In the spirit of full disclosure: I love ZZ Top.
I am one of the biggest Fanzz (see what I did there?) of That Little Ol' Band From Texas in the entire world.

I have every official recording/release by the band (most on vinyl and CD)--even the Japanese and European-only bonus tracks (for which I paid dearly), b-side only tracks, a couple of "industry-only" vinyl discs that were promo items to radio stations and promoters. all four of the compilation/greatest hits collections, their "Six Pack" compilation, their (excellent) "Chrome, Smoke and BBQ" box set and a bunch of bootleg CDzz and DVDzz [I did that again!]...I even have the  catalogs of recordings of the Pre-ZZ bands such as the American Blues/Warlocks/Cellar Dwellers (Dusty & Frank's bands) and The Moving Sidewalks (Billy's band), as well as their guest performances on other people's recordings...There's a fair collection of ZZ Top memorabilia and knick knacks in the Lair of The Armadillo, too...

However, I am not a sycophant. There are certain songs I dislike, and certain albums that (as a whole) don't move me a whole lot...therefore, I am extremely honest with myself and others about their performances and recordings.

So, after listening to the album for more than a month, I must declare:

I really, really, really like their latest release, "La Futura". 

They were smart, in the sense that they dug deep and pulled some vintage stylings (more harmony vocals, less electronic effects, early-album song structures) but didn't entirely ignore the successes and excesses of the mid- and later-era recordings. 

I credit Rick Rubin for shaving the album down to the (assumably) best ten tracks (or twelve, if you go to Best Buy, which I recommend for the Billy F. Gibbons-penned/Joseph Michael "Dusty" Hill-sung track "Drive By Lover" if nothing else)...there are reports that there's another album's worth of material from the sessions with Rubin, and I hope those tunes see the light of day soon, but I'm glad they avoided the unfortunate movement amongst some artists (ZZ Top included) to use all the space available on the CD format, which can lead to a album being dragged down by some "lesser/filler" tracks being included.

To be continued...

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Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

The lead track "Gotsta Get Paid" is brilliant and quintessential ZZ Top--obtuse lyrics set to a catchy-yet-bluesy backbeat, rumbling bass, thundering drums and squanky guitar--and it seems ready-made to be a radio hit, if there's really any kind of "radio hit" anymore for groups who have been around for four decades...plus, they made a video reminiscent of the "Eliminator" trilogy...hot rod cars with leggy hoochie mamas chasing a phantom Billy Gibbons through the desert...see here:

http://www.vevo.com/watch/zz-top/i-gotsta-get-paid/USUV71201019

The tracks "Chartreuse" and "Consumption" are variations of the good ol' Texas Boogie Blues of songs like "Apologies to Pearly", "Tush" and "My Head's In Mississippi"...be prepared to tap your toe, shake your booty and chow down on some BBQ (heavy on the meat, light on the potato salad, sauce on the side...)

Next, Part 3

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Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

Here's a statement I never would have thought I would make in this lifetime: The string section on that new ZZ Top song sounds amazing. :O
On the song "Over You", they have strings in the background, somewhat similar to BB King's "The Thrill Is Gone" or Freddie King's "Help Me Through The Day"...

There was some controversy amongst ZZ Top Fanzz (I'm unstoppable!) when a VERY poppy-sounding mix of "Flyin' High" was leaked/released last year...I'm happy to report that it was remixed and finished to become a "ZZ Top plays the Stones" type of track. It's a refreshing move out of their normal range that still leaves one worn scuffed cowboy boot firmly in the ZZ Top genre (especially pertaining to the guitar solo).

My personal jury is still out on "Big Shiny Nine". Triple entendres thrive (a 9mm gun? Something unmentionable on a family website? Neither? Both?). Either way, I'm still not sure how much I like it...I'll decide after I listen forty-eight more times.

Another new song that might surprise the casual listener of the band is "It's Too Easy Mañana"...it's a cover of a Gillian Welch/David Rawlings ballad (ZZ-ified), but to me it harkens back to some of their lesser-known deep album tracks like "Sure Got Cold After The Rain Fell", "A Fool For Your Stockings"  or "Que Lastima"...

In my not-so-humble opinion, the truly great tracks on the album are "Heartache In Blue", "I Don't Wanna Lose, Lose You", and "Have a Little Mercy"...those tracks would fit right along on "Rio Grande Mud" or "Tres Hombres". Great storytelling, awesome harmonies (I love it when Dusty does his leather-lung howls and roars in conjunction with the Reverend's growls) and less distortion on the guitars than their most recent excursions...these are the REAL strengths of the album after jamming to the the groove of the catchy booty-shakin' songs like "Gotsta Get Paid" and "Chartreuse".

Have mercy, indeed...Nine and a Half Stars (out of ten)

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Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

I bought it, too. It's a great album. I don't think there's a bad song on it. A couple of my friends are crazy about Chartreuse. I'm kinda partial to the slow blues on Over You and even a little bit on It's Too Easy Mañana.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

Cool review! I was planning on buying it anyway. A few weeks ago, I watched, and played along, with 'ZZ Top: Live from Texas '
http://tinyurl.com/9cpz9cw, that was a great show.

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Tony Houston

That video has three of my favorite things Cars Women and ZZ Top. They are three of the coolest dudes on the planet.

http://www.vevo.com/watch/zz-top/i-gotsta-get-paid/USUV71201019

Thanks for the heads up..Wouldn't mind having that key chain. You can have the hoochies and their bar tab.

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"Another day in paradise!"

I was at the filming of that video! Nokia Theater, Grand Prarie, Texas.

At one point you can see my drummer and I as we worked our way into better seats, lol.

I'll post a pic of something cool from that show later...

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Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

cool review SA, im going to have to get that album, been too long since i heard any new stuff from zz top, always loved them though. Such a great band.

Dont know if this is true, but i heard it said that someone once asked jimi hendrix what it felt like to be the best guitarist in the world, and his reply was `you'd better ask Billy Gibbons`.

This might be controversial, but when you talk about some of their dodgier material, i instantly think `rough boy`....... Always splits the crowd that opinion.

Olly

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`I prefer not to listen to music that I can't rip off or improve on` - Ian Dury

Whats not to love about ZZ..there is absolutely NO way to listen and be in a bad mood!
Thanks for the review I see what my next music purchase is going to be!

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Mona
"Music is What Feelings Sound like"

Enthusiastic review I'll have to check it out . Nice vid

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A-man

"Are ya hav'in a good time, now

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"Another day in paradise!"

Amazon says it's on it's way.. !!

cheers!

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'11 FSR Am. Vtg. Ltd. Ed. CAR '57 Stratocaster (SN# LE02639)
'14 American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster
'12 Telebration Empress Telecaster
'99 Deluxe Nashville Telecaster
'12 FSR Telecaster HH
'10 Heritage H-535
'99 Martin DC-1E
'13 Lanikai Tenor Ukulele

Just checked out "Gotsta Get Paid" and really enjoyed it. What an awesome tone - it's crunchy and dirty in just the right ways.

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....and those guitars are strung w/ 8's, I'm given to understand.

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"Another day in paradise!"