Enuff Z'nuff � Welcome to Blue Island
Label: Pony Canyon Int'l 
Rating: 
 

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 Pony Canyon. 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.