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Rating: America, late 60s, Billy Gibson [http://guitar-masters.com/Players/GP-Billy_Gibbons.JPG] vocals and guitar of the "Moving Sidewalks" who followed in the footsteps of Hendrix, caused the band to dissolve after the release of their first album.
Thus were formed the "Zz Top", with Dusty Hill as second voice and bass [http://www.johndouglas.com/images/XXXDUS1.jpg] and Frank Beard on drums. Only three people then formed "Zz Top", a musical system that while keeping the typical Texan rock alive influenced by various country symbols was blended with blues, purely hard-rock techniques and over time increasingly approached heavy metal.
Rough and raw vocals, beautiful and fun solos and riffs earned the band a lot of success, which contributed to capturing the public's attention by focusing on an original and extremely fun look. Representing themselves as their own musical genre turned out to be fundamental and spot-on for Zz Top. Just as popular singers dress and groom themselves to look handsome, and death metal singers paint their faces, Zz Top had to dress in Blues\Rock|Hard Rock\Country|Heavy, hence the two mile-long blonde beards, leather jackets, flashy shirts, and sunglasses. Three people, just three people, stayed together for more than 35 years marking a fundamental point in the history of rock. They also made soundtracks, including "Mexican Blackbird" for the movie "From Dusk Till Dawn" and "Doubleback" for "Back to the Future Part 3", whose hilarious music video is included in the DVD's special features.
But Zz Top are human beings, and like practically all musical legends they too fall and decline over the years by imperfection, diluting and ruining their style. "Mescalero", from 2003, presents the bearded Texans in a context more Metallic and hard country rock than the Psychedelic\Classic and Blues by which they became very popular, it is essentially a good record, with nice very hard rock rhythms and pleasant listening points, an album that will be much liked by alternative hard rock lovers, but at the same time an album that disappoints those who have followed the band since their beginnings. From the late 60s to 2003, there is an intermingling of generations, fashions, trends, and cultural social contexts impossible to deny that could do nothing but put out of route the imagination of a band now old, and 16 tired, daring and consumed songs are felt a lot.
But let's pretend for a moment not to know the Gibson band at all and to buy "Mescalero" in a store because intrigued for example by the artwork or the title track. "Mescalero" is a typically hard rock song lacking the fluidity and interconnectedness of a plurality of rhythms that characterized the band, but it has a very motivated rhythm, a typical rock'n heavy drum and guitar play and a catchy chorus, a rock song itself acceptable and with the presence of digital solos like xylophone. Followed by "Two Ways To Play" that keeps the hard rock soul alive and hits nothing as it does not propose anything anew nor introduces anything else except a breeze of "Nu" that honestly can irritate the listening, note that the guitar is now a distorted guitar, an element that was not part of Gibbons' nature. "Alley Gator" opens with a little game of bass and accordion, maintains a hard and wild rhythm with even drum solos, for three minutes, it only gives a monotonous impression. Recovers with "Buck Nekkid" which in my opinion is very nice, and better ties back to the true nature of the band, an almost rock'n roll rhythm if it weren't for the characteristically hard distorted guitar, a very intriguing and catchy 70s road rhythm. It is the turn then of "Goin' so Good" very beautiful, which even not knowing the lyrics I see perfect for a Jack Daniels commercial, a melancholic and sad song, slow and that keeps well solid the sound reference to Texas, the deserts and country. "Me So Stupid" can be found in that set of beautiful songs but already heard from other bands, while "Piece" has a beautiful rhythm and scratchy and prolonged solos very nice to listen to. "Punk Ass Boyfriends" is something I would never have imagined hearing from Zz Top, a combination of this kind to modern and commercial themes luckily "What Would You Do" very nice, picks up the classic musicality and this time takes up the boogie theme that seemed to have disappeared. "Que Lastima" is cute and sweet, melodic like a prayer, sung in Portuguese while "Liquor" with which the album closes picks back a bit of many aspects to concentrate them on this concluding track that leaves a bit of a void in the mouth.
From this analysis of the songs, it is easy to understand that the album is not so bad after all, and indeed it could be quite liked by lovers of alternative rock. It is a bit of a lesson, it seems to want to impart a moral to the listener. The moral is this:
"Success will never be eternal, and no matter how popular, even the best stars in the field of music will wane or self-destruct".
Zz Top seems to say
"With this album, we propose what we discarded, or what we never did but would have done in other circumstances, this is the closing chapter with which people of the 2000s can try to rediscover us and then self-document about our past, we enjoy the holidays".
And then happy holidays to a band that made the history of rock.
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 Mescalero (03:49)
Mescalero
Es lo que quiero
combinacion peligroso
y estaba especial
este cosas bueno mmm
I know you know so...
