ZZ Top are cool again

Posted by: Tim Jones on 17 October 2003

Being a big Wire and Gang of Four fan, ZZ Top don't usually feature very highly on my musical radar, but I heard "La Grange" the other week and reminisced briefly about the band's early LPs and the Rapeman cover of "Just Got Paid".

I bought their new LP 'Mescalero' last night and had a Pete Murphy/Maxell ad situation for three hours in front of the SBLs. What a record!

It's very 'back to Texas' in a way, but they also seem to have learned from the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion (snare sound!) and from (I swear) Soul Coughing - including a slightly unfortunate bassline lift.

Standouts for me are 'What it is Kid' and the awesome (and very aptly titled) 'Crunchy'.

Apart from the sheer energy of the music, the sonics are incredible. The whole thing is extremely well produced, you do get that 'live band in my house' feeling, and it seems to be one of those things you just keep turning up.

There are some spooky panning and image shifting things going on (yes, even through SBLs

). The 'back of the head' moment from 'Voodoo Chile' is nothing on how Gibbons' geetar is recorded here...

Tim

[This message was edited by Tim Jones on FRIDAY 17 October 2003 at 12:29.]

Posted on: 17 October 2003 by sideshowbob

I must confess, I've always had a sneaking regard for ZZ Top, although I don't think I've ever owned a record by them. Damn, I may have to check this out.

-- Ian

Posted on: 17 October 2003 by andy c

I have their greatest hits and its good VFM. Especially good in the car as well.

Posted on: 17 October 2003 by garyi

To be honest I have always considered them cool, even though I don't own an album.

I hear however that there very early stuff was blusey?

Posted on: 17 October 2003 by Geoff P

The voice of age speaks!

I have several ZZ top albums reaching right back to err--ump "first album"
Their early stuff was what I would call "gentle rock". They have always had a small amount of blusey feel to them.
A particular example of both the above descriptors is "Afterburner" with some slow tracks such as "poor boy" which are definitely blue.
I was unaware there was a new album they must have dug them up for the day to record it.
I shall have to rush out and buy it since I am a genuine fan

Posted on: 17 October 2003 by Tim Jones

I mean 'cool' as in 'as distinct from the slick, eighties songs that made them millions and had lots of girls with big hair in'...

Posted on: 18 October 2003 by ejl

quote:
I heard "La Grange" the other week and reminisced briefly about the band's early LPs and the Rapeman cover of "Just Got Paid".

I never realized that this was a ZZ Top cover. I guess I've heard more ZZ Top than I thought, then.

Posted on: 20 October 2003 by Goose

Aah so is there a new ZZ album out Tim?? sorry, didnt read your post hard enough as I was too excited!. I think that it's worth a purchaase...as they were great live at Brixton academy a few months back..

regarding the 'cool' thing..I we see bands like The Darkness, bring that kind of glam/ 80's rock back, then the 'Top are ready for a resurgance..!! But they can continue playing the blues and I wont care!!

cHEERS
Goose