Hard to believe it's taken ZZ Top guitar legend Billy Gibbons all these years to crank out his debut solo album, but here it is with his side band called the BFG's, titled Perfectamundo. Don't expect a rehash of his main act though, as the bearded axe-master instead incorporates Latin/Caribbean rhythms, blues, jazz, and, gasp, hip hop, for a wild mixture of styles that will probably be quite appealing to a wide variety of music listeners, with his gritty vocals and sizzling Gibson Les Paul & Fender Telecaster licks permeated throughout.
First track "Got Love If You Want It" takes you right down ZZ Avenue, filled with smoldering riffs and bluesy vocals, but the band coast into Latin grooves on the upbeat and quite swinging "Treat Her Right", complete with smokin' Hammond B3 organ courtesy of Mike Flanigin, who also makes his presence known on the heavy grooves of "What's Happenin', Baby". Now, on this track is where some of the problems arise; for one, Gibbons uses the annoying autotune on some of his vocal passages, and the hip hop vocals of bassist Alx "Guitarzza' Garza just seem out of place. Thankfully there's a stinging Gibbons guitar solo to save the day. Many of the remaining Latin jazz/blues pieces are actually pretty catchy, with some clever hooks, Caribbean percussion, and tasty guitar licks, especially "Salypimiento", "Hombre Sin Nombre", and "Piedras Negras", but again, the autotune and hip hop flavors are bound to be somewhat jarring for longtime ZZ Top fans."Quiero Mas Dinero" goes overboard with all of this, in what could have otherwise been a fun blues rock tune, and the pounding title track fires up the distorted guitar and funky rhythms before being overrun by even more autotune and rap vocals. Thankfully "Baby Please Don't Go" provides some nice bluesy moments, and "Q-Vo" launches into smoldering jazz/blues B3 & scorching lead guitar territory, but you have to get to the back end of the CD to experience it.
Not a total bust by any means, and truth be told, even the songs saturated with elements that we'd never expect from a Billy Gibbons solo album are still catchy and fun. Most fans will probably be left wishing he let up on the autotune and hip hop and instead included even more of his trademark guitar work. The Latin rhythms are actually mighty fine, and I'm glad he went that route on Perfectamundo, though in the end, perfect this is not, but it is fun.
Track Listing
1) Got Love If You Want It
2) Treat Her Right
3) You're What's Happenin' Baby
4) Salypimiento
5) Pickin' Up Chicks on Dowling Street
6) Hombre Sin Nombre
7) Quiero Mas Dinero
8) Baby Please Don't Go
9) Piedras Negras
10) Perfectamundo
11) Q-Vo
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