Mescalero by Zz Top - DeepRiffs

ALBUM

Ever since ZZ Top signed with RCA, they fitfully tried to break free of the synthesized blues that once was their savior but quickly became a straitjacket. Like any addict, it was hard for them to quit that processed, sequenced sound cold turkey, so they weaned themselves off the robo-boogie, sometimes relapsing and adding too many synths to mix, other times breaking loose with some credible boogie. Apart from the dreadful misstep of 1999's XXX, they showed signs of life on all their RCA albums, and their fourth, 2003's long-delayed Mescalero, is no exception to the rule. Billy Gibbons' fat guitar tone really has some presence here, at least on some of the album, and there are enough rhythm tracks not performed to a didactic click track to provide some real swing. There are even moments that suggest Gibbons' songwriting chops might be returning, such as the closing "Liquor," the rampaging instrumental "Crunchy," and the lithe "What Would You Do." On these cuts, along with a cover of Lowell Fulson's "Tramp," ZZ Top sound like a worthy veteran act, returning to their strengths and building on them. Unfortunately, that's four songs on an overlong 17-track album (including an uncredited closing cover of "As Time Goes By," hidden after "Liquor" -- as most uncredited covers of "As Time Goes By" are, I suppose), and the rest of the record is pretty much devoted to by-the-books latter-day ZZ Top, relying too much on overly polished sound and familiar form, not gutbucket hooks and dirty grooves. What's frustrating is that those aforementioned cuts prove that the boys could still turn out a really cool, modernistic roadhouse blues-rock album, if only they had a good editor or producer. Left to their own devices, they repeat their same mistakes and wind up with a record that's pretty damn near the same as their other RCA platters.

1. Mescalero

Primary Artist: Zz Top; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Drums: Frank Beard; Performer
Guitar: Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Performer: Zz Top; Performer
Vocals: Dusty Hill
Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Composer: Billy F. Gibbons; Composer
Lyricist: Billy F. Gibbons; Composer
Mixing Engineer: Joe Hardy; Production
Producer: Billy F. Gibbons
Lone Wolf Production Company; Production
Recording: Joe Hardy; Production

2. Two Ways To Play

Primary Artist: Zz Top; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Drums: Frank Beard; Performer
Guitar: Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Performer: Zz Top; Performer
Vocals: Dusty Hill
Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Composer: Billy F. Gibbons; Composer
Lyricist: Billy F. Gibbons; Composer
Mixing Engineer: Joe Hardy; Production
Producer: Billy F. Gibbons
Lone Wolf Production Company; Production
Recording: Joe Hardy; Production

3. Alley-Gator

Primary Artist: Zz Top; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Drums: Frank Beard; Performer
Guitar: Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Performer: Zz Top; Performer
Vocals: Dusty Hill
Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Composer: Billy F. Gibbons; Composer
Lyricist: Billy F. Gibbons; Composer
Mixing Engineer: Joe Hardy; Production
Producer: Billy F. Gibbons
Lone Wolf Production Company; Production
Recording: Joe Hardy; Production

4. Buck Nekkid

Primary Artist: Zz Top; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Drums: Frank Beard; Performer
Guitar: Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Performer: Zz Top; Performer
Vocals: Dusty Hill
Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Composer: Billy F. Gibbons; Composer
Lyricist: Billy F. Gibbons; Composer
Mixing Engineer: Joe Hardy; Production
Producer: Billy F. Gibbons
Lone Wolf Production Company; Production
Recording: Joe Hardy; Production

5. Goin' So Good

Primary Artist: Zz Top; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Drums: Frank Beard; Performer
Guitar: Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Performer: Zz Top; Performer
Vocals: Dusty Hill
Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Composer: Billy F. Gibbons; Composer
Lyricist: Billy F. Gibbons; Composer
Mixing Engineer: Joe Hardy; Production
Producer: Billy F. Gibbons
Lone Wolf Production Company; Production
Recording: Joe Hardy; Production

6. Me So Stupid

Primary Artist: Zz Top; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Drums: Frank Beard; Performer
Guitar: Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Performer: Zz Top; Performer
Vocals: Dusty Hill
Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Composer: Hardy
Moon
Gibbons
The Gibbons; Composer
Lyricist: Moon
Hardy
Gibbons
The Gibbons; Composer
Mixing Engineer: Joe Hardy; Production
Producer: Lone Wolf Production Company
Billy F. Gibbons; Production
Recording: Joe Hardy; Production

7. Piece

Primary Artist: Zz Top; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Drums: Frank Beard; Performer
Guitar: Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Performer: Zz Top; Performer
Vocals: Dusty Hill
Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Composer: Billy F. Gibbons; Composer
Lyricist: Billy F. Gibbons; Composer
Mixing Engineer: Joe Hardy; Production
Producer: Billy F. Gibbons
Lone Wolf Production Company; Production
Recording: Joe Hardy; Production

8. Punk Ass Boyfriend

Primary Artist: Zz Top; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Drums: Frank Beard; Performer
Guitar: Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Performer: Zz Top; Performer
Vocals: Dusty Hill
Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Composer: Billy F. Gibbons; Composer
Lyricist: Billy F. Gibbons; Composer
Mixing Engineer: Joe Hardy; Production
Producer: Billy F. Gibbons
Lone Wolf Production Company; Production
Recording: Joe Hardy; Production

