Antenna/Rhythmeen/XXX - ZZ Top

Advantages: -
Disadvantages: -

...This album was released in 1996. “Rhythmeen” final closes the “superstar-stadium-rock-era” as it already was signified in 1994 by the album “Antenna”. No more drum computers or synthesisers. After all Billy Gibbons uses only Gibson Les Pauls again, this guitar suits him a lot better than the “funky Fender”. The twelve Songs on “Rhythmeen” mostly are very good. As implicated by the album’s title, Frank Beard (drums) plays rather strange and sometimes “African” rhythms. Dusty Hill lays his spartan bass tunes above this, and Gibbons provides pleasing guitar solos and riffs. Rather self-complacent, the band associates it’s music with “that good old barroom tradition”. I would like to recommend the following songs particularly: “She’... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Live tracks are good
Disadvantages: New material is poor

...Yet another outfit showing off there longevity, the Toppers have been going for over thirty years now would you believe, and this is Texas finest's first release since 1996. Still to be found at the end of record shelves everywhere, what do the old geezers sound like these days? Poke Chop Sandwich - typically cheesy title, plenty of "choppy" guitar. Crucifixx A Flatt - eh? No idea what they're on about here. A bit too mechanical sounding for my liking. Fearless Boogie - bit more like the classic ZZ sound. Still something not quite right though. 36-22-36 - I think I know what this title means. Guitars still sounding scratchy rather than fuzzy as it declares on the CD cover. Made Into A Movie - a slower pace here, in fact almost funereal. Beatbox - a bit livelier, but still nothing to get excited about. Trippin' - more of the same... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Several outstanding tracks.
Disadvantages: Weak ballads and too much filler.

...ZZ Top's most recent studio release, shows that even after nearly 40 years together, they are still capable of producing some of the finest music out there- an almost perfect combination of blues and rock n' roll. This album has several standout tracks, which easily match their most famous work. Bassist dusty Hill takes over singing duties on Piece, and the result is one of their finest tracks to date, with two incredible guitar solos from Billy Gibbons. He also demonstrates his considerable vocal talents on closing track Liquor, a classic down and dirty blues number that shows that ZZ Top are still up there with the best of them. Buck Nekkid shows the bands more humorous side, with great lyrics, a classic blues riff, and some seriously good guitar playing.But sadly, this album is far from perfect. The main criticism... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful