Reviews (page 8 of 14)
It was ok, not really for me. Favourite tracks: Waitin' for the Bus & La Grange Probably won't be revisiting. 2/5
Bluesy
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.
There's only one album I've driven down the highway to at 100mph and this is it.
BANGIN' southern rock/blues album here. Only one slow-burner I could skip.
It was fine
Fun blues/rock album with gravelly vocals. The standout track was definitely "La Grange" for earwormability.
This one is not complicated. Blues, Beards, Beer, Texas, nice girls-ah. Steeped with classics. The riff from LaGrange will never grow tiresome.
It’s been a long time since I gave these dudes a full listen through. And although I came into the ZZ Top fold around the El Loco album, this one was a real cool listen. This is more than just 12-bar snooze blues. This is riff-driven dynamic stuff with some pepper on it. Pretty timeless.
Blue, brews, bruises and beards. Never rocked a full album from these dudes before, but this was solid.
God damnit this is great. The consistency and quality of ever song is amazing. It just flows together. Never gave these long bearded rocking motha fuckas enough of my time. Respect. ✊
I was at a 4* based on the opening riff alone. This hombre me gusto mucho. 4/5
What a pleasant surprise! I only knew the post-MTV ZZ Top music, which I find very generic. This album is MUCH bluesier than the one in this list from the 80s, which I just had assigned to me earlier this week. This band really went backwards musically over time. They became a shtick.
Driving my Ford F150 through the Oklahoma plains. First two tracks are awesome, lulls a little until le grange, but I thoroughly enjoy this
Very fun and engaging. Got exactly what I expected in some quality southern blues rock, but a surprising amount of musical diversity from a blues album, which came across excellently. Wasn't blown away by anything, but very enjoyable overall. Top tracks: Waitin' for the Bus, LA Grange, Sheik
Great ZZ Top!
Gritty, bluesy, and great consistency. Enjoyed!
буквально HELL YEAH альбом, чилловый такой на самом деле
3*
a really funky and jaunty blues album. compared to other blues albums, this one is a lot more energetic which makes it stand out a bit. i feel like if steely dan write blues music, it would probably sound like this. some tracks are better than others, but this album is a nice little gem in between all the more well-known albums... a side dish for an appetizer, to put it into perspective.
Great choice. I own on vinyl, and listen regularly.
I think I personally have to wait a little more for that Cadillac.
Great album for a Saturday afternoon listening session. Whiskey on one hand and a nice cigar on the other.
Enjoyable but the songs weren't very varied.
Good electric guitar parts, but not really anything that clicks with me
I liked this a lot more than the other (later) ZZ Top album we had on this list. It reminded me of Thin Lizzy and Stevie Ray Vaughan and stuff. It started well, then the middle got a bit boring, but then there came a song I know very well as Queens of the Stoneage covered it! Think I might come back to this album.
Bearded wonders….
Fun, light hearted driving music
Classic
This version of ZZ Top is one hundred thousand times better than the version of ZZ Top that put out Eliminator. It’s been scientifically proven.
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.
Not for me. All the songs sounded the same.
La Grange bangs but the rest is very typical blues rock
not my cup of tea 👍🏻
da shit
Not a huge fan of ZZ Top but this is a good album. 4 stars or B+.
Some great songs on this album, but the album is so-so and has repetitive blues riffs.
Not the best musicians but fun beats, blues, and lyrics. Unique sound.
Classic rock, these songs all sound pretty. I’ve the same to me, but that’s exactly what I was expecting!
Solid rock and roll. Doesn't demand a lot of attention but is fun throughout.
Classic
Dope guitaring. Otherwise forgettable.
3.5/5
Amazing guitar. Mid vocals. Overall an okat listening experience. I would probably put it on sometime again.
Really enjoyed this, knew a few of the songs going in. Set me up to find a big riff playlist after I had Precious and Grace stuck in my head for a few hours.
La Grange and Jesus has just left Chicago were amazing. The rest of the album was still awesome! Unexpected.
Clean and direct sound production. A treat to listen to especially if you're on a blues/rock twinge. Their voices with that closed room reverb give a distinct impression of being in a old, smokey country bar in the middle of nowhere Texas.
Disappointing - was not familiar with early ZZTop so was hoping for something young/ rocky with energy. But found it rather dirgy with tedious geetar solos and no real stand out tracks. Had spent the morning listening to Beggars Banquet and this album was very poor by comparison. Would give it 2.5 if I could.
Tres Hombres I have listened to this a few times in the past, as one of my colleagues loves this album and always recommends it, and also because La Grange is a great track, but I think I found it a little underwhelming. Listening through a few times today it’s better than I remember, but I don’t think it fully catches fire, being divided by good southern/boogie/blues rock tracks and less good but fine southern/boogie/blues rock tracks. Waitin’ for the bus is one of the good tracks, I like the riff, but the segue into Jesus Just Left Chicago improves it, as Jesus Just Left Chicago is probably the standout track alongside La Grange, a kind of moody, atmospheric, r&b slow march, and the two songs work well side by side. Master of Sparks is the next of the good tracks, the rhythm/drum pattern is great, kind of jumping around a bit making it feel slightly off kilter and uneasy. Move Me on Down the Line is a nice bit of propulsive blues, a good driving song on a sunny day. And La Grange of course is excellent, an irresistible bit of 70s boogie. Sheik also stands with as a slightly different feel, the same bluesiness but with a slight psychedelic edge, it almost sounds like a 80s new wave track. I do like this type of music, but I do think it’s probably more of a various artists genre than an individual artist’s album genre. Jesus Just Left Chicago and La Grange are perfect boogie/southern/blues/driving playlist tracks, and there are other tracks that would work well in that context, but as an entire album I do feel the lack of variety dragged a little. Still its a solid, unpretentious listen, which makes it a solid 3. ZZ🔝 ZZ🔝 ZZ🔝 Playlist submission: Jesus Just Left Chicago
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.
