Top Five ZZ Top Album--Best Album of the 1990s
Screamin' Armadillo | Fort Worth, TEXAS | 11/11/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"In the long discography of ZZ Top, there are certain albums that stand out.
-1971's "First Album" showed the world that the then-emerging "southern rock" genre had a tougher, grittier but ultimately humorous cousin in "Texas Blues/Rock/Roadhouse Music".
-1973's "Tres Hombres" stands out for solidifying the classic ZZ Top sound and style.
-1975's "Fandango" rises due to a great live side one, and an even greater studio side two.
-1983's RIAA Diamond Certified "Eliminator" combined electronic synthesizers with the classic ZZ Top "wink-and-a-smile-boogie-blues" and benefitted from the new phenomenon of MTV, a red 1933 Ford and some leggy chicks.
"Rhythmeen" is as strong as any of those albums, whether from the standpoint of creativity and artistic ability, continuation of a well-established thread, or just plain fun boogie-blues.
By 1996, the 1980s Texas Blues Revolution had suffered the loss of Stevie Ray Vaughan, grunge had peaked and was quickly collapsing, "Eliminator" was a pleasant-but-distant memory, and ZZ Top was making their second disc for their new label (RCA). Time to re-tool, re-invent and re-invigorate...
The Boyzz tuned down (in some cases, two full steps below 440/concert pitch!), turned up the distortion, and went on a seedy surrealistic sonic roadtrip from New Orleans to Tijuana. This is the first disc of the Drums-Bass-Fuzzy Guitar trilogy (continued and completed by 1999's "XXX" and 2003's Mescalero").
From the first track to the last, your senses are pleasantly assaulted by reverb- and tremolo-drenched distortion and crunch, heavy drums, growly vocals and rumbling bass. The disc pushes forward with a slightly ominous tone reminiscent of heavier Black Keys tracks (who are, according to 2008 Billboard[...] reports, writing material with Billy Gibbons for a new ZZ Top disc to be produced by Rick Rubin).
One note for the casual ZZ Top fan; this disc requires more than one listen to fully appreciate and enjoy the full effect, much like the Rolling Stones' "Exile on Main Street".
If you can find it, and if you can afford it, the Japanese import version of the CD is desirable, due to the inclusion of the bonus track "Isn't Love Amazing".
Either way, Buy This Disc and TURN IT UP! Good Vibes To Y'all..."
Great Rock from Z.Z. Top!!!!!!!!
Paul J. Broussard Jr. | Youngsville, Louisiana | 05/25/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Tracklisting / Additional Info:
1. Rhythmeen
2. Bang band
3. Black fly
4. What's up with that
5. Vincent Price blues
6. Zipper job
7. Hairdresser
8. She's just killing me
9. My mind is gone
10. Loaded
11. Prettyhead
12. Hummbucking part 2
13. Isn't Love Amazing (bonus)
Country of Origin: Japan
"
