Reviews (page 8 of 13)
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.
Just ok
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.
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.
3.5
Sympa le rock
Texas Blues just the way you'd expect it.
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
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
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.
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."
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.
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
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.
Great power blues album. La Grange always a standout, Master of Sparks also a favorite.
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
Yeah just a good bluesy rock album. La Grange is good.
So different from their 80s stuff. Pretty unique sound
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.
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.
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.
3/5
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
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.
"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.
Is La grange awesome? Yeah! Are several album cuts pretty cool? Absolutely! Do I need to listen to this album again? Probably not!
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.
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.
It was fine, nothing really jumped out at me but less cheesy than zz top I'm familiar with
Loud.
Having only heard my dad make fun of La Grange, I thought I was going to hate this album. It was a pleasant surprise how much I enjoyed it. 7/10
ZZ Top sounds pretty much exactly the way you'd expect them to. Pretty straightforward boogie blues rock. The kind of thing you hear in a bar in the American South when country doesn't cut it. It's kind of fun. But let's be honest, "La Grange" is the best song by a mile.
Such great riffs but not enough here to want me to keep returning. Admittedly this was the album that convinced me that ZZ Top wasn’t just a novelty act
An ok album - found it a bit uninspiring
Added it to my cowboy playlist
Lowkey laid-back.
Too track: Precious And Grace
So I was not expecting to enjoy this as much as a I did...figuring they'd all sound like "Legs" which played non stop on MTV in the mid 80s. Surprisingly, some fun gritty rock music here. Of course La Grange is well known. I'd give a solid score - enjoyed but not likely to be back any time soon. 3/5
Good album with some good songs! 6.1/10
3 Dudes. 2 with beards. 1 named beard. I think we need to go back, as a society, and embrace album covers where we have three over saturated pictures of dudes in Canadian tuxedos and/or climbing up things. Nothing better than some white guys pretending they're Muddy Waters too.... chef's kiss. This is an excellent album to bust out the Casa Migos and make poor life choices.
English 70s rock. Their breakthrough. Pretty standard.
It's fine. It was good. This is a specific genre of rock I really don't really care for but I'd be lying if I said these fellas didn't do their thing. They captured that manly motorcycle riding, leather jacket wearing, and south of the U.S feel. There were some good songs here and there but with the low level of nuance and depth it didn't push all the right buttons for me. Top 3: Waitin' For The Bus, Master of Sparks, and La Grange not bad songs just a couple of mid 2.75-3.25/5
I've listened to a lot of blues rock today, and this one is fine, but maybe I'm a bit burned out on it. Overall, this is a great album, but something about it just doesn't hit right for me. It's solid though. 2.75 / 5 stars
As a whole I think this is simply pretty good. The album is constructed completely around and in service to the guitar work. Riffs and solos you can sink your teeth into. “La Grange” slaps like crazy.
Some good ol rock n roll but nothing special. Don't feel this was an album i had to hear before I die.
what a great blues rock album, billy gibbons is one of the greats.
Yeah man, cool.
Delícia de álbum. Perfeito para quando você quer ouvir solos de guitarra no meio de um deserto. Surpreendentemente ótimos vocais! acrescentaram muito à vibe de Tres Hombres. Frío, rapazes 7.0/10.0
El Si mang
I expected to hate this, but it was actually surprisingly listenable.
Enjoyable album, but nothing absolutely crazy. A solid 3.5/5 if I've heard one. Enjoyed a couple songs a lot more than others, but not something I'll be revisiting from the ZZ Top catalog.
The band managed to take hold of and create a style rooted in Southern culture and its native blues, blending it with mythical, playful and humorous themes. Compared to their First Album, Tres Hombres shows an evolution and definition of identity and personality not seen before. I especially highlight the creativity in both the storytelling and Gibbons’ riffs, there isn’t a single disappointing track. La Grange is by no means overrated, it’s a true hit that I still enjoy after all the times it has accompanied me. Favorite song: Jesus Just Left Chicago.
I respect the album, but it did the opposite of relax me.
Another throwback to my junior high years. I generally like ZZ drums and guitar, especially on Master of Sparks and La Grange. Fun:)
Already had this album. La Grange is a favorite of mine.
Tja, wat standaard-jaren-70-bluesrock van drie heren van wie we steviger werk gewend zijn. Dit kan bijvoorbeeld Creedence toch veel en veel beter. Ik kon er weinig spannends aan ontdekken en ga snel door naar het volgende album.
