After the mildly successful Latin/Caribbean flavored solo release Perfectamundo back in 2015, ZZ Top guitar legend Billy Gibbons returns with a more 'back to basics' styled affair with The Big Bad Blues. With 11 songs clocking in at just under 40-minutes, The Big Bad Blues sees the Texas axe-master doing what he does best, churning out some molten blues rock over a mix of original and cover songs, not surprisingly the results sounding almost like a new ZZ Top album in the process. Along with help from James Harman on harmonica, Joe Hardy on bass, drummers Greg Morrow & Matt Sorum, keyboard player Mike Flanigan, and guitarist & harmonica player Elwood Francis, Gibbons has put together a fun and raunchy set of sweaty blues tunes that any fan will certainly enjoy.
Whether it's the grinding blues rock of "Missin' Yo Kissin' ", they tasty stomp of "Second Line", or the stellar covers of "Standing Around Crying" and "Rollin' and Tumblin' ", there's plenty of meaty Gibbons licks & gritty vocals to go around. Original tune "That's What She Said" rocks pretty hard and contains some scorching lead & slide gutiar from the 'Reverend', while "Mo' Slower Blues' bumps & boils with mean intent, the fuzz laden guitar work smoldering over deep rhythmic grooves. Overall, a lot to like here, and while I personally would have preferred a tad less harmonica in spots, I get that Billy was going for an old school sounding blues album, so it's a job well done. Now, how about another ZZ Top album?
See more about this release on our recent YouTube show!
Track Listing
1) Missin' Yo Kissin'
2) My Baby She Rocks
3) Second Line
4) Standing Around Crying
5) Let the Left Hand Know
6) Bring It to Jerome
7) That's What She Said
8) Mo' Slower Blues
9) Hollywood 151
10) Rollin' and Tumblin'
11) Crackin' Up
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