The ENZSO thread

From: Colleen M.

Hello folks,

The ENZSO CD has been spinning round in my various CD players. I just finished watching the very short snippet of Dave singing "Poor Boy" and it's great (so is the video of Neil singing MTMG, but for different reasons). Umm[m], what is that growing on the bottom of his chin? I think I'll have to give him a razor along with (or instead of) the bottle of vodka and the pen when he comes to Washington--a slight variation on Katie's "Dobbyn" cocktail which I call "The Barber."

I know JP has waxed poetic about PB being his favorite song on ENZSO. I don't know if I can go that far, but it is one of my favorites on the CD. He sounds great and I am now relaxing about his covering one of my favorite songs. The real surprise for me is how much I like his cover of "My Mistake." This is, IMO, a hard song to sing. It's ideosyncratic to begin with, and then it is given this circus-like and vaguely Eastern European sounding arrangement. But Dave holds his own with all the competition and sounds like he's having a good time to boot. Was this the case at the live shows as well?

Some of the success is no doubt due to the similarity of his voice to Tim Finn's--they both have a reedy quality (no, I wouldn't say nasal) to their voices which gives a plaintive feel to what they sing. And these are certainly 2 songs which benefit from that kind of voice.

I'd love to hear what others think.

Whew, it was kinda hard to stick to the main topic of this list, but I have to get in practice for when the new album comes out.

Colleen.

From: John K."

Howdy all,

I must say that after buying the Poor Boy and Message To My Grill cassingles for $1 apiece in the weekend, I find both of them Deeply Deeply Disturbing. If these songs and the B-sides are typical of the Enzso album I'm afraid I won't be rushing out to buy it just yet. I have just one question: where did the tempo go? The songs really drag their way along, scraping their underbellies in the mud and barely having the energy to move at all. And why for-goodness-sake bring in Sam Hunt, NZ's Greatest Living Embarassment? (Ok, so that's 2 questions, but who's counting? Oops that's 3...).

John

From: Jon-Paul

Hi John and others,

Nobody felt compelled to comment on your post- so I'll do the noble think and (once again) force my opinions on you.

> Enzso album I'm afraid I won't be rushing out to buy it just yet. I have just one question: where did the tempo go?

What with the ex-enzers & the orchestra being stranded somewhere in middle age, I think any quickening of the tempo for extended periods could result in coronary failure - witness the couple of minutes "breather" given to Tim & the NZSO after the 30 or 40 seconds of fast paced chorus. ;-)

> And why for-goodness-sake bring in Sam Hunt, NZ's Greatest Living Embarassment?

Surely Paul Holmes wrestled that honour off Sam years ago?

JP.

From: Colleen M.

Hey y'all,

John wrote:

[slander against Umm[m] members snipped]:

> And I must say that after buying the Poor Boy and Message To My Grill cassingles for $1 apiece in the weekend, I find both of them Deeply Deeply Disturbing. If these songs and the B-sides are typical of the

Message to My Grill? Is this a special Australian barbeque mix not available anywhere else? ;-)

> Enzso album I'm afraid I won't be rushing out to buy it just yet. I have just one question: where did the tempo go? The songs really drag their way along, scraping their underbellies in the mud and barely having the energy to move at all. And why for-goodness-sake bring in

I actually found it to be much more lively than I had expected, from the settings to the choice of songs. I don't think that you can expect ENZSO to be a typical covers/tribute album. I mean, it's really not a pop album. But I would be hard pressed to tell you exactly what it is (besides goofy and wonderful, that is).

Colleen.

From: Gavin M.

Hi,

John K questions the quality of ENZSO based on the singles he's got. I agree that the songs often seem to plod. I am not sure why. Upon frequent listening some songs work very well once your're used the lack of driving base and drums. Certainly ENZSO is not muzak or strings versions. It is new versions of the songs, bringing out different sides to the songs, some which I like and some which I do not like. DD does a good job in the singing, but it must be difficult to fit in with an orchestra. Neil seems to struggle a couple of times.

As for Sam Hunt, he sounds like he doesn't know what he's doing there, and I certainly do not know why he was brought in.

Gavin.

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