Too bluesy and boogie woogie for me to really appreciate
Listened but didn't finish it. Probably a good album but couldn't hold my attention
Fine blues rock. Sort of bridges the gap between Muddy Waters and Sabbath. Waiting for the Bus has some proper chugging bits. Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers is practically hair metal with a few 'virtuouso' solos over the most boring bass line you can imagine. Master of Sparks hints at something more interesting in the intro before reverting to type. Precious and Grace is the highlight, essentially a Sabbath song, with a stripped back bassline cascading guitar fills and Dusty Hill reaching for Ozzy Osborne lyrics. La Grange rocks hard with the John Lee Hooker groove but also reveals that unlike Sabbath, at the core this is just white boy blues and isn't trying to accomplish anything new. Sheik is a funky number with stabbing guitar licks, it's fun coming off like a Stevie Wonder/Hendrix/Average White Band tribute. I suppose this album is fine but I'm sitting here in the 2020s with the music industry in shambles and every song ever written at my fingertips. If I want to listen to blues I'll listen to the originals.
Blues / Bluesrock
May revisit, there's some good stuff in here. a-haw-haw-haw-haw
Poco conocía de esta banda también a excepción del pedazo de tema "La Grange", pero ni sabía de quien era ni nada... buen disco, no me desagrada para nada, y seguro que lo escucho en más de una ocasión. Su música me traslada a un bar con muchas motos apartadas en la puerta y gente barbuda bebiendo cerveza sin parar. Mola!
cool
Everything is done to perfection. It just gets a little repetitive. La grange is awesome
Groovy.
ZZ Top is fine classic rock music. I don't think the band is anything special, especially compared to their contemporaries like Led Zeppelin. The singer's voice is mildly grating, and just not what I want to listen to. Best Songs: Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers, La Grange Worst Songs: Precious and Grace Worst Songs:
Just okay background music, nothing special.
One star for each hombre, except minus one star because this is largely a boring-ass, generic blues rock album.
A couple of surprising songs on here, including Hot, Blue and Righteous. The rest is exactly what I think when I think of ZZ Top.
Run of the mill rock album with the live version of Jesus Just Left Chicago being the standout track
Brilliant, bluesy and beardy
It's what I imagine redneck americans listen to all day.
Really enjoyable album with some wicked riffs and motifs. La Grange is a fantastic song, it just bounces around my ears so pleasurably. The album itself is really well contructed, everything fits into a beautiful flow to create a Houston-Blues masterpiece. Heaps of fun and nice to listen to in the morning with my coffee whislt getting the work day ready, and I can imagine it would be just as nice in the background of a catch up with mates, alcoholic beverages in hand. I like!
I wasnt really that impressed with this one. La Grange has long been a favorite ZZ Top song for me, and that song definitely slaps. But it feels like that's the highlight of the album- the rest of the songs have a pretty similar structure and all seem to meld together.
Classic dad music
I had a lot of fun listening to this! 3.5 rounded up
I was mind boggled to see this was an early 70's album. I thought it was like a mid 80's thing. That matters because not only was it ahead of its time in a lot of ways, but it never really aged, even in 2025! This IS a fantastic album no doubt. Really what an epic band this was! I can easily see adding this to a party night playlist and seeing people ask "what song is THAT?" and being blown away that it is a song from 1973! Yeah, this is absolutely worthy the 1001 album playlist!
It was okay
Fine rock but not for me and nothing special.
not a zz top fan but solid tunes
The tres hombres definitely have a place in my heart. Red hot coals all through this album.
One of my favorite guitar albums. ZZ Top always has good grooves.
i liked it
Nah
unpretentious groovin' guitar rock. apart from "la grange," tracks are unmemorable and bleed together a bit.
Soulful blues rock album.
Cannot fault the musicianship on this one and when it’s good it’s really good but… it just didn’t click for me! Favourite Tracks: Waitin’ for the Bus, La Grange Least Fav Track: Move Me on Down the Line
To steal a line from David Sims of the Blank Check podcast, an album with rocks in its head. Still a lot of fun, and La Grange is pretty undeniable.
penis
Nobody does rock minimalism as perfectly as this.
I didn’t listen to all of it. However the shredding on this album is awesome and I have always loved Jesus Left Chicago.
Hit or miss, some good ones
If I could give this partial stars it would be a 2.5 The good songs are really good but the rest is just filler. It gets a bump up because of the memories I have of sitting up late at night listening to this with friends when Eliminator came out and we discovered ZZTop wasn't a new band
I have never listened to Z Z top before, I am looking forward to this, I am expecting Bearded rock and roll!! What I got is what I expected and I enjoyed it. Beardy blues rock with some great guitar riffs. The album is enjoyable but not ground breaking, its a decent score of 3/5. it lacks a couple of really big songs! Favourite song: Hot blue and righteous and La grange Least favourite: None of the tracks were bad! Album artwork: Green!!!