Pretty funky! Really nice guitar. Not really my taste though
La grange surrounded by a bunch of boring mid tier songs
Not bad. Not my vibe. Would give 3.5 cause I wouldn't hate if it came on again.
A nice album by a band that would become much bigger in the future. It’s bluesy rock done well.
Good
I met Seikh from Mozambique.
Enjoyable, but quite samey. Listened to: walking through Prospect Park. Favorite tracks: Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers, Hot Blue and Righteous
Blues-influenced with catchy melodic rhythms & slightly gritty vocals at times.
i can dig this. it is like a 3.5 for me
no lo termine de escuchar, pero lo poco que escuché fue un solido tres. me gustó mucho,buenos temas, me dan ganas de salir a andar en moto
Separate the art from the artist. The whole aesthetic is very cringe to me, but the music is good. Who cares, I listen to them so I didn’t have to see them. There is a lul in the quality, album goes up and down. 3/5
clasico!
Some real classics on this. Sounds great even by todays standards. There is a lot of repeat notes throughout the songs. Just slightly above average.
It was as solid ZZ Too album. If you like them you’ll like it if not it’s not for everyone. I was happy to listen to it but it won’t make the regular rotation.
More like Hres Tombres, nahm sayin?
These guys are amazing guitarists, and even though it's not so much my thing, I can appreciate that. Nice to hear the album The Grange is on, because I definitely heard that song more than a few times growing up.
Typischer ZZ Top Sound, sehr gitarrenlastig. Gute Rock-Musik. 3/5
iznenađujuće dobro, al ne bih slušao
I've never been drawn to the music of ZZ Top. This album is ok but I'd not choose to listen to it again.
As far as straight-up blues rock goes, it's fine.
Not my vibe
Some good ones
3 1/2 Stars: Bluesy ZZ Top is just as good if not better than their turn into Adult Rock in the 80s. Tres Hombres is a good mix of bangers and middling tracks. But c'mon...La Grange is one of the all-time great songs, rock, blues or otherwise. It's what makes this record.
This is an album that is listenable, but I feel that its something only the Boomers can get down to and say it is one of the greatest there is. Don't get me wrong, I kind of like ZZ Top but it didn't feel ambitious or original like most music was back in that day where there were acts like Pink Floyd or David Bowie breaking barriers. But this album is pretty good in my opinion, like the kind of album that you would listen to while driving a Harley bike on a dirt country road, or while your sitting in a highway bar and La Grange randomly comes on the jukebox. Good album but just not really my thing. Favorite Tracks: Waitin' for the Bus, Jesus Just Left Chicago, La Grange, Have You Heard? Rating: 3/5
Alright
point9.
This was quite a fun listen and it's nice to get away from all the generic rock, but nothing in it will really stick with me.
3.4
Bluesy!
its a jam
Better than I expected, thought I was gonna hate this.
I enjoy ZZ Top but eventually each song starts to sound same same. There is a time and a place though.
If there's anything I know... some rowdy stuff has happened while this album was playing.
Good solid bluesy rock
3.5, really good album, enjoyed it mostly for master of sparks and la grange but its all good
Low/mid 3, instrumentally I don't mind it, vocals are not my favorite, I just don't find anything particularly compelling
Enjoyed it, cool vibe and easy to listen to
This really is a pretty weird album it starts off strong with the first three tracks but tails off for a whole lot of filler and then La Grange hits and its a wow moment, it 100% elevates the whole album but I am not sure what to mark it as till that point its nothing special. its really a 3.5 star album.
yeah it's ZZ Top; what else do you want? La Grange!
This is better than Eliminator; La Grange is a banger. Gibbon's singing voice is mediocre at best. Maybe that's the reason La Grange is so good, no real singing there.
Favoriete is tot nu toe Waitin' for the Bus. Hot, Blue and Righteous is opeens een heel ander liedje dan de voorgaande nummers: veel trager en rustiger.
We got through it. Perhaps on a different day I could have enjoyed it more.
1. La Grange 2. Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers 3. Master of Sparks
Very solid rock album, good riffs, but probably won’t be returning too soon
3+ stars, I enjoy the instrumentation, but if I’m being honest I’m not crazy about the vocals. Definitely better than many of the albums on this list, but it just doesn’t quite make the round up to 4 stars tier for me.
Love zz
Their third album. As soon as this one opens you're in a musty, smoke filled pool hall / biker bar. By the end of the album your beard is two feet long and you're riding a Harley. Blues infused rhythm that does exactly what it says on the tin. La Grange is a classic track.
