The Fabulous Thunderbirds

From the opening title cut, which boogies with ZZ Top flash and swagger, to the swinging
instrumental "Down at Antones," which shuts this LP down, Tuff Enuff drills a ten-tune
groove that leaves the listener in the hottest spot: simultaneously satisfied and craving
more. This, of course, is the nightly measure of a working band, and the road-tested
Fabulous Thunderbirds energetically blend live-show rush and the more gradual... More >

The groove's tough enough, but like their fellow retroists the Bangles they don't write 'em as good as they pick 'em. This is the wages of retro--trying to replicate the musical spirit of a time that's passed means going against history and sacrificing the authenticity retroists live for. Can't blame Dave Edmunds for that. Or for the video, either. (Grade: B-)