Customer Reviews

1985 (Reis)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

You get the feeling listening to Enuff Z'nuff's music that those moments when they're so totally completely ON, when the wonderful harmonies and pop chord changes kick in, are just a side effect of listening to so many Beatles and Cheap Trick records. Regardless, those pop moments, when they do occur, can be sublime. It's no lie.

Look, despite what Chip and Donnie now proclaim, the perception of Enuzz Z'nuff as a hair-metal act was and continues to be their own fault. The Evil Record Company may have thrown them in the glam clothes and teased their hair for the videos, but to my knowledge they didn't force them to hire Derek "Whammy-Bar" Frigo as their lead guitarist, they didn't force them to act like silly rock stars, they didn't force them to write songs with titles like "Hot Little Summer Girl" and "Finger On The Trigger". And I'm sure that no one is forcing them to play with bands like Bang Tango and Bullet Boys, which they still do. But I digress...

If you're interested in Enuff Z'nuff from a power pop angle (i.e. Cheap Trick, Redd Kross, Posies) and not from an 80's hard rock angle, the place to start is on this album and Peach Fuzz. Then move on to their new album, Ten, one of their best and their most blatantly pop album yet.

1985 is a collection of demos that predate their signing to Atco in the late 80's. Many of these songs are brilliant examples of EZN's brand of Cheap Trick-inspired pop. In particular, the insanely catchy "Day By Day" and "Fingers On It" (which was featured on a Yellow Pills compilation) are terrific, and "Catholic Girls" ain't far behind. There are a few embarrassing moments, but they are few and far between.

Most of their major label output is not as strong in the pop department as 1985, Peach Fuzz (a collection of outtakes spanning the band's career), or 10, although their second, Strength, certainly has its moments, as does their totally-glammed-out debut. These are dangerous waters you're treading in, pop kids, but it can be fun. And rewards do exist for those strong enough. Enjoy.

Forget those other reviews(except the part about being a great summertime album) this cd is really good(no it's not their best-that would be Strength or Paraphenlia). This music is similar to 80's glam, however, it has much more depth, get it, get the rest of their cd's and sit back and be amazed at the most underrated pop-metal band in the world. Hail Chip & Donnie.

ps. This is Maddona's favorite Enuff Znuff cd as well, buy it and find out why.

Yet another fine release from a criminally underrated band. Think Cheap Trick, The Beatles, Van Halen, and Queen in a car crash, and everybody comes out okay!

This band rules, this cd is no exception. They are the best pop-metal band ever! If your a fan and don't have this get it now! If your just discovering them don't hesitate in getting any of their brillant cds (save for Seven).

its good cd althoufgh its not quite that hardrock of the 80s i was expected to get..this even more country rock cd with a bit of hard rock sounds and samples..its a bit of diappointing album for me..

This is a classic power pop record in the vein of early Cheap Trick, and to a lesser extent, like Badfinger or Big Star...thankfully, this does not sound like the over-produced, reverb-drenched recordings they made for Arista a few years later...although "Strength" is a fabulous album, the production on that record is unfortunately quite dated...this album, both stylistically and in terms of production, is closer to their later material like "10"...i.e., this has more of a live, classic 70's power pop feel, rather than an 80's pop metal sound. In my opinion, this record sounds more mature and elegant than the Arista releases. These gentlemen are great songwriters, and Donnie Vie is truly a tremendously gifted and expressive singer, thus, every EZ record is worth listening to.

Enuff Z'nuff have a rabid fan base. Enough (enuff?) so, that most of them will say anything to get you to listen, and rightfully so: the band Rolling Stone magazine once called Best New Band of the Year (in 1991 for the album "Strength") has grown even moreso, and deserves your attention. However, this album is more likely to turn new listeners away than to turn them onto the band.

"1985" is hardly a horrible album, but it is the least of EZN's catalog, and it seems to represent most of the reasons I hated mid-to-late 80's music. The hooks are present, but few are memorable. Vie's a talented lyricist and singer, but this album's scope doesn't give him the chance to really let loose. Frequently, such as on "Day By Day", the songs are a bit schizophrenic; they grab you with a catchy, yet still original, verse, then kill all interest with a bland, repetitive chorus.

Yet, if you are a fan of the band, this is worth a listen, if only for historical purposes. It is interesting to see where they were musically at the time, and absolutely amazing to see how far they have progressed.

Almost any other album by Enuff Z'nuff is worth your money more than "1985", particularly "Strength", "Paraphernalia" and "10". Buy one of these first, then come back to this one.

Whatever that guy said below is so off-par. But there's no accounting for taste. Granted this is one of the more poppier Enuff Z'Nuff albums, and that guy probably hates everything that doesn't sound like Warrant's "Cherry Pie". That's ok. I'm gonna justify this album. Many cool pop hooks and typical Donnie-Vie-relatable lyrics. This definitely isn't the best EZN album, but it's great for forgetting about the world's woes and blasting out of your car in the summertime. I only listen to this album in the summer. A great album to listen to while you're having a crush on somebody. It's on Big Deal, too, the cool power pop label. Just thought I'd share.

Enuff Z'Nuff's only best album was their 1989 album because it had tons of good songs in it like "Fly High Michelle" and "New Thing" but 1985 has bad uninspiring songs that sounds like 80s pop for classic rock stations ! Why have Enuff Z'Nuff not been making stuff that sounded like 80s glam rock ? It seems really bad that Donnie has been making songs that make me feel not into the beat . That's really sad . The worse song is "Day By Day" .

Big Enuff Z'nuff fan, but this was stuff that was recorded before the release of their self titled first album. It shows that this fine wine of a band still had not aged enough. Skip this one and move on to anything after this.