Reviews (page 11 of 14)
Så for satans langt skæg! Den hårdeste måde at starte et album på, må være ved at lave en evergreen som album åbner. Resten føltes lidt flad med få lyspunkter.
Det er 44 minutter af mit liv jeg aldrig får tilbage
I really liked it. Hardcore classic rock. I recognized a couple songs and what I didn’t I still jammed to. Very good album.
Hard to believe I have never listened to this album before. Of course I've heard half of these songs at least 1300 times *each* - utterly and completely unavoidable if you didn't live in a bubble as an 80s kid (and if you did you were probably given this album). When listening in a contained (headphones) environment and all at once, it really comes through how processed this album was. Not really a criticism - nor an original thought - since it was pretty obvious that you never had to scratch very deep to notice the sequenced-aspect of nearly every one of these songs. i.e. Press play and let the quantized boogie commence. There's very little variety in the "drumming" or bass playing. So it all comes across as quite soulless, even if at its best there are undeniably catchy moments/songs. I mean ... there's a nostalgic essence to this that is undeniable. And the best songs (the singles) are definitely catchy and even memorable, if still shallow (it's only rock and roll). It's just that it becomes tiresome pretty quickly. Side 2 isn't really any good. And it's the autopilot aspect of the actual "performances" that is the primary and huge culprit - even if you're not a big fan of southwest boogie rock (me) in ZZTop's older days you could at least have an appreciation of the semi-organic blues trio aspect of their music. Full credit to them for embracing emerging technology and probably alienating some of their fans, but it ends up not that exciting in total when every song ends up at nearly the same pace, etc. TL;DR: Stick to the big 3 hits and you'll get it; wavering btwn 2 and 3 but if you have this big an impact on pop culture what the hell, bumping it up. 5/10 3 stars.
Monster album for mtv era.
just okay, didn't knock my socks off. I probably liked it better in the 80's.
Arguably the zenith of ZZ Top's 'Southern Fried Rock' with radio hits and hidden gems.
You know exactly what you're getting when you listen to a ZZ Top record. And this is THE ZZ Top record.
Good album
Pure rock start to finish. Not a bad song on the album. RIP Dusty. Standout tracks: Gimme All Your Lovin', Sharp Dressed Man, I Need Your Tonight, Legs
Rock music for dads with mullets who smoke so many Marborlos they're decked out in Marb gear.
Love ZZ top!
It's decent, pretty much all you'd need to hear of ZZ Top is on here
SNORE. couldn't finish
THE record to put on for a road trip across the midwest. ZZ Tops gritty blues and the overpolished eighties production shouldnt really work out, but it does.
Just a great album. I knew about half of it by heart before I even listened to it again.
One of the better mainstream rock albums from the 80s Favourite tracks: Gimme All Your Lovin’, Sharp Dressed Man, I Need You Tonight, Thug, TV Dinners
Yay for ZZ Top!! I freaking love "Sharp Dressed Man". I've never listened to this album in it's entirety before. I'm enjoying it, although I have to say, some of the songs do sound really similar to each other. 4/5 I love ZZ Top, but the album was a smidge on the repetitive side for me.
Early southern rock and great guitar riffs and lines to make excellent cruisin’ music
Ok
Цікавенько
Hits, Hits, Hits laid back altmodisch
Un disco de rock clásico 70/80s.
A fan of this group since they came on the scene. Believe I became familiar with many of the songs off this album. Classic rock-n-roll with a unique style.
Feels like an American bar in a 80’s sugary hallmark movie. Biker gang rock, not edgy though.
Wow this album is good. Only heard the popular ones from this like Sharp Dressed Man and Gimme all your lovin. I love the theme and the sound that goes with the album. The cover fits it a lot. ZZ Top's guitar is legendary as ever
Great album
It has legs. Great band.
silly music, awesome
Fun.
A classic. Brought back middle school memories
Indeed it is a disco record, merged with boogie-ing Texas blues and submerging some pretty ace axe work. One in no ways resents these guys their success; they seemed as surprised as anyone and also to be having a lot of fun (and money) -- so good on them. But this wasy overplayed (both on an absolute basis and relative to its merits). One believes it was also misunderstood by all camps – the rock purists fearing the onslaught of new wave video acts and the new wave fans who wondered why these beards were being allowed to crash the party. In the end, for all its crispy chuggin', this record just ain't all that. The latter cuts sound tired, as if they can't keep up the charade. The '70s records are more interesting stylistically and more authentic-seeming (as evidenced by the titles of the songs, such as "Jesus Just Left Chicago"), plus funkier and much, much downer-and-dirtier, and the licks aren't tarted up with chart-friendly effects. Here the hotter and grittier of the licks (e.g., "I Need You Tonight") are dressed up with what sounds suspiciously like a drum machine and/or dodgy-shaky synths. In weighing their legacy, the relevant question seems to have become: were they doing it their way (unapologetically unreconstructed) or just seeming to do so in making a big reach for the commercial mainstream? Having lived it in real time, one suspects the latter. How else to explains the tepid and wholly unfortunate "Legs" and "TV Dinners" – not just musically, but the whole packaging? This was a decided dumbing down for the dudes who gave us "LaGrange." Barely a 3, a very charitable one, mainly because of the obnoxious ubiquity.
gas
Great album. Good fast paced rock. Lots of popular songs.
