Often overlooked because of their role in the ill-fated hair-metal craze of the late '80s,
Enuff Z'nuff actually shares more common ground with power-pop luminaries
Cheap Trick and
Badfinger than with the lipstick-and-leather crowd. Their self-titled major label debut boasts one of the best power-pop singles of the late '80s with "New Thing," which features
Donnie Vie's raspy vocals set against a backdrop of whimsical guitar-powered melody. "For Now" captures more of the same magic that makes "New Thing" so refreshing, while "Fly High Michelle" reveals the band's fondness for psychedelic ballads. The contemplative "I Could Never Be Without You" shows a serious streak that offsets the obviously lighthearted approach of boisterous tracks like "Hot Little Summer Girl" and "Kiss the Clown." Where
Enuff Z'nuff falters is their tendency to let songs get bogged down by excessive guitar ramblings. The nearly seven-minute long "In the Groove" falls victim to this unfortunate fate, sputtering and failing to ever really get off the ground. Overall, the good far exceeds the bad on this impressive debut, proving that
Enuff Z'nuff deserves more respect than they'll probably ever receive. ~ Michael Frey