ZZ Top's "Deguello"

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I saw this album namedropped when I looked up info on Billy Gibbons' pre-ZZ Top psychrock band The Moving Sidewalks, and being more familiar with their singles than their albums, I looked it up and found out it includes probably my three favorite non-Eliminator tracks - "I Thank You", "Cheap Sunglasses" and "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide". Is the rest of the album as unimpeachably Texas-pimpin'? Is this the boogie-rock answer to Why Can't We Be Friends?

― Nate Patrin (Nate Patrin), Saturday, 9 August 2003 17:39 (twenty years ago) link

It's their best album. I have absolutely no idea what the AMG reviewer is talking about calling it psychedelic. Maybe he's talking about the echo on "Bad Sunglasses" or something, I don't know. Anyway, there's just a real pleasant flow to the album. It's short, punchy and to the point. It has their best, tightest songwriting, two inspired covers, some of Gibbons' nicest playing on the blues workouts "Hi Fi Mama" and "Fool For Your Stockings", and great lost rockers in "Lowdown in the Street" and "She Loves My Automobile". It never fails to make me smile. It's a winner.

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Saturday, 9 August 2003 19:20 (twenty years ago) link

haha, "Cheap Sunglasses" obv. I was conflating "I'm Bad I'm Nationwide" or something.

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Saturday, 9 August 2003 19:24 (twenty years ago) link

'Deguello'/'El Loco' = 'Young Americans'/'Station to Station'

― dave q, Saturday, 9 August 2003 19:37 (twenty years ago) link

Pretty much, yeah. Finally discovering your voice and whatnot. And laying groundwork for the big futurist move.

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Saturday, 9 August 2003 19:53 (twenty years ago) link

its a keeper!
nationwide remains a top truckers anthem.

― thomas de'aguirre (biteylove), Sunday, 10 August 2003 16:36 (twenty years ago) link

I prefer the more rootsy stuff ala Tres Hombres, but true, i can't knock any of those three tracks you mention from Deguello (even though the rest of the album is uneventful).

― christoff (christoff), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 18:25 (twenty years ago) link

Deguello is, indeed, one of ZZ Top's best albums, if not their absolute peak (I go back and forth between this one and Tres Hombres).

― Phil Freeman (Phil Freeman), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 19:01 (twenty years ago) link

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ZZ Top's "Deguello" - C/D, S/D