Lots of classic rocking tunes. "Sharp Dressed Man" is a famous one that I had not been able to name previously.
Great album. Fabourite songs Legs or Give you the 6
ZZ Top is like that really cool great uncle who you kinda wish you were like, but also pity in a way because they are so cool, but also likes their TV dinners too much so they’re always looking for love, but can’t quite figure out how to actually find love because they’re way too into how they dress and getting the perfect guitar tone. So in one way they’re really successful, but not in every way. Classic killer guitars though!
Nicht meins, kann die Klasse nicht erkennen.
A couple of bangers and some other fun tracks. Better than expected.
Saw them in mid 80's fuzzy guitars and all.
Good album. Many songs we enjoyed listening to. Like the rhythm and blues music.
1983 - I was 16. Definitely in my Top 20 from High School!
Eliminating the album from my brain after today.
sounds like any other generic 80s album
Classic
I can see this albums influence on modern day rock, especially southern rock all over the place. Unfortunately i struggle to separate this album from the beer and pick up truck commercials that it’s sounds are all too often found in
#98. I don't know why this works, but it does. Blues pop, as a concept, doesn't really make any sense. With the exception of TV Dinners, which stands out as being quite stupid, the album is a pretty fun listen. 4/5: it good Song added to playlist: Gimme All Your Lovin' I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link
Great for the time the released the album.
Good energy, got a bit bleh towards the end
A bit too repetitive but some awesome riffs
I think I’m biased because I love the guitar tone here and the blues beat on the drums. But the song lyrics here have aged like milk. The radio hits stand far above the B sides, which all sound exactly the same. This is also the type of album you really enjoy the first few tracks, but then realize the entire album basically sounds the exact same.
2 out of 5. It all sounds the same, good vibe but I wouldn’t jump to listen to this or throw it on. Couple good songs but overall; it’s ok.
Better than expected & different than expected 3/5
Not my jam but better than expected. Different than expected 3/5
Thug good track for sampling
was okay to hear
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Some really great songs - lots of good guitar and rocking jams - some misses. I was over it halfway through but finished it out.
väldigt lame alltså. en svag tvåa. det fanns något parti här och där som kändes lite gött men generellt väldigt kass
A terrible transition from their 70's sound.
This album didn’t really do much for me. A lot of songs were much longer than they needed to be. It was honestly a struggle to get through at some points.
Who doesn't love ZZ Top!
Love it. The best ZZ Top album
Im just not a boomer uncle I guess
Not my thing
Best Songs: N/A Listen Again: No
I didn’t want to listen to this. The popular songs were torture to get through. The rest was fine for background music I guess.
“gimme all your lovin, all your hugs and kisses too” can be sung during any song on this album, try it out, overall an entertaining piece, strong 3
Mostly 45 minutes of the same song. I remember being 10 years old and thinking some of these were bangers. I was a really dumb kid. But to be fair the lyrics sound like they were written by a 16 year old trying to sound badass to his 10 year old little cousins - 2
Really started off on a high note. Great listen!
Decent album, good vibe Top tracks: Sharp Dress Man, I Need You Tonight
A good album, I enjoyed the style of music. Not one I've listened to much before.
👍
Familiar with ZZTop and this was a great album choice.
Another one from my vinyl collection. You are 2/2 out of the gate. Either I have really good taste in albums or you folks at 1001 need to dig deeper and work harder to stimulate our brains! Like look at this discovery I made…https://open.spotify.com/artist/75HUyKKqjQufaWM2aJ1Ba4?si=I4Ydjxu8RxGNIMHep-kUdQ
The singles off this one are still high rotation classics, 40 years later. That alone is worth 4 stars. It's a bit like an AC/DC album - if you love the sound, you'll love the whole album. If not... then not. Not quite 5 star level for me, but it's a great one.
good
Vrij heftig. Niet heel medolieus. Hard rock. Ik mis way diepgang. Het wordt overspoeld met elektrische gitaren. Te weinig hevoeligheid
Decent. What I expected
Blind album, know the hits. I think I liked Tres Hombres more but the album was still a decent listen.
big fun. will relisten
At their best, ZZ Top are quite enjoyable. This is not ZZ Top at their best. The album is still fairly enjoyable though.
This alumb is one of those that screams 80s, ZZ top with their big hair and big peronalities, reflect this in "Elimminator". The classic rock/blues riffs are nothing new but still fun and enjoyable. Overall i give this album 4/5.
Apparently I'm a ZZ Top fan. Who knew?
Not bad
Great guitar sounds. The overall sound is not my cup of tea. Some of the songs were recorded well and mastering was sufficient. Others songs the volume and production quality suffered.
Music from this album, for me, should be restricted to a few songs sprinkled throughout a larger rock/80s playlist. This got repetitive and the lyrics (though admittedly incomprehensible to me 80% of the time without looking them up) are just cheesy and cringey as hell. Nostalgic sound of my childhood, but not something I think I'd go back to as a complete listen.
Little-known fact: they’re called ZZ Top because they put you the fuck to sleep!!! I was going to give them a pity star out of respect for Sharp Dressed Man, but then I heard TV Dinners and I had to take it away again.
Hearing one of these songs is fine. Less so hearing them all in a row. I didn't make it through this.
I would have been 9 when this came out and I remember ZZ Top being in high rotation. Loved the car and the film clips. Certainly giving this one some points for nostalgia. Sharp Dressed Man is great, Legs is catchy as and TV Dinners is hilarious.
I'm familiar with a couple of the singles, but I don't believe I've listened to a whole ZZ Top album before - it's a bit one note, but I kinda like the note so I guess it works for me! The busy always-on rhythm section makes me think of "The War on Drugs" for some reason. Fave tracks - "Gimme All Your Lovin'", "Sharp Dressed Man" and "Legs" for the ones I was familiar with, "TV Dinners" from the ones new to me!
Not gonna lie. I know the lyrics are pretty superficial and simple, but this album was really fun to listen to. One of the better hard rock, poppy, blues albums from this time period. I liked every track in this album even "TV Dinner" (even though it was pretty whack, lyric-wise). I will definitely listen to this again! Favorite Song(s): "Gimme All Your Lovin'", "Sharp Dressed Man", "I Need You Tonight"
My favorite zz top mode tho I am not a blooze rock purist. Great synth and bass work through out
Idk I just don’t get the ZZ Top thing.
If you love their hits you'll love this album.
I actually loved this album, most of the songs here are TOP. This is the exact music you would listen on a roadtrip. Some of the leatrics are dump? Yeah, of course they are, but common' it's ZZ Top, what did you expected?
Ah, well, those days... From today's view: mediocre music and bad lyrics.
This is like American AC/DC. Pure jock rock. This is the same song over and over again. This is probably the worst thing I've subjected my ears to in a long time. And yes, I am familiar with all of the singles here. They're terrible. It's some cringeworthy guy claiming to be the Best At Sex. Who needs this? Oh there's a song that's about TV dinners. No deep insight. Just... TV dinners as a thing he likes.
Growing up in Germany in the 80ies was constantly accompanied by ZZ Top. They first appeared on the radar when they headlined the legendary Rockpalast concert nights in Essen, televised all over Europe. A new style of Blues Rock, celebrated with an unforgiving drive forward. Eliminator then catapulted the band into the MTV area, and you could be sure that every music video delivered. At that time, I was fully into rock myself with my own bands and music startup, and ZZ Top was a band you gratefully stole from, whether it were licks, riffs, titles, stories or sounds. To say it in ABBA's words: Thank you for the music!
Sehr gutes Album
There were definitely some bops. Got me under pressure was my favourite. But after a while it got a bit repetitive. Plus, a bit outdated.
most overwhelmingly mid album. the songs all sound the same but low-key i like the sound so i’m giving it 3
That one's so easy to crack. Southern blues-rock / boogie-rock legends go eighties synthetic pop while retaining the basic aspects of their intial sound. And as they do so, they cash in huge checks, thanks to MTV and the likes. On paper at least, the concept of infusing synth-pop sounds into ZZ Top's DNA was promising. And it works for half of this album, with around 5 or 6 tracks that still sound "essential" today (including the stellar four singles, always a great fun to listen to). Unfortunately, the rest of this LP is made out of fillers that are either following that new formula with far less convincing results for those, or rehashing the old blues-rock template for a couple of other tracks, without much conviction compared to ZZ Top's previous efforts in that area... So looking on the bright side, *Eliminator* still marks one of the most commercially sucessful reinventions of a musical act in the last 50 years or so. Which not an easy feat to pull off. Yet artistically speaking, the album is still quite a mixed bag. Too bad. 3/5 for the purposes of this list of "essential albums". Which translates to an 8/10 grade for more general purposes (5 + 3 ; a large part of those three points stemming from the creativity behind the band's reinvention, even if it's not fully convincing in the long run). Number of albums left to review: 337 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 299 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 161 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 212
Kinda generic sounding. Like rock you’d hear when you go to a bar.
Fine. It was fine. It's rock and roll of the kind beloved by Americans who also love cars and guns I guess. They can certainly play, and some of the songs are super-catchy, but overall, it felt very derivative and uninspiring.
rabbis rocking out is pretty unique but it's still "gastropub" background music gimme all your lovin' got me under pressure sharp dressed man legs
They had a thing going, it's just not for me.
Endurable
Generic rock. Nothing stands out
Not my type of 80s music. It’s ok, but I don’t like rock anymore so it’s tough to rate a classic rock album
Really really good. I really like it. I wish we had a better rating system. This is like a 3.4. Not a 3.0. But it's missing something to be a 4.
this zz top album is even more unneccesary than the last one. wtf. why is this on the list :/
What a great album. If you didn’t know already ZZ Top can bring it.
3.5 stars. Driving fast-paced hard rock infused with blues. It doesn't take itself overly seriously, most notably lyrically. The hits are catchy and fun, "Sharp Dressed Man" being the standout. But the womanizing schtick did get old after a bit.
Heard of ZZ Top but couldn’t name or him any tunes. “Hard rock” from 1983 - doesn’t sound too hard off the bat though. Quite enjoying. A low 4/5.