Some great tunes..La grange in particular a stand out. Got a bit samey towards the end but the musicianship is top drawer.
Great album. I’ve listened many times. I love how clean and crisp the production is. That guitar tone is immaculate.
Now we’re talking! Texas hard edged blues-rock. If listening to this doesn’t put some swagger in your step and an itch to hit the road. . .
This will always remind me of my childhood and Dad. Just damn good music
I was dreading La Grange coming up on the latter half of the album since I've over played it so much over the years - but once it hit it was still a jam. Solid Texas blues. "Hot, Blue and Righteous" was the stand out song this listen through.
More bluesy than I thought it would be. Would try out again. 3.5 stars
Every time I hear this record, I want to hop in the car and start hauling ass down the highway.
Solid album...classic texas blues style. La Grange is such a classic. I would say it's a little bit boring as it's the same stuff over and over, but that ZZ Top sound is so iconic, that it's really fine.
I'm not one who has sought out all of ZZ Top's discography. I've heard their hits like most. But let's see what they had to offer here, in what ended up being their breakthrough album. This is Texas rock if you were ever to give that label a distinct sound. Blues, boogie, swampy, what say you. "La Grange" is the blues rock classic that everyone's heard at least once, and is surrounded by some other, slower blues rock with a Southern twang. Not a bad record overall, just a bit lukewarm outside of the big hit I guess.
opener is a banger beer drinkers & hell raisers is awesome precious and grace love it sheik is rizz as a song lol have you heard is also rizz as a song the entire album is really nice. strong, groovy, dusty road trip and cacti vibes. its giving.
Excellent tunes from the OG beard bros
One song I liked
Rating: 7/10 A-haw haw haw-haw Heh, a-haw haw-haw
Super fun.
Didn’t get all of it listened to, but it’s ZZ Top. What more do you need to know?
not bad, not my sound though
Really cool sound.
I like the early ZZ Top before they became a caricature of themselves. Greazzy Texas blues good stuff
Like Blues Vibes and Guitar
Pretty much the defining sound of classic rock, with good energy and plenty of twang. Not really my style, but I respect and appreciate ZZ Top.
Just groovy goodness
Da hani immerno chli e ami-rock overdose und dun mi darum widermal bi tres puntos por los tres hombres festlege. Han ehrlichgseit aber au nur miteme halbe ohr zueglost.
Bin ganz düüf id vergangeheit zrugg zum das na z lose. Han hermano guiterez erwarted, becho hani chli öpis zu rockigs. Gibe de mal dos hermanos
bin gester ufem sofa am rotte gsi und han nöd würklich zuegloset, nothing special i guess
I feel my freedom growing
For this review, I will not consider the live tracks added to the expanded edition from 2006. Well, I’ve already heard the other ZZ Top album on this list Eliminator two months ago, and Tres Hombres is easily the better of the two. This decision boils down to the live percussion, more laid-back compositions that maintain emphasis on the guitar riffs, and less embarrassing songwriting. This album is straightforward Texas blues rock affair, and sticks in that lane without much deviation. If you’ve heard the single “La Grange” before, then you have a good idea what this album sounds like. It’s not mind blowing, but it’s efficient in its execution, from the one-two punch of “Waitin’ for the Bus” and “Jesus Just Left Chicago”, into cuts like “Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers”, “Master of Sparks”, “Precious and Grace”, and “Move Me On Down the Line”. Tres Hombres is an overall fun album that doesn’t waste time. Give it a listen.
I enjoyed this and would like to listen again at some point!
A good album. Everything you want from ZZ Top. Most of the emphasis is put on the instrumentals. Good times.
smells like cigarettes, pool tables, and awesomeness!
68/100. The album is mostly okay, with "La Grange" standing out as the only truly noteworthy track. The rest of the songs feel mediocre.
I struggled with this one. I wanted to like it more than I actually did. It is unpretentious, unsophisticated, blues rock. I'm not a fan of the vocal delivery. Reluctantly 3/5.
I like maybe 4 songs by ZZ Top. La Grange is one of those songs, so this album has that going for it. The rest of the songs are forgettable. They’re not bad, just nothing special. I’m sure some people probably really dig this, I just find it kind of boring.
10/10. It's ZZ Top, baby!!!!! :) I'm a sucker for this kind of 1970's hard rock! I cannot help but vibe REALLY hard while listening to this album!!! :)
Les riffs de guitare répétitifs et interminables donnent l’impression qu’on reste toujours dans la même chanson. Il n’y a pas beaucoup de variation dans les patrons musicaux. Je ne suis pas très blues en partant, mais ce type de blues avec solo de guitare électrique assez banals et cette voix texane ne m’a vraiment pas conquis. Comme point positif, malgré que j’aie écouté cela en me levant le matin à 6h30, ça s’écoutait bien. Je n’ai jamais écouté du ZZ Top et j’avais des a priori plutôt négatifs. On dit dans le résumé de l’album que ZZ Top est « l’un des meilleurs groupes américains en concert »; j’avoue que les 3 versions live de l’album remastorisé de 2006 sont celles que j’ai le plus aimées. À écouter une fois dans sa vie ? Ok peut-être, mais ce sera la seule fois pour moi.
