Customer Reviews

Recycler

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

(Three and a half stars) The album that brought the "Eliminator" period to a close, and the end of the eighties for ZZ. I get the feeling that the band knew exactly what they were doing when they made this album. They had ridden a second wave, and a second decade, of popularity, and being the accomplished musicians they were, they knew it had to end sometime, why not finish it of with an effort befitting a band of journeyman musicians? It's a bit of a shame they didn't take more chances... this release has a slightly mellow, and even melancholy attitude about it, and although it uses this effect to good end in some songs, it also makes it somewhat unspectacular overall. Billy's guitar playing has gone completely in the direction of the thick distortion and simple chords that started with Afterburner, and though his lead playing has it's hot spots, I personally miss the arpeggiated rhythms, clean tones and raw feel of earlier ZZ Top.
2000 Blues has a great deal of feeling, I think it's a high point. Burger Man is an interesting song, how many other bands tried a classic blues-novelty style song in 1990? If only it was a little better... I have a thing for Tell It, with its laid back rhythm and syncopated flourishes. My Head's in Mississippi is this releases signature song, with it's La Grange like sound. There was a lot of "they're finally back to the old ZZ" with Recycler's release, mostly because of this song, but the creative direction that it started really didn't hit it's stride until the release of Rhythmeen six years later. Recycler ended ZZ's stay in the '80's limelight, and the beginning of their semi-retired(?) period, in which ZZ has recaptured some of the spark of individualism that is their best quality, and that mega stardom can apparently dull, and that little old band from Texas still churns 'em out.....

I give "Recycler" 4 stars, only because no band can put out absolutely great albums time after time. This album was an attempt to break away from the synthesized pop sound they had picked up in the 80's and get back to a little more of the straight-ahead, blues rock roots they are so famous for. I think they did exactly what they set out to accomplish, and the album is definitely a must for any ZZ fan. The first 4 cuts, and the slow blues number "2000 Blues" are the best cuts...the rest are okay, but more of an attempt at pop songs or songs intended for radio play. What ZZ fans will remember most about this album was that it produced the cut "Doubleback" which was on the "Back to the Future Part III" sound track...ZZ even managed a small cameo in the film. For the true ZZ fan, every album is different, and this one has its place in ZZ history just like the rest. But most importantly, ZZ releases are never a disappointment.

After a 5 year hiatus, ZZ Top opened the 90's with a great offering, Recycler. The album was highly-anticipated, and because of that, expectations were high. In a sense, that isn't fair. If this album came out in 1987, then the reviews would've probably been better. That's just my opinion, and expressing ones's opinion is what this forum is all about. The album starts with CONCRETE AND STEEL, which is a solid rocker. I must say that I really welcome their heavier sound on this album, as opposed to Eliminator and Afterburner. The overall sound has more depth to it, and is even faster, for the most part. One can tell that this was a transitional album, as the song, MY HEAD'S IN MISSISSIPPI has a mixture of early 70's LA GRANGE and 80's ELIMINATOR stuff. The song sounds a lot like LA GRANGE. I particularly like 2000 BLUES, as it's the most different-sounding of all of the songs. The last two songs, BURGER MAN and DOUBLEBACK finish the album on a high note. DOUBLEBACK sounds a little like GIMME ALL YOUR LOVIN'. It's interesting that the song, DIPPING LOW (in the lap of luxury) (from Afterburner) sounds almost exactly like Gimme All Your Lovin', as well. Is RECYCLER just that? A recycling of earlier stuff? Just kidding.... 9/10

Recycler sees Top slowly backing away from the techno blues pop (who would have thought you could combine those elements?) of Eliminator and Afterburner and reaching for a more rough and raw bluesy sound. No, Deguello or El Loco this CD ain't, but Recycler does recapture some of the guts lost during ZZ's stroll through it's MTV daze. The tracks that work best are the one's that show off Gibbon's soulful licks such as "Lovething," "My Head's In Mississippi" and the meandering ballad "2000 Blues." Still, one can't help but wish Gibbons would turn it up a notch, as the riffs and solos generally come across as a bit too understated.
Elsewhere, Eliminator-style synthesized blues is still in evidence with the likes of "Concrete and Steel," "Give it Up" and "Doubleback." A sometimes frustrating album, I can't help but think Recycler tries desperately to make up for lost time. But it's obvious that the boys won't ever make a true blues record again. Maybe they became too concerned with commerce, maybe they're just doing their thang.

Too bad ZZ decided to stick with the slick artwork which graced it's MTV period CDs Eliminator and Afterburner. And even worse was too give Recylcler such a horrible title -- a name which seems to imply that it's just another jolt of drum machine music -- it's not.

