RAW ('That Little Ol' Band From Texas' Original Soundtrack)
[{'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2022', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'In a 3 piece band , when the solo comes around you hear the rhythm guitar ( faintly in the back ground) and the solo up front . On this disk you hear Dusty’s bass and franks drums up front and Billy’s solo clear as day. No rhythm guitar track here when it’s Billy’s turn to shine. I LOVE IT. Very bluesy , a thick sound and they hold it tight together. Wonderful'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2022', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': "What a fun album! Three guys playing three chords and just enjoying playing together... No crowds, no overdubs..just beautiful ZZ Top tunes that we all know..only we're hearing them in their basic form..It's A fitting tribute to Dusty..he sounds joyful during Tush...\n\nIt gives you the feeling that you're sitting in on their private jam session..it's just a fun and fitting tribute to a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band! This will probably be my favorite album of theirs, and I own them all.."}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2022', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'Great sounding ZZ Top lp here. If you are a fan, buy without hesitation. RIP Dusty.'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2022', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': "I was hoping gorgeous an audio release from this great documentary and this doesn't disappoint!"}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2022', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'If you like ZZTop, you need this.'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2022', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'Perfect!'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2022', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-4 review-rating', 'review_body': "If you're even a casual fan of the Top you need this! It's the last recording of anything with Dusty and it's almost like hearing them for the first time. And no matter how many times you've heard various renditions of the songs presented here, they sound fresh and raw!"}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2022', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-1 review-rating', 'review_body': 'The center hole is too small! Won\'t go on my Pro-Ject X1. I hope I didn\'t screw anything up on the turntable platter trying to force it as I did. Only went on 1/8" at best and had to pry it off! Will try exchange and hope the problem is not extensive.'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2022', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-4 review-rating', 'review_body': "Better than I expected. Thunderbird,uh really slowed that one down and reworked it. Certified Blues kinda tired and sluggish. I'm Bad,kinda off. All others purdy dang good. Maybe not for the younger guys so much as it is for the guys like me that listened to ZZs First Album on AM stations in 1971."}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2022', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-4 review-rating', 'review_body': 'When Dusty Hill passed in 2021, I think a lot of people assumed that was the last we would hear of ZZ Top. What we didn\'t anticipate is that the band had recorded several tracks as part of the "That Little "Ol Band From Texas" documentary on Netflix. What resulted is probably their final album with Hill, RAW.\n\nRAW is a fitting name for this album; it\'s just the trio laying down some funky and nasty tunes with little in the way of studio sweetening (more on that later). The band is tight and focused, with the emphasis on the scuzzy guitar of Billy Gibbons and the rhythmic interplay of the band members. Dusty\nHIll\'s thundering bass is high in the mix, and his vocals are in fine form on "Tush."\n\nThere are a few unexpected nuggets for longtime ZZ Top fans, such as "Brown Sugar" and "Certified Blues" from ZZ Top\'s First Album, as well as much-loved deeper tracks like "Blue Jean Blues" and "Thunderbird," only slowed-down to a sludgy, beautiful crawl. The warhorses are here, too, like "La Grange" and "Gimme All Your Lovin\'." The band buzzsaws their way through each track like they\'re having the time of their lives and that excitement bleeds over to the listening experience as well.\n\nThe only disappointment on the album for me was "Legs." For whatever reason, they decided to dub in Billy\'s vocal from the original Eliminator album track. It\'s been an open secret that Billy has lip-synched this song for years when they do it live. It\'s a very high, raspy vocal part, and Billy in now in his 70s, so it\'s almost understandable why they do that live, but "lip-synching" on an album track is an egregious sin. It\'s a shame, because the band is really killing it instrumentally on this track.\n\nFor me, the standout track is "Certified Blues," from their debut album all the way back in 1971. I\'ve never seen them do this one live, but there is no rust to be found; the band is locked-in tight on this track and steamrolls through it with ferocity.\n\nAll in all, RAW is a blast for any ZZ Top fan. The favorite tunes are here, as well a few lesser-known nuggets and the band is in great form throughout. The sound quality is very good, giving ample space to appreciate Dusty\'s hammering bass, Frank\'s rollicking drums and Billy\'s fuzzy guitar lines. If you have to say goodbye to Dusty Hill, this isn\'t a bad way to do it.'}]