Friday, July 29, 2011

!!!! Billy Speaks.... !!! / !!! ZZTop.com - another change !!!

Gibson published an online article yesterday featuring some new information and sound bites from Billy concerning the new album. The feature can be found here:

http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/News/zz-top-0728-2011/


Indeed the new info is very exciting. Great to finally hear some song titles. "Have a Little Mercy" sounds like a winner to me,  and "Chartreuse" is a high brow and historic brand of French wine known for it's assertive flavor (extra piquant if you please!). I'm not completely sold on "More Slower Blues" which apparently features one chord over and over, but if it is more "Stockings" than "Rig" count me in.

It is also good news to see that Joe Hardy was again involved in the sessions, as he undoubtedly contributes creatively and enthusiastically to the band's recording. It also is obvious the band takes his input seriously as he has received songwriting credit in the past.

I for one am very glad some of the sessions took place in Houston, as they should. I raise a questions: does anyone else wonder if just Billy and Rubin worked and recorded in Malibu, while the band as a whole along with Rubin recorded in Houston?

I have touched on the subject of the band's songwriting process in the past. As the RCA era progressed Dusty and Frank received less and less songwriting credits. Check out Mescalero - Dusty and Frank are only credited on two songs ("Kid" and "Sanctify"). In order for this to feel like Tres Hombres with a touch of Eliminator the whole band must have been involved in the writing process. If this album is again dominated by Billy's ideas the album will sound like Eliminator with a touch of Tres Hombres. Do you know what I mean?

Needless to say this is a very exciting time to be a Top fan. This may indeed serve to be the last new album so we as fans must relish every moment. Tell your friends. Buy the music magazines that hopefully come out with articles about the new album. Buy the vinyl copy, buy the compact disc copy, buy the T-shirt. Enjoy this moment.

It would be very exciting if Billy started dropping hints about the new album at their upcoming USA shows, which begin July 31st. Even better would be to play a new song or two, but that would blow my mind.

I can't wait to hear what's in store.

-----
Check out the website ZZTOP.com   -  another change - the Mescalero has new information for you!

Friday, July 22, 2011

Change to ZZ Top's Offical Website

There is a new intro screen when you first type zztop.com

Features the Mescalero character holding a bottle of "Pura Vida". The direct translation is "Pure Life". Depending on the context it can also mean "Great Life", "Fine Life" or "Well Life".

Perhaps this is the title of the new album; hard to tell. Hopefully more news will come soon.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Operation "Finale": Part Two: Publicity

This aspect of the plan ties in with marketing. When it comes to promoting a new album it doesn't necessarily take a lot of money, not these days anyhow. In my estimation the group could benefit from the following:

1) Totally revamp the offical ZZ Top website. It really is nothing more than an advertisement for upcoming shows and events, as well as trying to plug merchandise. There have been some cool things in the past, for example the Double Down Live tour blog that was posted in the fall of 2009 during the Canadian tour. But the majority of the time the "updates" are nothing more than promotions. ZZ should have kept the original organizers of the ZZ Top Fan Club, they were such fans of the group and were so dedicated that they likely would have done the web site for free. Currently the offical site is run by a corporation that works on many bands, and for the most part doesn't know the first thing about ZZ. And the fact you have to pay to participate in the forum is absurd.

2) Billy is a member of twitter however only occasionaly posts anything. This is fine, twitter is not really my thing and it is not surprising that Billy is not that into it either - he is not really in the target age group. But as a publicity tool twitter is great. Maybe Billy could start tweeting his thoughts on the new album, reveal some song titles to build some excitement, mention a possible release date, etc.

3) It would be very cool for ZZ to post on YouTube or some other FREE medium a sneak peak at the new album, whether it be some 30 second samples of new songs or video footage of the band in the recording studio. If I recall correctly Chickenfoot did this a few years ago when promoting their new album and the results were fantastic.

