Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums

#490: ZZ Top – Tres Hombres

#490

ZZ Top, Tres Hombres

Release Date: 1973
Previously Owned: No
First Time Listen: Yes

Impressions: Having been exposed to ZZ Top in the dreaded ’80s, I grew up thinking these guys were just weird, long-bearded curiosities who made goofball music videos and spun guitars around their midsections. But this rockin slab of ’70s blues/rock shows they can play a little when those guitars stop spinning. “Waitin for the Bus” starts off the set with a catchy, crunching riff and from there  there’s no let up (“Have mercy! I’ve been waiting for the bus all day!”) Fun, no-nonsense tracks with airtight production and

Tres Hombres, ZZ Top
You win this round, ZZ Top. But we’ll see what happens when we get to your ’80s albums…

sharp interplay between the band, I found myself digging this much more than I thought I would. Everything feels just right. “Jesus Just Left Chicago” and “La Grange” are enjoyable bluesy jams that never meander. This album makes me feel like I’m listening to these songs blast out of someone’s VW Bus while in the parking lot, drinking cans of Olympia beer and getting turned down by whatever chicks are walking/biking/skating by. “That’s cool! Maybe check you out later!” I’d say as I play air guitar to “Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers.”

Starred Songs:  “Waitin’ For the Bus,” “La Grange,” “Jesus Just Left Chicago”
Sneaky Track: Really, the whole album, but I’ll go with “Move Me On Down the Line”
Trivia Everyone Knows: The drummer, Frank Beard, was the only member without a long beard.
Should this album be on the list? It’s pretty airtight, with no filler…so, yeah. It stays. It certainly makes me wish they sat out the ’80s
Will you listen to this again?  Maybe next time I’m in a parking lot.

Rating: ★★★★