: Waitin’ for the Bus Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers La Grange Sheik
Waitin' For The Bus- Ok I see it (4) Jesus Left Chicago- Better Better (4) Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers- Once again it's aight (3) Master of Sparks- Guitar Riff carried (3) Hot, Blue, and Righteous- Gave Me Blues(2) Move Me on Down the Line- THEN I HEARD RED ROOSTER (5) Precious and Grace- DUNNIN DUNNIN (4.5) La Grange- Unnecessarily fire (5) Sheik- Okay Okay (3.5) Have You Heard? - Decent Eh (2.5) Waitin' For The Bus (LIVE)- Same stuff but even better (n/a) Jesus Left Chicago (LIVE)- (n/a) La Grange (LIVE)- (n/a)
I came to ZZ Top with Eliminator, and I played it until the wheels fell off. So it took me a long time to learn about the origins of the Li’l Ol’ Band from Texas. I didn’t have much taste for the sound of Texas swag-rock, but this album is a blast. It’s fun! It whips, it rocks! Yeeeahhh! Guitars!
Second day in a row getting ZZ Top. I don’t know that they both deserve to be on this list, not sure which I’d choose. Maybe neither. ZZ Top is a fun listen, but I don’t know if any of their albums belongs in the Top 1001. This is a good album, don’t get it twisted. They were very early in showing off their signature sound that made them unique. A very mellow and muddled country-blues-rock sound that you can put on any time you want some easy listening music. It’s good times. This album has more heart than some of their later stuff, but, as a tradeoff, is done sloppier. Instrumentation and production aren’t at their best here. Lyrics are a tad one dimensional as well. The fact that it’s clear the band is really into their music even though the sound is so relaxed is what makes this album so fun. This project shows more range than their later work. Also, can’t believe people are sleepin’ on “Hot, Blue and Righteous”. Truly the hidden gem on this album. I’d love to own this album and throw it and enjoy it on whenever I’m feeling all at one with everything. 4/5
I always preferred ZZ Top's earlier albums to the synth-driven 80s soft rock that was to come. This isn't my favourite album but it still has some great tracks on it, including Jesus Just Left Chicago and La Grange. It gets a bit lost on the way, so it's not quite a 5-star album, but an easy 4 stars.
wow that cover sucks hard
Tight bluesy hard rock
I can certainly appreciate this. It's kind of easy to make fun of ZZ Top but if you give them a good listen they really know how to throw down. My dad must have had an album of theirs because I remember him playing La Grange for us and us thinking it was hilarious the way the singer was mumbling. The riff in that song is great, simple yet iconic. I love the seamless transition between the first two tracks, a very slick move that was apparently the work of the tape engineer, but later they would recreate it live. Lots of good songs here, pretty solid to my ear.
Aw yeah... badass, effortlessly cool Texas blues that rocks hard. I can't think of another trio as tight as this band. Gritty, bluesy, endlessly listenable. Fave Songs: La Grange, Waitin' for the Bus/Jesus Just Left Chicago, Sheik, Master of Sparks, Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
This is a really good showcase of ZZ Top's combination of blues, boogie, hard rock, humour and musicianship. Every track has something to commend it from the rocking La Grange to the swinging Jesus just left Chicago and the mellow Hot, blue and righteous. Bill Gibbon's virtuoso guitar is superbly anchored by the Beard/ Hill rhythm section. Well worth a listen especially for anyone who only knows ZZ Top from Gimme all your lovin and Legs!
I've really enjoyed this album, some great classic rock that you can just kick back to have a whiskey. La Grange outshines the whole album but there are some gems here.