La grange really stands out. It’s so good that I expected more from the rest of the album
Liked this better than eliminator ir whatever it's called. This was not half bad, actually
Pretty alright
Solid. Some classics
Surprised I didn't like this album more. I was expecting more outside of the La Grange but was disappointed. Very boring to me.
Solid album. 3.5
Pretty straightforward blues rock that gets a little repetitive but La Grange is still a banger. Favorite: La Grange Would I listen to it again: No (except La Grange)
"La Grange" +2, Generic Classic Rock for the rest of the album
It's hard to go wrong with ZZ Top
Chill rock n roll drivin vibes that pass ya by like a pleasant breeze you won’t remember too much of besides the feel
Also offengestanden habe ich einen anderen Sound erwartet als diesen hier. Früher mit "Sharp Dressed Man" und "Gimme all your lovin'" groß geworden, aber dank Wiki erst jetzt gesehen das die gefühlt ne Ewigkeit vorher schon Musik und Alben gemacht haben. Das hier hat mir nich so sehr gefallen :( Schwanke zwischen 2 und 3 Sternen
Chilliger 70s Rock, 3.5 Sterne, tu mich schwer mit entscheiden, aber vermutlich 3 Sterne
I am not a ZZ Top fan however, I can acknowledge that they have a knack for cool guitar riffs that'll hook one into thinking that maybe just maybe they'll win you over only to be disappointed that your relationship with that can't go to the next level.
La Grange is probably one of my favourite rock songs. Nice to know the album it's from has some other good tracks. "Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers" also should be like 3 to 4 mins longer.
This is nice! A bit thin in production, but overall just good ol' rocking men.
Да, легенды, но не на мой вкус
Quite some fun, la grange is obviously an amazing song.
As Classic as Classic Rock n Roll gets
La grange is amazing. This albums production is very tight, love the drum sound and the tones in the album just don’t love all the songs. Enjoyable listen, will come back for la grange
Liked so much Its very fever
Three men?
fun guitar playing and quintessential blues rock riffs from the 70's. It was ok overall. no songs really got me going
6/10 I enjoyed this one. The rhythm section is so tight. Really not an album for people who don’t like guitar solos though! So many of the hooks and grooves were really good, but I don’t feel like there was much development of the themes as the songs went on, though most tracks were pretty short so they didn’t drag too much. I think this one might be a little hard to judge outside of the context of the era. They were obviously doing something very American Deep South vs bands like Led Zeppelin, and I liked it, but I also don’t think a lot of the songs were that memorable outside of a few riffs here and there. I don’t expect I’ll come back to this often, but I did enjoy it for what it was. Waitin’ for the Bus - Loved the groove on this one. Not much to it, but it doesn’t hang around long enough for that to be a problem. Jesus Just Left Chicago - A bit more plodding. Pretty standard blues fare, but it’s pretty clear they have a great command of their instruments and a sense of groove. Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers - More driving, I like this one. Vocals do a bit more on this one, though still plenty of time for some soloing. Master of Sparks - Another good groove, it just didn’t feel like it went anywhere with it, really. Hot, Blue and Righteous - Nice change of pace to end side one. I enjoyed this one, particularly as a counterpoint to the rest of the first half of the album. Move Me on Down the Line - Another tight groove. Another fun solo. Precious and Grace - Good bit of attitude to this one, but ended up being a bit repetitive. La Grange - The quintessential southern blues riff. Great song, even though it again doesn’t really do much beyond a great riff, a solid groove and a bunch of soloing. Sheik - Another great groove and I really dug the vocal swagger on this one too. Have You Heard? - This one actually developed a few different ideas early on which was good, but it was a little bit plodding.
Best appreciated standing around the barbecue.
yeah guitar hero!
Groovy but safe
Don’t dislike ZZ Top and when in the mood I like 12 bar blues songs. But I have to be in the mood and today I wasn’t and found this album too repetitive. Later in the day whilst streaming randomly an early Groundhogs blues track played. Having just listened to this ZZ Top album I was able to compare the two. Maybe because the Groundhogs are British I decided that I liked their blues more. Or more likely I was also influenced by the fact The Groundhogs went onto develop into a Prog Rock band which is much more to my liking. Saving grace for the ZZ’s is that I have seen them live opening for Eric Clapton and they were brilliant. A live version of La Grange was especially good and since that appears on this album my rating of it improves. 3/5 10/5/25
Quite good, different than the bland rock of this time. Really blues heavy, pretty southern too
Son rock. Gros tones de guit, straight dans l'ampli, pas de focaillage de reverb ou autred, SG? Les Paul? L'ingé de son Terry Manning (premiere collabo parmi plusieurs avec ZZ) a mentionné porter une attention particuliere à la transition entre les pièces : "always looking very carefully at the timings between songs ... counting time, feeling how different time sigs go together, different keys, different feels". Souvent les solos partent sur des modulations (meme riff que le reste de la toune mais qui monte d'un ton pile sur le début du solo)
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
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
Good guitar playing, Just all the same
Está bien pero no me encanta
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
fine
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?
