XXX

by

ZZ Top

Edit

The album title refers not to raunchy erotica nor to hard drink; it refers to ZZ Top's 30 year history. But this offering from that little ol' band from Texas is as potent as secret hooch or libidinous encounters. The guitars and groove are saturated in fuzz, gritty, greasy, and irresistible. Gibbons, Hill, and Beard incorporate some beats and sounds that would otherwise be hip-hop and turn them into, well, ZZ Top (on "Crucifixx-A-Flatt" and "Beatbox"). Tracks "36-22-36," "Poke Chop Sandwich," and "Fearless Boogie" are timeless Top. The last four tracks are live, including a blues version of Elvis Presley's "Teddy Bear" and Jeff Beck guest vocalizing on "Hey Mr. Millionaire." I've found this album only gets better the more you cruise with it, and it stays in my car CD a lot.

When I finished listening to XXX, I slowly removed my headphones, feeling disjointed from the universe as I realized the world has moved on without ZZ Top. By the sound of their latest effort (a word that may not be appropriate), all three band members had a different idea (another word that may not be appropriate) for every song, and played it their own way. Drums don't match lead guitar. Lead guitar doesn't match bass. Bass doesn't match Vocals. And ZZ Top doesn't match this catastrophic album. It hurts to have to admit that the ZZ Top we all know and love, all the way from "Goin Down to Mexico" and "Chevrolet" on their first album, to "Decision or Collision" and "Velcro Fly" during their peak in the late 80's, to the rough yet empowering beats of the 90's such as "Fuzzbox Voodoo" and "Hairdresser"...have all been completely ignored by an album that is no less than a proclimation of insanity. Nevertheless, I have been able to prevent from throwing up by reminding myself that very few bands have managed to release only one bad album in a career spanning over 30 years.