I think I have to give this a 4 based on how quality the hits are off this, the ones you already know. Probs off the air guitar album. The rest of it was far more bluesy than I had assumed about ZZ Top. It was good fun and a good motivational sound track to my work out on holiday in a very stuffy hot gym in the hotel in Majorca
This was better than I thought it would be. I've always thought of ZZ Top as a bit of a joke band but this was banging
Knowing and loving some of ZZ Top's hits, I was excited for this one. While it was still pretty enjoyable, I was a bit disappointed. There's definitely quite a gap between their best songs and the rest. What struck me in particular is that a few of their arrangements simply sound too sparse. Excellent as the guitar-play and percussion are, the arrangements would benefit massively from a secondary rhythm guitar.
I actually loved this
Good, older ZZ Top songs.
Top rockin'
that good ol' rock!
Really enjoyable, beer drinkers and hell raisers was by far my favorite
4.5
I really like their music. It’s catchy and fun, and I want to listen to more of their deep cuts. Very underrated band.
This was good, not as strong as the last ZZ Top album we had, but any ZZ Top is still better than most stuff. La Grange obv an all-timer, Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers is excellent, and almost everything else hits the groove.
Very old fogey Boomer dad rock. La Grange shreds, but the rest of this was just a pretty bland BBQ soundtrack. Like everything else in Texas, ZZ Top are overrated.
Classic ZZ Top, contains the signature "La Grange".
best lore in the music buzzzinezzz
Great production with some awesome blues rock tunes. Don’t really understand the ZZ Top hate after hearing this record.
Love the Texas Boys
A solid blues-rock album from an iconic three-piece band. The rhythm section is very tight and in the pocket. Great guitar solos and vocals. Favorite songs: Jesus Left Chicago, Beer Drinkers, Hot, Blue and Righteous, Precious and Grace, and La Grange.
As funky as it can get. But still a little filler in spots.
I don't know how to say this, but this is exactly the kind of music I expect when I think of ZZ Top. And I say that having never heard a single song from this album before (unless I heard La Grange at one point and erased it from my memory). I wasn't a huge fan of "Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers" and "Master of Sparks" but other than that liked the album. I like bluesy guitar in moderation, so I wouldn't listen to this every day. Still pretty solid overall with over half the record being cool/interesting/enjoyable.
Solide Decent 7/10
Some fine southern rock. I can hear all the current day bands they influenced like The Sheepdogs
This music is pure serotonin cut with a healthy dose of "as a white cis male is it okay for me to listen to this?"
Damn good shit
Great record with nice catchy songs, great riffs! 8 out of 10
Strong
I think this album is great, a good mix of slow and boogie
That was a very solid rock album. Turns out I'm just not that into southern rock.
I love old ZZ Top, when they were more blues, and less pop cheese and innuendo.
uhyuhyuhowhow
"Tres Hombres" is the third studio album by the Texas rock band ZZ Top. Southern rock, blues rock, Texas blues and boogie rock. Yep, all of those descriptions make ZZ Top come to mind. Not quite disco blues yet. It was their first collaboration with engineer Terry Manning and was produced by Bill Ham. It was also their commercial breakthrough reaching the top ten in the US. It did receive a lukewarm critical reception. Hmmmmm. At the very least, it's a decent album. A drving-bluesy riff opens "Waitin' for the Bus." The groove. Billy Gibbons on the harmonica solo which goes to a guitar solo. Waiting for a bus going to the big house? The song blends right into "Jesus Just Left Chicago." Some controversy here; did engineer Manning do this on purpose or was it an accident? It's history now. More bluesy guitar and beat. Dual lead singers highlight the rockin' "Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers." More in the classic rock vein. Almost a metal riff. Motörhead did cover the song. Street cred earned. "Master of Sparks" tells the story of a guy building a steel cage ball in which he sits in and gets let off the back of a pick-up truck going 60mph. It doesn't end well for him. A unique syncopated beat. "Move Me on Down the Line" is a good hidden track. What I would call very mainstream and melodic rock. I think Cheap Trick might have been in the room. And we get the guitar and drums sounding like a horse to open "LaGrange" which then takes off. "A-haw, haw, haw, haw." Has to be up there with the most famous songs about a whorehouse. "Have You Heard?" ends the album in a slower, bluesy way. Dual vocals. Actually soulful. This album is formulaic: lay down a rhythm, throw in one or two guitar solos and keep it at three minutes. But, it rocks. At 31 minutes, they keep it short. Really no fillers. And at least four of the ten songs being their best.
it was good
fun stuff
Had never listened to the album La Grange was on before, sad it took this long. Great southern rock album that definitely played huge influence on a ton of bands. Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers and Master of Sparks a couple great favorites.
This is a fun listen. I like that, as someone who isn't familiar with ZZ Top's catalogue outside of the big hits, I had only heard "La Grange". It allowed me to enjoy this as a straight-forward southern rock/boogie album, without any of the baggage that comes with ubiquity. They sound real good for a three-piece, and Gibbons is a better writer than songs like "Legs" and "Tush" ever really allowed me to appreciate.
Awesome album. One of the best, if not the best from ZZ top. I like that it is short and sweet, songs are bluesy and awesome, this record can really wake me up, when feeling sleepy. Texas.
The only things I know about ZZ Top are southern and 2/3 members have long beards and the only one without one has the last name Beard. That is genuinely one of the funniest things ever and I love it. I'm also really excited to not have an album over an hour. 13 songs and just under 45 minutes, thank you ZZ Top. I did really like this album, a lot more than I was expecting. Maybe I like Blues more than I thought.
Honest Texas Blues-based Rock n Roll with growling bass, snarling guitar and cracking drums. This era of the band is what I prefer over their souped up Eliminator and onward output. It's ironic for me to say that because I have a tendency to tire of rock that gets too obviously bluesy. I say "Gimme Blues." And I say, "Gimme Rock." But I raise this eyebrow at most Blues Rock. And yet the ZZ Top of Tres Hombres walks that line perfectly. Have Mercy.
Äkta rock!! Stenande!!
Heeeell yeah, tres hombres… wait, who’s playing the second guitar???
Really solid Texas gritty grooves.
Upbeat, enjoyable, catchy
Influential but unenjoyable
These boys sure can play. Entertaining and slick.
Rocked out, really fun and a tad silly at times
magical
ZZ Top is an interesting mix between blues/bluegrass and rock. There's some great songs on there, but also some average ones.
So... Tres Hombres... first big album for ZZ Top (I think it was their third?)... a few fillers (looking at Hot, Blue and Righteous, for instance), but overall it's been one of my favourite ZZ Top albums. Everyone will know La Grange because Triple M still plays it every fucking day, but my favourite track is "Jesus Just Left Chicago". --- 1/5 Mehs
The whole album is smooth and sublime. Favourites are defo precious and grace and la grange.
More bluesy and less commercial than their better-known tracks, this is ZZ Top on form.
gritty blues rock from some of the best to ever do it. love it.
Great bluesy album. A couple of incredible songs and there were no weak spots anywhere.
Very similar riffs for all songs 70s rock at its best. Raw.
Great album
Great blues rock album, unexpectedly so actually.
Classic album of fun blues-ey rock tunes
Wonderful and cool, with several unexpected highlights, such as Master of Sparks.
A masterclass in Texas Blues with a thick layer of Southern Rock, and some funky licks. The songs in the middle get a bit less than the start, but luckily that downward spiral then gets broken by the amazing La Grange - A song I could listen to 5 times in a row and not get sick of. "Hey look! It's ZZ Top! You guys rock! "
I thought their would be a 0% chance that I liked this album, but it is actually a really good album... Which makes me want to strangle every radio DJ that plays sharp dressed man 20 times a day, but never plays anything from this album.
really like this. cool funky nice
This shit kinda slaps 4
Songs blend well with one another, smooth transitions & little downtime Enjoyable solo's, never a dull moment La Grange is iconic, automatic win All in all, a nice album to listen to. 7/10
What an awesome record!!! Listened to it twice!
