How many times can you count a band out? Enuff Z' Nuff has had the worst luck, the worst timing and has recently lost a band member (Derek Frigo) and another who is very ill (Ricky Parent). They've finally gotten back with Donnie Vie for this new album, and even Vik Vox is back helping on the drums.

There's no doubt the duo of Donnie Vie and Chip Z' Nuff is extremely underrated. They don't get credit from the Classic Rock crowd, who would really appreciate them, because the lump them in the 80's and are too busy still hanging on to their precious Beatles.

This could be their most diverse album in a long time as they still rock with tunes like "Hang On For Life", "Joni Woni (Likes To Ride The Pony" and a blistering cover of Queen's "Stone Cold Crazy". They show their softer side with "How Are You". Bottom line, this CD plays like an album from the 70's where you hear a variety of different sounds. Enuff Z' Nuff should benefit from the latest trend of stripped down guitars and fuzzy production, if you played this for some of the new fans of The Strokes, The Datuns and those bands they probably wouldn't know they were a new band.

So other than the opening cut "Gorgeous", which should have been left off or put last, this is a strong release. Who knows how much gas these guys have in the tank, but with "?", they've proven they still have the ability to write some great rock n' roll

www.enuffznuff.com

 

ENUFF Z' NUFF - TRIBUTE - CD SMASH

I've always contended that Enuff Z' Nuff has been one of the best Rock bands of the last 15 years. They have written more potential hits than anyone, and if not for some bad timing and perhaps some bad decisions, they could have been much bigger than they are. Being "critically acclaimed" isn't always what it's cracked up to be and the boys have seen bands with much less talent get much more attention.

Now they have a tribute album, which helps solidify my belief that these guys are vastly underrated. Hearing the bands they've influenced is very special and they're finally getting some of the attention they deserve. I can honestly say I couldn't have come up with a better track listing for the album, they do the cuts you'd expect "New Thing" and "Fly High Michelle" but then you get some cuts like "Ain't It Funny", "Heaven Or Hell" and "Day By Day".

The artists on the tribute do an amazing job here. Crash Kelly cover's "There Goes My Heart" right on the money. Jim Crean/Phil Naro do a great acoustic of "Blue Island" as does WWJLD? with "Day By Day". Seven Wishes from Sweden, who generally lean more towards Power Metal, cover "Freak" and I like it better than the original.

It's really amazing how much some of the vocalists and bands sound like Enuff Z' Nuff. The band Reciever sounds so much like Enuff Z' Nuff on "For Now" I would have thought it was a slight variation of the song. The vocals from Zion James are eerily like Donnie's on their cover of "One Step Closer To You". Shawn Mars on "Someday" has Vie's style down as well. If I do have a complaint about the tribute is that they sound to MUCH like the originals, but there's generally enough variation to make this definately worth having in your collection.

Generally the album is a bit lighther than the original material. "Heaven Or Hell" by R50 is a crunchier version and "Long Way To Go" done live Frankenstien kicks some ass as well. Most of the albums is some melodic GOLD that should be appreciated by anyone with a shred of taste in music. Donnie Vie makes an apperance on "Baby Loves You" and on the bonus cut "She Forgets", which only makes me say, "ENUFF Z' NUFF, QUIT YOUR FIGHTING AND GET BACK TOGETHER DAMMIT!!!"

Overall superb job done by everyone involved. The production and quality of the album is superb. I recommend going to www.cdsmashrecords.com and getting this album right now!