Gewoon een goed rock album, met een aantal bekende hits. Bijna 5 sterren, maar daar is het toch net te gitaarrock voor.
Ok, but not for me
Where ZZ Top jumps the shark. In order to adopt a “newer” sound, they decide to water down everything interesting about them.
So many classics. Terrible lyrics, but super rock n roll.
Known Before: Standouts: 4.0
Кажется, мне не нравится хард-рок. Помню, что негативно отнесся к Aerosmith. Здесь так же, скучновато. Плюс голос слабый, раздражает.
No prior experience with ZZ Top. Dig the guitar/drums in Gimme all your lovin, even though by today's standards they may seem simplistic. Maybe this is like ACDC, where all the songs sound the same after a while. Didn't hate it, but there's no originality when it's all so samey. 2*. This led to White Wedding though, so that's cool.
Not my style. It was okay for a few minutes, but even though I tried to warm up to it, I couldn't
An album full of hits.
Fav song: sharp dressed man
Can I go more than 5. This was my first ZZ Top album as a kid. So this wins due to nostalgia.
4/5. I mean, it’s ZZ Top, what’s not to like? Great album by the bearded boys with some great headliners and some really solid deep tracks. I particularly enjoyed “Dirty Dogs.”
Sweet record. Classic
Nothing notable.
so fun
who don't love ZZTOP?
I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would. It scratches the some nostalgia itch for me. Maybe growing up listening to classic rock radio with my dad primed me to enjoy ZZ Top. The riffs and melodies are catchy. It's well-mixed and produced. These guys clearly love the guitar. It's not intellectual rock music, to be sure, but it's great for partying and you can dance to it. It gets a bit samey in the back half. I'd give this a 3.5 if I could.
meh
Three great songs; the others are all just weak clones. The same drums, riffs, licks, fills, etc. It gets kind of boring after a while
Car commercial music. It even has a car on the cover.
The album that introduced ZZ Top to many in my generation via MTV. That Ford Deuce, those beards, the ladies. This album introduced an evolving sound of their blues hard rock moving more into incorporating synthesizers and drum machines. Lots of good grooves and hooks. Sharp Dressed Man, Gimme All Your Loving, and Legs may have been the biggest hits, but I liked the groove in TV Dinners the best. Great to listen to this one all the way through.
This band and Billy Gibbons are favourites. The opening 3 tracks are all classic. This one was overplayed back then. I still enjoy all their albums. There are a couple of clunkers but the strong tunes make it a 5 star classic.
Such an odd listening experience. The guitars - clearly touted as ZZ Top's signature instrument and defining sound - are distorted in a very processed, controlled way, creating an atmosphere where I feel like I should be headbanging but can't quite hit the groove. The sound is too heavy to qualify as pop rock, but not heavy enough to succeed Zeppelin or other towering contemporaries. The instrumental consistency is either a blessing or a curse, depending on how you view albums. It's somewhere in between for me. Many of the tracks sound extremely similar, rendering it good background fodder for a garage hangout. On the other hand, the album has zero flow or order to it, kind of tossing any vestiges of a concept album out the window. That being said, some killer tracks in here. Sharp Dressed Man, Gimme All Your Lovin', I Got The Six... in isolation, these are pretty great, possibly 4s or 4.5s. The album experience drops my rating down to a 3.
There's a couple of cracking rock tracks in here, but overall it becomes fatiguing very quickly.
Starts out strong, goes on kinda long.
The singles off this album are bangers, but the rest of the album is very one note and drags a bit.
vibes
Some classics. Some just ok blues. Forgot all about TV dinners. Start of the electronic clicky drum sounds. Legs is the best!
Unashamedly cheesy nonsense, that's great fun to drive to. It's got it flaws but I really enjoyed this
Thoughts before listening: I love ZZ Top's 70s albums, but I have never listened to this one. They changed their sound a bit in the 80s to become more radio friendly and went hard on the gimmick of their beards...and it worked. I know this album was huge and I'll probably know most of the songs. I'm sure I'll enjoy this, but it's hard to think it's better than an album like Tres Hombres. Review: The hits are definitely poppy, but they're also iconic songs that have been mainstays of classic rock radio throughout my life. Its hard to deny just how catchy this album is while still very much being a blues rock album. I am enjoying listening to this more than I thought I would. Gimme All Your Lovin, Sharp Dressed Man, and Legs are undeniable bangers, and I am also enjoying some of the deeper tracks like Got Me Under Pressure. That being said, the album is very much front loaded with the 2nd half being pretty weak. There are some questionable things here such as Thug's Don Henley vibe meets slap bass breakdowns and too many throwaway songs with dumb lyrics (i.e. TV Dinners and Dirty Dog). Overall though this is a fun listen.
November 26, 2023 All-time classic. The videos. The keychain. Swamp rock at it's finest.