9. Stackin' Paper

Primary Artist: Zz Top; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Drums: Frank Beard; Performer
Guitar: Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Performer: Zz Top; Performer
Vocals: Dusty Hill
Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Composer: Gibbons
Hardy
The Gibbons; Composer
Lyricist: Gibbons
Hardy
The Gibbons; Composer
Mixing Engineer: Joe Hardy; Production
Producer: Billy F. Gibbons
Lone Wolf Production Company; Production
Recording: Joe Hardy; Production

10. What Would You Do

Primary Artist: Zz Top; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Drums: Frank Beard; Performer
Guitar: Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Performer: Zz Top; Performer
Vocals: Dusty Hill
Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Composer: Billy F. Gibbons; Composer
Lyricist: Billy F. Gibbons; Composer
Mixing Engineer: Joe Hardy; Production
Producer: Billy F. Gibbons
Lone Wolf Production Company; Production
Recording: Joe Hardy; Production

11. What It Is Kid

Primary Artist: Zz Top; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Drums: Frank Beard; Performer
Guitar: Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Performer: Zz Top; Performer
Vocals: Dusty Hill
Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Composer: Beard
Hill
Gibbons
The Gibbons; Composer
Lyricist: Hill
Beard
Gibbons
The Gibbons; Composer
Mixing Engineer: Joe Hardy; Production
Producer: Lone Wolf Production Company
Billy F. Gibbons; Production
Recording: Joe Hardy; Production

12. Que Lastima

Primary Artist: Zz Top; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Drums: Frank Beard; Performer
Guitar: Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Performer: Zz Top; Performer
Vocals: Dusty Hill
Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Composer: Billy F. Gibbons; Composer
Lyricist: Billy F. Gibbons; Composer
Mixing Engineer: Joe Hardy; Production
Producer: Billy F. Gibbons
Lone Wolf Production Company; Production
Recording: Joe Hardy; Production

13. Tramp

Primary Artist: Zz Top; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Drums: Frank Beard; Performer
Guitar: Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Performer: Zz Top; Performer
Vocals: Dusty Hill
Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Composer: Lowell Fulsom
Jimmy Mccracklin
Lowell Fulson; Composer
Lyricist: Lowell Fulsom
Jimmy Mccracklin
Lowell Fulson; Composer
Mixing Engineer: Joe Hardy; Production
Producer: Billy F. Gibbons
Lone Wolf Production Company; Production
Recording: Joe Hardy; Production

14. Crunchy

Primary Artist: Zz Top; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Drums: Frank Beard; Performer
Guitar: Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Performer: Zz Top; Performer
Vocals: Dusty Hill
Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Composer: Billy F. Gibbons; Composer
Lyricist: Billy F. Gibbons; Composer
Mixing Engineer: Joe Hardy; Production
Producer: Billy F. Gibbons
Lone Wolf Production Company; Production
Recording: Joe Hardy; Production

15. Dusted

Primary Artist: Zz Top; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Drums: Frank Beard; Performer
Guitar: Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Performer: Zz Top; Performer
Vocals: Dusty Hill
Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Composer: Billy F. Gibbons; Composer
Lyricist: Billy F. Gibbons; Composer
Mixing Engineer: Joe Hardy; Production
Producer: Billy F. Gibbons
Lone Wolf Production Company; Production
Recording: Joe Hardy; Production

16. Liquor

Primary Artist: Zz Top; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Drums: Frank Beard; Performer
Guitar: Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Performer: Zz Top; Performer
Vocals: Dusty Hill
Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Composer: Billy F. Gibbons; Composer
Lyricist: Billy F. Gibbons; Composer
Mixing Engineer: Joe Hardy; Production
Producer: Billy F. Gibbons
Lone Wolf Production Company; Production
Recording: Joe Hardy; Production

17. As Time Goes By

Primary Artist: Zz Top; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Bass Guitar: Dusty Hill; Performer
Drums: Frank Beard; Performer
Guitar: Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Performer: Zz Top; Performer
Vocals: Dusty Hill
Billy F. Gibbons; Performer
Composer: Herman Humpfeld; Composer
Lyricist: Herman Humpfeld; Composer
Mixing Engineer: Joe Hardy; Production
Producer: Billy F. Gibbons
Lone Wolf Production Company; Production
Recording: Joe Hardy; Production

Technical Specifications

Volume

1 volume only

Tracks

17 tracks available

Type

ALBUM

Format

Digital Media

Duration

1 hour, 6 minutes and 2 seconds

Explicit

None

Coverart

Available and up to 1416x1416 px

Booklet

Not available

Max Quality

CD Quality (Lossless)

16bit / 44.1 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

All tracks have lyrics

Synchronized Lyrics

15/17 tracks have synced lyrics

Genres

Pop/Rock, Southern Rock, Blues-Rock, Hard Rock, Arena Rock, Boogie Rock

Label

RCA Records Label

Music Distribution Service

Sony

Country

United States

Language

English (United States)

Popularity

Release Date

Jan 8, 2003

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

886447511275