Enuff Z’Nuff is one of the most misunderstood and misrepresented bands in rock history. If your first reaction to this sentence is, “Wait…the “Fly High Michelle” guys?”, it just proves my point. Much like Tesla, Enuff Z’Nuff were lumped into the hair metal category to capitalize on the flavor of the day. Though whereas Tesla specialized in jeans and t-shirt rock n’ roll, EZ played a unique blend of psychedelia and power pop. Sure, there are some second wave hair metal cliches scattered throughout their 1989 self titled debut. However, by the arrival of their sophomore album, Strength (1991), EZ was playing their own signature style.
Strength trailblazed the alternative pop rock sound that’d dominate the charts in the latter half of the decade. Bands such as Fountains of Wayne, Third Eye Blind, and Lit became household names (even if for a few short years), while the originators were left in the dust: casualties of the changing times. Its been a long hard road for these power pop pioneers, one filled with ups and downs and twists and turns. Through it all has been the band’s noble leader, Chip Z’Nuff. With his oversized glasses, groovy wardrobe, and vintage Fender bass in tow, Z’Nuff marches tall and proudly to EZ album #15, Brainwashed Generation.
Brainwashed Generation is the followup to 2018’s Diamond Boy. While the album was EZ’s biggest commercial success in decades and, coupled with a tour package alongside Jack Russell’s Great White and BulletBoys, the launching pad for a full blown resurgence, it didn’t do much for me. Aside from a few songs, Diamond Boy strayed too much towards modern rock territory for my taste. As the release date for Brainwashed Generation loomed closer, I couldn’t help but have my doubts.
Thankfully, those doubts were cast aside from the opening guitars of “Fatal Distraction”. EZ is back with a bang! “Fatal Distraction” boasts all the traits of a classic EZ song: Cheap Trick inspired chord progressions, sweet vocal harmonies, scorching lead guitars, and a catchy chorus that’s bound to stay stuck in your head for days to follow. Other tracks which showcase this formula are “Help I’m in Hell” and “Go…”.
Sugary pop melodies aren’t all that EZ specializes in. These cats can rock with the best of ’em, as evidenced by Strength’s “Long Way to Go”. This tradition continues on the raucous rockers, “I Got My Money Where My Mouth Is” and “Drugland Weekend”. The latter boasts an “inaudible lead guitar” performance from Ace Frehley. I’m as confused as you are, though I’d expect nothing less of the Space Ace to be associated with a song titled “Drugland Weekend”.
The obligatory ballad(s) are provided by the organ driven “It’s All in Vain” and the hauntingly beautiful of “Broken Love”. Fusing Beatles infused psychedelia with the lush harmonies of Electric Light Orchestra, “Broken Love” is one of the finest EZ songs in ages. There’s a lot to be said about music that properly captures the spirit of time gone by. If “Broken Love” was released in 1978, it would be a number 1 hit single.
On an album of choice cuts, it’s hard to choose one as thee choice cut. But one song stands head and shoulders above the rest: “Strangers in My Head”. In an unexpected turn of events, “Strangers in My Head” features the ever familiar voice of classic EZ singer, Donnie Vie. Despite being out of the band for nearly a decade, Vie returns as if no time has passed at all. It raises the question: Why doesn’t Vie rejoin the band full time? If this is what he and Chip can do for one song, imagine what they can pull off for a full album. We’d be talking a serious contender for album of the year.
With Brainwashed Generation, Enuff Z’Nuff have reclaimed their throne as the kings of…well…whatever the hell you wanna call what they play. Psychedelic hard power pop? Perhaps. One thing is for certain: Enuff Z’Nuff is the musical gift who keeps on giving. You can keep your “Hollywood Squares”. I’ll keep the boys from Blue Island.
8 out of 10
Label: Frontiers Records
Genre: Hard Rock
For fans of: Cheap Trick, The Beatles, Third Eye Blind