New ZZ Top EP out today... Kinda underwhelmed...

Today is apparently the release of the new ZZ Top EP. I have to say I'm not overly excited by what I heard... Check it out :
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/texicali-ep/id533278845?ign-mpt=uo%3D4

They've got the formula that their fans love. Why should they change it now?

Well, I'm a fan, but their most recent stuff left me scratching my head... I though Mescalero was a piece of doo-doo. It seems that all their songs sound the same now. JMHO YMMV

I got on this morning to say the same thing! I listened (briefly) to the four songs and they just weren't worth spending the money on the EP. I'll wait for the full release and hope some of the other songs are good. The "Gotsta Get Paid" song is terrible if you ask me.

I'm a big ZZ Top fan and I'll be seeing them when they come to Baton Rouge this month, but I was definitely underwhelmed by these four songs.

I'm with you... They're my favorite band, but have been mailing it in for the last few years in my opinion. Sad. Can't even come up with an original title "Texicali" resembles "Mescalero" and every other title of late, "Gotsta Get Paid"-"Just Got Paid". I mean, c'mon...:shock: I get that they have their TexMex concept, but... Billy's got more soul, flavor and mojo in his little finger than anybody else in their whole body, I expect more from him at this point. They're just trying to serve us the same thing under a slightly different name. If you're gonna do that, at least make it good like AC/DC does.
Just a disappointed fan, that's all. :neutral:

Sadly not available in the UK, so I can't even sample it. AND for some reason they never do gigs here either, so I can't see them live. On their European tour, there's not a single UK date. Oh well, back to the old albums, I guess...

ZZ appears to have gone to poT.

I do hold a special place in my heart for ZZTop, but yeah ... a little underwhelming. Overall it sounds like Rhythmeen, which was an OK record. But that song Chartreuse really sounds like they were sitting around stoned and someone said "Hey, we should totally rewrite Tush"...

Sadly not available in the UK, so I can't even sample it. AND for some reason they never do gigs here either, so I can't see them live. On their European tour, there's not a single UK date. Oh well, back to the old albums, I guess...

Oh yes it is!

The samples play.

You open in iTunes and it proffers to "change store" to download in USD payment.

Oh yes it is!

The samples play.

You open in iTunes and it proffers to "change store" to download in USD payment.

I tried that - but apparently my account isn't able to purchase from the US Store. :(

Can I change this anywhere?

I guess it's like the Stones' official bootlegs of late available for purchase and download everywhere in the world except for the US. :twisted:

wow this is pretty bad

I've heard all but "Over You" and I like them.
Maybe not classic Top, but there's some grooving going on.
Waiting for the EP to hit outlets apart from iTunes to hear the final track as I do not have iTunes installed on any device.
BTW - links to hear the other 3 tracks on their official Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/ZZTop

I do not have iTunes installed on any device.


You should. I resisted too for a while, but it's the future and there's nothing we can do about it. Apple is coming out with its first PC with no CD tray. Major companies are stopping their CD manufacturing this year. Pretty soon downloads will be the only way to get music. I now am a 99% iPod guy: car, house, etc.
One day we'll tell the youngsters that there were stores dedicated to buying music on plastic discs and they will not believe us. Try and tell an elementary school kid now about a camera that you couldn't see the picture until you were done with the roll and went to a store to get developed. They do not believe it.

33 years since a decent studio release by those guys.

Worse track record than the Stones actually...

I guess I'm in the minority around here. I thought Mescalero was a terrific record full of great songs, great tones and great grooves. I also really loved Rhythmeen. I will say that XXX wasn't their best effort though. I love that ZZ Top finds a way to add newer elements to their tried and true blues sound. Billy's tone is still the best in the biz in my opinion.

I've only heard I Gotsta Get Paid from the. Eq one thus far, but I really like it. I'm anxious to hear the rest of the preview ep.

Cosmic, I liked Mescalero too, and I thought Antennae was pretty great, XXX not so much with me, also.

This weekend I'll get a chance to check out the EP. I'm looking forward to it

Yeah disappointing.

Why say something when you have nothing to say.

They're over, plain and simple. Trading on their past glories, comic book characterizations of themselves, no relevance anymore. Please, shave the beards and hang it up. Billy Gibbons is the ultimate rock con artist, playing his image for all it's worth.

Their last four studio albums were the dog knackers I enjoyed the live DVD too, the EP is right up there with them, ZZ TOP have moved on and become what they are, same with the Stones, AC/DC, Areosmith and plenty more its not the 70's anymore and like it or not downloads dont smell anything like those big old black discs with the grooves in, mmm gatefold sleaves.

They're over, plain and simple. Trading on their past glories, comic book characterizations of themselves, no relevance anymore. Please, shave the beards and hang it up. Billy Gibbons is the ultimate rock con artist, playing his image for all it's worth.

A little on the harsh side, but you have a point. Sad, really. :neutral:

Got to get paid our whatever the new song is, is actually a rap song by a guy named DJMD I do believe. A local radio station pointed that out a few days ago. I still enjoy the song and will probably buy the album just because.

Got to get paid our whatever the new song is, is actually a rap song by a guy named DJMD I do believe. A local radio station pointed that out a few days ago. I still enjoy the song and will probably buy the album just because.

