Customer Reviews

XXX

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(15)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

I think some fans will have a hard time enjoying or giving this album a chance. An example: My father went to High School and hung out a little w/ Billy Gibbons (pre Moving Sidewalk days) and was there at the creation of ZZ TOP. My dad says the best show he ever saw was watching Billy play his guitar on a stool at a local party. Nobody then knew the impact that ZZ TOP was going to have down the road. Now¡¦ that they¡¯re successful and yes¡¦the sound has changed¡¦ old fans don¡¯t want to give it a chance¡¦ hanging on to the old sound the old ZZ TOP. I probably couldn¡¯t get my dad to even listen to this new album all the way through. He would probably reach over and grab their first album and say, ¡°Now that¡¯s an Album¡±!

Personally, I enjoyed their first eight albums and have given every album since a chance. Not comparing it to the old stuff¡¦ but having an open mind to the new sounds. This album XXX is not like the Old Boys From TEXAS¡¦ but it a GREAT album from the trio in TEXAS! So, if ya think you could let go to the old ZZ I think you would enjoy this new album. Not to say it¡¯s better or worse¡¦ it is just GREAT album as is.

Back in early October, I gave a less than complimentary review of "XXX." But boy-howdy was I ever wrong! I had only listened to "XXX" a couple of times before writing the review, and since then, I've hardly taken it out of my CD player! It really grows on you and in my opinion, it's much better than the last effort "Rythmean." The only thing that bothers me is that "Poke Chop Sandwich" or "Trippin" aren't getting any radio play, two of the better tracks on the CD. Anyway, overall, it's an excellent effort, and I give it a "thumbs up" 3 Stars. Buy it...you'll be glad you did!

I would have rated this album two stars after the first listen, three stars after the third listen and four stars after my fifth listen. Thanks guyzz.That seems that's going to be five stars soon

When I finished listening to XXX, I slowly removed my headphones, feeling disjointed from the universe as I realized the world has moved on without ZZ Top. By the sound of their latest effort (a word that may not be appropriate), all three band members had a different idea (another word that may not be appropriate) for every song, and played it their own way. Drums don't match lead guitar. Lead guitar doesn't match bass. Bass doesn't match Vocals. And ZZ Top doesn't match this catastrophic album. It hurts to have to admit that the ZZ Top we all know and love, all the way from "Goin Down to Mexico" and "Chevrolet" on their first album, to "Decision or Collision" and "Velcro Fly" during their peak in the late 80's, to the rough yet empowering beats of the 90's such as "Fuzzbox Voodoo" and "Hairdresser"...have all been completely ignored by an album that is no less than a proclimation of insanity. Nevertheless, I have been able to prevent from throwing up by reminding myself that very few bands have managed to release only one bad album in a career spanning over 30 years.

After reading some of the reviews, I was a little concerned about buying XXX...after all I only started listening to them at the Afterburner stage. BUT..this CD is great - funky, tight as ever. If this is what you can do with three chords then I'm taking guitar lessons. Dreadmonboogaloo with it's Art Bell snips is superb. Well done boyzz.

This recording is one of the most mature and creative recordings, of ZZ Top, to date. The drum patterns are ultra-cool and the overall vibe is even somewhat avante-garde (but in a good way). In short, it's modern and retro all in one fell swoop. And each subsequent listen gives something new. Give it a try!

This is a great CD. Do not listen to the bad reviews of this album. This is one of the best ZZ recordings yet. It reminds me of their older stuff. The live songs on the end are awesome and the fuzzy guitar on the studio recordings is better than ever.