Search - Various Artists :: Sharp Dressed Men: Tribute to Zz Top

Ignore All The Other Reviews

WYK | Austin, TX | 06/23/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you are a ZZ-TOP fan SECOND and a country fan FIRST, this is one of the greatest albums ever. If you are not a country fan, you likely won't enjoy this album, as many other reviewers can attest. The problem is you get ZZ-TOP fans who are expecting some sort of a Rythmeen concoction (Which happens to be my favorite ZZ-TOP album). It's nothing of the sort. It's pure country. Lonestar SOUNDS like Lonestar. Brad Paisley is 100% Paisley. As are Willie, Kenny Chesney, Tracy Bird et al. They ALL sound great on this album, and all manage to make the songs their own.
Buy it because you like Dwight Yoakam, Phil Vassar, Bocephus, but not because you want to hear ZZ-TOP. ZZ-TOP already has their OWN albums out. ;) Leave bluesy, humbucking, grungy goodness to the TOPs. That's what they do best. Country needs to be played by Country.
Y'all take care, now,WYK
Austin, TX"

Are these guys really country afterall?

Matt Wagner | Lawton, Ok United States | 05/01/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This project just goes to show how far country has come in 10 years. Also gives a taste of what some of these acts would probably would have been doing if people like Brooks and Dunn or Vince Gill didn't introduce the country audience to the electric guitar.Easy to say if the Eagles came out today, they would only be welcome in the country format - listening to some of country's stars and you have to wonder if they came around 15 years ago if we'd be hearing them on our favorite rock station rather than beside Hank, Waylon, and Willie.This is one of those projects that you just have to sample song to song - some sound like karaoke gone way too far ("Gimme All Your Lovin' - Lonestar, "La Grange" Tracy Byrd, "Fearless Boogie" Hank III), others rock out quite nicely while the artists do their best impersonations of the Brothers Gibbons ("Rough Boy" B&D, "Legs" Trace Adkins, "Cheap Sunglasses" - Warren Brothers, "I Want to Thank You" Phil Vassar), then there are some tunes that are worth hearing - the ones that some of the better performers of today take on and actually put there own voice and own country style behind - and pull it off ("Tush" Kenny Chesney, "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide" Dwight Yoakam, "Sure Got Cold..." Alan Jackson and "Sharp Dressed Man" Brad Paisley).Give country credit - this isn't as embarrassing to rock as was the Beatles and the Rolling Stones attempt. Unlike the latter, these guys know ZZ Top quite well - the vast majority being Texans who did time in the club circuit before getting record deals, which your not going to survive unless you can rock southern style. Have to say, though, after waiting years for Brooks and Dunn to cover their hero's would've loved to hear "Legs" or one of their more rockin' tunes.If you like uptempo country, especially stuff that rocks, this ones worth a listen. This CD makes you realize just how much Nashville boxes in some genuinely talented artists that could rock out if given the chance."

5 out of 15 ain't all bad

Anita C. Bryant | Moore Haven, FL USA | 05/24/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Yep... 5 songs that make this worth owning. Paisley, Yoakam, Willie, Hank III and Alan Jackson give very very respectable versions of ZZ classics. Everybody else just sound like ZZ wannabe's. And for that I could have just gotten a ZZ Top Greatest Hits album and stuck with the original. Brad Paisley lends his excellent guitar picking and sound to Sharp Dressed Man. Dwight Yoakam hillbilly version of I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide is awesome. Willie does the "Willie Western Swing" on She Loves My Automobile- and gives ZZ Top a run for their money on who's is better. Hank Williams III has an old radio sound on Fearless Boogie. Alan Jackson renders a truly nice performance of Sure Got Cold After the Rain Fell (with a nice pickin finish). I listened to Jesus Just Left Chicago/ Waitin For the Bus (by Hank Jr.) once. I prefer to just skip it over entirely. It's terrible. Everybody else could have just lip sync-ed and played air guitar like the rest of us. If you are interested in those 5 unique versions, then buy it... if you just want ZZ Top, get the Greatest Hits album."