As TheH noted, Rockpalast is as good as you'll find - still relatively young and hungry, before they became video stars. The DVD is the better choice because you get the full show (CD cuts out about a half dozen songs).Originally Posted by Fracktured
I don't like country music, but I don't mean to denigrate those who do. And for the people who like country music, denigrate means 'put down.'- Bob Newhart
PS - I spun the 1st album last night....absolutely loved it. What a debut.
And Tejas has been rising up the ranks for me as well....I never liked it drenched in reverb but hearing it now (for real) is such a different experience. Its simply a great album and just totally fun.
If Kermanator is out there....he recommended one of the newer albums and I can't remember which one? You out there Dave?
If it isn't Krautrock, it's krap.
"And it's only the giving
That makes you what you are" - Ian Anderson
Man, I never liked Tejas. Tres Hombres and Deguello were so great. I bought the Chrome, Smoke & BBQ box (new masters, not the 6pack ones) and my opinion on the Tejas material didn't change with the sonic Improvement.
^^
Sorry but Tejas does not work at all, they sound like a total different band.. so boring...
Listening to Tejas right now. I've had the CD for a few years. It's Only Love is very Stones-ish.
Ok ZZ fans, what is there to NOT like about Tejas? I think it's a fine album. ZZ got a little quirky around this time. I dig about as much as Deguello.
Last edited by Vic2012; 05-03-2020 at 04:32 PM.
There is a reason why none of these tracks where ever played live later again. To tame to lame country tralala songs...
It's a little weak, not as edgie as Deguello but it's kind of experimental. Fuck it, I like it.
Now playing Rhythmeen. This is metal ZZ Top. It swings, it's bluesy, it's got some drum loops, but it is heavy. It's my favorite ZZ Top album. I play it more than Tres Hombres or Deguello.
That sucks about the cd. Not sure if I want to try to get the dvd though because it doesn’t look like it’s still in print.
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Just played El Loco on YT. I don't have the album but it's there on Youtube. It's part of the same trilogy, Tejas, Deguello, El Loco. It's quirky, experimental ZZ Top. I like El Loco. Sue me.
Me, "Tres Hombres" yesterday and really enjoyed it!.
Pura Vida!.
There are two kinds of music. Good music, and the other kind. ∞
Duke Ellington.
And now I'm listening to.......Mezcalero. oof. Just as raunchy and heavy as Rhythmeen.
^ but it's quirky like El Loco and Deguello. Brilliant.
Not boring to me, and its different and that's why I dig it. Works for this guy.......
If it isn't Krautrock, it's krap.
"And it's only the giving
That makes you what you are" - Ian Anderson
Yeah man! Great great album.
If it isn't Krautrock, it's krap.
"And it's only the giving
That makes you what you are" - Ian Anderson
Agreed.
If it isn't Krautrock, it's krap.
"And it's only the giving
That makes you what you are" - Ian Anderson
My ZZ Top listening over the last few days:
About a week or so ago I spun the first album, before this thread started. Awesome, always dig that one! Top notch raw raunchy blues rock!
A few days ago I spun Deguelo. It's really good, but maybe not as good as I remembered. There are a couple of tracks that while I wouldn't say they are weak, they aren't exactly highlights. Can't recall which just now. Still a good album but I'm beginning to re-think it a bit.
Last night I spun Eliminator. This one is also a bit of a mixed bag. Honestly, the hits are the highlights, particularly the largely forgotten Got Me Under Pressure and obviously TV Dinners. The other thing that struck me was that Gimme and Sharp Dressed aren't as "synth heavy" as I'd remembered. Yeah, the beats are somewhat simplified, but ZZ Top is not exactly known for polyrhythms and odd time signatures. The drums are basically fine. Legs is where the synths kick in fully, but honestly it isn't so bad either, if you don't have to listen to it every day. It's the other tracks that sort of drag this one down. Again, not awful, but nothing special, and not up to the catchy quality of the hits.
Tonight I spun the two red-headed step children, Tejas and El Loco. I have to confess, I loved them. Tejas in particular seems really solid. I think I have vastly underrated this album. It definitely has a softer vibe, the songs don't his as hard. But I find it a nicely balanced sound. Asleep in the Desert is a beautiful ending. A real surprise for me, I'm not sure why I sort of dismissed this one in the past; maybe because everyone else does.
El Loco was also a wonderful listen. Here there are two tracks that don't work as well, the ones with the 50s vibe and one with some strained singing from Gibbons (Leila, I think). But the rest, wow! Especially Groovy Little Hippie Pad and Heaven, Hell or Houston, where they synths I guess make their first appearance. But what a weird and wonderful little track! Three hits off this record, maybe four if you count 10 Foot Pole, which I know I heard on the radio back in the day. Not bad for a band that was "out of ideas." Again, rethinking this one too!
Anyway, all interesting stuff and even the "lesser" stuff still does it for me for basic rock and roll. Plenty more in the box set to revisit.
