XXX

ZZ Top

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 28, 1999)
• Original Release Date: September 28, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B00001W0C6
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (75 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #120,284 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Poke Chop Sandwich

2. Crucifixx-A-Flatt

3. Fearless Boogie

4. 36-22-36

5. Made into a Movie

6. Beatbox

7. Trippin'

8. Dreadmonboogaloo

9. Introduction by Ross Mitchell

10. Sinpusher

11. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear

12. Hey Mr. Millionaire

13. Belt Buckle

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The title suggests good beer and unwholesome entertainment, copious amounts of which have accompanied ZZ Top's music for the past 30 years. A decade--or two--removed from their arena-rock prime and cartoonish MTV reincarnation, ZZ Top's music has mellowed like a case of three-dollar rotgut, which is how the blues should age. Pared down, raw, and rough-edged, the Gibbons, Beard, and Hill of XXX's eight studio cuts sound increasingly like their grizzled Texas, Delta, and Southside blues heroes. The beats are tricked-up funky, Gibbons's growl and guitar are lugubrious, and the trio overall is lusty and unafraid to slow the tempo to a dirty dirge. Coupled with the band's loopy sense of subject matter and style--which ranges here from automotive theology ("Crucifixx-A-Flatt") to more prosaic concerns of boogie and t&a--are four live cuts that are often just as quirky, from Dusty Hill's slick lampoon croon of Elvis's "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" to a rave-up version of "Hey Mr. Millionaire" that features another inspired bit of ZZ goofiness--having guitar-god Jeff Beck guest . . . on vocals! --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Long Live ZZ Top, October 22, 1999

By A Customer

I have every album/cd ZZ Top ever made so I think I can say a thing or two about their music. When I listen to a new ZZ Top album for the first time I'm looking for something that gets my foot tapping or brings a smile to my face like when the Grinch smiles in the Grinch that stole Christmas and to me this album brings a lot of smiles to my face. Using the same guitar effects as with Rythemeen, XXX sounds raw and rough. As with any long time fan each new song points back to an earlier song from the old albums, its just natural after all its the same three artists doing the painting. Anyway other than Sinpusher which of course is a rework of Pincushion, the new songs Poke Chop Sandwhich, BeatBox, Belt Buckle, Fearless Boogie, are classic ZZ Top paying there respects to older ZZ Top songs. Tripping, DreadMonBugaloo, 36,22,36, Crucifixx a flat are different but with multiple plays you find the ZZ Top in them. I think the live songs on the album show the good time had by all when listening or seeing ZZ Top's music. Teddy Bear's start up cords just scream ZZ Top. Though my favorite Albums are from Tejas to Recycler, Rhythmeen and XXX are growing on me big time. Its nice to know with all the alternative music out there that some of the better groups stick to there styles and continue to produce quality work. This album will not be the commercial success the band would like, and its not because its not a good album because it is. The facts are that there aren't any modern radio stations that will play a rock and roll band any longer. The album is new so they can't play it on classic rock stations and its not hard enough for the alternative station. But rest assured fellas you will always be playing on my Beatbox. Nice Job!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Way to go boys!, January 17, 2000

By	Charles "Snakebit" (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews

OK, who in the room has listened to ZZ since the seventies, raise your hand? How can three guys from the Texas continue to produce music so infectious that a 40 year old fat man will get up and dance to it? If your looking for the latest grunge or hip-hop sounds then avoid this CD. If you like rock-and-roll then this CD is for you.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Potent XXX, July 31, 2000

By	Don Thomason (Dunbar, KY United States) - See all my reviews

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.