C&L's Late Nite Music Club with Enuff Z' Nuff
By MaxMarginal Friday Sep 25, 2009 7:00pmDid you ever see the Simpsons where they go on vacation for the summer to the Springfield equivalent of Cape Cod and Lisa wears sunglasses and a backwards hat and tries to be dumb so the cool kids will like her but it just doesn't take? That's more or less the story of Chicago's Enuff Z'Nuff.
If you forced Poison to listen to the first three Elvis Costello albums for a year straight, and then asked them to double up on the outfits and hairspray, the result would sound something like Enuff Z'Nuff. You can hear (and see... dear god, can you see) them trying to fit in with their late-eighties contemporaries yet unable to shake their smarmy power-pop sensibilities. Predictably, they received accolades from critics who found this incongruous combo intriguing, and lukewarm response from power-pop fans who were repelled by their image and hard rock fans who found little to love in their suburban paisley-pop traditions.
I thought they sucked when they came out. I heard them again years later and found myself unable to resist such classy material being filtered through the overblown, pompous sonic and visual stamp of the end of the hair metal era. Whether by accident or by design, they're one of a kind.
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perhaps big hair & sentimentality is clouding your judgement? Maybe I'm just jealous that they have hair in this clip...
forced the hair band image on them
they were always a psychodelic power pop band...with a great sense of humor
and they hated what they were made to wear
here are the guys 20 years later...wearing what they wanna...looking like the power pop band they wanted to always be
there goes my heart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FmLAU_Vq_Y
Lovedoll
Kinda like this?
(Sorry about the quality of this.)
who refused to go hair band to eat (helped that they were on the west coast)
but the band that got it right (and then self destructed) was this one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BTqSv9J4_s
This Can't Be Today
I always thought the Paisley Underground bands- these guys, The Dream Syndicate, Green On Red- from LA in the early '80's got it right.
Redd Kross has hopped from sub-genre to sub-genre over the years, but they've always made the music they wanted to make. Even if I haven't been enamored with everything they've done, I have a lot of respect for keeping the DIY ethic alive.
When You Smile (live)
dream syndicate were a bit too artsy fartsy for me
i only got 1:18 into it before i couldn't stand it anymore, when suddenly i looked under the till here at my pornorama and, lo and behold, there's Chuck Barris, and OMFG, he's pulled out a giant gong.
Not my gong.
I too have been intrigued by this song since it was released. I just could not get over their image. That and that sappy "Michelle" song that they had that followed the power ballad equation. They were a parody of a parody. And I get it, they do drugs. I have to think the character Dr. Rockzo from Metalocalypse is based on Enuff Z Nuff.
I thought it was a lotta fun! Cool video.
Your original instinct is the correct one. They suck... Bad...
I've got a new Friday night rip-off for you folks. Listen and judge. They sound pretty similar to me, not blanket copies, but similar. I think it's the beat and piano.
We've got
David Gray's new song "Fugitive"
and
Siagon Kick's "I Love You"
What do you think?
take out the fuzz from saigaon kick's vocals and the phrasing is almost exactly the same
i see a lawsuit brewing
I've listened to the two a few times now and even the guitar "solos" sound similar. I like David Gray and Saigon Kick has always been one of my guilty pleasures, so I enjoy both songs. Curious if Saigon Kick is one of Gray's guilty pleasures?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYeiZPTPQqQ
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I now share this clip, of a band that uses their brains, makes really good music, and who has never been given a spotlight in the Late Night Music Club.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS7CZIJVxFY
i liked that a lot. nice submission
Thanks Beelzebud.
seriously. god that song was awful.
have they profiled Sly and the Family Stone at all?...if no, for shame.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBIA7hZE0l0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgVOR28iG_o&fe...
the original hair metal one was awful, their later hippier incarnation was not as awful.
Sweet Emotion.
but how about some Frank Zappa perhaps? this Florentine Pogen is on glue. definitely check out the jam the starts round 5:50 or so. on fire.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LszJ9sM3bbk
Back in the Saddle.
the only time Aerosmith has not totally sucked was when they did this
may i suggest Galactic featuring Mr. Lif
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reqCeGdSnZQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00zuDUNTeXM
No More No More
Violent Apathy did it better...but it's a pretty good version here.
IMHO.
Round and Round.
And this one ain't to shabby either.
Love in an Elevator.
My Friend
Hot for Teacher...
how about a little derek and the dominos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgNYXZL2fB4
or if you're going for just straight hard rock, how about some dio era Rainbow?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q1XGzEjWzU&fe...