Fun groovy sound
Je suis resté surpris que les deep cuts étaient aussi solide que ça. Je dirais pas que c'est un album que je ferais souvent jouer, mais ce n'est pas un album qui est moitié banger et moitié fillers. Très respectable. 7/10
I liked this album much better than "Tres Hombres," which is also on this list. "Eliminator" grooves more steadily and is pleasant to listen to. Some of the songs like "Legs" and "TV Dinners" are embarrassing, but I really dug the first 4-5 songs. I don't know if I'd want to listen to this entire album again, but I could take half the songs out and put them on a comp, or, at least, it makes me want to maybe try another ZZ Top album...
the problem with genre defining albums is that it becomes the average of all following music that apes it. the result is that i find this album boring despite how much stuff *should* interest me. the exception is the bassline on 'Thug' and also 'If I Could Only Flag Her Down'
There have been some albums from this genre I’ve been pleasantly surprised with. Eliminator isn’t quite one of them. It’s fine. I don’t hate it but it’s not special 5.5/10
It’s good
ZZ Top have never been my jam. Except Tush. That song is awesome.
Fuckin’ A
This album is known for transforming objects with the power of its rocking.
Not my thing
Classic ZZ Top. Knew about half the songs, the other half is basically more of the same. But they’re good at what they do so more of the same isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
not my cup of tea
Meh
How just 3 guys can have such a big sound is amazing.
I think zz top might be the most stereotypical rock group there is.
Another classic.
1 star for the beards. 1 star for the grooves. 1 star for how many hits they packed on one album. 1 more star for the beards. 4/5.
Lovely Album
Can see where this album became highly regarded. Good hits and the deeper tracks can really slap. Gained a much bigger appreciation for ZZ Top. 4/5
i think my moms friend knew these people. joyce was cool so i bet they were too
sharp dressed man does a lot of heavy lifting for this album
It's fine... not my genre but fun as background music. Got me through a late night of coding at work at least.
ZZ Top is a greatest hits band. Their best stuff is really good, fantastic maybe. Great grooves, makes you feel awesome. The rest....
Not necessarily my taste, but damn do does Riffs go hard holy smokes
A classic
Lekker album, maar buiten de hits staat er niet super veel bijzonders op. Toch 4 sterren.
All the classics. This was fun to listen to while driving on the highway.
this has some real bangers on it
Bunches of classic songs that I'm fine with never hearing again.
Un album de plus sur lequel les vieux s'excitent alors que tout ce qui sort aujourd'hui est bien mieux.
Ringard au possible, et pourtant mon géniteur en est fan
Bof! Couple of good-ish 80s poppy rockers but a lot of filling. Nostalgia trip, but not in a good way.
Classic 80s alvim
its alright, just 80s rock fun
mostly like arena rock which i wasn’t really in the mood for in the moment but it’s good obvs
Great dad rock album, nothing extremely poppin for me but solid jams all the way through.
Silly blues.
While I don't think I'd rate any of these songs as five stars the overall album is four stars. Perhaps the mediocrity of the previous few albums I've listened to is showing through.
A good album that brought ZZ Top to the notice of a lot of people but they have much better albums
Good rock music, not for me though
good rock
Although I like ZZ Top in general, this feels a bit too bland? I love the singles, and several songs have great directions, but it could use some more hard rocking songs. 7,5 out of 10
Before this, I had never consciously been aware of listening to any ZZ Top song. This is the epitome of generic rock music. It sounds like AI created content.
only listened to the first song halfway, kinda got bored
banger album
Very samey, but i like the one song! The more bluesy one is good too, but riffs and rythyms is why they are on the list. Not quite top drawer for me, but solid work, and not a band I would skip if they ever come on.
Quite fun! Enjoyed it, some screamy voices
TV Dinners! LOL
Super Album Rock. Les deux plus connus de ZZ top sont dans liste et c'est bien mérité. Tout le monde connais ca et ils ont leur genre vraiment ;a eux. J'aurais probablement mit 5 mais je suis un peu blazé de ce genre de musique. J'ai beaucoup écouté donc c'est pas comme si j'avais une révélaiton 4.5
Blues rock. Un megahit. Un 4 porque tiene muchas canciones lentillas.
Guay.
Great dad rock. Enjoyed this one
legs es un temon dios. me dieron ganas de estar en la ruta. siento que capaz no lo disfrute mucho xq llovía y era un dia garrón adentro. quizá con sol y birra/ o birra y noche sería un diez
I'm on a bad run of albums that I have mixed feelings about. From a personal point of view, I would not listen to this album again, but I can't say this book does not deserve to be in the book. ZZ Top has never hit with me very deep. It's all surface-level sounds to me and the droning of the drum machine and steady sound of synthesizers doesn't help me. The songs are not bad! There are hits here and decent album tracks. It's canned blues for me, and while this sound reached out to a wider audience, "Eliminator" is the Eric Claptonification of the ZZ Top sound for me. This needs to be in the book, but it does not need to be on my Spotify playlist.
It's funny how listening to this right after listening to a Rolling Stones album really highlights, for me anyway, how superior the Stones are to a band like ZZ Top. According to critics (some anyway), this album was the height of ZZ Top's signature style. But it's so much less interesting than the music of the Stones. The Stones blend all kinds of sounds seamlessly--rhythm guitar, lead guitar, slide guitar, piano, sometimes electric organ, bass, and drums (sometimes two drummers)--in a way that makes the sounds blend together to produce a rich, textured sound. ZZ Top, by contrast, is pretty much just a drummer who doesn't vary much from a particular rhythm, a bass player who plays pretty predictable lines that vary little within a song or from song to song (often just one note), and guitar riffs that mostly all sound the same, with some occasional breaks for some lead guitar. Pretty disappointing overall.