Sad... but yeah, it is a remake... of this:

zPtFb77Gmtk https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT1exXe5SrTNxag1L9Fkal8-833Pr6mHh31LMXlWBtkEgk-LCz3

Ouch... Say it ain't so... :shock: :roll:

Dont want to hear it, and will avoid doing so

I love Billy's playing, and I enjoy the theatrical mix of groove and surreal comedy of ZZ Top, but the last stuff I heard (last year I think) made me genuinely saddened and actually a little angry.

If an artist has enough money, and had a great, great reputation. Keep both.
IMO, stop as soon you know you are not so good, and never likely to be again. And surely they know it.

What band that has been playing as long as ZZ Top actually puts out an album that is good in comparison to their earlier work? I can't think of any (although there must be a few)

Personally, I love that ZZ Top continues to add new influences to their Texas blues sound. Billy has never been secretive about his love for rap. Crucifixaflat off of XXX was in that style as well. So what if it's a rap cover? Their version is great. I'm loving it.

The three other songs are alright, but I Gotsta Get Paid is definitely the best of the 4.

What band that has been playing as long as ZZ Top actually puts out an album that is good in comparison to their earlier work? I can't think of any (although there must be a few)


Neil Young and/or NY w/ Crazy Horse

It all ended with the release of Eliminator.

It all ended with the release of Eliminator.
I agree, and I loved Eliminator.

Personally, I love that ZZ Top continues to add new influences to their Texas blues sound. Billy has never been secretive about his love for rap. Crucifixaflat off of XXX was in that style as well. So what if it's a rap cover? Their version is great. I'm loving it.

The three other songs are alright, but I Gotsta Get Paid is definitely the best of the 4.


I like the new songs too. Rehashed? Sure. But it sounds delicious. Over You is a great bluesy ballad that makes you think and then sigh. Guess we're in the minority.

I kinda like Texicali too. I gotsta get paid not so much, but the three other songs, and especially Over You, I like!

What band that has been playing as long as ZZ Top actually puts out an album that is good in comparison to their earlier work? I can't think of any (although there must be a few)

Los Lobos. Still great, and they keep it fresh, too.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers can when they want to.
But, really, Los Lobos. Tin Can Trust was a really good record. They haven't made a clunker that I've heard.

Los Lobos. Still great, and they keep it fresh, too.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers can when they want to.
But, really, Los Lobos. Tin Can Trust was a really good record. They haven't made a clunker that I've heard.

While I really like Los Lobos, they haven't nearly played as long as the Tres Hombres have. I think that was the point of his post.

33 years since a decent studio release by those guys.

Worse track record than the Stones actually...

You beat me to it. Nary a good record since "Deguello." Exactamundo.

As great as Billy G. was/is/could be, they've long had a bad case of the Lazies, in my opinion.

Kinda sad, too, because he's a bit of a hometown hero, for me. I went to the same high school as him (granted, 20 years later), my uncle used to go up against him in battles of the bands, etc.

These were the days, amigos:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/e5y/Billy_Gibbons.jpg

While I really like Los Lobos, they haven't nearly played as long as the Tres Hombres have. I think that was the point of his post.

Four years between their birthdates, if you can trust anything you read on wikipedia. According to the Mighty Wik' ZZ Top started playing in '69, Los Lobos in '73. And when you figure in the two-year ZZ Top hiatus in the late '70s...just saying.

Well.......crap. Joe Walsh's new album is jusk OK, and now this.

I saw ZZ Top in 2010 with Tom Petty. They put on a Hell of a show!

With all these classic rockers who put out new stuff, it just takes us some time to warm up to the new stuff.

Four years between their birthdates, if you can trust anything you read on wikipedia. According to the Mighty Wik' ZZ Top started playing in '69, Los Lobos in '73. And when you figure in the two-year ZZ Top hiatus in the late '70s...just saying.

I stand corrected. I always thought Los Lobos started in the 80s.

I basically picked up about 50% of my guitar style from trying to cop Billy's sound on Deguello (which roughly translated means 'to strangle by the neck'), since then not so much. But thanx for the memories!!
P.S. By far the coolest thing I saw on our visit to the R&R Hall of Fame was Dusty's fur covered drum set.

Dusty is the bass player, Frank Beard plays drums and ironically is the only one without a beard.:smile:

Deguello (which roughly translated means 'to strangle by the neck')

Beheading or throat-cutting, more accurately.

"El Deguello" is a piece the Mexican army band played at the Alamo, conveying to the Texians that no mercy would be given and no one spared.

I remember the t-shirts from that 1979-1981 tour saying "Expect No Quarter" on the back.

What a bunch of winers!

What a bunch of winers!

That's "whiners." Maybe "winers" are people who attend wine tasting events? :wink:

This is a guitar forum filled with opinionated people who express their opinions, and sometimes some of them express opinions we disagree with. It's to be expected, although I have to say the AH quotient around here has been going up lately. There seems to be a lot less tolerance for people's points of view over the last few weeks and more and more flaming.

Thanx RINGO and E5RSY for correcting my factually negligent post.
Apparently I've been trying to 'strangle my guitar by the neck' since 1981 for no good reason!
Thanx again, really.
btw, I think he meant 'winners', no?:roll:

I've been listening to it for awhile and I like it; fat, juicy, and groovalicious.