Maybe not the orchestrated production of later albums but this blues-rock and Billy Gibbons guitar rich opus is a perfect representation of the true roots and soul of this Texas trio.
Not a perfect album, but really, really good bloozy rock. Waiting on the Bus, Jesus Just Left Chicago, and La Grange are the famous tracks here, all of which adhere to the older ZZ Top formula of chugging blues riffs over a killer rhythm section. Solid all around. Master of Sparks and Sheik are standout album tracks, but Hot, Blue and Righteous is really impressive swerve into a slower, somewhat more plaintive direction. Four stars, but this is definitely an album I'd reach for if I was driving fast down a country road.
who knew i would be a ZZ top fan. i genuinely really enjoyed this no nonsense blues rock. meant i also watched a video of them live where they have treadmills built in to the stage so they whizz about while playing, absolute nonsense but the kind of nonsense i enjoy.
An arsenal upon the senses. This freaky little record gave me one of the most powerful orgasms I've had today. What a shit splattered success. My heart wants to headbutt a racoon into Jupiter.
Good shit
Feeling generous this morning, was going to be a 3, but I really enjoyed a couple of their tracks
When it comes to bluesy Southern rock, it doesn't get much better than ZZ Top. "Eliminator" will always have a special place in my heart, but "Tres Hombres" is a solid album, and features my favorite ZZ Top track: "La Grange." The rest of the album was new to me, but it didn't disappoint. I particularly enjoyed the opening trio of songs, "Waiting for the Bus," "Jesus Just Left Chicago," and "Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers." I don't *love* every track, but if someone slapped the record on and "forced" me to listen to it, I certainly wouldn't be begging for them to skip any tracks. Billy Gibbons' guitar playing alone makes the album worthwhile.
Enjoyable riffs and everything sounds great. Hooker should have won that court case for plagiarism on 'La Grange' though. Good background bar music, not sure I'll return much to it at home.
-S Tier- Waitin’ for the Bus Master of Sparks La Grange -A Tier- Jesus Just Left Chicago Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers Sheik -B Tier- Hot, Blue, and Righteous Precious and Grace Have You Heard -C Tier- Move Me On Down the Line AVG SCORE: 3.8 / 5 - - - Even if “La Grange” never existed, this would still be one of ZZ Top’s greatest works top-to-bottom. Give me this era over the Eliminator era every day.
For some reason I enjoyed this more than the other ones the sound like this
ZZ Top does Texas proud with this collection of crunchy, riff-filled Southern rock. No song overstays it welcome-the trio have an excellent handle on tight arrangements.
Great bluesy rock.
I knew about Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers and La Grange before going into this, but the rest of this hits just as hard. A classic rock / blues album with some great grooves and simple lyrics all throughout.
Simple to the core, and that's why it still rocks today. There are some gems here, but the real trick is three guys playing together.
Great, but no Degüello
First time of Listening for me. Texas Blues at their best. Some good tunes on this one, Starts with the wonderful "Waiting For The Bus" with some great mouth iron work from Billy Gibbons. They moved away from this Blues based sound in the 80's which I think is a shame. Loved the aforementioned "Waitng For The Bus", "Jesus Just Left Chicago" "Le Grange" and "Hot, Blue and Righteous" Not on my list but I understand its inclusion!
Albúm insignia para sus generos abordantes. Blues rock de principio a fin, un disco que desgasta su sonido para comenza con el “zz” pesado, teniendo cambios bruscos para discolocarse (precious and grace, la grange y sheik) una transición de sonidos impecable, siempre predominando la improvisacion de blues, ese estilo particular del southern y hasta toques psicodelicos que nos hacen recordar a una especie de hendrix. Sin duda un album que invita a ser escuchado varias veces. fav songs: jesus left chicago master of sparks precious and grace ☆ la grange ☆ sheik ☆ 4.3/4.5
P this felt beyond it to years. A lot of talent and humor.