Mescalero
turn your head like a red sombrero
Mescalero
Mescalero
Mescalero
¿Que es esto?
no se mi compañero
Mescalero
¿Que es esto?
pero este es yo que quiero
Mescalero
light me up like a flaming arrow
Mescalero
Mescalero
(guitar solo)
Mescalero
Mescalero
El Camino, Ford Ranchero
Mescalero
Mescalero
I want it
I want it
I'm on it
I want it
02 Two Ways to Play (04:15)
Somethin' crossed my mind again
You were in my eyes
It was somewhere out by Bombay
And I'm tellin' all those lies
I've been there and you've been there
And there ain't no mistake
We could take it anyway
But the one thing we can't fake
There's just two ways to play
Just two ways to play
And I don't want to stay
There's just two ways to play
And I'm gonna play it right, this time
Yeah
There's always the easy numbers
There's those hard ways too
There's those cheaters blunders
It's either one of two
But fortune telling's mezmorizing
In the game of chance
But rollin' dice ain't sympathizing
When you play romance
There's just two ways to play
Just two ways to play
And I don't want to stay
There's just two ways to play
I can't control the numbers
I can't control your sexy ways
I can't control my inner thunder
It makes me want????????
Two ways to play
There's Just two ways to play
There's just two ways to play
There's just two ways to play
I'm gonna play it right this time
There's two ways to play
There's just two ways to play
Two ways to play
There's just two ways to play
And I don't want to stay
There's just two ways to play
03 Alley-Gator (03:29)
Crawlin' 'cross the floor at the Holiday Inn motel
saw that girl that my swamp bone knew so well
She crawled out of Texas flipped off to Baton Rouge
She got that Gulf Coast sun tan that give a poor boy the blues
Alley-gator
With those hypnotic big green eyes
Alley-gator
She'll make you 'fraid 'em
She'll chew you up, ain't no lie
Yeah yeah yeah
Crawlin' through the weeds with a Louisiana mean-toothed grin
You tell her that you love her, then you better tell her once again
She might scratch your back, rub you with her rack
You better watch out or stand back
Alley-gator
With those hypnotic big green eyes
Alley-gator
She'll make you 'fraid 'em
She'll chew you up, ain't no lie
Listen hear
Alley-gator
With those hypnotic big green eyes
Alley Gator
She'll make you 'fraid 'em
She'll chew you up, ain't no lie
Alley-gator
Alley-gator
Alley-gator
Alley-gator
Alley-gator
Alley-gator
Alley-gator
Alley-gator
Crocodile
Crocodile
Alley-gator
04 Buck Nekkid (03:02)
Two shots shy of a 40 ounce quart
A hand in the pocket and a hand in the shorts
Shoot me with two and don't be slow
Only got one good way to go
Get naked
Buck naked
Buck naked
It's the only way to go
Twenty six chicks, all tied in a knot
Ain't all good, but it's what we got
Get naked
Buck naked
Let me see you naked
It's the only way to go
Buck buck
I was feelin' so fine
And things were lookin' better
My baby said maybe
And I said I'd let her
Get naked
Buck naked
Let's get naked
It's the only way to go
Get naked
Everybody get naked
Buck naked
It's the onliest way to go
Get naked
Get buck naked, yeah
06 Me So Stupid (03:33)
I could have been a brain surgeon
I could have been a pharmacist
I gave a shot at radio revivalist
With the bossman I'd have never been missed
Me so stupid
Me so stupid
Me so stupid
What is my IQ?
What is my intelligent quotiant
I could have built the Golden Gate Bridge
Or Einstein's nemesis
I could have been a derby jockey
But it's all come down to this
Me so stupid
Me so stupid
Me so stupid
What is my IQ?
What is my intelligent quotiant
I could have built Las Vegas
I could have built a drumsized Rolls Royce
I could have been President of the world
Could have had Ali on the ropes
Could have had Miss August
Again
Could have had Miss May
Again
Could have had Miss September
Again
But I waited till December
Me so stupid
Me so stupid
Me so stupid
What is my IQ?
What is my intelligent quotiant?
That's so wrong.............
07 Piece (04:19)
Piece
I want a little piece
I want a little piece of your love
I' ve been here, I' ve been there
Seems like I' ve been everywhere
Lookin' around lookin' for a release
I'm just lookin' around...
...for piece
I want a little piece
I want a little piece of your love
So tell me, tell me
What 'cha gonna do
I just wanna make love to you...
...for piece
I want a little piece
I want a little piece of your love
(I want a litte piece!)
Piece
I want a little piece
I want a little piece of your love
Piece
I want a little piece
I want a little piece of your love
08 Punk Ass Boyfriend (03:05)
So you stayed in my house for about a year
Ate my food and you drank my beer
You took my money and kept asking for more
You disappeared and didn't close the door, baby
Wuzzup? wuzzup?
Wuzzup? wuzzup?
It's your punkass boyfriend
Then you came around and I bought you a brand new car
I said I loved you, didn't get me very far
Then another round of give that, give me this
Then boom, you were gone
I got the total dis'
Wuzzup? Wuzzup?
So wrong
Wuzzup? Wuzzup?
