Reviews (page 7 of 14)
Southern Rock with the nostalgia. It was good but it wasn't the Allman Brothers
Decent enough southern blues rock, but it seems that the way to listen to ZZ Top is to listen to a compilation.
#606. Other than La Grange, the rest of the album is just kind of alright. 3/5: fine
Solid Bluesrock
Some good bluesy stuff in here but kinda fizzles in the middle. A much different sound than their radio hit era of Legs or Sharp Dressed Man.
Tres estrellas para Tres Hombres
My second ZZ Top album doing this, the first was Eliminator. This also gets a 3, meaning half the tracks were fun and a great time and the other half I could take or leave. I like ZZ Top! I'm not crazy about them but both of these records are a fun time.
Kinda boring, was expecting better. I guess they had a rocky start, just made me want to listen to Eliminator
I had never heard of ZZ Top, and I loved this!
Good guitar playing, Just all the same
Está bien pero no me encanta
ZZ Top is so deeply connected to my ex husband for me that I genuinely cannot enjoy listening to them. I guess it's been enough time because I didn't HATE listening to this album, but I still wouldn't specifically seek it out.
Solid album. Not my cup of tea, but good
Never heard in whole but know now that some songs are just as good as their radio hits. Great 3piece rythym and blues too.
Very bluesy and just a good rock album- unlike their 80's radio hits like Legs and Tush. The vocals are just ok but I really enjoy the music itself. I am liking this a lot the more I listen.
Solid
Boogie-rock classic
fine
Can’t quite understand why there’s so much on this list which is nothing more than generically American. Or why these attempts at sounding soulful seem so plastic. It’s not terrible, but it is meaningless.
En tiedä, tuleeko tästä kovin eheä kokonaisuus. Tai siis genre ja tyyli pysyy, mutta tuntuu kokoelmalta irrallisia lauluja. Se ei yleensä haittaisi, ks. edellinen virke, mutta nyt joku mättää. Sinänsä hauska meno, ei liian vitsi.
Tekevät lähes kaiken mahdollisen valitsemiensa (?) rajoitteiden puitteissa. Waitin' for the Bus ja La Grange riittävät pitkälle. Mutta laittavatko jotkut tämän levyn soimaan kullaakseen biisit Move Me on Down the Line ja Precious and Grace?
Phenomenal blues rock album for #1,001!! Hell yes!! Favorite songs: La Grange, Jesus Just Left Chicago, Waitin' for the Bus, Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers, Master of Sparks, Precious and Grace, Sheik, Have You Heard? Least favorite songs: "Hot, Blue and Righteous" 5/5
Strong rock songs, but lacking the consistency to merit a 4. There are many songs I would want to listen to again, but not the whole album. - Whoa! Strong start. This is my kind of rock - Kinda jam rock, kinda 60s CCR stuff. Hard to place. - Middle of the album is repetitive dad-rock. Might be too much kludge to justify a 4, but I'm looking forward to their other albums on this list.
1. buz - 2 2. chicago - 1.5 3. beer - 1.5 4. zparkz - 1 5. hot - 1.5 6. line - 1 7. grace - 1.5 8. grange - 3.5 9. zheik - 1.5 10. heard - 1.5 11. buz - 2 12. jezuz - 1.5 13. grange - 3.5
uuuuu
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.
Pretty good stuff. La Grange (a song I already liked) was still probably the best of the bunch.
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
Blues music. Simple blues music. At times a bit too all American hero. Mid 3
that’s ok. a classic one
texas blues. unique sound
This is solid blues-rock. “Waitin’ for the Bus” kicks things off with a catchy riff and a more-than-decent guitar solo. “Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers” is pure fun—the band clearly gives it their all. “Move Me on Down the Line” feels like what the Rolling Stones might have sounded like if they’d fully held onto their blues roots into the ’70s. (It’s definitely the kind of track that fits well on a radio playlist.) But the real standout here is “La Grange”—an absolute killer track. I assume it’s well-known… I just didn’t know it myself until now. “Shiek” and “Have You Heard?” are a bit forgettable in comparison. However, the final three live tracks are marvelous—energetic and raw. In the end, ZZ Top really helped keep blues rock alive with this album. A great record.
