on 7/1/02 9:19 AM, Dave Trenkel at improv@peak.org wrote:
next installment -- GREAT ALBUMS FROM PEOPLE YOU NEVER SUSPECTED COULD MAKE GREAT ALBUMS!
ZZ Top: XXX. No, really I mean it, after not making a good record since, what, like 1979, this album, at least the first half, totally rules. Amazing production, they've obviously been listening the Latin Playboys for the simultaneously hi-fi/lo-fi vibe, cool tunes, very interesting use of electronics (for ZZ Top, at least), some hilarious lyrics. The last half of the disc if some pretty tepid live stuff, I usually ignore it. Bonus points for the "File under drum 'n bass n' fuzzy guitar" banner.
I gotta concur. ZZ came out of the box with three great albums (Billy Gibbons can really play), then started to suck big time. They were overdue, and, thankfully, not over-ripe. I also nominate Thomas Dolby's ALIENS ATE MY BUICK. Half of it is killing, but I forgot until Mr trenkel shook a cobweb loose. sh NP: Grant Green, HIS MAJESTY KING FUNK