Weak - unfortunately ...

I am plenty consternation. What have ZZ Top for since delivered a total failure? In addition to "Tube Snake Boogie" and "Pearl Necklace", which is also available on compilations, is possibly even more (the Dusty Hill terrific sung) "Party on the Patio" succeeded. The rest is lame, boring and unimaginative! After the great "Degüello" the complete program of contrasts. Although you can see how the "Eliminator" sound develops slowly, but the songs are not to be used simply. Especially "Ten Foot Pole" and "Heaven, Hell or Houston" sound like a bad joke! "Ten Foot Pole" is just quark - Billy Gibbons babbles the text in front of him so that you can not understand a word. The guitar solo sounds like a bad copy of "Cheap Sunglasses" to give the soon following Welthits á la "Sharp Dressed Man" can guess already. No question, "El Loco" is a classic transitional album, but even of a transitional album, I expect more than directionless pieces that seem to have been created only for experimentation. In addition, the sound (yet) does not fit - in comparison with the crisp dry "Degüello" acts "El Loco" by the strong use of Hall "empty", especially gibbons used on most tracks still the thin, wiry guitar sound of "Degüello" which, however, can hardly fill the resulting "space". In the middle section of "Pearl Necklace" it becomes clear why he has since used a much thicker sound. Annoying by the way the Maracas (or other percussion), which can be heard in almost every piece. Because I would have rather liked more present drums and more groove. Synthesizer more frequently used (extreme on "Groovy Little Hippie Pad"), the Harmonizer also strong again, but somehow fits nothing here. Significantly: The best bits "Tube Snake Boogie" and "Party on the Patio" are based on very traditional (blues) patterns. Was the band managed to "Degüello" yet so any unusual track ("Manic Mechanic"!), So the skin only at "Pearl Necklace" (a forerunner of "Legs" & Co.) back. The Nashville-Country Kitsch ballad "Leila" or the weepy "It's So Hard", which would certainly have sounded better in Gary Moore's hands (and perhaps also the motto of the album is), are barely recognizable as ZZ Top when because not Gibbons' voice would. Without his song "Layla" would simply be inaudible.

I do not know if any other band has managed to submit their worst after her best album. Even the much maligned "Recycler" makes me more fun than this stale concoction. Two stars only because there is still much worse music. However, does not come from ZZ Top.

Only for fans!