This album is inconsistent to me. It's has some real highlights and some forgettable songs too. The extra live tracks are an added bonus. Liked Songs Added: Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers La Grange
No!
Didn't blow my hair back or anything, but a solid southern blues rock entry. 4/5 Highlights: Jesus Just Left Chicago La Grange
Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers was the first track where this album actually caught my attention. I thought the opening track was quite weak which is definitely not what you want from a record like this. Unfortunately I generally found this to be broadly one note and quite dull.
Great bar band. Well produced. Drummer is great.
Fun album, 70s hard rock. Favorite track: La Grange other picks: sheik, waiting for the bus, jesus just left chicago
Phish should cover this album. That’s more or less what I thought about throughout this listen.
One of the greatest bar bands around. Everything’s bigger in Texas including the sound these tres hombres make.
fine, i guess I like a little ZZ Top, but so many of these songs are just repetitive blues fed through forgettable guitar fuzz. Maybe it was cool in 1973 but I don't ever have the thought "Oh I should put on ZZ Top right now" La Grange an all-timer.
meanwhile this is cool as all hell
Enjoyably, resolutely guitar-forward. Still, didn’t find the individual songs very distinctive.
Never really got ZZ Top, but thought I might like them because their long beards and vibe remind me of our friend Katie's dad...but alas...this album just didn't do it for me. I guess it was okay, but nothing to write home about.
La Graaaaaaange
I think this album cover art was made in Word and the pictures and words kept moving every time there was an adjustment. I liked the music just fine.
beer drinkers and hell raisers is right
For 1973, this was an exemplary Texas blues-rock album. Sort of Outlaw Country Rock, and ZZ Top was a new act (not all that new, two of them performed as The Zombies back in the 1960s, mere cogs in the exploitative music industry). This album is fine for what it is--blues based party rock. Don't think too much about it, have another beer, just have fun. Interesting and essential? Sure, if this can be the last blues-rock album on the list, but I doubt it will be.
Pretty generic
I’m not sure why I need to hear at least 2 ZZ Top records before I die. This is run of the mill dad rock.
I struggle to summon a huge about of energy for ZZ Top, either positive or negative. Its bluesy, southern rock which is a genre mismatch for me, though I do find it perfectly listenable.
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.
Rating: 3 Notable songs: La grange? Meh. This band in general very meh.
Who knew Just three guys with basically three chords could kick it.
feel like taking a bus trip through the US while i sketch my journal with some hippie clothes on, trippin on acid and my shaggy hair. 2.5/5
Riffs! Licks! Boogie! Blues! Rock! It’s all in here – from Thin Lizzy to Maiden, Metallica, Audioslave; White Stripes and Black Keys; every piece of radio rock as good as a sweaty Santana banger or as bad as “Lips of an Angel”. Every single significant musical food group covered across one nutritious plate. (“Hot, Blue and Righteous” even sounds a bit like “Purple Rain”; saucy!) “Master of Sparks”, a song about two dudes – one of them ZZ Tops’ Barry Gibbons – who fabricated a spherical cage that they’d launch off the back of their truck at highway speeds is every bit as groovy and disarmingly dumb as the story it immortalises. You can only get away with that sort of daring recklessness if you’re a) blessed with equal levels of impossible confidence and luck, and b) so ineffably nonchalant about it that the force of any shock is absorbed by the aura of relaxation you create. Thankfully, Gibbons and ZZ Top have all those things in spades. Tres Hombres is good times. Be glad the boys were as handy welding a shuttle-cage as they are melding a groove.
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.
La Grange is the obvious highlight, the rest is decent.
