| | ZZ Top Mescalero CD ZZ Top Discography of CDs
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ZZ Top: Bill F. Gibbons (vocals, guitar); Dusty Hill (vocals, bass); Frank Beard (drums). Recorded at Foam Box Recordings, H-Town, Texas. Personnel: Billy Gibbons (vocals, guitar); Dusty Hill (vocals); Frank Beard (drums). Audio Mixer: Joe Hardy. Recording information: Foam Box Recordings, H-Town, TX. Photographer: Mike Waring. Ever since ZZ Top signed with RCA, they fitfully tried to break free of the synthesized blues 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-boogie, sometimes relapsing and adding too many synths to mix, other times breaking loose with some credible boogie. 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. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine Ever since ZZ Top signed with RCA, they fitfully tried to break free of the synthesized blues 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-boogie, sometimes relapsing and adding too many synths to mix, other times breaking loose with some credible boogie. Apart from the dreadful 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. Unfortunately, that's four songs on an overlong 17-track album (including an uncredited closing cover of "As Time Goes By," hidden after "Liquor" -- as most uncredited covers of "As Time Goes By" are, I suppose), and the rest of the record is pretty much devoted to by-the-books latter-day ZZ Top, relying too much on overly polished sound and familiar form, not gutbucket hooks and dirty grooves. What's frustrating is that those aforementioned cuts prove that the boys could still turn out a really cool, modernistic roadhouse blues-rock album, if only they had a good editor or producer. Left to their own devices, they repeat their same mistakes and wind up with a record that's pretty damn near the same as their other RCA platters. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine Still chugging along three decades after members of Houston garage bands the Moving Sidewalks and the American Blues united in 1970, this little ol' band from Texas makes its mark on 2003 with MESCALERO, the trio's first album in four years. As one of the first blues-rock power trios to fuse synthesizers with their straightforward brand of boogie, ZZ Top continues down this same path throughout these 16 songs. The difference is the Tex-Mex border brushed-on flavor, be it the bilingual title cut, the techno-mariachi that is the Spanish-sung " Mescalero Music Review Average Rating: (4.3 out of 5 stars)    List All Reviews One Of The Best Mescalero is one of ZZ's finest works.
It gets with it and gets down. This is one rockin shot of "Krunchy" rhythym. Within you'll find a Texas-Louisiana kind of swamp blues flavor stirred in with all the energy of a down-south full-tilt Tejano barbecue. Turn it up loud and jam your buck-nekkid behind off. Then you'll know "What It Is". No other band rocks like Reverend G and the boys. Guaranteed you'll play this one over and over, if for no other reason, than to sonically blow-out and impress your friends after a night of partyin' and hard-drinkin'. They'll love ya for it. Spin it around, you'll see! Submitted by ~LocomotoDave~ (~Palm Springs, CA~)  Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
EXCELLANT CD There are some very good songs on here
I think my favorite is alley-gator and
buck nekked Submitted by chail (MadisonWI)  Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
Mescalero is ssssssssmokin!! Mescalero rocks!! The nasty tones, the driving basslines, the hoppin drums, it all adds up to the best album ZZTop has done in a long time.
Hot Spots include Buck Nekkid[my favorite], Piece[we all want a little lol], Punk A$$ Boyfriend, and Stackin Paper. ZZ Top is still the king of the gutbucket, dirty, fire breathin, blues rock bands!! Go ahead, give Mescalero a shot, and see if you don't breathe fire, too!! sssssssssssmokin!! Submitted by blujam (Fremont Nebraska USA)  Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
It's exactly what I expected Nothing new here. Thank goodness! It's great to buy a cd and get exactly what I expected. Great stuff. Great sound. Submitted by a reviewer (Newburgh, IN)  Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
EXCELLENT! Another ZZ Top classic filled with great songs. It's a shame that it was mostly overlooked by the masses. Submitted by Lee (Owensboro, KY, USA) Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
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