Why hasn't anyone told me a 1973 blues-rock album by MTV pop rock mainstays during the eighties could *somehow* remind me of early naughts desert rock such as Queens Of The Stone Ages? Music and its convoluted history are wonderful things, aren't they? I was obviously familiar with the John Lee Hooker rip off for "La Grange" before, but I had not heard the first side of *Tres Hombres* yet. And to be honest that first half sounds pretty great, at least from "Waitin' For The Bus" to "Master Of Sparks". I've just read here that "Beer Drinkers And Hell Raisers" was covered by Mötörhead. Frankly, I can see why Lemmy would single out this song. You can say a lot of things about who Lemmy was as a person or even a band leader, but one thing's for sure: he had great taste as a music fan. Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 846 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory: 83 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 38 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 32
Tasty tasty guitar and solos. Classic rock w 👍
Muy buenos riffs, mucho rock, mucho blues, y mucha actitud en este disco. Destacan Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers y obviamente La Grange.
I only knew these guys as a novelty facial-hair / eyewear band but it makes sense they started out a bit more legit. Good chunkin’ blues with a touch of country and funk in the mix too. I’d say good but not great though.
first listen fuzzy classics
Finally an album to enjoy! This entire album is solid and la grange is a pleasure to listen to. I would definitely add this into my rotation. 4 out of 5 stars.
They get lost a little in this one, but when they're on, they're on. Best track: La Grange
ZZ Top's first album recorded in a real studio, and the quality shows. They had clearly been gigging like crazy over the previous few years, and so this unfussy recording of them as a tight live unit really shines. And they had material that really shows off their southern swamp boogies meets Texas blues at its best. Is it groundbreaking? Not really, but it is a kind of best-in-class for this type of thing. Short, sharp and to the point, with no wasted time or filler, this is a catchy and highly listenable album. La Grange still gives me a pavlovian need to play the Getaway pinball.
Cool album. La Grange is not in my top 5 of ZZ Top songs, but the overall album is pretty good.
This album is a much more pure rock album than some of their later work. This for sure my favorite ZZ album.
Good jams. Proper legends. Love the blues-influenced sound.
4.25
I wasn't familiar with this album of the songs on it, aside from the infamous La Grange. It's impossible not to get hooked on that teaser intro and vocals, only to then be paid off with exceptional rhythm guitar and riffs. Blues rock can be a bit hit or miss for me, but ZZ Top's music has a unique gritty, "dirty south" rock quality to it that I can't help but dig; it perfectly complements Gibbons' iconic vocals, and that is very much on display on this album. I enjoyed this album even more than I thought I would!
Peak of the style. Easy to see why they were so big.
Hard driving rock R&B, with a Texas twang. Third album from ZZ Top continued to show growth and skill from this talented trio. While La Grange is the track that broke through to radio play for its creative sound, others are just as good and worth a repeat listen.
Ah, ZZTop. You can't escape these guys on classic rock. They're good comfort food, and pretty fun, too. If you can, catch the documentary on them up on Netflix. It was pretty entertaining. It's really hard to believe that these guys have been around for so long. Still going after one of them passed away, too. I did not like the transition between the first two songs. Sounded kinda clunky. They reminded me a bit of Mountain, but looser (particularly in songs like Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers). La Grange is that old? Wow. Really fun stuff, this I could imagine as more of a party album than Kiss' Destroyer.
Enlightening. I did not realize just how bluesy they were in their early days. They've got a pretty cool sound on Waitin for the Bus and Jesus Just Left Chicago. Respect. Hot, Blue and Righteous almost had a Skynyrd Tuesday's Gone feel to it - some blues, some southern rock. The rest of the album has a more fast-paced or pulsing rock sound, which was pretty solid. They create some good rhythms. Master of Sparks as well as Precious and Grace stand out. And of course La Grange stands out but everyone knows that is an incredible tune - great pace and intricacy in the drums and guitar/bass. Really enjoyed this album. Almost gave it a 5 but that seemed a bit much.