Started off promising, but slips into the usual.
Blues Rock essentials. Simple, straight forward, and bearded. Boiled down to the basics so much that it doesn't even sound dated today. However, this also makes the album feel lacking of a little substance and variety after a while. Le Grange as a single highlight track can't mitigate this feeling. 3.5/5
Not bad! Probably not something I’d return to but I didn’t mind it. I forgot about “La Grange.” I love that song.
Was blown away by the arrangements. Truly one of the greatest albums I've heard.
What i knew before listening: beards. What i knew after listening: a surprisingly bluesy accessible rock album. Maybe it was just having my expectations subverted but i was pleasantly surprised by this. Gentle vocals and real blues chops.
Great much better than eliminator
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.
Good
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.
9/10 Overstilig og funky bluesrock. Rett opp mi gate fsds.
Cmon!! Home grown boys from Texas.
The bonus live tracks were more enjoyable to me than a lot of what was on the main album. La Grange is an all time classic and used to be my favorite song when I just got into classic rock. I never felt the rest of the album was as strong though. The rest of the songs aren't as hard, aren't as memorable and don't have the same atmosphere to them. It's still a nice listen but it doesn't really warrant revisiting often.
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
Pretty good!
Interesting look at 70's ZZ Top for me. I grew up with 80's ZZ Top and although I know most of the hit's from the 70's my knowledge of that era for the band is limited. This definitely has a rougher edge than "Eliminator" which was a smoother Rock/Blues to me. Over all I liked the album despite their not being a pop out single other than La Grange which I already knew.
TEXAS RANGERS
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.
It was okay. I was a little disappointed. The only song that stood out to me was “La Grange”. The rest of the album was just generic Southern rock with some Spanish words here and there.
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.
You have to appreciate a band with three guys and two of them have huge beards and the other guy doesn't have a beard and his last name is Beard. La Grange is the quintessential ZZ Top song and works great. I'm glad this exists and whoever this is for loves it. Not a masterpiece by any stretch but it's decent and not hurting anyone
This has some decent bones. A pretty cohesive album, it's not really bringing anything new or elevating the genre. Well executed, but wouldn't be the first place I go to for the Blues.
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.
Good bluesy rock. What you would expect from ZZ Top. Good riffs.
Solid debut by a blues rock band that hadn't found its style quite yet. There are a couple zingers here, but their best was yet to come.
this was pretty good.
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
cant beat a bit of ZZ
This album is awesome blues rock from start to finish!
pretty good production
Cool
Blues bar rock. Fine for what it is, just not for me.
This sound got old sooooo fast. Also, dude sounds like Meatwad
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
Sometimes a little beer drinking and hell raising is just what you need.
Solid album. Bluesy guitars and drums. Southwestern feel. Didn’t mind it but not my style. Craftsmanship is very high
7,30
Great groovy album with some variety.
Straightforward exemplar of 'dad-rock'. Musty blues-rock that doesn't do either genre justice. It would be fine in the background of a bar, kind of boring to listen to closely. Standout: La Grange
A fun bluesy time
Great guitar and blues. Not every song is amazing, but they all evoke something.
Quite enjoyable.
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.
Hell yeah bruddas
Hard rock med lidt blues over det, gode riffs, en smule dad-vibes
'La Grange' is one of the first few songs I learnt on bass. I liked 'Have you heard?' too. Rest of the album just doesn't connect with me.