Bill
OK, I toobed ZZ TOP's Tejas following the reactions to ly remark saying that I liked it about as much as TH or Deguello.
I certainly enjoyed it (first listen since the late 80's) and almost as much as Deguello. It's about as fun as Deguello, and if memory serves so was Hombres (last heard in the early 00's).
Yeah, there are small traces of country rock (the album closer), but certainly not at alarm level for my C&W allergies to kick in.
For some reasons, the same fun/humour didn't work with me on El Loco and its Tubesnake Boogie single, as I remember (almost 40 years ago) it all sounded like they were forcing it or trying to hard and were short of ideas (these was three years between T and D and only 2 between D and EL)
So my top 3 ZZ albums are Deguello, Tejas & Hombres. I may even rebuy Tejas, but there is no emergency.
Last edited by Trane; 05-05-2020 at 10:29 AM.
my music collection increased tenfolds when I switched from drug-addicts to complete nutcases.
ISTR Rhino's CDs from the mid 2000s had 70s live recordings as bonus tracks. The best of Rancho Texicano also has a live version of 'Cheap Sunglasses', this was apparently first on a 12":
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rancho_Texicano
Fandando isn't in there? The studio side is killer imo, and the live side is too
"Blue Jean Blues" is just KILLER. Billy's vocals are just great and his guitar tone is insane! I just totally dig that laid-back feel. This tune gets repeated in my headphones. You can really hear every string pick attack and his left hand technique so vividly on this track. The engineering really captured them on this beautifully.
Excellent Bill. I need to give El Loco more spin time, but I've been hitting all of the stuff up to Deguello a bunch of times. Tejas really surprised me too - much more enjoyable without the crap reverb. That final track is very nice. I also largely agree with Eliminator - it's aged better than I though it would have (imo). This music is just hitting the spot for me right now - it's fun, unique, and WAY more diverse than these guys usually get credit for. I haven't even gotten into the newer stuff post-Recycler. Damn Netflix documentary!My ZZ Top listening over the last few days:
About a week or so ago I spun the first album, before this thread started. Awesome, always dig that one! Top notch raw raunchy blues rock!
A few days ago I spun Deguelo. It's really good, but maybe not as good as I remembered. There are a couple of tracks that while I wouldn't say they are weak, they aren't exactly highlights. Can't recall which just now. Still a good album but I'm beginning to re-think it a bit.
Last night I spun Eliminator. This one is also a bit of a mixed bag. Honestly, the hits are the highlights, particularly the largely forgotten Got Me Under Pressure and obviously TV Dinners. The other thing that struck me was that Gimme and Sharp Dressed aren't as "synth heavy" as I'd remembered. Yeah, the beats are somewhat simplified, but ZZ Top is not exactly known for polyrhythms and odd time signatures. The drums are basically fine. Legs is where the synths kick in fully, but honestly it isn't so bad either, if you don't have to listen to it every day. It's the other tracks that sort of drag this one down. Again, not awful, but nothing special, and not up to the catchy quality of the hits.
Tonight I spun the two red-headed step children, Tejas and El Loco. I have to confess, I loved them. Tejas in particular seems really solid. I think I have vastly underrated this album. It definitely has a softer vibe, the songs don't his as hard. But I find it a nicely balanced sound. Asleep in the Desert is a beautiful ending. A real surprise for me, I'm not sure why I sort of dismissed this one in the past; maybe because everyone else does.
El Loco was also a wonderful listen. Here there are two tracks that don't work as well, the ones with the 50s vibe and one with some strained singing from Gibbons (Leila, I think). But the rest, wow! Especially Groovy Little Hippie Pad and Heaven, Hell or Houston, where they synths I guess make their first appearance. But what a weird and wonderful little track! Three hits off this record, maybe four if you count 10 Foot Pole, which I know I heard on the radio back in the day. Not bad for a band that was "out of ideas." Again, rethinking this one too!
Anyway, all interesting stuff and even the "lesser" stuff still does it for me for basic rock and roll. Plenty more in the box set to revisit.
Bill
If it isn't Krautrock, it's krap.
"And it's only the giving
That makes you what you are" - Ian Anderson
Very cool video I watched the other night. Great info and this guy seems genuinely nice. A must for Billy Gibbons guitar nerds.
If it isn't Krautrock, it's krap.
"And it's only the giving
That makes you what you are" - Ian Anderson
Outstanding live rig interview/rundown.
If it isn't Krautrock, it's krap.
"And it's only the giving
That makes you what you are" - Ian Anderson
Didn't read the whole thread, but when I hear the name ZZ Top the first thing that pops in my head is "drum machine". Except for the very early releases, I can't listen to anything of theirs. The drums drive me nuts.
^^^^
that treads like it's something Svetty would say
my music collection increased tenfolds when I switched from drug-addicts to complete nutcases.
This song is some sort of a national anthem in Greece. I don't know why. It's stuff that if you didn't know in high school, you could get beaten up. I am exaggerating - just a bit - but it's easily their most played and recognizable song in my country. And it's fabulous indeed.
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