Customer Reviews

Animals With Human Intelligence

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"This is your lucky day / There's a brand new situation / You're the one that's here to stay." So begins Animals With Human Intelligence, Enuff Z'nuff's third major studio album (their first for Arista). These lyrics demonstrate the faith and confidence the band had in themselves, despite the loss of their drummer Vic Fox to the Vince Neil Band during the recording sessions for Animals.

The first track, "Superstitious", sets the tone for the album by combining a funky, harmonic laden, metal guitar hook with jazz band styled saxophones underneath (they show up again on the angry "Master of Pain"). It's a bit of a surprise after the clean pop rock sound of their previous album Strength. One would expect the band to continue along the same vein. After all, Strength, while not a high selling album, solidified Enuff Z'nuff as a critical success, garnering rave reviews and earning them the status of Rolling Stone magazine's "New Band of the Year" for 1991. Enuff Z'nuff, however, seem to have become the group embodiment of Neil Young, in that they will record what they want, when they want, and hang the critics if they don't like it. As a result, Animals With Human Intelligence is the anti Strength: quick, dirty and filled with attitude, and it works.

Heavy sounds dominate the album. Hard rock pieces are peppered throughout the 12 tracks, ready to slap you back into your seat in case you get carried away by one of Animals' lighter tunes (such as the instant classic "One Step Closer To You"). "Black Rain" is a dark soliloquy with a raw, bluesy guitar and Beatlesque harmonies, and the aforementioned "Master of Pain" has a bass and guitar dual riff that sounds positively sick. This, of course, is a good thing. The album's closer, "Rock 'N' World", is an arena pleasing, in your face anthem that's a perfect driving song.

The obligatory power ballads are here too, with somewhat mixed results. "Innocence" is a thoughtful, poetic warning about rushing into adulthood too soon. It's a well composed piece with dreamy background vocals and a powerful ending. The other entry, "Right By Your Side", doesn't fare as well, managing to combine both the worst and best of 1980's cheese into one song. The verses are generic, employing an overused arrangement (complete with the slow "chunk-chunk-chunk" power chords found in most hair bands of the day) with a predictable melody. At the chorus though, this baby soars triumphantly into something much more than it deserves. See if you don't walk away humming it.

Not too many Z'nuffers claim Animals With Human Intelligence as their favorite album by the band, but if it's been a while since you've heard it dust it off and give it another chance. Overall, it's a solid offering and an album that grows on you after repeated listenings.

As Donnie Vie says in "Rock 'N' World" - "It's so damn cool, I've been there twice."

You should go, too.

Another winner! This cd has it all-catchy ballads, moody songs, rocking songs, and songs that combine all of the above. If you a glam metal, power-pop, or aor metal fan this is your album!

What a waste This great disc by a great band died on it's feet because that so called musical guru clive davis dropped the ball on this one, Great Beatles pop with a metal edge, Listen to tracks like "Taking a ride" or "Black rain" "one step closer" These are great songs and then there is the hit single that never was "Right by your side" this album is some of the best recorded rock songs in the last 20 years buy this album now!!!!!

This band is one of THE best rock bands in the history of all the history of rock n' roll. "Animals" is a third record and unlike most bands that try to reinvent themselves or are artistically drained by the time they have to create a third record, Enuff z' Nuff pulls this Ace from under their sleeves.

This one finds them combining the social commentary of Strength with catchy music and production of their debut. Standouts on this one are: LOVE TRAIN, THESE DAYS, & MARYANNE LOST HER BABY. Additional solid tracks: SUPERSTITIOUS, BLACK RAIN, RIGHT BY YOUR SIDE, & INNOCENCE. This has been an underappreciated gem of an album.

I've been a fan of Enuff Z'Nuff since 1989 when their first self-titled album came out. Over the years they have become less and less known to most mainstream music fans. It seems that they have been blacklisted by record companies as being one of the leftover "hair bands" with nothing to offer todays music fan. Any fan of Enuff Z'Nuff knows how wrong this is. http://www.methodshop.com/mp3/

Now to the album itself. If you are a fan of "poppy" hook laden songs then this is the album for you. Enuff Z'Nuff are just the right combination of The Beatles, Cheap Trick, and Elvis Costello with a little bit of Eddie Van Halen thrown in for good measure.

Songs such as "These Daze" and "One step closer to you" add a carefree, happy element to the album, while songs such as "Mary anne lost her baby" show the serious side of the band. I would put "Innocence" and "Right by your side" up against any power ballad ever made. The harmonies between lead singer Donnie Vie and Bass player Chip Z'Nuff are rivaled only by John and Paul.

The sad thing about this album is that you can no longer buy it in a regular store, as it is out of print. This album deserved much more of a chance then it was given. Not only do i think this is a great album, but i would say it's one of the best i've ever heard. Long live Enuff Z'Nuff! --RussJr74