Das Album Tres Hombres wurde in den Ardent Studios in Memphis sowie in Robin Hood Studios in Tyler, Texas aufgenommen. ZZ Top ist ein US-amerikanisches Trio aus Texas, bestehend aus Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill und Frank Beard. Die Band ist bekannt für ihren erdigen, gitarrenlastigen Sound, der Blues, Rock und Southern-Einflüsse miteinander verbindet. Auf dem Album finden sich einige der bis heute typischen Stücke der Gruppe. Besonders hervorzuheben ist „La Grange“, das durch seinen Shuffle-Rhythmus und den Bezug zur texanischen Lokalkultur zu einem ihrer bekanntesten Songs wurde. Weitere Titel wie „Waitin’ for the Bus“ und „Jesus Just Left Chicago“ zeigen die enge Verknüpfung von Blues und Rockelementen, die für das Werk prägend sind. Musikalisch bewegt sich Tres Hombres im Bereich des Bluesrock mit starker Südstaatenprägung. Die Arrangements sind kompakt, die Produktion hält sich an eine klare, direkte Klanggestaltung, die den Live-Charakter der Band betont. Tres Hombres markiert einen wichtigen Punkt in der Entwicklung von ZZ Top und gilt rückblickend als ein zentrales Album ihres frühen Schaffens. Die klare stilistische Linie und die einprägsamen Riffs festigten ihren Ruf innerhalb des Genres.
Nice album, prefer it to Eliminator because it seems a bit less polished
More gritty and bluesy than the latter stuff
Liked this a lot more than the other ZZ Top album we got, 1983's 'Eliminator'. Fewer hits, but a better overall sound. Good production, I guess, but it also feels more earnest and emotional? Enjoyed 'Master of Sparks', which has a nice spooky sound.
I liked this better than the other ZZ Top album on this list (Eliminator), but I listened to it twice through and none of it stuck with me. 2.5 stars?
I expected to like this more, but found it a bit generic. Again, I play this game with a single listen, so it's not fair to me to say that this is boring. Probably will listen to it more to check if it's a grower or just an overrated album. Btw, the sound is cool!
This sounds like music made by guys with big beards. Favorite track: "La Grange"
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.
Some good blues and rock tracks.
Rock n roll as imagined
love the bluesy vibes
Great 70s rock band, and this album really showcases that blues influence.
If a shot of still Austin with shiner bock chaser was an album, it’d be tres hombres
I really enjoyed these guys.
Tres Bad Ass Hombres!! These guys created a whole ass sound!
Classic ZZ! Just great southern guitar rock!
Good Good!!! These guys just play good ol rock and roll!! Was surprised this came out in 73’! La Grange is one of my favorite songs just a toe tappin jam!
One of the few albums fro start to finish that never loses its edge. Texas hot blues for days!
My favorite ZZ Top album. I could listen to this one every day of my life.z
Turns out early ZZ Top is much more bluesy. This was pretty good, the standout being obviously Lagrange.
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!
Pleasantly surprised by ZZ once again. Closer to 3.5 on this album.
Was going to gibbs it 2 but didn't hate it. Was just bored. I think with mor familiarity I'd give it a 3.
I liked this more than Eliminator, which was a solid 3. This is closer to 3.5. La Grange is great - my mom said that song cracked me up as a kid. It doesn't make me laugh hysterically as an adult, but I still like it. Overall a chill, bluesy rock album that I won't seek out often, but would listen to again. It would be great for when Grandpa comes over for a BBQ - make that a ZZQ. (I'm glad I'm not a dad because that was downright disgraceful.)
Ok
Not every song is a hit but there are some great songs.
Good album, one true hit song.
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.
Dull, except for a brief jolt when La Grange kicks in that dissipates once you realize that the warmer reception you gave that song is just your synapses firing thanks to recognition from the Guitar Hero 3 songbook.
