Band used to release records at this rate back in the day but Chip Z’Nuff’s Enuff Z’Nuff seem to always have something under wraps awaiting release and when you add to that the recent Demo Collection Box Set, The Beatles covers album and solo record it all amounts to a rather productive purple patch. The latest offering ‘Finer Than Sin’ hits on 11th November and follows the style of the bands last few records, featuring Chip Z’Nuff on bass and vocals, Tory Stoffregen and Tony Fennell on guitars and Dan Hill on drums.
At just ten tracks long again it’s a lean affair, even leaner when you consider ‘Sound Check’ the opener is really just a mix of instrumental moments that presents the trademark sound of the band, and closer reprise is really just a cool outro guitar solo that clocks in at under a minute and a half. So whilst it’s a great length for vinyl there’s really only 7 new songs as my standout ‘Temporarily Disconnected’ is a reworking of the Chip and Donnie track from the recent Demo Box Set.
Saying that I do love the idea of ‘Soundcheck’ introducing the album as it does with guitar wailing and all feet to the floor. As a result I expected something incendiary to follow that opener, rather than the Beatles-drenched trippy mid-tempo ‘Catastrophe’ which is nice an poppy with a great refrain that you’ll come back to. ‘Steal the Light’ that follows is a little harder hitting both in the opening guitars and the lyrics which sound like they might be directed at a certain ex-bandmate. ‘Lost And Out Of Control’ is the best yet – a wonderful song with a relentless drive makes up another strong opening salvo.
‘Intoxicated’ takes things down a dreamy notch and trips out in style without really hitting a huge chorus it seems to be searching for; whilst the longest song here ‘Hurricane’ is like a story in a song, striking out all low key and atmospheric it builds and ebbs and flows, musically similar to the sounds of that epic album ‘Strength’ it might just be my favourite Donnie-less song so far.
‘Trampoline’ that follows is sweet harmonies and power pop perfection, and ‘Temporarily Disconnected’ which featured on the recent ‘Never Enuff: Demos and Rarities’ Box Set sounds even more wonderful here. The most surprising moment though comes in a rather faithful cover of the Sex Pistols 1977 anti-monarchy tirade ‘God Save The Queen’. I’m unsure whether its intended as a mark of respect or disrespect or merely a chance to mark the upcoming UK Tour, but with the recent death of Queen Elizabeth it’s not a song I’d be game to play live when the band hits the UK with Skid Row in a few weeks time!
‘Reprise’ closes with a continuation of the ‘Soundcheck’ that brought us in. It’s another brief bookend to another satisfying slice of Chip’s Enuff Z’Nuff. Maybe even their best so far since Donnie left. ‘Finer Than Sin” is the band’s 20th studio album overall, and just a couple of years off a 40th birthday party the guys are sounding great!
7.5 /10
‘Finer Than Sin’ Tracklisting:
Sound Check
Catastrophe
Steal The Light
Lost And Out Of Control
Intoxicated
Hurricane
Trampoline
Temporarily Disconnected
God Save The Queen
Reprise
Total length: 0.42.06
LINE-UP:
Chip Z’Nnuff – Bass
Tory Stoffregen – Guitars
Tony Fennell – Guitars
Dan Hill – Drums
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