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.
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.
Blues music. Simple blues music. At times a bit too all American hero. Mid 3
that’s ok. a classic one
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
Phish should cover this album. That’s more or less what I thought about throughout this listen.
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.
Enjoyably, resolutely guitar-forward. Still, didn’t find the individual songs very distinctive.
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.
Rating: 3 Notable songs: La grange? Meh. This band in general very meh.
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.
La Grange is the obvious highlight, the rest is decent.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
cant beat a bit of ZZ
pretty good production
Solid album. Bluesy guitars and drums. Southwestern feel. Didn’t mind it but not my style. Craftsmanship is very high
Quite enjoyable.
Hard rock med lidt blues over det, gode riffs, en smule dad-vibes
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.
This sounds like music made by guys with big beards. Favorite track: "La Grange"
Some good blues and rock tracks.
Great 70s rock band, and this album really showcases that blues influence.
Turns out early ZZ Top is much more bluesy. This was pretty good, the standout being obviously Lagrange.
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.
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
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. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
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.
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.
Typical blues rocks record. Noting special about it but noting bad about it. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
cool
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.
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.
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.
6.6
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
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 :)
3.5
Decent bluesy rock. La Grange is still a belter and the rest is ok.
Prefer 80s zz top but this is alright
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
Really great and you can hear what ZZ Top would become
Pretty good. Good guitar playing. Good rhythms. A little repetitive throughout but the highlights are very high
[3.5]
Not for me
Ah haw haw haw haw. (23 known/45 new)
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.
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!
"La Grange" is a fucking banger, but this just isn't ZZ Top's best album.
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
La Grange is rad though
Lagrange is a banger
La Grange is peak but otherwise I thought this was just alright
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
Solid beats all the way through, includes the infamous La Grange. Classic ZZ Top sound.
It is pretty dern good I’m just not a huge ZZ Top fan
Not bad.
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.
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
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.
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.
Surprisingly enjoyable blues rock. I'm not sure it will ever be something I choose to listen too again ... but I enjoyed listening to it and wouldn't turn it off it comes up on rotation. It's a solid 2.5er that I'm happy to round up.
Interesting start, then ...
Ok
Solid blues rock that struggles to maintain an identity. La Grange, the biggest hit, is the only one I'd be able to pick out of a lineup as a ZZ Top song. Still fun to listen to, but it's not outrageously unique.
It was fine
Fun blues/rock album with gravelly vocals. The standout track was definitely "La Grange" for earwormability.
3*
Enjoyable but the songs weren't very varied.
Good electric guitar parts, but not really anything that clicks with me
Bearded wonders….
Fun, light hearted driving music
Classic
The playing is pretty tight and it seems like they had a vision. Good for them.
A strange hotch-potch of stolen (Master of Sparks is basically Fleetwood Mac’s Green Manalishi) and stolen from (AC/DC clearly took a whole lot from Jesus Just Left Chicago for Ride On). It’s ok, nothing special. ZZ Top never broke into the UK, you’ll very occasionally hear Legs or Sharp Dressed Man, and I’m not overly surprised.
La Grange bangs but the rest is very typical blues rock
Some great songs on this album, but the album is so-so and has repetitive blues riffs.
Classic rock, these songs all sound pretty. I’ve the same to me, but that’s exactly what I was expecting!
Dope guitaring. Otherwise forgettable.
3.5/5
Amazing guitar. Mid vocals. Overall an okat listening experience. I would probably put it on sometime again.
Meat and potatoes blues rock. Formulaic bar-rock. But it's compact and doesn't outstay it's welcome. It's real downfall is that last two tracks which are dull and go nowhere. A great shame for an album that is hitherto wall-to-wall groove, very lean, and enjoyable. I much prefer it to Eliminator but it still doesn't get a four - a very strong and respectable high three.
If you don’t like La Grange then there’s something wrong with you.
Listened but didn't finish it. Probably a good album but couldn't hold my attention