ZZ Top are a great blues power trio and this is the album that brought them into the limelight. I give them credit for having such a full sound too. Take a track like "Shiek". Once you get passed the fact that it isn't spelled correctly ( I blame the Texas school system), the guitar and bass work together to sound like 3 instruments. There's the classic track "La Grange." For those who don't listen to classic rock radio, they probably heard it on guitar hero. The whole album does rock from start to finish and did make me want to check out more of their stuff.
very fun album
Dont mess with texas! 4/5
Oh yeah Master of Sparks haluun prätkän ja ajaa auringonlaskuun. Ei myöskään tauhkaa levyllä. Helppo 4/5
Premier album de ZZ Top que j’écoute. Bien sûr je connaissais La Grange, mais tout se tient sur cet album. Agréablement surpris de mon écoute. Je vais sûrement essayer de le trouver en vinyle.
groovy hard blues-rock -- 4+
Unkempt beards
Very fun especially by the time it gets to LaGrange. Again nice turn and surprise
This album is hard rocking good time fun.
This one surprised me. Great riffs and rhythm, really good blues. Red Hot Chilli Peppers. So much better than what know them for in the 80s. Funky blues.
Bluesy, sleazy, and fun. Jesus…Chicago, Waitin for the Bus, LaGrange all classics. This set them up for a lifetime of great boogie.
Big fan of this ZZ Top sound. Very garage blues sounding and la grange is always fun to hear again
Good. Simple.
American blues rock classic. Not every song on the album is a winner but overall quite fun. Favorite track is of course la grange.
Loved it!
Classic ZZ Top, great to hear La Grange as part of the album.
Enjoyable soft/blues rock album, some classic songs.
One of Texas' greats. Not for everyone and save for La Grange, the front half is the best. Still a solid 4.5/5, but rounding down to 4 stars.
A super listenable album. Classic for a reason.
70s rock rhythm guitar-y bass-y vibes. Recognizable song; Master of Sparks. Vocalist voice reminiscent of Vanilla Fudge. Album quite short.
Really good classic rock.
Driving, polished rock blues boogie. Includes Move me on down the line and La Grange. Thoroughly enjoyable. Four out of five.
Great listen! I didn't love all the songs (sometimes I felt their voices didn't match the level of rock that they needed for certain songs) but the ones that were more funky/bluesy were amazing!
Classic rock/blues feel to it. Hearing the live versions on the remastered alongside the studio really helps you understand how good they were live.
I have vivid memories of hanging out in my basement in HS playing La Grange on Guitar Hero. This is a truly fun album with great guitar riffs, I’m more of a Revolver fan when it comes to ZZ, but still love this album.
Great band and probably my favourite Zz Top album.
Solid blues rock is what they do
Good Southern rock
I had no idea that ZZ too had been making music for so long….it came as a real surprise. I hadn’t heard any of the early ZZ top music but I found it very enjoyable, very listenable.
I was surprised to find this album to be genuinely good, down to earth, rock music.
7/10 enjoyable hard rock
7/10. Good stuff, but not especially stand-out. Quite liked La Grange
I quite liked this, and would have liked it even more if it had ended after La Grange. 8/10
4.5 First time listening to this. Man, they are a tight trio. Never really listened to them until Dusty passed this year. Great collection.
One of the best things to ever come out of Texas. Also, my first concert ever (Eliminator tour). Gonna give this one a thumbs up.
Better than expected.
Great blues/rock sound, really good album with a range of tempos and melodies to suit the genre. Extremely enjoyable and a classic album.
