Is it a hit, *hit or miss?
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Enuff
Z’nuff – Welcome to Blue Island
by Keavin Wiggins
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Enuff
Z’nuff – Welcome to Blue Island
Label: Perris
Records
Rating: 
This is an updated review of this album for the U.S. Release
When Ed Rivadavia of All Music Guide wrote,
“If there is such a thing as false advertising in rock & roll, then
Enuff Z’nuff are one of its textbook examples.” He wasn’t kidding. It’s
no secret that I’m a huge fan of the band, hell I named Rocknworld.com
after one of their songs! So like many fans, I get frustrated with the
mischaracterization of Enuff Z’nuff as an 80’s pop-metal a.k.a. glam band.
Sure back in the late 80’s when they were trying to land a record deal
their management stupidly encouraged the band to adopt an image in tune
with the times, then their first label Atlantic marketed them as a glam
band. Right after their debut album came out, they discovered that they
were being grouped in with bands like Poison and Warrant and people were
concentrating more on what they wore than the music so they tried to downplay
the whole image thing from that point forward but the damage was already
done. Despite critical praise from rock scribs, fellow musicians like Robert
Plant, and media superstars like Howard Stern Enuff Z’nuff were never quite
able to shake the glam association, which is really sad because they had
so much more to offer musically than most bands that road the glam train
to stardom in the 80’s.
In many ways they were ahead of their times,
they’re first collection of recordings that was later released as “1985”
showed Enuff Z’nuff doing the style of guitar driven powerpop that would
propel bands like Green Day, Weezer and Blink-182 to superstardom over
a decade later. On the heavier side, the somber yet intensely heavy underpinning
of their second album “Strength” really foreshadowed the “grunge” explosion
to come a half year after it was released. Some considered that album metal
but in a lot of ways Enuff Z’nuff were 90’s alternative before the style
became recognized. Unfortunately, “Strength” was ignored by the battling
executives at Atlantic as the band inadvertently ended up in the middle
of a power struggle in the record company offices between two men of power.
Let’s not forget that these guys more or less brought the heavy Beatles
influence back to major label attention before anyone had whispered the
word “Oasis”. The critics always got it and Enuff Z’nuff were never short
of amazing reviews but that has never translated into record sales.
This is the band’s eleventh album since
1989 and it once more shows that there is a lot more to Enuff Z’nuff than
meets the eye. Never afraid to explore different musical directions, Enuff
Z’nuff usually marks the release of each new album by striking out in a
slightly different musical path, trying new things. A formula that helps
the music keep from being anything but stagnant. There doesn’t seem to
be a form of rock that Donnie Vie and Chip Z’nuff can’t adopt and produce
chart topping capable songs with. If only they had the support and marketing
behind them that they deserve!
This time around the band didn’t take such
a drastic departure from their last studio album. If anything “Welcome
to Blue Island” picks up where “Ten” left off. It’s not like the shift
that occurred between “Tweaked” and “Seven” or the return to the heavier
style with “Paraphernalia”. “Welcome to Blue Island” once again explores
the poppier side of the group and their major influence, The Beatles, but
also has a few more progressive tracks.
Stylistically “Welcome to Blue Island”
does follow in the footsteps of “Ten”. The biggest difference is in the
sentiments expressed through the vocals of Donnie Vie. Those who know Donnie
have seen him go through a miraculous transformation over the past year.
You see, Donnie found the love of his life and recently married her. He
has a renewed sense of faith, love and optimism that we haven’t heard from
him in years. Those sentiments translate over into some of the songs on
this album. Where “Ten” and the past few Enuff z’nuff albums explored some
of Donnie’s demons, “Welcome to Blue Island” show us Donnie waking up to
a new day and apparently liking what he has found. This is most evident
on the song “Falling in Love Again” where Donnie pours his heart out and
shares with the world that he has finally found the one he has been looking
for. It’s the other side of the coin to such heartfelt ballads of the past
like “Someday”, “Strength” and “Loser of the World” and one of the most
beautiful love songs he has ever written. The John Lennon influence is
noticeable but it’s also 100% Donnie Vie, opening his heart up for all
to see. We’ve heard him do this before, when he shared some of his anguish
over a bad relationship and battles with addiction, but this is remarkably
different. Donnie is happy and in love and he can’t help but tell everyone
about it. It works very well with “Falling in Love Again” a song that many
can relate to but doesn’t translate well on “Can’t Wait” an upbeat rocker
that just doesn’t quite measure up to the high Enuff Z’Nuff standard.
The version of the album I have heard had
a different tracking order than this version that is being released through
Perris Records. On the initial tracking order the band followed in the
footsteps of the Beatles by starting out with the song “Sanibel Island”,
taking you on a musical journey for about 45 minutes and then once again
leaving you with the unmistakably addictive chorus to Sanibel Island in
the reprise. In other ways, if this album would have been on vinyl, the
second side would mirror that of Abbey Road with it’s more experiment and
“eastern” influenced tracks like “Z Overture” and “Zentimental Journey”.
No matter what order the songs appear they all stand on their own, in true
Enuff Z’nuff fashion. This is yet another great album from the band that
keeps churning out the goods year after year, album after album. “Welcome
to Blue Island” is just one more reason to love Enuff Z’nuff.
