ZZ Top, one of the world’s biggest rock bands and highly respected over the years in the United States, takes pride in their Texan origins, consistently reflected in their lyrics and album covers, also expressing their fondness for Mexico.
Hailing from Houston, Texas, they dove headfirst into the ’80s mainstream in 1983 with the release of “Eliminator,” their most commercial album. This album attracted new fans from later generations and caused controversy among their most loyal listeners due to its incorporation of synthesizers and drum machines. At that time, Billy Gibbons, the band’s lead vocalist, was closely listening to bands like Depeche Mode.
MTV played a crucial role in making “Eliminator” a success by repeatedly airing music videos for “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” and “Legs.” It’s worth mentioning that the band had never released a music video before. However, this action touched the hearts of the masses due to their charisma, where, along with their new sound, they presented themselves as attention-grabbing heroes with their long beards, coordinated dances, and spinning furry guitars. Something extremely fun!
What can we hear?
We hear the introduction of ZZ Top’s new commercial sound, which would be further expanded upon in their subsequent albums. “Eliminator” combines Blues Rock with ’80s commercial music, adding synthesizers as a supporting instrument and digital drum machines that occasionally replace Frank Beard’s drums. Billy Gibbons’ guitar quality remains unmatched, soloing in his characteristic Blues style and creating memorable riffs, as heard in the hit “Gimme All Your Lovin’.”
At times, Dusty Hill’s bass disappears to introduce synthesizers that take its place, as heard in “Got Me Under Pressure” or “Sharp Dressed Man,” which was a shock for fans. The same happens with the drums, where in most songs, only the toms were retained, replaced by samples. However, despite the controversy, this made ZZ Top’s sound feel rejuvenated.
A very interesting blend of the band’s Heavy Blues with these electronic elements that ultimately respected Rock rhythms. This doesn’t signify a change in style but rather a new approach utilizing the available technology at that time, which, from our perspective, was very smart as they used the tools they had to their advantage.
ZZ Top's rhythm in Eliminator
Unlike their previous albums, in “Eliminator,” we hear the band playing faster, giving a sense of a more hurried and energetic groove, as can be heard in “I Got The Six.” This factor makes some songs sound heavier. However, this speed is also present in the super hit “Legs,” the boldest song in their new sound, evoking a more danceable rhythm combined with Billy Gibbons’ rock guitar touch, maintaining ZZ Top’s essence in this track, the band’s most successful single in their history.
And although the album maintains a constant “fast” groove, we find two moments of down-tempo in “I Need You Tonight” and “TV Dinners.” The former possibly being their most honest song according to their roots, an old-school slow blues with a heavy guitar delay, making the solos sound very expansive auditorily. The latter, with a tempo similar to the former, introduces some keyboards that reinforce the song’s tempo and adds some breaks that showcase the guitar’s distortion.
The fusion presented by ZZ Top in “Eliminator” is truly purposeful and very interesting, a combination that, honestly, we haven’t heard in projects as grand as theirs. One of the songs that best represents their sound could be “Dirty Dog,” a Rock track with a danceable electronic background a marvel.
ZZ Top's experimentation with new sounds
ZZ Top took a risk, and it paid off. After 7 albums, they decided to introduce their classic and recognizable sound while maintaining their essence, the most loyal thing a Rock band can do. They could have continued their career without making major changes, just like bands like AC/DC or Mötorhead great groups that decided to stay true to their initial style. However, ZZ Top’s decision to introduce a new sound expanded the niche they belonged to without sacrificing quality.
A very good album! A classic that’s worth re-listening to at any time. What do you think of “Eliminator”? Leave us your comments!