I liked a couple of the songs that I recognized, but the other ones were kind of boring
Nothing of note has come to mind until I heard “Hot,Blue and Righteous “. That sounds like a song Prince wrote and I’m not at all upset if that were true. Anyways, I know I should be saying that La Grange is the choice cut off of this album and although technically true, I’m finding Hot,Blue and Righteous to be the real gem of the album. It just sounds so different than what I knew these guys to sound like. All in all, this isn’t a blow away album for me. It’s blusey, guitar driven, groovy in a non hippy sense. It’s a good background soundtrack. That may be all a person needs. Choice cut: Hot, Blue and Righteous
You can't fake cool
109%
The album that introduced me to Texas boogie! A classic that I’ve had in my collection for years, 10/10.
excellent stuff . 4
2 Stars (5/15)
Enjoyed this a lot. Not familiar with many of the tracks beforehand but the whole album is locked into a really solid groove
It’s hard to dislike any of this but it’s not my cup of tea, likeable enough that I did get some fun out of it, just bluesy enough to not fall into the hole of hard-rock for me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is what would be playing in the background if I ever got mugged in an alleyway outside a pool hall
Swampy southern blues rock. It does what it says on the tin.
Not much by the way of stand out songs but an overall really solid chill rock album.
Fühl mich wie ein alter Biker, wenn ich das höre
Wasn't bad. Of course you have to like La Grange but I could take or leave the rest.
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.
Great guitar sounds, one long jam.
Bluesy, boogie, Southern hard rock power trio. Solid all around - soulful voice, zippy guitar, foot tappin’ rhythm. Nothing too complex, just a good groove and good guitar playing. I had fun listening to most of it, but I won’t be running in the streets shouting about it. A bit repetitive, where I start zoning out the songs other than the guitar solos.
Enjoyable
Typical blues rocks record. Noting special about it but noting bad about it. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Repeat listen
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.
Blues rock bastante competente mas blues rock é uma bosta então o álbum também é uma bosta. Tá mais pra 💤 top.
cool
MID musica de fundo só, 4/10
Destaques: - Waitin' for the Bus - Jesus Just Left Chicago - La Grange 2.5/5
Cara, é ZZ Top, então não tem muito o que falar. Claro que tem seus momentos mas teve uma hora que passaram umas 4 faixas atrás da outra e eu nem percebi. Sem contar a abominação que é "Hot, Blue and Righteous" que destrói completamente a sensação de estar num barzinho acabado cheio de velho amargurado, mas acredito que uma faixa dessas é necessária para respirar (nem que seja por pouco) dos solos de guitarra do Billy Gibbons. O baixo é bom, só isso.
I loved how the guitar sounds and solos.
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.
A nice listen, refreshing after several of the worst fucking pieces of God Damn shit swallah to allah I've ever heard
La Grange and Waitin' for the Bus had me headbopping. For me, the rock/blues genre pre-80s doesn't hit quite as hard as, well, hard rock, but it is enjoyable to listen to. Also the few live songs at the end of the album have me convinced about live music sounding better a majority of the time. Give those a listen if you didn't. I feel like I need to eventually stop being so critical and give something a 4. Not today though.
I want to give it a 4, but I feel like it's not a 4. Maybe my standards are too high? There were a few good songs in the album though. Maybe this is one of those that needs multiple relistens to truly appreciate.
ZedZed Top as we call them in canada
Great album classics on it will be back
This was a classic ZZ top album. It was probably revolutionary when it came out, but not that special now. If I wanted to put a soundtrack on when I did something to make me feel cool, this so what it would be.
Some good guitar. Will likely forget this album in a few weeks
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. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Droning. ZZ Top is already a bit out of my personal realm but this is a fairly generic rock album that could be applied to a number of different bands without noticing.
6.6
Only decent songs are La Grange and Jesus just left Chicago
good Album. of course La Grange is the best song
Very nice selection
I enjoyed this much more than Eliminator, some great songs on here. None of them come close to La Grange though, that one is perfection. I found it a bit repetitive after a while though, not one I'd come back to.
Solid bluesy rock but didn’t really stand out to me
Fun stompy clap Folk-Rock. Not the most complex just pure ZZTop enjoyment, nothing more, nothing less.
