ZZ Top: A Tribute From Friends

An album dedicated to those guys with beards two thirds their height and cool shades; this is an album for ZZ Top: A Tribute From Friends. While I am a big fan of the original, I am also a fan of the update featuring Mick Fleetwood, Jonny Lang, Brett Tuggle, John McVie and Steven Tyler, or the M.O.B. I respect Tyler for what he and his band have done, as well as himself as a person, but I don’t like the vocals much as in the original; he still is a “Sharp Dressed Man” though. Filter’s version screams “Gimme All Your Lovin,” and goes for a slight industrial edge, yet manages to keep some of that southern boogie; that harmonic chorus is lost for that angstier delivery, but it is an interesting take. To hear female vocals from Grace Potter singing about getting some “Tush,” classic, and the rest of the band is great at replicating the power of the original. It is no surprise that Nickelback would cover a song called "Legs," and I’m sure they have seen their share of pairs open for them (just saying). As for the raunch, they don’t really have much to add, and they keep it close to the original, so they are on par. “Cheap Sunglasses” may have been less expensive in the past, but might have been made out of sterner stuff. This version is the same quality, just more expensive and a little more vibrant. The next cover has “Got Me Under Pressure” because I like the original, but the cover seems to have more energy, but I prefer the vocals of Gibbons over the delivery of Duff, but not by much; it changes back and forth. “Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers” is on par with the original, and considering who is covering it you may expect more, but why mess with something that shouldn’t be messed with? There is this passage in the song that is strictly Coheed though, and I love Sanchez’s vocals. Mastodon goes through the same dilemma, but handles it with grace because they “Just Got Paid” to make the cover. The cover Wyclef Jean had made has more of a reggae rhythm, and is an example of making a small change that sounds like a big difference to this faux “Rough Boy.”  As you’re “Waiting For The Bus To Come/Jesus Just Left Chicago,” but you should know that even though there was nothing different except for that little wail Daughtry gives out. Jamey Johnson makes the trip to "La Grange" a superb epic of groove, harpischord and fun. Best songs are : Sharp Dressed Man, Gimme All Your Lovin’, Tush, Cheap Sunglasses, Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers, Rough Boy, and La Grange.