So wrong
It's your punkass boyfriend
It's your punkass boyfriend
One, two
It's your punkass boyfriend
Clouding up the issue
It's your punkass boyfriend
I just want to kiss you
It's your punkass boyfriend
Clouding up the issue
Listen punk before I turn on you
I just want to kiss you
It's your punkass boyfriend
It's your punkass boyfriend
09 Stackin' Paper (02:58)
Stackin' Paper
Cheese and huevos
Gimmie 'nother million dollars
another million
Stackin' Paper
My money maker
I'm ready and I'm willin'
Just stack a billion
Listen, buddy brother
'Cause sister got to have it too
Hey, hey, hey, now.
I hit it in Reno
Then in Monte Carlo
I can hit it everywhere!
Loaded and truckin'
if you're shy, just fuck it
If I'm smellin' green
Then I don't care
Listen, buddy brother
'Cause sister got to have it too
Hey, hey, hey, now.
Stackin' the Paper Baby
Stackin' Paper
Cheese and huevos
Gimmie 'nother million
Stackin' Paper
My money maker
I'm ready and I'm willin'
Just stack a billion
Listen, buddy brother
'Cause sister got to have it too
Hey, hey, hey, now.
Hey, hey, hey, now.
Hey, hey, hey, now.
11 What It Is Kid (04:13)
Whoa!
Yeah!
Yeeaaaaah!
Draggin' old Mustang ' 69
Top dropped back and lookin' fine
Workin' the groove backin' up with Scotch
Lookin' like Sir Lancelot
What it is Brother
What it is kid
Rock it like a mother
What it is!
Lookin' to sway by the evenin' shade
But I'm not ready to behave.
That ain't bad on the other hand
Detroit rocks lke the Rio Grande
What it is Brother
What it is kid
Rock it like a mother
What it is
What it is
What it is
What it is
What it is
What it is what it is
12 Que Lastima (04:24)
nosotros los pobres borrachos.
Nadie nos quieren cojer.
Nuestro corazon no es tan
malo, pero no tenemos mujer.
Que Lastima
Que Lastima
Que Lastima
Que Lastima
Que Lastima
Que Lastima
Nosotros tenemos cerveza,
tambien tenemos tiempo.
Importante tener pocos pesos.
Mi suerte es mala siempre.
Que Lastima
Que Lastima
Que Lastima
Que Lastima
Que Lastima
Que Lastima
Que Lastima
Que Lastima
Que Lastima
Que Lastima
Que Lastima
Que Lastima
Y nosotros los pobres borrachos.
Nadie nos quieren cojer.
Nuestro corazon no es tan
malo, pero no tenemos mujer.
Que Lastima
Que Lastima
Que Lastima
13 Tramp (05:12)
Tramp
You could call me that
I don't wear continental clothes
Stetson hats, sometimes
(????)
Heh heh
Momma would. Papa too.
I love this child. It is all I know how to do
Heh. Call me country
Right from the words.
I'll answer when you call me.
'Cause baby, if that makes you feel good
Hm.
(???)
Momma would. Papa too.
I love this child. It is all I know how to do
Ha. Now whatever you call me,
Ha ha, I'll even go for that.
'Cause I keep a big, fat bank roll in my pocket, baby
And I'm personal friends with the dealer who owns all the dealerships of all the Cadillacs.
Ha ha!
(???)
Ow!
Ma would. Papa too.
I love this child. It is all I know how to do
Come on child, let's play it
(???)
14 Crunchy (03:13)
QUE LASTIMA
Y nosotros los pobres borrachos [And we the poor drunks]
Nadie nos quiere coger [No one wants to have sex with us]
Nuestro corazon no es tan malo [Our heart isn't so bad]
Pero no tenemos mujer [But we don't have a woman]
Que lastima, que lastima, que lastima [What a pity...]
Que lastima, que lastima, que lastima
Nosotros tenemos cervezas [We have beers]
Tambien tenemos tiempo [We also have time]
Importante tener pocos pesos [It's important to have a few pesos]
Pero mi suerte es mala siempre [But my luck is always bad]
Que lastima, que lastima, que lastima [What a pity...]
Que lastima, que lastima, que lastima
Que lastima, que lastima, que lastima
Que lastima, que lastima, que lastime
(repeat 1st verse)
Si senor!
15 Dusted (03:56)
Get your brakes and get your beats
Keep something in your pocket knock you off your feet
Rollin tight rollin slow roll it right
I know you wanna go
Get dusted
Dusted
Get your baby and grab your freak
Get your boots, you gotta hit the street
Take insurance in the shade of green
Take a back street where you won't been seen
And get dusted
With a dustball
Dusted
Get a big mother fucker on the line
Take a sweet sip like a fine wine
Roll it tight roll it slow roll it right
I know you're gonna wanna go
Get dusted
Get dusted
Get dusted
Get dusted
16 Liquor (03:26)
My baby did a low down dirty thang
My baby turned my mind to mush
She took my liquor
Left me the can to crush
My baby did a low down dirty thang
She had the gangster lean
Lookin' a little flushed
She took my liquor
Left me the can to crush
My baby did a low down dirty thang
My baby turned my mind to mush
She took my liquor
Left me the can to crush
My baby did that low down dirty thang
My baby workin' gangster lean
Lookin' flush
Bitch took my liquor
And left me the motha.... can to crush
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