Jeff Beck.
but i'll see your Jeff Beck and raise you a Humble Pie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwWEoMM4PDY
before i split. gov't mule doing an acoustic cover of Tom Wait's Get Behind the Mule
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEvUdrFAeqI
A band I just luv the hell outta. Gotts to luv Steve Marriot. Great vocals.
But while we're on vocals.
I'll raise you a Led Zeppelin.
Whole Lotta Love.
And, I'll double that with some Out on the Tiles.
Aerosmith - Dude (Looks Like A Lady)
innocence
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBLtu7RBA9I&fe...
and i liked them...so there
and so did howard stern...so double there
Ya know, Double Fantasy. That's a far cry from what the record company wanted, huh?
were a big influence...and no, the record company didnt think that the sound or the look would sell...but the guys "fit the suits"
think more talented greg brady's being forced into hair band makeup and clothes
The world awaits someone who will fit into your jacket.
but seriously. how about this little nugget from the days of yore by Kansas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBRj7AF8YjQ
yeah, Kansas. dude, are you kidding?
Flock of Seagulls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUjIA3Rt7gk
I rest my case.
Sailor +3
p.s. dammit, I would have to pick the video where they didn't have the seagull hair! My excuse is that I'm on dial-up ... and +3.
Will It Go Round In Circles
FTW!!!!!111!111!
now you're talkin.
Pavement - Cut Your Hair
i wonder if i have anything in common with other ppl on this website, cuz i cant stand 97% of the music clips they post here...just sayin
but generally people got some okay taste here. 'course i think i my own stuff rocks, but of course thats me.
but seriously, you don't like Frank Zappa? man. missing out.
i love zappa -how does that come into play here?
the zappa clips are far and few between...mostly they
they post a lot of punk and bad 80's electronica new wave stuff.
you're supposed to like everything. In a lot of cases, I think something is being presented because it was odd, unique, noteworthy, memorable, or just firmly rooted in a specific time and place. And, of course, art is subjective. I think this song is a perfect example of how the LNMC is geared not toward well-received or highbrow music, but toward items of note, good or bad. In high school I liked this song, but now I can't believe the trash those of us who graduated in the late 80s had to endure. Sad that I missed the earlier 80s, which were far better.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t12mRz6oMm8
1980, Rome.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVIKF03KkVM&fe...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaMzKpNC2Jk&fe...
seriously, how can you not dig that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2TyF1CbsDs
hear the Can influence on those songs.
Sweet F.A./Into The Night
Stevie Ray Vaughan
The only SRV song I like is Life by the Drop. Just the dude and his guitar. I think a lot of his stuff was just so over the top, like bad pop and R&B singers that roll the vocals of nearly every word. The guy could play amazingly, there was just so much other "stuff" on his tracks that got in the way. Just my opinion, never saw him live.
Just Because.
RHCP's Funky Monks.
quite a bit actually. I'm a sucker for a good hook (reminded me (vocally) just a bit of XTC, one of the favs in this household) but absolutely despise those hair bands. Good tip in my view!
The song is good. The presentation...meh.
This was the E-Z song i played...not a good mix though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkmHOkLRfGs&fe...
I don't get the Elvis Costello comparison. I've seen them live in Chicago when they were trying to make a comeback. I think they were influenced by local faves Cheap Trick more than anything. Cheap Trick rocks, Z'nuff just came off as poseur poofters. Sorry.
Metallica. Enter Sandman.
Santana.
Ga night folks. Be well.
Redd Kross? Pft this thread is kinda cool.
Slade? Getting better, but not close to best...
Jellyfish??? YES PLEASE!!!
So much of my youth in one post is becoming overwhelming...
a girlfriend who was into these guys. She would get mad whenever I asked her why. Thanks for finally explaining it to me.
Please do not ever insult Elvis Costello, by using his name in same sentence with Enuff Z' Nuff.
Blasphemy.
This band is from an alternate reality when Kirt Cobain wasn't disillusioned, he full on drank the corporate kool-aid.
Seriously, this guy and even the melody sounds so much like Cobain it's creepy.
After a good nights sleep I realize like davisonjoshua what a slam to the Almighty Elvis Costello this is. Z'nuff isn't worthy enuff to drink Elvis's ball sweat. Hairball Weanie Boys. Puke.
I've been reading c&l for years and always thought it was cool John was a musician. Imagine my suprise when I see my old band, EZ on the site. For those that commented the record comapny made these guys have this look I say, BAGH!!. These guys were totaly into the glam thing long before they had a deal. Max's connection with elvis costello is dead on. Donie was huge Attractions fan when he was a kid as well as squeeze. Anyway. Great catchy pop songs for these guys. Lousy biz & image sense. They've been trying to run away from it for 20 years. No luck yet. And yes, Elvis Costello is waaaaay beter! Never noticed Elvis with lipstick.
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