enuff z'nuff

diamond boy

By Jay Oakley

Diamond Boy is here! The long awaited new record from 80s legends Enuff Z’Nuff.

“Transcendence” is a harmonious, almost acapella, introduction that has a Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s feel to it. “Diamond Boy” opens with a deep feel with the drums and bass kicking in first followed by a knifed-in guitar riff. Chip Z’Nuff’s soft vocal deliver highlights the song and immediately establishes this as an Enuff Z’Nuff record to anyone who listens. “Where Did You Go” is a very soothing song. A very well-balanced track with the vocals standing alone and the drums actually being the most dominant instrument. However, the guitars come out with an exciting delivery over the bridge. “We’re All The Same” is a standout track. A smooth delivery with well placed keys. A very eclectic pop song with talks of Mary Jane that can’t help but draw comparisons to “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds.” “Fire & Ice” is by far the gentlest song on the record but with a hidden message. Smooth lyrics, relaxing vocals and interlocked playing. Very well designed with a solid guitar solo towards the end before the decoded message of the lyrics is delivered but it’s more fun for you to hear it yourself then if I tell you. “Down On Luck” continues with the gentle feel but still splices in some risqué lyrics to spice up the song. Multiple excellent guitar riffs highlight the drum forward track. “Metalheart” is my top track of the record. Up-tempo with a little more aggression. This song stylistically goes much more Cheap Trick and is definitely the head bobber of the record. “Love Is On The Line” returns to the more down-tuned and relaxed style of the previous tunes. A much more light-hearted song that puts the guitars in the forefront. This song reminds me a lot of those scenes in movies when a person is visualizing what it would be like spending time with their love interest. “Faith, Hope & Luv” raises the pace again and has a little sleazier feel to it mainly due to the heavy guitar display. Dirty and raw guitar riffs dominate this song and put it right up near the top as a standout track. It can’t help but turn you on a little. “Dopesick” doesn’t quite revert back to the light feel of most of the record but is a step down in speed from “Faith, Hope & Luv.” However, the guitars stay in the foreground and Chip’s vocals continue to be very prevalent. “Imaginary Man” opens with a slight country feel and shows a little range because of it but balances back out to that pop rock style. Chip’s vocal tone lowers for this track and has more of a gritty feel to it as opposed to the lighter soothing feel of previous songs. The playing continues to be top-notch with more well placed riffing.

Chip Z’Nuff said it best when describing the record as an alley fight between David Bowie and The Beatles with Cheap Trick coming in to break it up. It’s a very well designed record but with a consistent pop rock feel. Quiet lyrics make for a very relaxed listen but that doesn’t take anything away from the quality of the product.