Lately the blog has become more about upcoming events and attractions in the land of ZZ, and this aspect will surely ramp up as the release date for the new album approaches. Sometimes its good to stick to the original blog formula. With that in mind, in the interim between now and that no doubt fantastic new record we do have 14 albums of great ZZ music to choose from. What should we pick?
I really am pretty obvious when it comes to my two favorite records, those being "Rhythmeen" and "Tejas". They simply are phenomenal collections of intricate, authentic Southern blues and rock that ZZ emulates so well. Having been recorded in two different periods of the bands career, the collections have some things in common.
The 1976 classic showcases a group that could record any type of music it wanted to, at the slightest notice, and make it amazing. The band's ability to write songs during this period, lyrically and musically, is perhaps unmatched in the time that has transpired since. Markedly this is, in my opinion, the last album where the band took themselves seriously, where they are clawing to make a name for themselves and show they have what it takes. "Deguello" would begin to showcase a group becoming more interested in having fun and being "entertainers" vs. musicians. There were two roads to choose from, the continued pursuit of great music, or the pursuit of great times. I don't know if ZZ made the wrong choice, and the albums that have been put out since are certainly great in their own way - still I wonder what would have happened had the other route been selected. I could do without "Pearl Necklace" and "Tube Steak Boogie", but I suppose many could not.
Twenty years later ZZ Top once again were clawing out, this time to reestablish credibility and musicianship within the industry, both with critics and fans alike. And for a second time the band's ability to almost spontaneously record a monster of a musically and lyrically fluent album came to fruition. "Rhythmeen", from the very, very first guitar chord and bass note of the title track through to the final cymbal crash of "Isn't Love Amazing", simply amazes. Tragically the record was too late, but it was not too little. Those in the know, like you and me, have no doubt this record could stand up to the best not only of ZZ's catalogue, but the blues/rock genre as a whole. It's good to have these gems to crank.
To do list:
Saturday - "Tejas"
Sunday - "Rhythmeen"
I couldn’t agree more with your selection of “Rhythmeen”, which I feel is far and away their best work yet. BFG has called “Rhythmeen” the “one great true trio record” from ZZ Top. The raw detuned guitar power of the title song is a perfect sign of things to come on this album. Many of the songs feature guitar parts that inconspicuously swerve from rhythm to lead and back again. The drumming on this album is truly inspired and it’s exciting to hear Frank cut loose. “Loaded” ranks is one of my overall favorite ZZ songs featuring Dusty’s easy vocal set on top of a backdrop of pulsing bass, crashing drums, and rhythm guitar with that busted-up tone. The lead guitar solos in “Loaded” are bluesy, greasy excursions with the final note of the song disintegrating into that unforgettable ultra-distorted broken up sound. Every single person that I share “Rhythmeen” with is absolutely amazed and most ask “Why haven’t I heard of this great album before?” That’s a very good question – but more about that some other time. Maybe if "Rhythmeen" had been the first album for RCA, things would have been different?
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