• Registered: 2008-02-14
  • Posts: 2,578

Re: zz top live in Texas dvd

Interesting that in the last few years Ike Turner (RIP), Rod Stewart and ZZ Top have linked themselves to the Black Keys and suggested future collaborations. These have never come from the Black Keys themselves. Says alot for The Black Keys I think that older artists looking to regain past glories are looking to them. If you have not listened to The Black Keys yet, I'd certainly recommend you give them a try. I'd much prefer to read more about up and coming artists of the same generation as Joe on these pages. This is where the future of blues rock lies.

I agree with Keith that ZZ Top could still have had success with a more stripped down bluesy sound. Songs like Gimme All Your Loving and Sharped Dress Man are good songs yet I feel though that they would have sounded better without the synths, pre programmed drums etc.  Referring to SRV, some of his stuff was also quite heavily produced, take a song like Crossfire or Tightrope for example. I guess some of this is reflected in the production techniques used at the time, but I think it has tended to make some of these recordings sound rather dated.

I think we can all agree we'd love to hear one more great album from ZZ Top and with Ruben at the helm, that's certainly possible.

"The recently formed Edinburgh Blues Club has identified an appetite for the personal communication between musicians and audience that the blues long ago perfected." The Herald Newspaper (Scotland)
http://www.edinburgh-blues.uk
  • From: Harrison, Arkansas
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 3,155

Re: zz top live in Texas dvd

So what is the definition of overproduced?

"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make"

My ReverbNation page for Dees & Friends - check us out!
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  • Registered: 2008-02-14
  • Posts: 2,578

Re: zz top live in Texas dvd

Deezer wrote:

So what is the definition of overproduced?

There’s several ways to answer that question.

Over production could mean the music has been overly mastered and or multi layered. A more overly clean, overly compressed, stale sound. It could refer to too many layers within a composition or over outboard fx or over complicated vocal treatments or lyrical structure within the song and the embracement of that within the music to an over the top end result. Multi-layered vocals and guitars cannot be replicated in a live format where the sound loses the live feel of the band. Listen to Brown Sugar or La Grange back to back with Legs or Viva Las Vegas and I think you’ll see what I mean.

"The recently formed Edinburgh Blues Club has identified an appetite for the personal communication between musicians and audience that the blues long ago perfected." The Herald Newspaper (Scotland)
http://www.edinburgh-blues.uk
  • From: Harrison, Arkansas
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 3,155

Re: zz top live in Texas dvd

Overproduced is in the eye of the beholder. Eliminator does not sound that overproduced. Afterburner is way more produced in my opinion. Do I think Rubin is going to take them to that sound? No. His style has always been lean and mean (Heck, his credits on LL Cool J's first LP say "Reduced by" instead of "Produced by"). I call bull on that rumor. Besides, even if he was going for selling more records, the style of production that is on Eliminator  and Afterburner has not been popular for some time. The production quality has gotten rawer since that time. Hence, a return to the rawer sound.

And the production in my opinion don't mean shite anyway. It's the music. Listen to the music. Enjoy it. Have a refill.

"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make"

My ReverbNation page for Dees & Friends - check us out!
www.reverbnation.com/deesfriends
  • Registered: 2008-08-25
  • Posts: 10

Re: zz top live in Texas dvd

I think Billy Gibbons is one of the best guitarists out there.   Joe Bonamassa is also one of my favorites!  I really enjoyed the Texas DVD... all the hits that I love, really clean sound-in my opinion.  Just Got Paid  was awesome.   I was impressed with the Little ol band,  i got it the concert on cd and i really enjoy it at work when i'm working my butt off... thanks for listening!

24 Reply by Greenose (edited by Greenose 2008-09-07 05:20:20)

  • Registered: 2008-02-14
  • Posts: 2,578

Re: zz top live in Texas dvd

Deezer wrote:

And the production in my opinion don't mean shite anyway. It's the music. Listen to the music. Enjoy it. Have a refill.

Exactly what I said, read post 19 second paragraph again! Please try read others posts in full and accept some criticism of ZZ Top. Objectivity is a good thing.

"The recently formed Edinburgh Blues Club has identified an appetite for the personal communication between musicians and audience that the blues long ago perfected." The Herald Newspaper (Scotland)
http://www.edinburgh-blues.uk
  • From: Harrison, Arkansas
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 3,155

Re: zz top live in Texas dvd

Greenose wrote:
Deezer wrote:

And the production in my opinion don't mean shite anyway. It's the music. Listen to the music. Enjoy it. Have a refill.

Exactly what I said, read post 19 second paragraph again! Please try read others posts in full and accept some criticism of ZZ Top. Objectivity is a good thing.

I didn't say objectivity was a bad thing. And I don't have to accept jack on criticism of the Top if I don't see a basis for it. You say you don't like their Eliminator stuff, that's fine. I do. I don't have to accept anything.

My whole thing is I don't think ZZ Top's lost a dang thing. They've gotten more experimental (which should change with Rubin at helm) but they haven't lost a step. They've gotten more refined in concert, but overall, I don't think that ZZ Top has lost a step. People have just lost connection with ZZ Top. They put out an album that's marketed right, they'll sell again. Heck, just look at AC/DC. The Eagles. ZZ Top is not any more aged and have not lost any steps compared to those guys. The difference? Marketing.

"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make"

My ReverbNation page for Dees & Friends - check us out!
www.reverbnation.com/deesfriends
  • Registered: 2008-02-14
  • Posts: 2,578

Re: zz top live in Texas dvd

ZZ Top's marketing in the Eliminator/Afterburner period was very strong with the image of two guys with beards and a non bearded on called Beard singing about chicks and cars. Certainly it was successful and brought them far more fans than they had ever had before. The music was more experiemental in using synths and drum machines. The problem was the music at times became secondary to the image and I think when the novelty wore off, ZZ Top lost that connection with their fans, who are probably listening to something else MTV friendly now like Nickelback. I'd guess you'd disagree with that, but refined is strange description for what had been described as a laid back performance on the dvd in question. ZZ Top certainly do have it within themselves musically to be on a par with AC/DC or the Eagles though, so I can agree with you on that point. I'm done!

"The recently formed Edinburgh Blues Club has identified an appetite for the personal communication between musicians and audience that the blues long ago perfected." The Herald Newspaper (Scotland)
http://www.edinburgh-blues.uk