This is the platonic ideal of electric guitar. 5 stars, no skips, no notes. Favorite track was La Grange LIVE
8.5/10
Ptn c'est bien
Adored
Three Men Dad Rock! 🤘 🎸 Ahh good ol’ boogie woogie ZZ Top, a band that will be forever synonymous with memories of my late Father, who passed away just two months ago. A few of these songs have been seared into my brain since childhood, as they were staples on my Father’s favorite classic rock radio station, however until now I’ve never listened to a full ZZ album. The singles were as enjoyable as I remember, as was the overall package as a complete album. 🎧 Classic Track: La Grange 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Jesus Just Left Chicago 🎧 Personal Favorite: Precious and Grace 🚫 Skip Track: Move Me On Down The Line While I appreciate there were some unexpected creative left turns away from the hard rock blues the record is grounded in, namely the ballad ‘Hot, Blue, Righteous’ and the power pop inspired ‘Move Me On Down The Line’, these feel to disrupt the otherwise tighter cohesive blend of the core song mix. 🖼️ Album Artwork: Tres Bien! 💿 A fun add to your vinyl collection The three men with beards don’t take themselves too seriously playing up the Texas boogie rock, with Tres Hombres serving as the perfect companion to fixing your car in the garage or cruisin’ down the road on your hog! 🏍️🤘🏍️ Click the Thumbs Up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)
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.
Cool and feisty blues rock. Had a hard time getting through it, but also didn't have the time to REALLY listen, so i ended up splitting it up into 3 listens while doing other stuff. Not super interesting. Good production.
Already in my collection. No notes necessary.
3.5
Decent bluesy rock. La Grange is still a belter and the rest is ok.
Prefer 80s zz top but this is alright
Great blues album. I enjoyed it
Blues funk hard rock soul and whatever LaGrange is. The best ZZTop album! Billy Gibbons has few peers.
I like these guys' sound, but will admit that every song except for "La Grange" seems pretty much the same.
Album has a couple of classic songs, solid bluesy guitar riffs, yet the band had not quite hit their peak
El hombre de en medio en la portada parece que se esté follando el palo. Canción destacada: La Grange
Good stuff
Really great and you can hear what ZZ Top would become
Quite boppy but its not making the playlist. fav = Jesus just left chicago
Good, little album. Surprisingly melodious.
Pretty good. Good guitar playing. Good rhythms. A little repetitive throughout but the highlights are very high
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.
[3.5]
Not for me
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
Nope!
Ah haw haw haw haw. (23 known/45 new)
There are some nice bits in this album, and there were times when I thought I might end up connecting more than I did, but it's just not that great. Definitely didn't grow on me as I'd hoped. OK.
If only for the two songs Jesus Left Chicago and La Grange, this would be a classic album. The good news is that the rest of the album is also great. It is 45 minutes of smokin' hot Texas blues with more grit than a dirt road. You don't have to say a lot about Tres Hombres. One listen says it all.
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.
Stone cold classic from start to finish
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
i've always felt a bit indifferent to zz top and through this project, i think indifference is where i top out with them. this album was fine. perfectly bluesy. a little rough around the edges. nothing super remarkable. the highlight here by a wide margin is radio staple 'la grange.' nothing here was bad but to me it was a bit of a nothing album otherwise.
Good blues rock. La Grange is the highlight!
This has to be the only album on the list by ZZ Top, right? I mean you've heard one of their albums, you've heard them all. Hell, you've heard one of their songs, you've hear them all. I saw them live years ago and Billy Gibbons was talking about being old and people coming to see "the same three guys, playing the same three chords". ZZ Top is definitely dad rock and sort of cheesy. But damn can Billy play guitar. I mean it's not super complicated but really great nonetheless. Their songs are simple, catchy, usually have good grooves, and (even they'd tell you) largely the same. It's fun to listen to if it comes on but I'd never really pick ZZ Top on purpose or buy any of their records. 3/5
Surprisingly would listen again, this is a really fun guitar album. Solid to high three. Faves: waitin for the bus, Jesus just left Chicago, La grange
Couple great songs. Couple decent songs. A few meh songs. It’s essentially just blues, I’m not sure why this is considered rock. Maybe the beards? I don’t know, it was fine.
