Billy F Gibbons - Hardware

Hardware
Billy F Gibbons
(Concord)
9/10
By Decibel Report


With the extra-long hiatus from ZZ Top giving him more time on his hands to stroke that famous beard, Gibbons hasn't allowed the sand to pile up around his bespoke leather boots. Instead, he's been busy cultivating a solo career. Gnarly guitars and sandpaper (rough side) vocals projected through a hazy prism of blues, Tex-Mex and country hill-billy banding of songs, heralds Gibbons’ third solo album that slides out of the speakers like a greasy sidewinder snake on this fun ride of stinging songs.

From the off, the fuzzy drop of My Lucky Card and She's On Fire, like a top quality bottle of tequila, is clear proof that Gibbons has his mojo working beautifully on this best of his solo releases.

There's also a heady canyon full of party music and smart humour not far distant from heyday ZZ Top on Shuffle, Step & Slide, Spanish Fly, and West Coast Junkie that occupies the meaty middle of this waxing's feast of fuzz and scuzz. The fun times harmoniously continues in the good company of Larkin Poe guesting on the rockin' blues of Stackin' Bones.

Not playing it safe, Gibbons riffs and grooves like a zealous high priest of the blues guitar that would stop tumbleweeds dead in their tracks and find cactus’ bowing down in deep respect. Overall, it's refreshing to hear the heavy grind of rhythm and grit, in part laid down by Matt Sorum, that sonically tarmacs this top-grade album's musical journey. 

Even a cover of the Augie Meyer's Hey Baby, Que Paso slots easily into this starry sequence like a prized coin in a high falutin' decorated bar-room jukebox. Ending on Desert High's deep spoken drawl, delivered over spooky guitar reverb, further confirms the soundscape of sheer class evoked by this lusty collection of dusty diamond ditties.