Huh. Bit off piste here. Pleasant surprise
Absolute stonker of an album, ZZ Top at their finest! Actual rating 4.5
Pretty good pretttttyyyy good
Nice oldies rock. It sound a bit mellow these days
звучит классно весело, плотно, хорошие риффы и мелодии
mycket, mycket bättre än förväntat.
Good stuffs
Top quality rock
My Dad is a ZZ Top Fan but I never managed to hear an album in full. Glad that changed
Solid album. Lots of that blues / rock vibe.
Heard this one before so it gave me time to listen to the deep cuts. Apart from 2, all the songs were enjoyable and a thrill to listen to
Solid southern rock. Surprised I haven’t dove into them before.
I enjoyed it!
Great stuff. One of their best. Have mercy! Standouts: Waitin' For the Bus/Jesus Just Left Chicago La Grange
Guitar virtuosos in blues rock
It's childhood to me honestly. It's classic rock, the guitar slaps, add the drums and the solid as vocals? it's so good to me man.
dah daht dat dat dat dat dah dooh dah dah dat dat dat dahhhh
Good album. One really well known song.
This album rocks. LA Grange is just such a classic road trip song, and the rest of the album provides a wonderful soundtrack for it too. Nothing to skip here.
Killer start.
Eliminator will forever be my ZZ album of choice but this is more traditionally blues rock. Great album
Top.
At last, an album I can enjoy, energy, variety whats not to like!
Just a bloody great blues rock album. Best track: La Grange
Bluesy rock. Great all around album.
The songs you think of when you hear "ZZ Top" and consider riding a motorcycle. All around pretty good energy.
Oh yeah, it got me moving over my room.
I listened to the 2000-something remaster, and I was pleasantly surprised!
Classic
Big Blaney vibes. I’m here for it.
Pretty good
Like this one way more than I thought I would. Typical bluesy dad rock, but still fun. I could put this on in the background while I do something else and I think it would help me stay focused.
I liked this one lot, it felt like classic rock and the songs come together
A storm of blues rock from Texas, in the year when southern rock was at its peak. All a statement!
Was für coole Typen; geiles, geradliniges und doch auch verspielt vielschichtiges Rock Album, a an dem sich die manche Nuller-Band (Kings of Leon, Black Keys, ...) orientiert haben dürften. per los tres hombres: 3.8
Rock’roll
Bon album, du bon blues rock qui s’ecoute bien. La grange est une hit qui est intemporel et l’album se meriterai un 5 juste pour cette toune. Le reste amene cela a un 4
Billy plays a mean guitar
Not the best ZZ Top album but still brilliant.
Really good
That was a lot of fun. Wasn’t expecting that from Zed Zed Top.
Like it!
I didn't have much time to listen to it. I enjoy zz top though
Excellent stuff
Mistura muito boa de blues com rock, com o classico La Grange coroando o album.
Classic Americana Rock with heavy blues influences, but neither too pop-y or too bluesy
First time listening to a whole zz top album. They had me with bus stop in the name of the first song.
Classic but not my fav Top record.
Classic guitar licks. It’s everything you expect from a blues guitar, bass and drums. Small group with big sound. Love the variation from a blues rock, ballad and rocking’ classic in La Grange.
Would give it a 5/5 but don’t think it musically deserves it. Too many songs I don’t fully fuck with but the ones I do I love.
Despite being from Texas AND liking the rock/blues style, ZZ Top has never been my favorite. This album is good, objectively, with La Grange being the best track. For me, it doesn't reach 5 stars, but it's better than 3 stars as well. I guess that leaves it at: 4 stars.
Beard guys good
Started off strong and la grange is a classic of course.
