Eliminator – ZZ Top (1983) – CD review –

The story seems crazy now: a band of blues-rockers from a decade earlier became the darlings of MTV, and this is the album that did it.  Sure, you have to give some credit to the clever videos with the 1933 Ford in them, but it’s the music that lingers even today.

As with many great albums, it’s true appeal is it’s danceability; a perfect blend of blues-rock and four-on-the-floor beat. The icing on the cake comes with the sprinkling of keyboards into the mix; this is ZZ Top with just a pinch extra.  The Eliminator album produced several hit singles and radio hits, including “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Legs,” “Got Me Under Pressure,” and “TV Dinners.”  Instead of sticking to this winning formula, the ‘Top decided to jump headfirst into synthesizers.  It’s kind of like eating a cake with nothing but icing:  it’s just wrong, there’s no substance.  The resulting album, Afterburner now sounds dated and misguided, while Eliminator still stands up. –Tony Peters