I was wrong about Enuff Z’Nuff (and Facebook). Scott Theabo has shown me the light.
For the longest time, I believed that Facebook—and social media in general—offered little more than a daily flood of breakfast photos and FOMO-inducing posts. But every now and then, I stumble upon a post that leads me down a delightful path I might not have explored otherwise. That’s where Scott Theabo comes in. Scott frequently shares what’s spinning on his turntable, often multiple times a day. His vast musical knowledge and eclectic taste have sent me rushing to Google more than once, wondering how I missed the incredible bands he highlights. That’s exactly what happened with Enuff Z’Nuff’s 1998 album Paraphernalia.
Power Pop In Disguise
Till now, I only remembered Enuff Z’Nuff from their first MTV hit in the late ’80s. Back then, I wasn’t a fan of what hair metal and glam had become. But when I saw the video for ‘New Thing,’ something about these guys felt different. Beneath the makeup and neon theatrics was a sound more akin to Cheap Trick than a candy-coated imitation of Van Halen.
In 1989, any power pop band had to disguise itself behind such a facade to get airplay.
By the late ’90s, though, the facade was gone, and Chip Z’Nuff was proudly wearing his influences on his sleeve. Their songwriting is exceptional, blending Beatlesque pop with Cheap Trick-inspired rock. I’m sure artists aren’t thrilled when people compare them to others, but I offer it only as a point of reference. Enuff Z’Nuff has created something uniquely their own. Like many purveyors of melodic rock, they defy easy genre classification, leaving record labels scratching their heads.
Rick Nielsen even contributes to several tracks, including a killer cover of the underrated Cheap Trick classic ‘Everything Works If You Let It.’
Thanks, Scott. Feel free to post your breakfast now and then—you’ll hear no complaints from me.