Solid rock album, classic singles but nothing else of note
fun classic rock has some bops
The hits are great, other tracks seem.... bland? 3.27
Old rock
I preferred Tres Hombres over this one. Also, what was going on with the TV Dinner song?
80s driving rock! A distinct guitar sound and style that I mostly enjoy. Strong album all the way around.
Couldn't finish it. Basic
Solid. Favorite track : I Need You Tonight
I have fond memories of the Legs video but really ZZ Top is not my thing. I find the music to be pretty boring and the lyrics dull. I don’t need to hear more songs about drunk guys and loose women. One good thing - they ar e a pretty tight band.
просто рокешник
Not for me. Who is the audience for this?
Zz
Fun and energetic! Great guitars.
Sharp dressed man!
I thought ZZ Top was supposed to rock. How is this album so boring
ZZ Top goes Pop
I am actively not a fan. They’ve got one sound, and there’s no substance to it for me.
I bet at least two of these guys have beards.
The only song with any redeeming lyrics was TV Dinners. Awesome guitar solos but that did not make up for the lyrics.
Mixed feelings about this album. In 1983 it felt like they sold out. But it made them superstars. Well-deserved, just not representative of who they truly were. Good, not great.
Regretfully this is 5 stars for me. Regretfully because it brings back memories of being confused about dating and desire, confused about how loud to play music in one's home, how to drive a car and stay within the speed limit - I copped so many speeding fines with this album. Regretfully I still enjoy it and regretfully, I cannot play it in my car still because it generates speeding fines. It's a bad album, it's so good.
Crushing solos and driving beat makes this one a ZZ Classic
Top Beards!
Solid boomer music
Wow, I did not know this was zztops 8th album.... they must have been around a lot longer than I thought. I seriously thought they got started in the 80's. Crazy that all of their songs I can even think of seem to be on this one album. Something that sticks out to me is that the production is very clean, but i'm pretty sure these tracks are remastered because its almost too good. Like most white millennial men, classic rock has a very nostalgic sound because of how often my father listened to it; but gawd damn I could never get him to listen to anything else. This album definitely has bangers on it, but the music in general is just way too simple. I don't think the drums ever leave 4/4. Also I think every single song kinda just..... fades out hmmm I think I should lay out my thoughts on a 5 star rating system: 1 = Absolutely nothing of redemption for this music, I hate it and wonder how it ever garnished a crowd of listeners 2 = I don't like it, but I understand that it may have cultural significance or is actually semi thoughtful constructed music 3 = The average rating, most albums will rest here. I can listen to it but will never find myself going out of the way to find it again. 4 = I like the majority of the album and the believe the artist to be a step above everyone else in music. 5 = Personal bests of the bests. I love the music, it makes me feel emotion, is very engaging and I would add it to my favorites list. I really do hope to find a handful of 5's from doing this list listen!
Classic
I'd forgotten how good the first few songs were, but the remainder of the album is same and dated.
If you took the worst bits of country, blues and stadium rock, and gave them to the 4th best high school band in your local area to turn into an album they wanted their enemies to listen to, this is what you would get. At times it seems like you've listened to the same single bar of music on repeat for an hour. And it is the most simple mundane bar you've ever listened to. This album has absolutely no redeeming qualities. It is utterly awful. It must be the worst album of all time.
Dad rock innit
this really sounds like music a sexually frustrated dad would listen to in his square body pickup in the late 80s
Every ZZ top song I know is on this album.
Rock background music 😅
Sounded basically exactly what I predicted. Seems so generic
Sounded exactly like I thought it would based on the album cover. Cars with flame decals. An 80s vibe that always feels scuzzy and unappealing to me. Okay, the synth in legs is pretty good
So goos. Classic rock at its best
Because this album was so ubiquitous and such a prominent feature in eighties MTV culture, I never even knew of the ZZ Top that existed before 1983; the sound from which they departed with "Eliminator".
it sure is zz top.
Not really my style
Boring and formulaic guitar driven rock.
Legs, Gimmie All Your Lovin’, Sharp Dressed Man, peak ZZ Top. This is when everyone recognizes the Beards.
It's fine. It's fun. A bit too processed though as the mix is drowned in synths which dilutes the rhythm section a bit too much for my liking. Still, it did extend ZZ Top's career and made them icons so I get why they did it.
Fun
Classic guitar riff rock&roll silly at times and sometimes fun. Does nothing special really and drags in places. Highlights: Gimme Your Lovin, Sharp dressed man and Legs
I’m pretty sure I’ve listened to this entire album while sitting and eating at a Hard Rock Cafe. During the song “I Need You Tonight “, I googled how long does it take to bleed out and die, this song was longer. Tempting. Guitar solo after guitar solo. I started to enjoy the ad pop ups and begged for longer ones toward the end of the album. TV dinner- Enchiladas. Never want to hear another ZZ Top song again. 1/10
Great album. Legs was a banger. Couldn’t understand most of the lyrics. Could have used subtitles. The best songs were at the start of the album. Things really died off after they had that ad in there about TV Dinners. 7.1
ZZ Top is the exact sound that pops into your head when you think of pure rock and roll. Some standouts like sharp dressed man of course but while the sound is similar throughout the album it maintains a high quality and that's what rock n roll typically is. 6/10
Is this butt rock? Singer sounds like he is having his balls squeezed. I’ve heard Sharp Dressed Man but I think it was just the intro guitar lick. Music by Duck Dynasty. Kidney Stone Vocals. I need you tonight is BAD and tone deaf, did it really need two three minute long guitar solos? I Got The Six was ok, little too generic still. I literally thought the same song was replaying every time a new song started. Thug had slappa da bass solos. Were they in the Blues Brothers? “I like the enchiladas and the terriyaki too and even the chicken if its not too blue” - Z Top on the subject of Tv Diners. This music tastes like Nascar. What a boring repetitive album. 3/10
Quite decent and not as... Mindless? As I expected
Lol, why are track 2 and 3 kinda Shera-coded?? She likes French cuisine and he's got a fat wallet?! Track 6 too? Never begs, and knows how to choose men? Thug Seinfeld Fun, unserious stuff
👌🏼
Pretty hard hitting, some nice guitar work but wasn't bothered by any of the songs
Top
Classic dad rock
outside the hits its pretty forgettable, they do most of the heavy lifting. I remember my dad air guitaring Gimme All Your Lovin at a pool hall with my uncles one time so I'll always have it in my brain for that reason.
Flashback to MTV
Decent nostalgia filled tracks which create a sense of fun.
This dude's voice sucks for slow songs, he can't hold a note for shit.
Punchy fun guitar solos
Decent album. Basically contains all of the ZZ Top songs you know. The other tracks are fairly forgettable.
Redelijke rock, lijke paar goeie tusse te zitten. Wel edgy
Classic and nostalgic but man I have never heard such stuff drumming
Less annoying than expected
This album has an MTV audience feel to it and I prefer the band's true to their roots stuff. You know, more Texas blues rock and Billy Gibbons' soul searing guitar. Still glad to have it pop up on my daily listen.
Great album, nostalgia plays a big part of me loving this album. I do not think this is their best album. It is the album that introduce a lot of teenagers with extra money in their pockets to buy more of their albums and discover some great blues rock.
better than expected
Aw yeah. Classic southern rock. Great guitars and grooves. Best song: Gimme All Your Lovin’
Sounds like the Home Depot theme. 1000x better than Metallica. Good background music. I didn’t mind it. I’m sure all their albums sound just like this one, I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.
What's amazing is offset by what isn't. Still, a decent album worth a listen.
P good
Grew up with this album playing fairly regularly in car drives with my dad in his Corvette, so I already knew what a classic this is. But I will say as an adult and being high while listening to it? Pretty fucking good vibes all around. The singles alone make this a 4 star for me which is what it stays as overall anyway. Greatly enjoyed as I knew I would!
Meh
Ei herätä oikeastaan mitään tunteita. Aika tasapaksua junttausta.
Hyvää tykittelyä
It's really good. I don't have much too say except ZZ Top is enjoyable. Their more high tempo songs are the best ones and I don't really care for the song "Legs". It definitely deserves to be on the 1001 album list.
Apart from the obvious hits, I found this quite dull
The most classic sounding classic rock. Very MTV. I prefer their earlier blues stuff.
Not my style Jesus. 5/10 ig
Solid, pretty good. I really enjoyed listening to this. Definitely one I'll listen to again.
tråkigt
obviously i know a lot of these songs from my years and years of listening to classic rock, but i can't say i was really a fan of zz top going into listening to this one. i was hoping that some of the album cuts would change my mind. unfortunately, that was not the case. this album is so same-y, i think if you listen to one song off of it, you've heard the whole album. the production is not my favorite and the songs are just really uninteresting. the kind of vibe you would expect some lame middle aged dude to really get into. i can get past the guitar tone but the underlying synth throughout the whole thing is so bad. but don't worry! on the second side, the seinfeld bass starts! god this album kinda sucks. i can't imagine the type of person this resonates with. sorry. not a fan.
