ZZ Top..Eliminator, Afterburner, Recycler Discussion w/Martin Popoff

[@pjones8404]

I just love "Recycler". The songs, sound and mood are just amazing. It's my favorite of the three. Songs like "Lovething", "Penthouse Eyes", "Burger Man" and my favorite track "2000 Blues".

[@ganderstein3426]

You didn't mention Concrete and Steel? That's my favorite on that album. That whole album is awesome.

[@ganderstein3426]

Eliminator is the sun of my musical solar system.

[@DBTdad]

At 12:10 Linden Hudson was the man behind this shift in the ZZ Top sound. Eliminator was recorded in Memphis in late 82. A local guitar playing friend told me in the mid 80s that Eliminator was basically a Billy Gibbons solo album with an uncredited young side man. I can't say for sure, but the change was sudden and very different. Poke around on the net for Linden Hudson and judge for yourself.

[@jockmctodger]

I love Billy's guitar solo work in Rough Boy, breathtaking

[@ganderstein3426]

Billy teaches anybody listening to his playing, that every note matters.

[@Jamie.Laszlo]

I really dig Afterburner. I get the hate it receives from fans. I really do. But, man, is it fun. I'd say it's the most fun ZZ Top album.

[@aidanfeighery6634]

The most 'fun' album is 'El Loco', hands down.

[@jonathancilley9450]

Eliminator is a very unique sounding album. I have never heard anything like it since. They tried in the future, but never matched it going forward.

[@randycunningham7318]

Bad Girl is Billy on vocal.

[@ganderstein3426]

This is great, hearing such a comprehensive discussion about rock albums.

[@luciusblackwood2640]

I just caught the film the other night so I was really in the mood for this discussion. Good stuff!

[@dan1216]

2:01 Actually, Degüello was their first Warner Bros. album (at least according to Wikipedia)

[@samhouston1979]

i had to pause this to hear “give me all your lovin” …that drum bit in the beginning kills

[@iancocks9408]

The whole song kills. After the great drum intro it then hits like a hammer the guitars and what a guitar sound on the song / album

[@aleksl761]

Wonderful 2nd episode! I agree with 7 out of 10 for Eliminator (maybe slightly leaning toward 8) if we compare it to the whole ZZ Top discography. But if we imagine that Eliminator is ZZ Top debut, or released under different band name, or simply if we consider it as stand alone album, then Eliminator deserve 10 out 10 for sure.

[@merikblackmore]

I played my Eliminator LP when I first set up my new turntable, ended up playing it 4 times through, great album. Like Afterburner but does come across as Eliminator 2. Strangely I like Recycler at lot, Doubleback was a great single but they never played it on tour.

[@briancroft7873]

You forget about the version of Legs that starts off with a heavy blusey riff and not a sequencer

[@LairoftheAlchemist]

not sure I've heard that..

[@briancroft7873]

Oh…it’s on the album ZZ Top Raw

[@LairoftheAlchemist]

@@briancroft7873 will check it out..thanks.

[@scottbaylor6215]

Excellent episode, greatly enjoyed it. My first venture away from RATT was Afterburner from ZZ Top. I'd go Eliminator 9 , Afterburner 8 and Recycler a 6. I have very similar views on Recycler that you guys do. While I agree with statements concerning Heads in Mississippi, I definitely enjoy that song. As I've gotten older, I have enjoyed more tracks from it but compared to the three, it's in a distant third.

[@DBTdad]

18:30 Billy's doing vocals for Bad Girl

[@danielwolski873]

Great episode.

[@ganderstein3426]

Why would they be confused about the trio of album covers? It was keeping with a theme, like all of the Iron Maiden covers. One could argue the Maiden covers get "confusing." Popoff's opinion on My Head's in Mississippi couldn't be further from mine. I love that song!

[@jmagowan12]

I really like Eliminator as an album, ach it does sound very processed and more so as those albums move and with the albums titles as ya's said it does sound like they already knew themselves if only sub-conscipously.

[@samhouston1979]

now i once again have a hankering for one of THOSE keychains

[@jasonk75]

On the one hand, I’ve never been a fan of “My Heads in Mississippi” either. But on the other hand, how many platinum albums have Robert Johnson or Muddy Waters had?

[@terryrusso3262]

Eliminator 9/10, Afterburner 8/10, Recycler 7/10

[@jimekberg]

Eliminator 10/10 , Afterburner 7/10 , Recycler 5/10

[@alexfadista]

Eliminator 6,5/10, Afterburner 6/10, Recycler 7,5/10. Recycler is my favourite out of the three. Those stiff repetitive drums on Eliminator are so boring. On Afterburner, it's a bit less repetitive but it's still very stiff, almost no dynamics. Recycler does feel a bit bluesier and the sound is a bit less rigid. Overall, I find it more consistent than the other two.

[@samhouston1979]

aaaand…i paused this to crank Velcro Fly

[@mickgreen-tg1zp]

Really liked this...but I think it misses the point somewhat...those three records are quite brilliant in their own way..great moments on all of them...one thing prevails..Gibbons is a truly great guitar player..the review never mentions Decision or Collision from Recycler..one of the greatest ZZ songs....whatever people think about those records one thing stands out...Gibbons is a giant on guitar..respect to Frank and Dusty.

[@dustyadams5927]

I'm a long time ZZ Top fan and metal fan but in no way to me would I classify or label them as a heavy metal band. They're a blues rock band to me .

[@LairoftheAlchemist]

For sure...

[@gaupau]

Eliminator: 8/10 Afterburner: 5/10 Recycler: 4/10

[@randycunningham7318]

I listen to Recycler more than any other full album, i think. I seldom listen to Eliminator and Afterburner. I think you are both way off the mark.