C’était la première fois que j’écoutais un album complet de ZZ Top et j’ai été agréablement surpris. Même si le blues rock n’est pas un genre que j’apprécie tant que ça, l’écoute a été agréable. Je ne crois toutefois pas que je vais le réécouter.
Ok.
Beards, beer, and bros
Haven't really listened to ZZ Top before. This album is kinda eh. Love the guitar works and the beats, but the lead singer seems to just ramble on. Best song: Master of Sparks
like it
Best version of blues for me
I really lived my whole life thinking ZZ Top was a 90s butt rock band… I have a feeling my love for this album is overinflated by just how low my expectations were, but damn this was awesome.
I enjoyed it, solid overall and didn’t feel too long or anything. Straight forward rock.
Great guys
A few great songs and a whole lot of filler. Not sure why this is on the list.
This album rocks, exactly what you’d expect. Nothing over the top, nothing necessarily amazing, but nothing bad either. Solid classic rock.
Pretty cool album. Had more to it than just the biggest hits. 4/5
3.5 - pretty good - not what I necessarily expected
Meandering nonsense and La Grange. F
Not best but a couple of hits.
Very fun zztop
Love me som ZZ!
I like the feel of old ZZ Top. Just fun party blues rock. I'll also never tire of La Grange, and i think this album gets a star for that track alone.
É impressionante a revolução que as guitarras tiveram na década de 1970. Não há música ruim quando se trata de ZZ Top.
Good album.
decent, I liked waiting on bus and la grange.
Well executed early 70s bluesy rock. Exactly what you’d expect and nothing special.
Rock on La Grange
The version I listened to had three live bonus songs at the end. These were nice but I preferred the sound quality of the ten studio recorded songs. Classic rock from the 70s.
Noooooooooo. OK, I have a gut reaction of dislike for ZZ Top (and what kind of name is ZZ Top, anyway? More like ZZ Bottom. Hmph), and this low-res MS Paint album cover isn't changing things for me. The wiki genres ("Southern rock, blues rock, boogie rock, Texas blues") are similarly unappealing. I wonder if the "muddy water" lyric in 'Jesus Just Left Chicago' is a reference to Muddy Waters, who is I suppose like a slightly more enjoyable version of ZZ Top. And 'Master of Sparks' could almost be an Audioslave song. Heck, maybe 'Hot, Blue and Righteous' is about Gonzo from the Muppets (introduced in 1970). And I guess "I'll be where the big wheels keep on turnin'" in 'Move Me on Down the Line' is a CCR reference? Plus "I'll be ridin' on the bus 'til I Cadillac" is also an objectively funny line. So there are things to enjoy for me here, but the overall sound just isn't my style. The live tracks at the end don't help matters!
Okay, but on the other hand, I could be listening to Sharp-Dressed Man on repeat for fifty minutes.
A building block of my youth. Everybody knows this one.
A classic Southern rock album, though honestly side A feels a bit weak compared to the bangers on side B.
It grew on me this one. I was thinking it might have needed something a bit more but as the album went on I started to enjoy it more. La Grange and Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers are standouts Cool album
Podobałoby mi się bardziej, gdybym była prawicowym brodatym mężczyzną. Muzyka ciężkiego życia, brudnej podłogi w barze i Harleya o lśniącym lakierze. Dla ludzi, którzy nigdy nie czyszczą powierzchni pod paznokciami.
Never ever bothered with these before. Ignoring the closer that's a pretty solid album. Not my type of rock but very appreciative of how good it was regardless.
I don’t care who you voted for, if you don’t like this album you are un-American and need to leave the country. Kidding. Sort of. There is not a weak track on this, solid blues-rock from begin to end.
I will forever love La Grange but ladly that’s it
i really like it, very jolly and cheery. cannot not play this in the background 8-10 am.
chill and kinda catchy la grange sounds rly familiar, especially the guitar, la grange was my favourite but i only had the chance to listen to the bus one and the jesus one. i liked the jesus one
ZZ Top before the fuzzy guitars and hot chicks. Its basically straightforward blues rock with distortion, but the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. They created a brand around their style and persona, this album was just the beginning of that but the sound is there. The chicks, cars, and fuzzy guitars came later.
its fine, only real replayable song for me is the most popular one and the last one. Singing at best sounds like a pre-cursor to red hot chili peppers but at worst is just ass. guitars and solos are cool in some sections. overall around 5/10
Pretty classic bluesy rock, which isn’t really my thing but it’s okay for what it is.
We all know La Grange (that is, in fact, the only ZZ Top song I know) is a classic. Outside of that, and some wicked solos, especially the guitarwork on Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers, this doesn't really offer up much. Once you get up to La Grange, you've pretty much heard all they have to offer on this record. I didn't hate this in the slightest, but it just teeters off and it really does feel a bit plain. Still, an enjoyable listen, and a nice, fresh change in tone after having to listen to another fucking dreadful The Smiths album.
