Perfectamundo
, the 2015 solo debut from
Billy F. Gibbons
, found the
ZZ Top
majordomo indulging in his fascination with Cuban music, which meant that it felt fundamentally different than his main gig. The same can't quite be said of
Big Bad Blues
, its 2018 follow-up. Working with a band featuring drummer
Matt Sorum
, guitarist
Austin Hanks
, harpist
James Harman
, and bassist
Joe Hardy
,
Gibbons
dives deep into blues and boogie that's been at the foundation of
since their first album in 1971. Superficially,
is covering the same ground, but having
as a busman's holiday does significantly change the feel, particularly in regards to rhythm.
Sorum
and
Hardy
provide a looser foundation than
Frank Beard
Dusty Hill
, which lets
slither a bit more, plus it's fun to hear him have foils in
Harman
Hanks
. Fun is the keystone for
. Reviving a bunch of blues and R&B warhorses --
Muddy Waters
' "Rollin' and Tumblin'," plus two
Bo Diddley
songs in "Bring It to Jerome" and "Crackin' Up" -- has inspired
to write a bunch of originals that are jumping, funny, and earthy, which find a match in "Missin' Yo' Kissin," the keynote track written by his wife
Gilligan Stillwater
. Unlike latter-day
records, which are occasionally weighed down by the band's considerable legacy,
feels light and free, an album that was made because
wanted to have some fun and that feeling is not only palpable, it's infectious. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine