antiReviews:
Enuff Z'Nuff - Animals With Human Intelligence (Re-Issue) Review
by Scott Vile
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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Fan
Speak:
Posted by Keavin:
I agree with Scott but he forgot to mention
that antiMUSIC's sister site Rocknworld.com got it's name from a song on
this CD.
Posted by
JENglam:
I think....Enuff Z'Nuff are gods!!! Don't
you agree???
Posted by
aG:
They need to release the unplugged version
of Mary Ann they did in Japan, I never cared for the song until I heard
that version Donnie was amazing!
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