Tres Hombres - ZZ Top (1973) Occupies a similar position to me as something like Machine Head, where I am having a tough time really attributing different praise to the album for its really strong elements because they are just a given. this is another album that feels like it is not trying to impress me but just put on some good tunes and have a fun time. Compared to similar albums in this space though I am not sure where to place it. I like a few of these songs quite a bit, but there's not a lot of songs to this album and the non-hits really do feel like they are there to just occupy the space to qualify this as an album. It feels harsh to critique it this way as the songs I like would be a highlight on any album. But the lesser known stuff does not fill this album out too well for me. Highlights: Ride The Bus, Master of Sparks, La Grange
Bit of a disappointing listen to be quite honest. I suppose I’m really only familiar with ZZ tops hits. This is music for the specific class of bloke who has a beer gut, a long and unkempt beard, and some very faded tattoos, who is REALLY into cars. Probably got like Peter Brock memorabilia in his man cave/shed and still buys nudie mags. Possible project car/motorbike that he will never finish because he’s too busy doing jobs around the house for his nagging wife. Only wears footy shorts and either old hivis work shirts or those blue shearer singlets. Decent album but the deep cuts don’t really do much for me personally.
One hit wonder album, completely uninteresting 5/10 Fav tracks - La Grange, Jesus Just Left Cicago (live)
Is this only on here because of La Grange? Because that’s what it feels like. A serviceable album but there is a reason people only know La Grange and Sharp Dressed Man (and I guess Sleeping Bag too if you’re a REAL ZZ Too diehard). It’s a garage beers album, not something I’m going to go out of my way to listen to but not something I’ll complain about if someone gives it a spin. Highlights: Hot, Blue and Righteous, La Grange
Rock & Blues album kicking off…La Grange fits the bill.
hell yeah brother
不炸耳朵，好评
okay for a road trip i guess
Dirty and sweaty, rife with crackling solos,but all so genuinely outdated and flat, having besides the solos the presence of a bronchitic cough.
3.6
Good greasy fun. "LaGrange" has an all-time hook and "Waiting for the Bus" is strong opener, and "Hot, Blue & Righteous" and "Master of Sparks" are best of the deep cuts. Rounding down because Eliminator should be nowhere near this list.
Nunca los había escuchado en LP. Buen nivel, me han sorprendido gratamente.
Really enjoyed this one
Straight to the point blues rock with some bite to it. La Grange is an all time favorite, but there are other great songs too like 'jesus just left chicago'. Really awesome album, held back slightly by some of the songs dragging a bit
Nice vibe, not that adventurous though
1. Groovy beat. Not sure about the singing so far, a bit lazy the singing i feel. Nice guitar playing, guitar solo is good. *** 2. "Bluesy" start to the song. I like the singing a bit more. *** 3. Groovy, singing is getting better. Good guitars. *** 4. Liked this one. **** 5. Not my favorite ** 6. Best one so far. Good harmonies, singing is good, sound is tight **** 7. Not feeling this one as much, maybe its because i liked the one before so much. ** 8. Classic tune. Guitar sound is iconic. Perhaps a bit overplayed through time, especially in movie/television. Still a ***** song 9. Again not as good as the previous song. ** 10. More melodic than many of the songs. Nice singing. Guitar playing is great on it. *** In whole i would say. A classic song, two really good songs, a bit more of 3 star songs and two that i didn't like as much on the first listen. Guitar playing on the album is TOP
Niet mijn cup of tea. Vind deze kant van de rock scene totaal niet interessant.
ja top, vaak geluisterd, een classic chillings album voor mij
quite enjoyed this one 3.5
Very middle of the road. Nothing terrible but apart from La Grange nothing memorable either.
It was fine enough. I'll use this time to say I should have put common at a 4.
Probably should be a 4 given when it came out but I've listened to a lot of rock music from the decades since so this just doesn't hit like it probably did at the time.
Wonderful album by a wonderful band
Not bad, also not very exciting.
Great album! I've never listened to it as a whole but ZZ always pumps me up!
18/11/24 I was expecting a little bit more from this album.
My all time favorite blues album. It's got rhythm. It's got blues. It's got boogie.
I've always appreciated the fact that ZZ Top is allowed their own little corner of the sandbox to make some power blues that is genuine to them. I just happen to be a fan too
I really enjoyed this album. Good mix of bluesy rock. Favorite: La Grange 4
This is cool
its guitar rock. Nothing that i really found too amazing, gut it wasn't unbearable. Never really listened to ZZ Top, a and likely won't listen to ZZ top again
Отличный альбом, послушал с кайфом и открыл для себя эту группу
I’ve lived in Texas all my life, so I’ve been familiar with ZZ Top from a pretty early age. I can’t remember how old I was when my mom told me about this, but she said the biggest joint she’d ever seen in her life was being passed around at a ZZ Top concert. And somehow the baby boomers turned out to be the worst generation of all time. Wild. Anyway, I love ZZ Top’s stuff from the Eighties, and I gave Eliminator 4 stars when I reviewed it. Looking at the track listing for this album, I think I only know “La Grange.” Regardless, I’m pretty excited to review this album. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this album, and also by the fact that I actually knew “Waitin’ for the Bus” and “Jesus Just Left Chicago.” I still prefer Eliminator, but by a pretty slim margin over this album. The thing I like most about ZZ Top is how unique their brand of blues rock is. This album showcases that they can slow it down, like on the first two tracks of the album, but they can also rock out, like on “La Grange.” The guitar playing is outstanding, the drumming is precise, and I love Billy Gibbons’ singing. Gibbons’ laughs and other little vocal fills on “La Grange” have been something that I’ve enjoyed since I was a kid, and even when listening to this album today, I couldn’t help but try (and fail) to imitate them. I think the thing that makes ZZ Top’s sound so unique is the southwestern flair that their sound has; who knew that someone could write a song about Chicago that sounds like it was recorded in a dusty saloon in Arizona? This was a fun album with a really great sound that manages to permeate each track on the album. The only downside of this album to me is that some of the songs sound pretty similar and just kind of fade into the background. Other than that, I have no complaints, and this album is a great piece of Texas rock.
a couple good songs one great one but not really compelled to listen again
Great album I truely liked it! A bit bluesy, a bit hard-rocky, a good band too.
Guitar a lickin’ Dudes a grumblin’, wailin’ Rhythms steeped in cool
never the biggest ZZ Top fan. But I wasn't overly familiar with this album or the songs on it. I liked it a bit more than their mainstream hits...
A truly sold album with some awesome bluesy hits.
Phenomenal album.
ZZ Top is cool in that they have a unique, super-recognizable sound. They are also smart enough to know what they do and not overcomplicated it. Each song is one cool guitar lick on repeat, but never for more than three minutes - and sometimes with a key change in there to keep it interesting. Simple. This is also probably their best album.
Tres stars for tres hombres
Chill, lots of blues inspiration. Interesting how different the feeling is on the live versions (added in the extended edition) Vs the recordings; they feel much heavier.
bluesiger gitarrenrock! solide, aber ich kann schwer einschätzen ob das damals ein bemerkenswertes album war oder eher mainstream .. zweiteres wohl weniger.
ZZ Top sind schon noch cool. Auch wenn jetzt diese Platte nicht die beste ist. Allerdings ist der Hammersong La Grange auf dieser Platte und das zieht nach oben.
I was initially not excited about this album, as all I can think of with ZZ Top is "Sharp Dressed Man," which was sadly used as the theme song for the show Duck Dynasty. I was thinking maybe this was some music for my boyfriend's dad (of the long beard, aesthetically appropriate), but ready to be open minded about it. BF predicted this album would come in at a 2 or 3 for me after I told him that I was "pleasantly surprised" that I didn't hate it, lol. My favorite tracks are "Waiting for the Bus" (with a nice transition into "Jesus Just Left Chicago"--I am a sucker for a good transition), "Move Me On Down the Line," which is what I imagine the Rolling Stones wished they sounded like when they play white-man blues, and obviously the classic "La Grange." The rest of the songs are pretty good-a driving, blues-inflected album that is a decent listen all around. I also learned that Billy Gibbons has a 5-octave + 5 note vocal range, which is bigger than that of Freddie Mercury, Axl Rose and Mariah Carey.
Meh
I enjoyed the blues influence on this album. Goes without saying that "La Grange" is a classic.
Honestly, this album didn't impress me as much as I thought it would. Maybe I went in with too much of an expectation that the album would sound a lot like La Grange (shout out Guitar Hero). But that wasn't the case. I wanted more hard rockin' and serious licks, which this album didn't really produce sadly. I waffled with this being a two, but I think a three works fine. It's not a bad album, but it didn't knock my socks off.
La Grange is a classic. I love the style of these guys, but everything sort of just sounded the same. Still it’s something I won’t ever get tired of.
Real solid 70s rock album. Some catchy tunes and two that I knew. I liked their bluesy sound. They seem like a band that would be better to see live than just listening to an album. Strong 3
La Grange is an all time song. I thought the album in general was fine, but that song is a banger for sure. 3 based upon my ratings for the list. Too many 3’s recently. We gotta mix it up!
La Grange might be one of the most fun rock songs to listen to, but it’s not enough to boost this above a three. Enjoyed the classic rock vibes, but there was a lot that blended together in this really short album.
I'm not the biggest ZZ Top fan, but you have to respect the ripping guitar throughout this album. I felt cool just walking around with this playing.
Gostosinho demais a sonoridade e La Grange é simplesmente sensacional. Enebriante demais.
Admittedly, there is no fandom of this band that will inform this review and it will at the least affect the length of this review. This album rocks and it rocks really well. Reputationally, it measures up to the social scuttlebutt as well as the song "La Grange" which everyone has heard at some point in their life in various contexts. Where this album really shines though is that it comes with a sort of restraint while still maintaining some sense of the band doing what it wants. This creates a bit of respectable tension where being over the top or being muffled is consistently challenged. We'll use "La Grange" as an example of this. The melody is groovy and repetitive but layered. Lyrically, it is very limited yet the song is improved by its fleeting presence. The album follows this balance through and through where music and lyrics coexist making a contribution to tone that very much just seems to work.
Classic band. I love the sound. Songs on this album are a bit samey- other than the rich groove on La Grange.
Classic ZZ Top material right here, nothing more to say.
Quite good.
Fun! There’s a dud here and there but this has a lot of good cuts. La Grange is iconic. The guitar work in this album is really nice. This album is way better than my first ZZ Top album, haha.
Great southern rock
Nostalgia mainly.
OK rock.
Not really my thing but great for the Southern rock genre.
