Live from Texas [Digipak] (CD - 2008)

Released in 2008, shortly after the 25th-anniversary reissue of ELIMINATOR, this concert, also available on DVD, finds the hard-rocking Texas blues band ZZ Top performing before an enthusiastic crowd in its home state. While the trio draws from various points in its extensive back catalog, some of the show's most energetic moments come in its latter half, when bountifully bearded singer/guitarist Billy Gibbons leads the group through raucous hits from the abovementioned album, including "Sharp Dressed Man" and "Legs."

A CD accompaniment to the Eagle Rock live DVD release of ZZ Top's November 1, 2007 set at the Nokia Theater in Grand Prairie, TX, Live from Texas is one for the fans -- a latter-day live record that's by no means embarrassing but not very captivating, either. The set list is hits-heavy, containing every one of the MTV hits from Eliminator and all the classic rock radio staples, all taken just a little bit slower than they were on record. That combined with the crystal clear production makes the band seem just a little bit sluggish at times, but they can still churn out a boogie -- "Sharp Dressed Man" in particular cooks -- and Billy Gibbons' guitar still snarls as much as his voice growls, which is enough to make this worth a listen for longtime fans. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine minimize