Music Review: ZZ TOP – La Futura
ZZ Top's 15th studio album 'La Futura' is a sleazy piece of Texan fueled rock that is ripe for stripper anthems, journeys through space and driving cars really fast. The combination is perfect and the end result is probably the biggest surprise release of 2012. I did not expect ZZ Top to kick this much ass and I should be ashamed for underestimating them.
I remember attending a ZZ Top concert years back and it was during a music festival in Camrose, Alberta. Usually when you attend an outdoor music festival, its custom to see several topless women on the shoulders of biker goons. There had not been ONE instance of this tradition all weekend. But when ZZ Top hit the stage, my dear lord I'd never seen so many rock boobs in all my life. Much like ACDC, the bearded Texans have evolved without losing their rock essence. If it ain't broke – don't fix it. 'La Futura' sounds like you think it should sound and although that can sometimes result in staleness, the tracks here still pop.
If you aren't having a great time after listening to opening tracks 'I Gotsta Get Paid' and 'Chartreuse' then you're dead inside. Do they sound eerily similar to classic ZZ Top songs of the past? Sure they do, it's ZZ Top. Rick Rubin produced the effort and he did a remarkable job. I don’t know what it is with Rubin resurrecting old as hell musicians and turning out fantastic records, but the producer with the giant beard has connected with the most famous bearded band on earth and it's awesome.
The track 'Flyin High' is another standout and it actually made it's debut in outer space a year ago in demo form. Now that is rock and roll. Front man Billy Gibbons sounds terrific and Dusty Hill's background vocals are always a welcome addition. Drummer Frank Beard still doesn't have a beard, but he's kicking ass too. Everyone's kicking ass on 'La Futura' to the point where it's almost too much ass kickery to handle.
It may have taken nine years, but ZZ Top have crafted one of their most memorable albums yet. It's a bluesy, alcohol soaked piece of greasy rock and roll that sounds so genuine it's hard to listen to any type of pop music after playing through 'La Futura'. Everything else sounds so insincere after cranking this album.
La Futura track listing:
1. "I Gotsta Get Paid"
2. "Chartreuse"
3. "Consumption"
4. "Over You"
5. "Heartache in Blue"
6. "I Don't Wanna Lose, Lose, You"
7. "Flyin' High"
8. "It's Too Easy Mañana"
9. "Big Shiny Nine"
10. "Have a Little Mercy"