Just classic rock
Decent blues album. Nothing special overall but some great songs
good vibes! grooved a lot
7.5/10 FT: La Grange
Solid Blues Rock Album
Enjoyable. But bar La Grange kinda unmemorable. Great jukebox music for a drive bar but not much more. 3.5* rounded down to 3*
"waitin' for the bus" its feels like some kind of southern blues or smth, i didn't knew what to expect about this album i've never heard the band before. its kinda good, i like the groove but it aint the big thing. "jesus just left chicago" it has very american lyrics. "beer drinkers n hell raisers" its only me but i feel the vocals are so similar Alice In Chains. its a hard rock/rock n roll basic songs, i liked it tho. the only thing that it could be a bit shorter, but good anyways. "master of sparks" this is pure sotuhern rock, it isnt a bad song just because of that, actually i think its pretty good. "hot, blue and righteous" i think this is the ballad of the album, i actually didnt payed attention to the lyrics. it boring. and idk if im slow but i hear some doom metal things. "move me on down the line" this has to be the anthem of barbecues, there is no song more american than this one. not so bad tho. "precious and grace" its hard rock a bit over-mid song. dont have a lot to say. "la grange" the outro its too long but the song is good. "sheik" the name makes me think bout shrek. mid "have you heard"
Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers no la conocia, muy buena. En general muy generico, aunque se reconoce el porque ellos son asi. Aun asi, nada muy interesante, solo muy bueno. La Grange tambien lo mejor, como se esperaba. Los extras en vivo mucho mejores de lo comun, un plus
It was ok but is carried by La Grange
sounds like something i'd hear in a dive bar or my local bowling alley. i'm probably not returning to this tbh but it was a nice classic rock jam.
Tres hombres more like tres stars. More like très nul.
I don't have a lot to say about this album, just a solid bluesy southern rock album.
Day 4 I feel like a Texan father of three after this. It's aight. Some songs are actually pretty good, some just blend together Fav track: Jesus Just Left Chicago
The "essential boogie-rock album" does include great riffs, good grooves, good solos, and is overall a fine listen. But very rarely did this album actually catch my attention, and I had to put in a bit of an effort to concentrate - overall, it is pretty fun, but not amazing, probably best suited for a fun time while cleaning your house. Hot, Blue and Righteous is a lovely track tho. Great solo on Precious and Grace. The live bonus-tracks on the remaster sounds way more excited, probably would have enjoyed the record a lot had they produced a heavier sound for these songs. 6.5/10
It rocks but isn’t as annoying as the other album I listened to.
nice
Fairly standard blues rock affair. Some fun moments but nothing akin to the greats of the genre.
Blues rock as good as I've heard. Never knew ZZ Top were going in the early 70s. The bonus live versions show how good they were before going with backing tracks.
Good bluesy southern rock. The live songs were a great addition. I’d be happy to hear something like this at the local dive bar drinking some beers on a Friday night after a hard week at work.
God bless three bearded guys with guitars that can make waiting for the bus sound cool. …and if you are a rock & roll guy/gal and don’t like La Grange, just go ahead and check your pulse now‘cause you may be dead. ZZ Top is without a doubt underrated considering the classics they’ve laid down yet always seem to be forgotten. A rockin good album to kick start the weekend.
It’s a straightforward, unadorned blues rock album with a Southern style, nothing more, nothing less. A solid 3.5 for the way it made me play air guitar at stop lights.
Uh huh huh huh...love me some gritty and bluesy ZZ Top.
I’ve always liked Eliminator-era ZZ Top, mostly because of the strong synth elements that gave it more of a synth rock feel. But when it comes to this earlier era of the band, I’ve never really connected with it, and to be honest, I’ve heard these tracks way too many times already. The Southern pride blues rock style, especially within the ‘70s classic rock context, just doesn’t appeal to me. It has a certain flavor that feels a little off putting. That said, it’s clearly good quality music from a talented band, but for me, it’s nothing I ever feel the need to revisit.
This is a bluesy, groovy rock n roll album that I've heard a couple songs off of before. The guitars were good and it was pretty okay overall.
Had never listened through this album. Phenomenal guitar tone. I’m a sucker for a band of 3 that sounds like 6. Very good at what they do, which is hard blues.