Artist: Billy Squier Album: Enough Is Enough

Year: 1986
Duration: 0:0-1

Billy Squier's Enough Is Enough: A of an Album That Broke Boundaries

Billy Squier, a former drummer for Piper, proved himself as a guitarist and vocalist with the release of his multi-platinum Don't Say No album in 1981. With rock hits like The Stroke and In the Dark, Squier cemented himself as one of the top rock performers of the '80s. In 1986, Squier released Enough Is Enough, an album that represented a shift in his style of music. The album was critically and commercially successful but was also polarizing. In this post, we will review Enough Is Enough, give a brief history of the artist, discuss the music genre, highlight the best songs of the album, and most importantly, provide a comprehensive critique of the album.
Billy Squier's music style is a dynamic blend of hard rock and blues. A music critic once described his sound as muscled-up arena rock that manages to collect the power of late '70s riff parade while making enough heavy metal overtures to keep the '80's hair boys happy. Enough Is Enough was Squier's fifth album, following the critical and commercial success of Emotions in Motion in 1982. Enough Is Enough represented a slight departure from Squier's previous style of music production.
The first track on the album, Shot O' Love, sets the tone with its jazzy sound. The song is a deviant from the rock sound Squier was known for, featuring a horn arrangement that sounds almost like it comes from a different record. One of the album's critical points is its bold departure from Squier's usual music terrain.
Love is the Hero is another track from the album that embodies another side of Squier's music style that is not aggressive. The song is more of a love ballad, but it still packs an emotional punch. Squier's vocals in this song are sublime, backed by a light keyboard groove and slight guitar licks. Such a song is a testament to Squier's versatility as a musician.
Despite Squier's versatility on the album, there were still unmistakable rock and roll tracks on Enough Is Enough. Don't Say You Love Me was a typical rock hit of the '80s and opened with a catchy riff that guaranteed that it would still be played in rock bars today. The song embodied Squier's rock and over-the-top persona, which his fans were accustomed to.
Stronger showcases the combination of hard rock and blues that Squier is famous for. The track's hard-hitting guitar riffs, vocals, and lyrics represent Squier's refusal to bend to record company's expectations. While the song sounds like a standard rock jam at first, the instrumental break features a saxophone solo that is both unexpected and satisfying.
One of the most innovative parts of Enough Is Enough is the use of sound and intros to signify transitions between songs. Til It's Over ends with a spoken word that serves as both a transition to the next song and a songwriter's epilogue. The sound bites add a new dimension to the album, breaking it up into smaller, digestible pieces. Additionally, Squier also features other sounds like electric drums, which further showcased his versatility.
Billy Squier's Enough Is Enough was a daring album that challenged his fans' expectations. The album displayed Squier's versatility and willingness to experiment with different sounds and styles, which showed that Squier was far from a one-dimensional rock artist. The album's ambitious sound and Squier's willingness to push outside his musical comfort zone resulted in a mixed reception from critics and fans. However, with time, Enough Is Enough has stood the test of time and remains a timeless, daring piece from one of rock's most talented artists.