In fact, this CD is jam packed with great tunes, and more importantly, the great textured guitar work featured on earlier ZZ Top records. Jimmy Page gets a lot of credit for guitar layering, but Gibbons is equally facile and far more experimental.

Another strength of Mr. Gibbons is the incredible ability to string hilarious lyrics together which sound really cool sung. Check this CD out!...

With a name like Recycler, it almost sounds like this would be one of ZZ Top's Greatest Hits albums. Indeed it isn't, though there are several strong sounds on it. My Head's in Mississippi ranks with the best of Top's "Modern" (In Top terms, call that Eliminator and on) pop-rock songs. 2000 Blues ranks with the best of their old school blues tunes. Doubleback perhaps got the most airtime on the album due to it's inclusion in the Back to the Future soundtrack. A solid song, and perhaps my #3 favorite in the album.

An essential album for ZZ Top fans, and a great one for others too.

After 5 years of absence from releasing albums, ZZ Top brought us this spectacular collection of ten great songs. Here's the details on them:

CONCRETE AND STEEL--A great song to start the album off with. It gives a very good impression of what is to come on the rest of the tracks. Featuring lyrics by Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill.

LOVETHING--Even better than CONCRETE AND STEEL. Some perfectly-chosen guitar riffs in between the lyrics of the chorus, plus a very good tune in addition. Featuring vocals by Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill.

PENTHOUSE EYES--This song doesn't quite live up to the previous two. It's a good song, just the music behind the singing is a bit dull. The singing that covers it up doesn't do much to make it more exciting either. Featuring vocals by Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard.

TELL IT--This song is along the same lines as PENTHOUSE EYES. It's just not as exciting as LOVETHING or CONCRETE AND STEEL. The slow, unanimated singing just isn't quite what began the album. Featuring vocals by Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill.

MY HEAD'S IN MISSISSIPPI--This is the deepest we've heard Billy Gibbons's voice as since 1981, in TUBE SNAKE BOOGIE. Anyway, this is somewhat of a bluesy-rock update of 1973's LA GRANGE, sung by Frank Beard. It's a very good song, but nothing similar to what we've heard on the album yet in any way. Featuring vocals by Billy Gibbons.

DECISION OR COLLISION--Finally another song with a rock sound similar to that of the rest of the album's that actually has fast, animated singing and music! Though this isn't quite as good as the first two songs, at least it has the exuberant sound that we started out with! Featuring vocals by Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill.

GIVE IT UP--This is a rather different type of music than the rest as well, but it's just about as good as LOVETHING. In fact, it might even be better. Great tune, clever lyrics. Featuring vocals by Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill.

2000 BLUES--Talk about too slow. This song is meant as a sad one and well accomplishes being so. Way too well. It comes out sounding depressed rather than saddened. It's just WAY too slow and saddened. Featuring vocals by Billy Gibbons.

BURGER MAN--A very good song, about as good as CONCRETE AND STEEL. Some very interesting lyrics, probably written as a joke. Who knows? Featuring vocals by Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill.

DOUBLEBACK--The saved it for last: the absoloute best song on the album. Fantastic rock and roll, fabulous chorus, pretty much everything about it is great. One song that just can't be beat. Featuring vocals by Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill.

Thank you for a great cd of ZZTOP (RECYCLER).
I have been looking for this cd in all the stores
and all said it was no longer in print. So iam so
glad i found your site. The cd was in excellent condition
and shipped very quickly. Thank's again.

Enter 1990 and ZZ Top sounded like they were on their way back to 1973!! This album brings back so much of that early blues sound and strait forward guitar style. Choice cuts "Doubleback", "My Head's In Mississippi", and "Concrete and Steel." It is such a good album, really!!

I swear, the electronic drum machine is really getting old. Every single drum riff sounds like "Sharp Dressed Man". Personally, I think Frank Beard retired (or keeled over) after "El Loco" and Billy has been using the electronic drum machine in his place ever since. Billy & Dusty are just propping old Frank up for the photo shoots and concerts. ZZ should come out with an album "Weekend At Frank Beards". Even Billy's guitar riffs sound worn, old & "recycled"; so maybe the joke is on the listener. The title tells us exactly what to expect. None the less any ZZ Top album is 10 times better than most of the corporate cr@p being spit out these days. So for any ZZ Top fan, ya gotta get this disc. There are enough good tracks like "Heads In Mississippi" to satisfy your "ZZ" mojo.
For the uninitiated, go for the new "Chrome, Smoke & BBQ" 4 cd box first. Ya, it's a bit pricey, but you won't be disappointed.