ZZ Top, ‘A Tribute From Friends’ – Album Review

The music and legacy of the iconic band ZZ Top is being celebrated with the release of 'A Tribute From Friends.' The 11-track album features the likes of  hard-rock acts Nickelback, Filter, Mastodon,
Coheed & Cambria, Loaded, Wolfmother and Daughtry.

On the album, Filter revamp the classic 'Gimme All Your Lovin',' giving it a live performance feel. Within the first few notes of the song, fans will forget they are listening to an album track, but rather sitting front and center at their concert, picturing the flashing lights and the fans crushing the stage front.

Chad Kroeger and his fellow bandmates in Nickelback take 'Legs' and give it a refreshing makeover. Nickelback drummer Daniel Adair provides the tune with plenty of hard-hitting sixteenth notes to keep the listener captivated from beginning to end.

Loaded and their frontman Duff McKagan kick it up a notch with a spin on 'Got Me Under Pressure.' The song features McKagan singing over some shredding electric guitars. The screaming guitar licks continue on throughout the album, including on Mastodon's version of 'Just Got Paid,' as well as Coheed & Cambria's take on 'Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers.' Wolfmother's take on 'Cheap Sunglasses' has a reggae vibe throughout the song, with hint of funk layered between the songs lyrics.

Daughtry offer up a solid rendition of the oft-paired 'Waitin' for the Bus'/'Jesus Just Left Chicago.' Singer Chris Daughtry's smooth and bluesy vocals wrap around each lyric, which may even leave the listener forgetting they are hearing cover versions of the tunes.

Other artists who round out the album include country star Jamey Johnson ('La Grange'), Wyclef Jean ('Rough Boy'), Grace Potter and the Nocturnals ('Tush'), and The M.O.B. -- an all-star group featuring Mick Fleetwood, Steven Tyler, Jonny Lang and John McVie ('Sharp Dressed Man').