La Grange has been used so many times in pop culture that it cannot be enumerated.
Cool. Casual. But again, only one great song.
I was prepared to rip on this album for all the things I dislike: derivative white boy blues, guitar noodling, etc. But in the end it is so well done that I couldn't help but enjoy it. There is some noodling, but the songs are short and tight, and the production is immaculate. The origins of electrified Texas Blues and even sub-genres like Stoner Rock are evident here, and there is *just* enough ingenuity to elevate the music above derivative blues. That said, Master of Sparks is the best song on this album by a long shot IMO. That song is totally original and would not sound out of place on a modern album by a heavy jam band like The Sword.
Tunggung!
Meh
I've been on a streak of either lousy or uninteresting albums for a bit. 2nd excellent album in a row, and I'm sitting here smiling. The band is tight and sloppy at the same time, sticky and sharp. 1st and 2nd cuts (WAITIN' FOR THE BUS & JESUS JUST LEFT CHICAGO) make such a terrific medley. Sure, not every song is as great as those two or, of course, LAGRANGE (what is though?), but the overall feel of the album ranks high. Giving it 5 stars, admitting to being influenced by the impression it made on me when it was released. 😎😎😎😎😎 ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 72 🎧 LPs left to review: 929 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 17 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 18 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 19
Super funky and endlessly wonderful. Will never tire of listening to this over and over again.
"La Grange" is a fucking banger, but this just isn't ZZ Top's best album.
A masterpiece
Amazing Texan rock energy! "Jesus just left Chicago (live)" is definitely a banger I'll play in the future. 9/10
Can I get a hell yeah? Cause that's what I was doing the entire time here. I thought I'd be mad about the blues but then the slide riff on "Jesus Just Left Chicago" hit and I was bobbing with stank face. Even for the most blues averse, Billy Gibbons’ swampy shredding, Dusty Hill’s perfect bass matching, and Frank Beard’s absolute precision on drums are undeniable. And they bring a swagger bigger than Texas and a soul that Clapton and his ilk would kill for. ZZ Top is everything I actually love about Texas, instead of the bad shit. Fuckin’ great record.
fun! La Grange pulls a LOT of the weight here though, it's beyond the obvious highlight & i don't think this would be nearly as enjoyable without that song holding things together. some sick solos & the vibes are good despite this being a boomer blues album
Didn't realize I liked ZZ top This much. It was just good old Rocky blues. Dad would approve.
They still sound great. A sound as iconic as their beards.
La Grange is rad though
Great album! Texas Blues-Rock at its best. Crunchy guitars and rock solid rhythm section. Nobody does pinch harmonics better than the Reverend Billy F. Gibbons. I found all of the songs except "Hot, Blue and Righteous" to very strong. That one just didn't do it for me. So 9/10 for that but gotta round up. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Strong 4
I’m pretty familiar with ZZ Top, but haven’t listened to any of their complete albums. I was pretty disappointed with this one. While it stays pretty true to their southern blues rock, none of the songs really got me excited like the genre usually does. Listen again: maybe Purchase for my collection: if I came across it cheap Favourite Song: still La Grange. Was hoping to find a new gem but nope.
Lagrange is a banger
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 :)
Been a minute since I have listened to this album from start to finish. This was enjoyable. Great Texas blues rock. Very enjoyable album. Great trio of musicians making some music. Band is great live as well.
La Grange is peak but otherwise I thought this was just alright
Great album. Gibbons guitar is awesome. Just wish album was longer.
Niente male, anche se a parte La Grange (che già conoscevo), mi sono orecchiabili ma non mi coinvolgono troppo. Jesus Just Left Chicago molto bella
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
Solid beats all the way through, includes the infamous La Grange. Classic ZZ Top sound.
The beards are more impressibe than the songs
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.
It is pretty dern good I’m just not a huge ZZ Top fan
Terrific blues rock album
All bangers and I’m kinda shook I didn’t know this was as good as it is. Easy 5 stars
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
Typical boomer rock with a few good songs here or there. Overall low mid
Not bad.
Average blues music at the best of times, boring boomer rock at the worst of times.
Had hier meer van verwacht, generieke bluesrock, geen pakkende nummers
2S.
4 Ah-haw-haw-haw's out of 5.
Gubbrock deluxe. Har ju inte lyssnat på ZZ top det minsta (annat än när de hade nån låt på nån topplista när vi var små). Det är helt ok bluesaktig rock. Men varken mer eller mindre.
Solid bluesrock, men blir lite enformigt och utöver La Grange är det inte tillräckligt många låtar som sticker ut för att jag ska tycka att det är mer än en stark trea.
Meh
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.
I like ZZ Top, just don’t think they’re an album band. Bet they were awesome live. La Grange is a great song, the rest was was good quality classic rock, but in a list of some stunning music it didn’t stand out much 3/5
Not one I’m sure I needed to listen to before I died. Very forgettable, scraped a 3
Ok
Good but nothing special imo
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.
Classic classic rock. 5
😎😎😎
Texan bar room blues. I didn't find this a very exciting album - if I wanted to play white Texas blues I'd prefer Johnny Winter's The Progressive Blues Experience.
Over it
Blúsrokk er mín tónlist og ZZ Top eru algjörir blúsrokkarar. Það ætti því ekki að koma neinum á óvart að ég gef plötunni fimm stjörnur. Þessi fer aftur og aftur í spilun hjá mér
Muy buen disco. Temas de rock-rock, rock-blues y rock-country, con distintas voces. Top.
It's #day183 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... I think this is the first time I'm listening to a ZZ Top album all the way through. I've heard a song or two on the radio, but that’s about it. So, what do we get here? Well, good ol' dusty blues... What else would you expect from ZZ Top? This is a 3 out of 5. It was okayish, but that’s about it. Chances are slim I'm reaching for this anytime soon, if ever. Looking forward to #day184.
Just not really enough variety to want to listen to it again. Give me The White Stripes or QOTSA any day. I realise that this band influenced a lot of bands and albums that I like, but that’s because they did it better, with more variation on even one song than this has over the whole album. When there’s not much progression in the songs, it just makes it boring to listen to.
Nice blues-laced rock & roll. Great first album.
I feel like I’ve heard all these songs before, and have liked some of their standout singles in the past (although that could just be songs I’ve heard playing Guitar Hero games), but listening to this album in its entirety like this really shows up how generic these songs are. If this came on the jukebox while I was throwing back crappy beers and playing pool in a bar I’d be in my element, but this kind of sucks when listened to as an album. The influence some of these riffs had on Queens of the Stone Age is very apparent.
Totally fine. I'd probably be more appreciative of ZZ Top if they were the only one who sounded like this. Unfortunately for the ZZ toppers the people who took their sound made better music, thus putting them at the ZZ bottom of my list. I tip my ZZ top hat to these innovators but I see ZZ top as a vehicle to catch some ZZ's (tops)
Hard rocking explicitly boozy blues rock; kind of exactly what I expected. The biggest surprise was that the guitarist/singers voice doesn’t always sound like it does in “La Grange”, and I have to admit it was a bit disappointing that it didn’t. While every song is essentially 12 bar blues, there’s enough variation in it between the guitar riffs and the drums that it doesn’t all blend together. The songs are definitely similar, but they’re all distinct. The biggest departure is “Hot, Blue and Righteous” which is an attempt at a slower song. Doesn’t quite come off. Anyway this was good. It’s a 3.5. I think I’d like a greatest hits collection more than just this album because I do like a few more of their songs not in this album.
Old school cool. Solid classic rock with a touch of blues here and there. Nice guitar work and vocals. Very dated, but still holds up.