Enuff Z'Nuff - Animals With Human Intelligence (Re-Issue)
Label: Spitfire/Stoney Records

Tracks:
1. Superstitious
2. Black Rain
3. Right By Your Side
4. These Daze
5. Master Of Pain
6. Innocence
7. One Step Closer To You
8. Bring It On Home
9. Takin' A Ride
10. The Love Train
11. Mary Anne Lost Her Baby
12. Rock N' World
13. Fingertips (Bonus Track)

"Animals With Human Intelligence" was originally released in 1993 on Arista Records. It was a criminally under-rated effort by Enuff Z'Nuff that got buried with the emergence of the grunge movement. The band has somehow regained the rights to this album (surprising since Arista is a major label), remade the cover art, put new versions of two tracks, and added a bonus track called "Fingertips," originally only on the Japanese version.

If you've never heard this album, and chances are you haven't, you'd be in for a treat if you picked it up. It really has something for everyone. "Animals..." remains one of Enuff Z'Nuff's hardest releases, with tracks like "Superstitous," "Master Of Pain," and "Mary Anne Lost Her Baby" being almost metal.
There's also a wonderful pop element featured in tracks like "These Daze," "Bring It On Home," and "Love Train." There are also three moving ballads, "Right By Your Side," "Innocence," and the new bonus track, "Fingertips." "Fingertips" is a wonderful, slow piano ballad, I'm glad fans can finally hear it without dishing out $30+ for the import version. This is one of the most diverse albums I've ever heard, and the thing that makes this album a classic is that for every range they showcase, Enuff Z'Nuff proves they are masters of them all. 

The cover is much improved from it's original 1993 release. The original cover art was one of my main gripes about the album, so the new one is a great bonus. The liner notes retain the lyrics and great artwork for each track, and is even a little bigger, showing more band pictures and info. "Right By Your Side" and "Innocence" are different versions than the originals, either because the band was unhappy with the original production, or more likely, they couldn't get the rights to the originals since they were the singles. No matter though, the alternate versions featured here are just as good, if not better, than the originals. I considered the original singles by Ritchie Zito over-produced...these have much more heart to them because there are less effects and you can hear the tiny mistakes. It sounds a lot more like Enuff Z'Nuff's later indie work, and these rare versions I'm sure will be viewed as collectables to EZN's cult audience.

If you're a fan and have the original, there are enough bonuses for you here to pick up the disc again. As part of the Spitfire Masters series, you can probably find it new for only $10. If you've never heard this CD and are a fan of rock music, man would you be in for a treat if you picked this baby up! 

Rating: 4.50 of 5

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