Zz Top’s ‘Rhythmeen’ Is Punchy, Swampy, Cheeky

ZZ Top “Rhythmeen” (RCA)

Texas boogie-rockers come out swingin’ on the latest release, their finest in years. Thankfully devoid of the sequencer “grooves” that became the group’s caricature in the mid-‘80s, “Rhythmeen” is a punchy, soulful record from the gut, highlighted by burnin’ lead single “What’s Up with That,” “Bang Bang,” the swampy “My Mind Is Gone,” the cheeky “Zipper Job,” and other tracks fit for mainstream rock-‘and-blues outlets. A band that continues to be a vital purveyor of a style of blues-rock that it ushered into the mainstream a generation ago.

Johnny Gill “Let’s Get the Mood Right” (Motown)

Collection of romance-laced tracks that are highlighted by powerful chops marks the return of one of R&B’s most distinctive vocalists. “Touch” projects a warm, bedroom vibe, while “Maybe” is a swaying ballad that delivers lyrics of apology. “Bring It On” offers a charismatic Gill issuing powerful and emotional sonics backed by a memorable, slow-dance hook. Led by acoustic piano, the delicate yet deliberate track “Take Me, I’m Yours” allows the artist to showcase the full range of his voice.

K.T. Oslin “My Roots Are Showing” (BNA)

K.T. Oslin’s re-emergence into country music is a true piece of eclectic Americana, with songs representing the likes of Irving Berlin, the Louvin Brothers, Jimmy Martin, Webb Pierce, the Delmore Brothers and even Richard Thompson. She’s re-arranged everything in her own quirky style, and the result is a body of related work that would play just as well at the Rainbow Room as on a Mississippi riverboat. Standouts are the Jimmie Rodgers-ish “Miss the Mississippi and You,” and a saloon version of the traditional “Down In the Valley.” The Berlin tune is a real eye-opener: “(I’ll See You In) Cuba” is a country rumba from the Prohibition era.

Peter Rowan “Bluegrass Boy” (Rounder)

With the enormous loss of Bill Monroe, who’s going to fill his shoes? Well, there’s any number of guys Monroe trained, and Peter Rowan is one of the best of them. Eerily, he’s even starting to look a bit like the late founder of bluegrass. And musically, he’s growing into a rugged maturity. “Bluegrass Boy” is a compelling set of 12 Rowan-penned songs that represent the full spectrum of modern and traditional bluegrass.