This might be controversial, but I think the new wave influence on the Texas trio is an excellent move. The blues is still here, but synths present here round out the bottom end, fattening the bass and giving the sound an edge. All around this is a muscular set of Southern Rock tracks held together with a tight production and even tighter playing. New Wave ultimately was a reinvigorated take on the youth music of the 50s and early 60s so everything old is new again? I can't say this album converted me into a ZZ Top fan. I had my fill of 70s classic rock sounds by virtue of growing up in small town America. It's something I've learned to appreciate but has little bearing on my life beyond representing my parents and their tastes. To the album's credit, I think it's a very strong grouping of tracks. The reputation I've heard about the 80s is many of the major releases that decade in rock feature some major hits on the first side, followed by a rapidly decreasing quality of songwriting in the second half (So, 1984, Tattoo You, Slippery When Wet, etc) This album thankfully does not have that problem. I'm going to rate this album based on how good I feel it is, but my personal tastes would have me give it closer to a 3.5/5
4 words: Dad rock final boss. That's it. That is the descriptor for this album. I mean, with a song title like "TV Dinners", what else did I expect? Take one look at Billy, Dusty, and Frank, and you know the kind of music they make and who they appeal to. And they kind of rock on this. This album really confused me in some aspects, because the instrumentation sounds electronic in some places. Like the bass, for example, is so thumping and crushing, I would swear it was a synth patch. But that is just the way the bass sounds on the album. It is honestly a little genius. The drums hit like a truck. That snare is fucking tight, and although Frank mostly just plays simple drum beats, it works, because if he did any more than that, it would drown out everything else. This album has the potential and kinetic energy of a battering ram. It is relentless, heavy, and driving in its sound, like a hammer against a nail. Honestly it was a little rough on the ears at first for me, but in the end, this type of sound had grown on me, and I wouldn't mind hearing more of it. I'm aware that this is a big switch up from what their stuff before this sounded like, and so I am intrigued to hear what that was like to see the full progression of the band.
Pretty good album. Straight up Rock 'n' Roll. No complaints here. Fun riffs with interesting instrumentation. Some songs are straight-up instrumental so you could really hear how talented these guys are. Solid album - 7.5/10. Would be higher if this is more "my taste" but regardless it's a good album and a fun listen. Can see myself coming back to this.
ZZ Top's "Eliminator" is nothing short of a timeless masterpiece that continues to captivate music enthusiasts and rock aficionados alike, decades after its initial release in 1983. This album not only defined an era but also transcended it, showcasing ZZ Top's unparalleled talent and their ability to seamlessly blend rock, blues, and a dash of electronic experimentation. The album kicks off with the iconic track "Gimme All Your Lovin'," instantly grabbing your attention with its catchy guitar riffs and irresistible groove. Billy Gibbons' signature raspy vocals perfectly complement the bluesy undertones, setting the tone for what's to come. The album's production quality was ahead of its time, incorporating synth-driven elements that give it a unique and enduring sound. "Sharp Dressed Man" follows, boasting one of the most recognizable guitar hooks in rock history. The song's slick lyrics and swaggering rhythm make it an anthem for those who appreciate the art of dressing well. ZZ Top's tongue-in-cheek lyricism and playful approach to songwriting shine throughout the album, adding a layer of charm that makes the music even more enjoyable. Tracks like "Legs" and "TV Dinners" showcase the band's playful and sometimes satirical take on contemporary culture. They blend bluesy guitar work with the electronic influences of the time, resulting in a sound that feels both innovative and timeless. "Eliminator" doesn't just rely on hit singles to make its mark; it's a well-rounded album with deep cuts like "I Need You Tonight" and "Thug." These tracks demonstrate ZZ Top's ability to deliver soulful, bluesy rock with lyrical depth and musical intricacy. One of the standout aspects of "Eliminator" is its versatility. It seamlessly transitions between tracks with different tempos and moods while maintaining a consistent sonic identity. Whether you're in the mood for energetic rockers or introspective blues, this album delivers on all fronts. The closing track, "Bad Girl," provides a fitting conclusion to the album, with its gritty guitar solos and Gibbons' soulful vocals. It leaves you yearning for more, a testament to the album's enduring appeal. "Eliminator" is more than just an album; it's a cultural phenomenon that has left an indelible mark on the world of rock music. Its influence can be heard in countless bands that followed in ZZ Top's footsteps. The combination of classic bluesy rock, innovative synth elements, and clever lyricism makes it a must-listen for music enthusiasts of all generations. In summary, ZZ Top's "Eliminator" is a landmark album that has stood the test of time, and it continues to delight listeners with its infectious energy and enduring charm. It remains an essential addition to any music collection and a testament to the timeless genius of Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard.
Okay zz top is so much more than a duck dynasty theme song... so cool. Love the instrumentals. 4.1
A classic! Great rock album with hit after hit!
The other side of ZZ, faster, more synth, more poppy but still with a groove. Enjoyed both.
Girdėtas, bet paklausysiu dar kartą
Really liked it.
Great album with lots of classics.
A lot of big hits here. I love when ZZ Top get down and dirty with their fat distorted guitar sounds. There are some stylistically different tracks, I’m not so much of a fan but I suppose respect for branching out from their usual style.
If I ever lose my job, just hire me as ZZ Top’s drummer. 2/5
Guitar in "I Need You Tonight" is fab, great album, fun, very 80s.
Classics are great but they kind of lost me in the second half
kinda boring. nothing interesting
No more zz top plz
Four big songs: Gimme All your Lovin' Got Me Under Pressure Sharp Dressed Man Legs. I was 11 years old when this album came out, and I remember drawing that car in my art book.
Obviously a number of big hits on this. However, this does sound a bit too 80s for me. Doesn’t have the feel I remembered.
Boring
I think this barely makes it over the hump to a 5 Holy hell what an opening! - Gimme all your lovin - under pressure - sharp dressed man Good god! Actually track #4 Need You Tonight is a bit of a sleeper and pretty wicked also. Def there is some 80s cheddar here but the guitar work almost always makes up for it IMHO Everything after Legs is kind of forgettable but still extremely enjoyable