Customer Reviews

Paraphernalia

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What can you say about Paraphernalia by Enuff Z'nuff. I was a huge fan of the Strength release along with Peach Fuzz and Animals with Human Intelligance, but some how lost track of Enuff Z'nuff in recent years. This all chenged when I put Strength in my car. After that refreshing listen, I decided to go on Amazon to check out what the band was doing these days. I was shocked to see so many newer releases. I picked Paraphernalia because the reviews were so good. Well, lets add another five star review. This Cd was truly genius. From beginning to end it holds your attention and more importantly makes you want to listen to it over and over again. I could go track by track, but it would be redundant. Every song is great and can stand on its own. My Personal fave was "Baby your the Greatest" which boasts the line "I feel like Monday, after the weekend" We all know what that feels like. Anyhow, do yourself a favor and buy this Cd along with Strength. They are both on my list of Albums in which I wouldn't mind being stranded on an Island. Paraphernalia is true Rock/Pop ear candy.

This is actually a really solid rock album. The band has that image of pop-metal from their "Fly High Michelle" days, but this album doesn't really fit into that vein too well. It's really straight forward, and actually very radio friendly.

There are guest appearances on the record from Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, JT Young of Styx, and Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins. Nielson and Young each play Lead Guitar on three tracks, and Corgan plays lead on the remake of "Everything Works If You Let It", a really cool cover.

Most of the songs are really good, and you can listen to the CD straight through without feeling as though you have to start skipping songs. In fact you can listen to the CD over and over, it doesn't really go stale.

"Freak" is one of the better songs on the record. It's not really too hard, but has strong lyrics. Speaks well to anyone that has been outcast for superficial reasons. Really a great song. Some of the other highlights on the album are "Ain't It Funny", "Believe In Love", "Baby You're The Greatest", "Someday" and "All Alone". "Loser of the World" is actually in a class of its own. I've never really heard a song quite like it. It's the perfect song if you want to feel sorry for yourself. It's just a soft voice over simple piano. "Loser of the World" and "Someday" are actually a bit on the softer side, but both songs are very moving, great lyrics and delivery. On the whole the album flows well, and delivers great straight forward rock.

I think if you are into bands like Cheap Trick, U2, or some of the Beatles heavier songs, then this album won't disappoint you. All the songs are good, and can be played over and over. Definitely one of the better albums I've bought in recent years.

Great cd, no filler. You'll love it. Some great pop and rock tunes. This cd has a heavier grungier production, but the songs are total Donnie Vie.

Paraphernalia is significant for several reasons; first it marks the band's debut on Spitfire Records, a move that could put them back in the public eye (and hopefully ear) where they belong. Second, and no doubt as a direct result of the first reason, it marks a return to stores for Enuff Z'nuff in communities where they haven't appeared since their final major studio release, Animals With Human Intelligence, in 1993. Third, it marks a return to the original logo for the band; this is the equivalent of flipping the baseball cap around before the pitch, or putting those special sneakers on before the big race: it means some serious action is about to take place - and the listener is not disappointed.

Enlisting help from some of the Windy City's most well known axemen, singer Donnie Vie, bassist Chip Znuff, drummer Ricky Parent and guitarist Monaco create an album full of power, grace and texture. The band's usual influences are present, as ghosts of the Beatles and Cheap Trick fade in and out throughout the 14 tracks, but this time they aren't as easy to spot. It seems that Enuff Z'nuff have finally learned how to blend completely with their fore bearers into a new, cohesive sound that simultaneously manages to caress and assault the senses. That's not to say that all the tunes are complex; the simple, instantly hummable songs that have become EZN's trademark are here in the form of the Vie/Znuff penned compositions "Ain't It Funny", an aggressive pop tune about the the rut we all find ourselves in eventually, and "Invisible", a schizophrenic masterpiece that brings to mind early Styx.

It's hard to tell if the Styx sound is by accident or design; that band's guitarist James "JY" Young plays on "Invisible"and other songs on the disc. Also appearing are Smashing Pumpkins' founder Billy Corgan, and Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen (who, incidentally, does not contribute to the cover of his own "Everything Works If You Let It"). Unfortunately, none of these capable artists deliver anything significant to the album; Monaco could have done all of the guitar parts himself and no one would have even noticed. I suspect that the addition of three already established rock superstars was done not so much to show the spirit and brotherhood of Chicagoans (all of them come from that city) as it was meant to create exposure for Enuff Z'nuff. This is understandable; these guys have been plugging away for ten years' worth of critically acclaimed albums, with almost no commercial success. If this move helps bring them into the public eye, then more power to them. Paraphernalia is an album that deserves to be heard.

