eMusic Review 0
ZZ Top's Deguello came at a critical juncture in the band's career. In 1976, the blues-rock power trio had gone on their infamous, seemingly endless (all told, nearly 18-month-long) Worldwide Texas Tour, which gave new meaning to the word "livestock": actual cattle — as well as buffalos, armadillos and snakes — appeared on stage with them.
In its aftermath, the band took some much-needed time off, and after joining new label Warner Bros, they released 1979's Deguello, their first studio album in three years. More a case of re-dedication than re-charging, much of Deguello has a deceptively relaxed feel: Guitarist Billy Gibbons, bassist Dusty Hill and drummer Frank Beard are so comfortable as a unit here that it's tempting to take their skills for granted. But listen closely to tracks like "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide," in which Gibbons nonchalantly pulls together riffs from blues influences Albert, Freddie and BB King, or Beard's funk-driven fills on "Cheap Sunglasses," or Hill's on-the-money bass lines running throughout, and you realize just how intensely musical this "Little Ol' Band From Texas" really is underneath the shtick. Inspirational verse, from "She Loves My Automobile": "She don't care if I'm stoned or sloppy drunk/ As long as… read more »
