ZZ Top's new album is now finished, being mixed, and will be released in the fall of 2011. Billy Gibbons tells Mojo magazine, "It sounds and feels like 'Tres Hombres', with a few elements of the 'Eliminator' period thrown in. A pretty wide range, from basic blues to slightly more fancy stuff."
Songs recorded include "Flyin' High", "More Slower Blues", "Chartreuse" and "Have A Little Mercy", The latter is, says Gibbons, inspired by early B.B. King cuts.
The sessions have been executive-produced by Rick Rubin (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Johnny Cash, Metallica, etc). Gibbons adds, "The thing about Rick is he pushes the artists to spend more time reaching down deeper than they normally would."
ZZ top recorded at the famous Shangri La Studios in Malibu with engineeer Dave Sardy (Oasis, Jet). The trio then moved back to Texas, to Foam Box Recordings in Houston, with long-time engineer Joe Hardy. "It was the Sardy and Hardy party", said Gibbons.
A version of "Flyin' High", which is not confirmed for the album, has already debuted: played en-route to the International Space Station on Russia's Soyuz spacecraft. "We figured it'd be the perfect song to pass along to the astronauts", said Gibbons.
Not every song will be as as radio-friendly as "Flyin' High", insists Billy. "More Slower Blues" is "simply one chord, that never stops".
ZZ Top have yet to reveal the album's title and its final tracklisting.
Thanks for te report to Michael Leonard, Gibson.com.
"Not every song will be as as radio-friendly as "Flyin' High", insists Billy", sums it up really. The main riff's alright, just the chorus that's a bit iffy depending on how you look at it, but singles are usually picked on the basis of being either the most radio-friendly or the least unappealing. Singles hardly ever justify the quality of an album or actual musical ability overall in my opinion, that's why I don't buy greatest hits CDs.
I am one of the hugest ZZ Top fans ever. But this kinda scared me. Most of the song is pretty good. But the chorus sounds like a Southern Beatles with distorted guitars. I really hope this isn't what the album is gonna be like. It'd be great if it wasn't even on the album!!!!! (But if this sounds like Tres Hombres, then KISS has talent)
Cool vocal harmonies during the chorus.
I like it. I'm not sure why everyone is complaining about it. They've been around for like 50 years now...of course they're not going to stay the same. Some evolution has to happen. I personally find this song to be pretty good. I'd give it a 7/10. I do hope the rest is better, obviously.
Yeh dude, they're just getting modern. You can't ***** yourself on blues licks for a whole song nowadays. I love it, great drive and an awesome chorus. Billy and the boys still got it!
Besides, I'm sure ZZ Top fans were like "WTF" in the 80's with stuff like Gimme All Your Lovin' and Legs like you are now. They're just getting with the times.
The verses/solos reminded me of Eliminator era ZZ Top. I can live with that. The choruses didn't, but as long as that isn't a pattern across the entire album it should still be solid. Looking forward to this.
that's what's beautiful about BG. Even though he can play blues a million times more authentically than a whole stack of SRV-imitatin' white boy guitar hero wannabes, he can do whatever he wants and have it come out great because he's rock'n'roll.
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