• Rhythmeen
  • Bang Bang
  • Black Fly
  • What's Up With That
  • Vincent Price Blues
  • Zipper Job
  • Hairdresser
  • She's Just Killing Me
  • My Mind Is Gone
  • Loaded
  • Prettyhead
  • Hummbuckling Part 2
    		• From the Vault...

    Mortice
    Mayhem

    © RCA Records
    Year of Release: 1996
    Rating:

    Recently inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, ZZ Top has always been recording new albums since their peak popularity in the early 1980s with Eliminator. However, ZZ Top had their simple Texas Rock n Roll in the 1970s, with hits such as "Tush," "La Grange" and "It's Only Love." In 1996, ZZ Top released their 15th album, Rhythmeen. In the fine ZZ Top tradition, this album brings back the roots of the band, enjoyable for all.

    The title track, "Bang Bang" and "Black Fly" definitely brings back the sound ZZ Top had in their most earliest releases. The Deguello album (1979) comes to mind, with the driving excellent guitar works. "What's Up With That" has a soulful approach, comparing to the likes of the Staple Singers' "Respect Yourself."

    Slow, driving blues gets the groove on "Vincent Price Blues," the Deguello style is heard on "Zipper Job," and a very distinct early sound (such as Tres Hombres) on "Hairdresser." Likewise, a hard driving sound is heard on "She's Just Killing Me." "My Mind Is Gone combines the older ZZ Top sound (1970s) with the newer (1980s), yet it's still the traditional rock sound everyone is familar with.

    "Loaded" has a soulful rock approach, "Prettyhead" has the groovin' rock/blues feel. Traditional early ZZ Top (Tres Hombres - Deguello) best describes the closing song, "Hummbucking Part 2."

    As the line states: In the fine ZZ Top tradition... Rhythmeen definitely brings back the roots of ZZ Top from the beginning. Any fan of ZZ Top will enjoy this release, and as I mentioned before, I have yet to hear a below-average release from this little ol' band from Texas. As the decades roll by, ZZ Top proves that they can still rock with age. And being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, they very-well deserved it.

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