4) Release a downloadable single through iTunes or Amazon. I can't see anybody having a problem with paying $0.99 for a new song from their favorite band. We heard the Billy single "Flyin' High", now how about a group song?

5) Release promo copies to the press. This would allow the media to start talking about the album well before the release date. The more talk the better. Maybe even send promo copies to ZZ Top blog sites (hint hint).

As I write this it is already mid July. We should be getting some additional details about the album soon: release date, name of the record, song titles, etc.

Anybody else notice the group has a four week break between early September and early October. If I had to guess I would reason Billy and perhaps the other members will be making the final touches and approvals on the final mixes of the new album during this break. We'll see.

Friday, July 8, 2011

Just a Jam??

Anybody know anything or have more video / audio of Billy's jam at Cognac, France on 2011-07-7? Wonder if this is part of a song or just a spontaneous jam.

Here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOZMYB9tMkI

Monday, July 4, 2011

Operation "Finale": Part One: Marketing

Operation "Finale":

     Log One:
    
          Marketing:

Much has been said, and most of it true, regarding the lack of effort and financing by RCA on advertising of ZZ's four post "Recycler" albums. Each album received less and less promotion, to the point where "Mescalero" was put out almost as an afterthought.

To be fair "Antenna" did receive a fair amount of push, to include TV spots and interviews, radio shows, flyers, posters and singles. What could not be overcome however is the substandard quality of the record. While there were several bright spots the album as a whole found the band somewhat "lost" on the type of sound they were trying to emulate. It was neither a return to roots nor a continuation of the 80's pop formula; rather a somewhat disjointed set of pieces that didn't make a complete puzzle. The album sold decently, but in no way met the needed sales to help recover the $35 million RCA signed ZZ for. And it would appear that it immediately became evident to RCA that they paid too much; as a result they were going to be much less "generous" in their future promotions.

A fellow Top fan (I apologize for not recalling his name) pointed out that "Rhythmeen" was what "Antenna" should have been, meaning that if "Rhythmeen" had come out in 1994 then ZZ would have been heralded as a revitalized working band. "Rhythmeen" is in my opinion the best record ZZ has done in 28 years - but the disappointment of "Antenna" was the last chance the band had to hang on to a large share of fans. They simply were not interested anymore by 1996.

"XXX" received little mainstream promotion, and it didn't help that ZZ elected to only play one new song from the album throughout the 1999/2000 US tour, choosing rather to cater to the casual fans by wearing out "Cheap Sunglasses" night after night.

Nothing in ZZ's career can top RCA's blundering of "Mescalero". Clive Davis, for reasons which I can only assume were the hope of greater profits, told the band he felt "there is more we can do" after "Mescalero" was completed; he wanted to give it the Santana "Supernatural" treatment. Sure, that worked great for Santana, but it was largely a fluke. ZZ was a working three piece band, not an individual that doesn't sing. ZZ wisely did nothing, and six months later the album was released to minimal reception. Shame really, it is a great album. Hard to believe too that Bill Ham would let all that go down, he had obviously lost the drive and love for his greatest band; maybe that's why two years later he found himself relieved of his duties, who knows?

Anyway, nearly a decade later here we are. Time to learn from the mistakes.

If I am in the inner circle, and the discussion of "what should we talk about when promoting the new album" comes up, the focus has got to about the fans and being honest with them. Here is what I would say are important points to make when marketing the new album and the current version of ZZ Top:

1) The band has been together for 41 years and counting, with all original members still intact
2) This is the band's first album in eight years
3) All three members can still play their respective instruments
4) They put on a good live show and can be seen in a town near you
5) ZZ has a rich heritage of tradition and still wish to create new music

Then, when executing the plan, do this:

