ZZ Top Album: “Live From Texas [Digipak]”

I bought this CD for the extended version of Blue Jean Blues. I knew from the first track with the audience noise and poor mixing that I'd been had again. The performance is mediocre if you listen beyond the poor mix (muddy is an appropriate adjective). Granted the vocals reflect years of beer/whiskey-drinkin' and hell-raisin'. The bulk of the presented performances reflect their popular Eighties hits, not their best material. The biggest disappointment is after the track "Tush", where dialog about shopping at a dollar store abruptly ends the CD. Did anyone preview the CD before it went to "pressing"? Even as a "compleatist", I would pass on this given a second chance.

ZZ Top has released a couple of albums in the past with a few live tracks mixed in with studio tracks. Live from Texas is the first time they have released an entirely live album and the results are smokin'! All of the songs you want to hear, and a couple you might not expect, are included. The band's tightness allows the album to rock and flow and every track is delivered with precision. Billy Gibbons' guitar work is always amazing, and it sounds great on this CD, while Dusty Hill and Frank Beard supply the rythym that makes ZZ Top chug and burn with their own signature sounds. There is also a DVD release of this CD, which I saw on TV and won't leave you disappointed, either.

The thing is no matter what you think of this recording there is a GREAT and I mean really GREAT cd waiting out there. It is the 1980 Rockpalast show. My goodness just watch it on youtube. Billy is at his best . Dusty at his smoothest. Frank at his Frankest. COME ON ZZ gives us what we want. We love yall and love that you still jam, but we real true fans love tho old old stuff ( anything before MTV.)PLEASE give it to us man.

At long last, ZZ's first proper live album -- over 30 years after the band was formed!! The question is, do they even sound like ZZ Top anymore? Not much, I hate to say. The band seems like a ghost of their old razor-sharp, fiery selves in spite of a genuine effort to come across as energized and relevant. Oh, and then there's that awful sound quality. ZZ is going to have to dig up some live material straight out of the glory day vaults to make up for this stinker.

First the vox. Listen to the samples and ask yourself if this is Gibbons singing -- that raspy, wiry voice filled with subtle tonalities has been replaced by a Tom Waits monotone gruff empty of all range. And it's like that on all the songs. I thought they had on a guest singer!! The trademark Gibbons vocals are gone, shot down the ages, and what remains is seldom recognizable. The exception is "Legs" which by this point sounds awkwardly strained and tremulous and, like the album itself, comes too late. Hill sings on a couple of occasions and while he's conserved his vocals better, they don't play off Gibbons' voice any more. Hill sticks out like a sore thumb whenever he opens his mouth.

And now the sound. It ain't great. It's mushy, echoey, and cluttered. Sound separation is inadequate and the result is frustrating. Even the playing lacks finesse. It just bulldozes on.

And finally the question. Why the heck did the boys put this off for so long???? This is a shadow of their former prowess and presence. It's a colossal example of a missed opportunity. Such a letdown.

They'd better have live material in the vaults...or else one of classic rock's best live acts will go down in history as sounding like plank of wood hitting the floor in an echo chamber. Or worse still, they'll think we fans were nutters for raving about ZZ at all!

For a long time I've been lamenting the absence of a live disc in ZZ Top's catalogue. Finally that oversight has been amended with Live From Texas. Now, this disc was recorded in 2007. Not exactly the band in the their prime. I, and I'm sure most fans, would have preferred a live release recorded in the mid 70s to mid 80s. A high-quality late 70s ZZ Top live release would be at the top of my must-buy list. Correction: I have just discovered that a vintage ZZ Top live recording has been made available:

, so it appears my wish has been granted. Thank you to the band and the record label for making this happen. Please release more vintage recordings!

However, as anyone knows who has seen these guys live lately, they still rock as hard as ever. Live from Texas is a very good document of what a 21st century ZZ Top live show is like. The setlist is predictable for the most part. They cycle through the requisite hits, occasionally throwing in a lesser known song here and there. Having said that, this is hot, hot stuff. Reverend Billy G is in colossal form. My two favorite tracks, Just Got Paid and Blue Jean Blues both spotlight Billy rocking out with some serious guitar work. As always the legendary rhythm section of Dusty Hill and Frank Beard and solid and spot on. So, it's not perfect but finally ZZ Top has a live album, and it rocks!!