What is the best album by ZZ Top?

From Texas boogie blueprints to MTV-era arena rock dominance, ZZ Top's catalog is one of the most distinctive in rock history. Which album is their masterpiece?

1. 1
   ZZ Top's First Album

   ZZ Top's 1971 debut, a raw Texas blues-rock record that introduced Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard to the world.
2. 2
   Rio Grande Mud

   ZZ Top's 1972 sophomore album, deepening their Texas blues sound with tracks like 'Francine'.
3. 3
   Tres Hombres

   ZZ Top's landmark 1973 album featuring 'La Grange', considered their breakout record and a blues-rock classic.
4. 4
   Fandango!

   ZZ Top's 1975 hybrid album featuring half live recordings and half studio tracks, including 'Tush'.
5. 5
   Tejas

   ZZ Top's 1976 album, their most experimental release of the 1970s, featuring prog-influenced arrangements.
6. 6
   Deguello

   ZZ Top's 1979 comeback album after a three-year hiatus, featuring 'Cheap Sunglasses' and 'I Thank You'.
7. 7
   El Loco

   ZZ Top's 1981 album, a transitional record bridging their blues roots with the synth-rock sound to come.
8. 8
   Eliminator

   ZZ Top's massively successful 1983 album featuring 'Sharp Dressed Man', 'Legs', and 'Gimme All Your Lovin', which redefined rock with MTV videos.
9. 9
   Afterburner

   ZZ Top's 1985 follow-up to Eliminator, continuing their synth-heavy sound with the iconic red rocket ship imagery.
10. 10
    Recycler

    ZZ Top's 1990 album, the third in their synth-rock trilogy, featuring recycled car imagery on the cover.
11. 11
    Antenna

    ZZ Top's 1994 return-to-roots album, scaling back the synthesizers for a more organic sound.
12. 12
    Rhythmeen

    ZZ Top's 1996 album, a raw and stripped-down record that signaled a return to harder-edged blues rock.
13. 13
    XXX

    ZZ Top's 1999 album celebrating their 30th anniversary, blending blues roots with modern production.
14. 14
    Mescalero

    ZZ Top's 2003 album featuring a Tex-Mex influenced sound and the band's signature blues-rock swagger.
15. 15
    La Futura

    ZZ Top's 2012 album produced by Rick Rubin, a critically acclaimed return to form with raw Texas blues.
16. 16
    Raw

    ZZ Top's 2019 soundtrack album for the documentary 'That Little Ol' Band from Texas', featuring stripped-back performances.