-I had never listened to ZZ Top before this but apparently my dad and his friend once dressed up as them for Halloween at school lol -I do like it tho. Sort of started to blend together by the second half but the blues rock elements add for a nice touch -Favorites are Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers and Sheikh
General impression: It’s like, minimalist blues? Detailed review: I’m really enjoying this. It’s stripped down and simple in the best ways. It’s got perfect little riffs and some killer solos. The production is fucking pristine — everything sounds so crisp and distinct, and of course that is partly due to them being a power trio. I love a good trio. The first tune, “Waitin’ for the Bus,” absolutely rules. “Move Me on Down the Line” kicks ass with it’s solid bassline and main guitar lick motif. There also seems to be a pretty even balance between badass toughness and vulnerable emotion and sadness. Rock and blues, basically. I wonder if these guys made a better album? I’ll be impressed if they did. The only reason this isn’t getting a 5 is because it’s not really my favorite style. Deeper thoughts (context): I literally have only ever known “La Grange” and maybe just heard/absorbed a few others. Blues rock is a genre I’m pretty ignorant in. It’s not a mood I get very often, but I like it when I’m listening to it. Score: 4 Number of albums left to review: 962 Number of albums from the list I’d consider “must-listens”: 22 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 17
liked this one - more bluesy.
oh yeah..... good stuff.
I had never heard most of these songs by ZZ Top, but it is so good. Great sound and feel.
All time classic and a must in terms of ZZ Top. Magical blues and trade craft.
Love this album and always have a blast when I listen to it. About as good as hard blues rock gets as far as I’m concerned.
Me gusta el estilo, son canciones que escucharía sin problema en una playlist sin conocerlas. No hay alguna canción que me haya quedado marcada en especial, quizás la única sería "La Grange". Update: sí, me quedo con La Grange para seguir escuchando a futuro. También "Waitin' for the Bus". En una segunda escucha, el album me parece muy bieno, tiene mucho potencial para seguir creciendo en mi consideración a futuro.
Eh.. I liked it I guess. Some pretty funky takes on blues songs but it didn’t blow me away. 6/10
liked it more than the one before from zz top, fine
As much as I like ELIMINATOR, I wouldn't exactly call it **the** ZZ Top album. I mean, ELIMINATOR gets placed 398 on the 2012 edition of the Rolling Stone 500, whereas this album only gets 490? Sure, ELIMINATOR has "Sharp Dressed Man" and "Legs" — undeniable hits and great songs, both of them — but if I were in charge of things, their positions would be reversed. See, the thing about ELIMINATOR is that it's just got this... 80's sheen about it. I'm not even just talking about the synths; it's just... The vibe coming off of the whole thing. That step away from what I choose to know 'em best for and more towards more typical hard rock. Which, yeah, I'll stress: it still rocks. I gave it a 4, after all. I just don't find it definitive is all. For that, we have TRES HOMBRES, and **the** sound of the band, in my ears: Southern-fried Texas boogie blues, blasting from just north of the Mexican border. It's the kind of album I could legitimately cook a steak to. Or, I'unno, fajitas, if I ate those. It's the kind of music you'd hear coming from the local tough guy biker bar. In my head, I kinda compare the material on this album to AC/DC or Motörhead. Y'know, this isn't complex material; you're not gonna break yourself in half tryna figure it out. Sure, if you really dig hard enough you could find something, and that's one part of a reason why I wouldn't call it "simple," but it just doesn't try to be anything more than what it is. And when it comes to being what it is — oh, goodness, it's so good at it. So incredibly good. Really, I can't think of any reason why or how someone could hate this unless Texas boogie blues just gives them a **really** bad taste. Which, at that point, I think they more have a problem with the genre itself than this specific album. It's just a good rockin' time. That's all you could ever ask of it, and that's all it ever provides. On those merits, I could give this thing a 5, for delivering so well on what it promises. But in the grand scheme of things — the grand tapestry of life — I think a 4 better fits its position. It's never not a fun spin, but it won't blow your mind. Regardless, of course, it's still a hard recommendation from me. Put this album on, fire up the grill and cook that shit well done. Or however you like it. Me, I prefer my meat juicy (and, actually, I like pork chops more than steak), but, hey, you do you.
Three guys making the best rock they can, and making it look easy. 4.5 down to 4.
The most three-y 3 to ever 3. It’s not a bad album. It’s not a very captivating album, though. It’s an enjoyable listen, but other than La Grange, and maybe a few other tracks, it’s not a very memorable listen either. It just feels half-baked to me, but perhaps I’m holding this to a much higher standard than I should be. I fully recognize this album for what it is; it’s for when you’re on the road, trucking along, and you need some rock music to listen to without giving a shit. It totally works in that sense; this is fully competent 70s rock to drink some beer to. It doesn’t challenge itself too much, nor does it ever really challenge the listener. It didn’t really wow me as the listener, either. The instrumentation, other than the usually more involved guitar solos, feels a bit neglected and basic. The percussion in particular sounds like I could play it on some of these tracks, and the extent of my rhythm/instrumental experience is like, playing Rhythm Heaven and slapping a desk. I dunno, it’s just sort of disappointing compared to the last ZZ Top album we got – they definitely grew more as musicians, and got more comfortable exploring complexities, but the core of what made Eliminator work is here. It’s just not all there in terms of confidence, instrumentation, or bombast. It’s a solid 33 minutes though; I don’t hate it, and there’s not a single bad track here, but I just don’t think I can go any higher than a 3.
LaGrange. Other stuff ok. If you like southern rock - don't pass it up
sjarmerandi texasblús. frekar skemmtilegt, áhrif frá húkkaranum. vill aðra, held ég en kannski er það örlyndið. 3,5.
A couple duds but overall pretty great
I didn’t hate this album as much as I thought I would! Listenable but nothing special
I’m sure well loved by many, but I just didn’t get into it at all.
“La Grange” is by far the best song on the album and it’s not close.
The best ZZ album.
Very nice album, great collection of songs, epic guitar solos and also just background appearance. I like ZZ Top and had heard of a couple of songs but that was it.
Blind album, know the artist and the hit. I enjoyed this album way more than I thought. These guys are old ass hell but still Rock on stage too
Bluesy, Rocky and Rolly. Not the best album I've heard on this list but definitely not the worst.
I like Zed Zed Top
Solid.
Reminds me of late 50s instrumental surf rock but redisigned
Meh
Quite a good album if a bit relative. La Grange is a banging tune.
Pas pire contrey
Cool vibes. Better than anticipated. Solid 3
I liked it!
I've never intentionally listened to ZZ Top. This is some pretty solid bluesy rock. Fun listen.
I definitely like the idea of ZZ Top more than I like the music of ZZ Top.
Not my favorite but solid
Boring, but some of the drum parts are slightly out of the ordinary so it kept me at least a little engaged.
I really struggled with whether or not this album was a 2 star or 3 star. It really wasn't all that interesting, but there were a few moments that were kind of cool. But my god Precious and Grace really brought this down to a two.
I liked this! It felt like a good solid album. Listened to it on a bus and that felt right
solid zz top. these guys are what you want from white boy blues rock. its big and exciting. it has enough variation to punch above its weight class. the single isnt the standout. i like that, good album.
I feel like I’ve heard “La Grange” somewhere before…otherwise the album wasn’t awful but at some point it all started to sound the same. I really can’t differentiate between certain songs.
I don't hate it and La Grange is a banger, but.... this sounds like a Harley Davidson dealership soundtrack.
Nice album
Fun!
👎
This is the type of southern blues rock that makes you wanna season up some ribs, put em on the smoker, then crack open a cold beer and sit out on the porch in your rocking chair.
Generic blues-rock to me. Nothing stands out as especially unique. La Grange blasts tho.
This is a fun album and highlights what a band can do when they are just plain good at making music of a specific style. They combine their own sound on a very classic blues genre and create their own songs which are built solidly on storytelling. You don't have to go off the rails entirely into experimental art to make a solid album. Do what you know and do it very well.
I can say that it's not as bad as I thought it would be, but that's pretty faint praise
This album was fine. ZZ Top was never quite my cup of tea for some reason, so it's no surprise this album fell flat for me. 'La Grange' is a classic though and takes my fave slot.
Clean sound, classic, while still just dirty enough to rock.
Probably the most accomplished ZZ-Top album. Classic.
Up with Eliminator as the best ZZ Top album Love the blues with the straightforward rock sound An album I already listen to regularly! :D Favorite track: La Grange
Groovy
6.5/10
Southern blues/rock classic
Solid 70's rock. Reminds me of roadhouses and dive bars.
Fab
Stoned from the first song. Great guitar solos. Can’t imagine the album was from 70s.
holy shit man ZZ Top doing a blues style is so much better than their dumpster fire stadium rock albums of the ‘80s. I actually enjoyed many aspects of this and even tho it’s pretty inconsistent as a whole, there’s a lot to get out of it
Straight ripper. Play loud!
Absolute banger, classic ZZ Top - muddy, dirty blues and obviously the utter quality of La Grange… beauty!
It’s definitely interesting. A difference between listening to music for the lyrics vs the music. It could grow on me but initial rating was a 4/10.
Southern boogie rock with a touch of blues, what more could you ask for! They swing and the album has a variety of styles that precludes boredom. good voices, some wicked playing although a bit lead guitar heavy sometimes, but then this was the era of the lead guitar and it never becomes indulgent. Great album and I will listen again.
A proper Classic. Boogie blues that gets the foot tapping. Some proper guitar work and all soul, a repeat listen.
This was good, fun stuff. There are not enough guitar solos these days
Got into it.
Fun stuff but another 3 star
# Album Name: Tres Hombres # Artist: ZZ Top # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: I really enjoyed eliminator. At the time, i gave it a 4. But after more listens its more like a 5 to me now. Love the guitar work with these guys. Makes me want to put on my leathers and head out on the motorbike, beer in one hand, ciggie in the other. This reminds me, i should grow a big beard. Its got a good texan blues bar rock feel to the album. Its not as good as eliminator imo. Has a few good tracks - waiting for the bus, jesus left chicago and beer drinkers. Le grange. Nuff said. If this was a one track album with just Le grange it would be a 10/10. The tune is a banger. # Top Tunes: Jesus just left chicago / waitin for the bus / beer drinkers / Le grange # Would I listen to it again? Yes
Some smooth jazzy Texas blues.
Never really got into them but that was ok.
Liked it. Nice production and warm sound
Blues rock. Mi gusto