Conflicting Emotions (1983)
Let’s be fair before we’re critical: this isn’t a bad record. It’s just not a great one. The trademark eclecticism and quirk are still here, but the consistent creativity and the hooks that carried True Colours and Waiata have thinned out. A lot of this leans on conventional pop-rock that, for the first time with this band, edges toward formula.
The bigger culprit is the production. Split Enz always tinkered with their sound, but Conflicting Emotions is a touch overproduced, missing the rawness and organic feel of the earlier stuff. Everything’s glossy and polished in a way that flattens the band’s dynamics, and a few tracks pay the price. The self-titled Conflicting Emotions drifts toward boring, and Bon Voyage lands a little wimpy. Those soft spots are enough to keep it out of the NSA club.
There are real bright spots, though. Strait Old Line, which has since become a WWR all time favorite, opens with the kind of energy the rest of the record keeps reaching for. No Mischief is properly catchy and Our Day brings some welcome atmosphere. The interesting instrumental touches survive too, especially the keyboards and the odd percussion that have always been part of their charm.
And then there’s Message to My Girl. I’ll say it plainly: this is the best thing on the album, and even their entire back catalogue, by a wide margin, and it’s no coincidence it’s a Neil Finn song. It’s tender, melodic, quietly perfect, and if you’ve ever heard Crowded House, you’ll recognize exactly where this is heading. On a record about a band running low on gas, it’s the sound of the next chapter quietly starting its engine.
Conflicting Emotions flashes the old brilliance without sustaining it, held back by softer songwriting and a glossy mix that smooths off the edges. Still a worthwhile listen for a true Enz head, just not a first stop. And given the slide, it makes sense that the next one, See Ya’ Round, would be their last.
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Highlight Songs:
Message to My Girl
Straight Old Line
No Mischief
Own it, Stream it, Forget about it?
If you’re a dedicated Enz fan, owning it is worthwhile. You won’t spin it front to back often, but it’s home to a handful of fantastic songs. Casual listeners, give it one pass on streaming and you’ll turn up a few good moments, Message to My Girl chief among them. There aren’t enough stars for that one.
Overall Rating:
3 Stars