This album makes it very easy to realize that pop-metal can still be great. The commercial heyday for this band is long gone, but due to the cult following they keep going strong. Rick Nielsen does a fine guitar guest appearance on 3 songs as well as James Young of Styx on 3 songs. A minimum of 6-8 songs could fit well on AOR formats but unfortunately due to radio's likeness toward repetiveness it won't happen. This album easily outclasses all the whiny pop-rock of the current mainstream.

This cd is different from the last few ez releases. There is a much more heavy feel to many of the song's. It's as though Billy Corgan had alot more to do with the cd than one song. The writing is as always, great. The music is really strong this time around and the sound is a little better than it has been on the past few efforts. They truly do need to be picked up by a major label. This music is far better than most of the garbage I hear on the radio.

Chip & Donnie have a vision, that's obvious. But why theydon't have the backing of any of the "deep-pocket, big-budgetmajors" is a mystery to me. Every song on the new release, Paraphernalia, is a winner. i should know, i've listened to it all the way thru at least 20 times over the last 3 weeks!

Fat guitars, huge drums, the coolest-ever bass tone, and a voice that is sometimes eloquently distorted, make for a great sounding album. But it all wouldn't matter if the songs weren't there. They are.

In fact, this could possibly be the best collection of EZ'N tunes since Derek & Vikki left. From the very beginning of "Freak", all the way thru to the last note of "Loser of the World", they don't let up. The idea of adding Cheap Trick's "Everything Works If You Let It" was brilliant. It fits perfectly with the rest of the self-penned tracks.

Why 4 stars, and not 5? Well, the only reason is that it sounds like the songs had been recorded at different times, at different studios. That's where the "big budget" idea comes in. We've got to lock these guys in a studio for a few months, using the same console, mics, etc., for the whole album. I'm not talking about making all the songs "slick", just "sonically consistant." Other than that, Paraphernalia is one of my favorite cd's of 1999. Thanks, guys!

Ahh...everytime I rush out to purchase the latest Enuff Z'Nuff album, I am never dissapointed. (Except for the Live album, but I'm not a huge fan of live albums anyhow) This CD is brilliant and, sadly, will most likely go totally unnoticed by most of the public. This CD is like eating candy. Totally addictive and it gives you that sugar rush afterwards. It's sad how people think they are a hair band like Trixter or something, which they were their first album. That just goes to show how much power and control MTV has over everyone's fragile little minds. Enuff Z'Nuff can have their weak spots, but when they do the power pop thing, they do it really, really well. That's why they've always confused me. They can write tunes as 'Fishy as Jellyfish, but then they'll go on tour with Pretty Boy Floyd. C'mon guys! You're so above all of that! "Paraphernalia" is probably the strongest Z'Nuff disc yet. "Save Me" is unbelieveable, "Top Of The Hill" sounds like a talented, poppier Stone Temple Pilots, "Loser Of The World" is the BEST feel-sorry-for-yourself song ever, "Someday" is one of those songs I wish I wrote, "Invisible" is just groovin', and there's so many other songs on here those brainwashed kids just aren't hearing. Sad. Well, at least I'm not depriving myself!

Another great cd from a consistently brilliant band. If your looking them up then there is no need to waste time, just order the cd. You won't be disappointed. Possibly their best save for "Strength."

This album is a fan favorite that shows the band clicking on all cylinders. It's passionate, emotional, and powerful. Paraphernalia has a harder-rocking edge than much of their other material and is without doubt their best album since 1991's "Strength."

To strum up hype, other Chicago heavy-weights such as members of Cheap Trick, Smashing Pumpkins, and Styx lent their talents on this disc. Unfortunately, Paraphernalia was mostly ignored with the media due to the musical climate of the time.

Lyrically, the album is darker than most of their other material. The songs feel almost too personal for a typical rock record, as they generally drip off emotions of brutal honesty and hurt. Although there are a couple of upbeat and optimistic tracks present (a hard rock love tune called "Baby You're The Greatest" and the harmonious bliss of "Believe In Love"), for the most part, the band is giving the listener an all-access pass to their inner turmoil and dispair.

You can hear them here loving their craft, as they know they're churning out brilliant melodies, riffs, and hooks. However, you can also hear that they're falling apart at the seams. They realize that they're unloved, addicts, are depressed, and are mostly "Invisible" to the music industry.

Paraphernalia is a brilliant recording whose heart and soul completely trumps almost anything I've heard on the radio this past decade. Unfortunately, since Enuff Z'Nuff has been branded as one of those "era" bands (the disc was mostly promoted to the hair-metal audience), the material may have flown right over their heads and might be forgotten forever.