Ever since ZZ Top signed with RCA, they fitfully tried to break free of the synthesized lues that once was their savior but quickly became a straitjacket. Like any addict, it was hard for them to quit that processed, sequenced sound cold turkey, so they weaned themselves off the robo-oogie, sometimes relapsing and adding too many synths to mix, other times breaking loose with some credible oogie. Apart from the misstep of 1999's XXX, they showed signs of life on all their RCA albums, and their fourth, 2003's long-delayed Mescalero, is no exception to the rule. Billy Gibbons' fat guitar tone really has some presence here, at least on some of the album, and there are enough rhythm tracks not performed to a didactic click track to provide some real swing. There are even moments that suggest Gibbons' songwriting chops might be returning, such as the closing "Liquor," the rampaging instrumental "Crunchy," and the lithe "What Would You Do." On these cuts, along with a cover of Lowell Fulson's "Tramp," ZZ Top sound like a worthy veteran act, returning to their strengths and building on them, although the rest of the record is pretty much devoted to by-the-books latter-day ZZ Top.
I grew up with ZZ top, it was one of my dad's favorite bands to listen to and to perform. One halloween my mom and dad dressed up as Billy and one of the hot chics that come out of the car in the video legs. Being that ZZ was always around, yes I liked them. I mean hell, there's some of the greatest guitaring, and such a defined sound how could I not? But a couple days ago I was listening to...
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I grew up with ZZ top, it was one of my dad's favorite bands to listen to and to perform. One halloween my mom and dad dressed up as Billy and one of the hot chics that come out of the car in the video legs. Being that ZZ was always around, yes I liked them. I mean hell, there's some of the greatest guitaring, and such a defined sound how could I not? But a couple days ago I was listening to...
More >
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 "Mescalero")
