You really just need to listen to the riff at the start of "La Grange" once to understand why this album is considered to be so influential. Even if you didn't know the song's name, that riff has been embedded in the blues rock and hard rock DNA since the record came out in the early 70's despite the original single release only peaking at #33 on Billboard. The track's earworm of a riff, however, is only the start of a bluesy romp inspired by a brothel located on the outskirts of La Grange, Texas. ZZ Top are, of course, good Texans and have no qualms about reppin their homestead. But Tres Hombres is more than just "La Grange." The record is packed front to back with memorable riffs, grimy guitars, and soulful vocals from the tres hombres themselves, though Billy Gibbons takes most of the main vocal duties. It's also a very concise record. It's all killer, no filler, and a scant 33 minutes. Tracks like "Master of Sparks" and "Precious and Grace" have very heavy and very sharp riffs that chunk and grind, feeling sloppy but also laser focused. That's what a lot of this record is. There's nothing too flashy, and if anything, I might criticize it for not doing anything too wild with its blues rock sound, but not every record needs to shake the boat. Sometimes, delivering a hard rock classic is all you need.
Rating: 3.5/5
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