Track by track:
Z Overture – Shows a more progressive
side of the band, this song has been around for a few years and has been
a favorite opening number for the group in concert. The mix of prog rock
and an eastern music treatment works well although the studio version is
far more polished than the raw rocker most fans are used to from their
live performances.
Saturday – With “Saturday” Enuff
Z’nuff return to the sound of their “1985” days, this song is pure guitar
power-pop that could give the likes of Green Day and Weezer a run for their
money. A definite potential hit.
Can't Wait – Here Donnie lets us
know that he is in love and “can’t wait” to be back in her arms. Not a
bad song in itself but definitely not one of his best.
Good Times (Are Hard To Find) –
A guitar driven rocker with an intro guitar lead that sounds a bit similar
to Mott the Hoople’s “All the Young Dudes”. On this track we hear Donnie
explore the struggles he and his bandmates have had to endure over the
years but it conveys a “it’s all worth it” kind of undercurrent to the
message that may be contradictory to some of the lyrics but we all know
Donnie loves what he is doing despite all the baggage and set backs. This
one is a bit similar to “Ain’t It Funny” in musical temperament.
A good solid rocker that delivers on what we have come to expect from this
group. And it is also one of the first song in a few years to include some
flashy guitar leads.
Sanibel Island – In many ways this
song is the sequel to “There Goes My Heart”, sure the subject matter is
a different but the overall feel of the song is in the same territory.
This song is a definite Beatlesq power-pop hit if I have ever heard one.
I've Fallen in Love Again – My favorite
track on the album. We really get to the heart of the matter here as Donnie
expresses his joy in finding the love of his life. The arrangements and
orchestrations are beautiful and Enuff Z’nuff once again show us why they
are considered the true Beatles of this generation.
Roll Me - In sound and delivery
this song is a close cousin to “Top Of The Hill” from the Paraphernalia
album just kicked up a notch. It’s a rocker with a compellingly melodic
vocal line and some killer guitars leads. This is one of those instances
on this album where Enuff Z’nuff return to their rockier side.
Roller Bladin in the Shade – This
song is so different for Enuff Z’nuff it takes a little getting used to.
The choruses start with sort of a “Rock On” vibe, you know…”hey kids rock
n roll, rock on…” but the verses show us Enuff Z’nuff’s psychedelic Brit
rock influence. It may come as a shock at first but it really does
grow on you.
Man Without a Heart – Another guitar
driven track that really sets up the mood for the last half of the album.
Like I said before this CD takes a bit of the Side 2 to Abbey Road feel.
You can’t help but think that this is what the Beatles would have sounded
like if they had held out a couple of years for hard rock to really take
over the rock scene. Like Robert Plant once said, Enuff Z’nuff find the
perfect balance between metal and pop.
Zentimental Journey & the Sun–
One of the trippiest songs the band has ever done. On the version I have
Z-Overature is the track right before this one and really sets the mood
but on the final release Z Overture opens the album. That being said, this
song still works in carrying the Abbey Road feel forward. It’s actually
a mix of Abbey Road side 2 and Paul’s forays into Ragtime influenced numbers
on the White album. Imagine an Enuff Z’nuff song you can dance to. It has
the Ragtime meets swing flavor that harkens back to the days of big bands
and before. Chip jokes that this is Donnie’s take on Tony Bennett but it
comes across closer to the before mentioned McCartney tunes, especially
when it totally changes direction from a fast feet shuffler to a more introspective
“eastern feeling” ballad. The second part of song, really hold a progressive
feel to them and gives us some of Donnie’s strongest vocals in years, which
is quite a statement since he is such an incredible vocalist. The Abbey
Road side 2 connection really plays out at the end when the songs segs
into the last song, The Sun, which ties the whole album together by continuing
the vib of Z Overture and then reprises Sanibel Island.
For those not familiar with Enuff Z’nuff
this album is yet another great way to get to know them. And for those
who keep searching high and low for the Beatles of this generation, you
may be shocked to realize that they have been here all along.
Bonus:
The U.S. version contains bonus tracks including a cover of the Nirvana
classic "All Apologies," a cover of The Beatles' "Hide Your Love Away"
and a new song called "87 Days" that was co-written and performed with
Marq Torien of the Bulletboys.
Hide Your Love Away- Any EZN fans
knows that this band does one hell of job when ever they throw out a Beatles
cover and this track is no exception.
87 Days- This is an interesting
collaboration between Donnie Vie and Marq Torien. I have mixed emotions
about this one. During his vocal parts, it sounds like Marq is trying a
bit too hard.
All Apologies- The band first covered
this track on the Howard Stern show. This sounds like it was a studio out
take but is really good nonetheless. Donnie and Kurt Cobain sing in similar
registers and Donnie does an admirable job of doing a faithful rendition
of Kurt on this track.
July 1970- Here we get to hear a
snippet of Donnie Vie as a toddler. Really fun when you think of
how it ties in with the song "Jesus In Drag" from Donnie's solo album.
Final note (7-13-03): It's too bad that
online music retailers don't contribute to SoundScan as this CD is currently
in the Top 20 on CD Universe's "Best Sellers" list at number 12 and at
no. 9 on their rock charts. But if you know the history of this band,
they never quite seem to get the recognition they deserve.
CD Info and Links
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