ENUFF Z’NUFF
Clowns Lounge
Frontiers (2016)
Rating: 9/10
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There will always be a place in my heart for the mighty Enuff Z’Nuff. The “heavy metal Beatles” are surely the world’s most underrated band, having carved a career out of producing a long line of sugary sweet tunes of power pop melodies, glam rock sensibilities and hard rockin’ beauty. But the last few years have seen vocalist Donnie Vie depart and Chip Z’Nuff carry the name on his stoned shoulders.
Imagine my surprise then to discover the American band’s new album features much archival material featuring Donnie Vie, as well as one new song which I’ll concentrate on first.
Now in spite of his talent, Chip Z’Nuff has never been a frontman for me, his rather flat tone certainly doesn’t compete with his stage presence as a bassist, but with ‘Dog On A Bone’ the outfit churn out an infectious, albeit all too familiar chunk of sweetness by way of ripping Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart’s classic ‘(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone’ in its chorus. The track – first recorded by Paul Revere & The Raiders 1966 and later made popular by The Monkees – has clearly inspired Chip, because after a subtle chug and solid drum nod we reach that “I-I-I-I-I-I’m like a dog on a bone”. It’s punchy and catchy as hell as one would expect from Chip, but it does get us gagging for some new material; after all, the last full-length studio opus of 100% new material was with 2010’s Dissonance.
And so we move on to the older stuff; from the 80s to be precise, when the band were demoing material around to advertise themselves. The only exception to the rule is the 2004 song ‘The Devil Of Shakespeare’ which features the late Jani Lane of Warrant on vocals and James Young of Styx on lead guitar.
With ‘Runaway’ we get another bright, breezy and bouncy number – Vie’s fragile tones backed up by a pleasant percussive thud. This was very much the band in “hair metal” mode; bereft of the The Beatles-esque charms, instead we have a glammy layer. This continues with the summery ‘Back In Time’; a lump of pure bubblegum pop heaven where Vie’s strained tone speaks of heartbreak ’neath clear blue skies. Of course, one can smell the hairspray and visualise the lipstick-covered mirrors, and this is the sound the guys made their own before maturing into something far more diverse.
This becomes evident with the fabulous ‘She Makes It Harder’. It’s still quintessentially glam rock, but the vocals have a more floaty presence, and with each line there’s always that notion of a spectacular chorus just around the corner as the combo plods in honey-coated union. There’s some fantastic solo work courtesy of Derek Frigo and that consistent nod of Vikki Foxx’s drum. Indeed, it’s a joyous song which pretty much sums up the joys of the Enuff Z’Nuff sound, and wouldn’t seem out of place on any of their albums. But that’s testament as to how the guys have evolved, yet remained timeless, seemingly unaware of fads and trends to belt out their brand of rock ‘n’ roll.
With ‘Rockabye Dreamland’ there’s a dreamy quality; Donnie Vie is in John Lennon mode as the guitars trickle and bass bubbles. “I can take you far away…” he yawns in lazy manner, but this is pure gold and stands up alongside some of Enuff Z’Nuff’s greatest ever songs. The guitars drive, but there’s always that harmonious magic – a secret ingredient that only few bands possess to enable their songs to remain forever etched into the heart and mind.
There’s nothing remotely throwaway on offer here; ‘Good Luv’ is sexy, swaggering and pulsating, ‘Round And Round’ is sauntering sleaze and ‘Nothing’ lessens the pace as an exotic, mesmerising slow burner.
Clowns Lounge – named after a strip club the band frequented in the 80s – offers up so many delights; a majority of which are instant songs to be hummed until the cows come home. Admittedly though, hearing Donnie Vie’s recognisable echoes does cause the heart to crave this formation again. But like all great songwriting partnerships, there will always be friction. And while that new song is certainly of interest, this latest offering from the band is simply a reminder as to why we love them so much. Chip and Donnie – Beatle brothers until the end.
Neil Arnold
