Nine years since the famous Tres Hombres – Frank Beard, Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill, better known as ZZ Top – released a full-length album, La Futura features none other than producer Rick Rubin. “My idea of ZZ Top is three guys playing together at the same time with the red light turned on,” he has said. The disc’s 10 songs sound like they gestated from Rubin’s idea.
From opener “I Gotsa To Get Paid” (quite a rockin’ cover of Street Military’s hip-hop song) to the equally funky “I Don’t Wanna Lose, Lose You,” ZZ Top grooves are abundant on this album that took a full four years for the band, largely due to touring commitments. Big fan as I am of the Top’s underrated ballads, the slower “Over You” is a nice change-up early on to all the chunking going on.
We’re up and chunkin’ again on “Heartache In Blue,” and Hill’s effectiveness at backing vocals and the occasional call-and-response with Gibbons, reminds me of what Michael Anthony used to do in Van Halen. Gibbons works around James Harman’s harmonica to make this one of the better tunes. “Flyin High” drives like an AC/DC song with Beard manning a sturdy four-on-the floor beat with a slightly open splashy high-hat and Hill on those backing vocals he does so effectively.
“Consumption” is dirty, displaying some of that laidback drumming Beard is known for and slide work from Gibbons, whereas “It’s Too Easy Manana” is dark and swampy. “Have Mercy,” the closer, is a classic ZZ Top strut with a truly inspired Gibbons lead. On this 15th album from ZZ Top, Rubin had the good sense to get out of the way, apparently hoping to bring the best out of the little ol’ band from Texas. It truly shows on La Futura.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