- Get an exclusive deal through a retailer or something similar if that helps sales and promotion. But make it temporary, and don't gouge prices. AC/DC did this with their newest album after the better part of a decade with no new music, and apparently it sold very well.
- Set a firm release date and keep it.
- Release a single or two prior to the release date to build up anticipation
- Advertise - in music magazines, music stores, online, maybe even TV.
- Sell the album through both Compact Disc and Vinyl, and let this fact be known
- Do interviews with ALL THREE MEMBERS
- Promote the album through a tour. And for the love of God play the new songs during the tour. It is official Billy, your market has been saturated - too many shows, too few surprises. I have been listening to lip-synced versions of "Party On the Patio" since late 2009, and I don't like it anymore now than I did then.
- Play songs from the new album during the tour.
- Play songs from the new album during the tour.
- Play songs from the new album during the tour.
- Play songs from the new album during the tour.
- Sell the new albums at concerts.
- Take creative control of band merchandise. Sell higher quality clothing and promotional items. Actually look at the stuff you are putting in front of fans at the shows in the merchandise booths. Sell stuff that talks about the new album. No more "Can't Stop Rockin" shirts - I mean come on, you want me to pay $25 for a shirt that says "Can't Stop Rockin" and falls apart the first time it is washed. And don't charge more for the same stuff at shows than on the internet; believe it or not people actually look at prices when they shop. Are you aware the country is experiencing hard economic times? The fans are already paying up to $100 a ticket to watch you play "I Need You Tonight" for the 245th time, simply because you can play the same solo note for note one handed every night and point at people at the same time, thinking that impresses people. That gimmick is not worth $100. Play the instrument like you still have a desire and passion for your craft. Stevie Ray Vaughn played with his teeth, now that is impressive.
- Don't patronize your fans. Without their support you have nothing.
And finally...
- Don't give me that return to form crap. Billy always says "La Grange"..."Return to roots"..."Tex-Mex"..., etc. These are just soundbites, Billy is just saying what comes easily to his mind, what he knows people want to hear. Every time he is asked about the new album, he doesn't think about the answer, he doesn't show any passion in his response, he's not telling it like it is, he just reels off one-liners. It's bullshit. Do any of the people who have heard "Flyin' High" think it sounds anything like "La Grange"? Does it sound anything like "Tex-Mex". SERIOUSLY?!! The group needs to actually talk openly, truthfully and candidly about the new album. Don't give me some line that you think I want to hear. Do the album and music for yourselves, not for numbers or popularity. People see through this, they are not as dumb as Billy apparently thinks they are. Honesty is going to be a big part of this topic. Honesty has got to happen, now.

I would argue that if the band subscribes to at least one of the above points it will help promote the group and the new album.
--- 

It is plain to see I am in no way shape or form in the inner circle. I can only assume my thoughts and opinions would be incredibly unpopular. But I am a paying customer, and there seems to be one or two people who tend to agree with my current take on the band.

Don't let it end like this. Bring it back to how it should be. Make the effort, cherish the moments, and reward the fans - in turn you will restore all the rightful glory and prestige to America's greatest band, ZZ Top.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Operation: "Finale"

Operation: "Finale"
Log One (1): Marketing:
Log Two (2): Publicity
Log Three (3): New Album
Log Four (4): Live Revision
Log Five (5): Sendoff
Log Six (6): "The Finale"

Operation: "Finale"
Mission Statement: "Restoring, refining and reigniting the fine ZZ Top tradition of tone, taste and tenacity by returning to basics, making it simple, and keeping it honest; with the goal of bringing proper closure to the final chapter of that Little 'Ol Band from Texas".

-----

Over the course of six posts I will comment on what I opine to be a favorable and appropriate way to finalize what may indeed be the final chapter of our favorite band. Having taken 8+ years to get out the new (and still untitled) album I do not see another one in the future, especially if Dusty and Frank receive as little writing credit as they did on "Mescalero" (which indicates they are losing interest in making music). It is likely that Billy will continue on, but one can argue with significant evidence that the band itself is winding down. It is my hope that they release the new album, it sells well, the band tours throughout the US, Europe and the UK, they return to playing real live "honest" songs, and they finish up receiving the notoriety and recognition they deserve.