Search - Vixen :: Vixen

Nice start for hard-metal 80's femmes

Daniel J. Hamlow | Narita, Japan | 02/28/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Among the more lightweight metal acts of the 80's was the female quartet Vixen, who managed to squeeze out two albums before splitting up. They were among the new wave of female metal artists coming up (Femme Fatale, Doro Pesch) or redefining their sound (Lita Ford). Though not as hard as Doro, Vixen's hard metal is still palatable, maybe slightly harder than Patty Smyth's harder material on Never Enough. The debut album yielded two singles, "Edge Of A Broken Heart" and "Cryin'" which are among the standout cuts here.The first single, the "I can live without you"-themed "Edge Of A Broken Heart" was produced by no less a team than Richard Marx and Fee Waybill of the Tubes. With that extended opening airy synth fill, followed by decent guitarwork by Jan Kuehnemund and some vocal oomph by Janet Gardner. "I Want You To Rock Me" sports the same booming drums motif that made Kiss's "I Love It Loud" a hit, and in fact I detect they were trying to reduplicate that. It's one of the better tracks here.Some keyboards lighten "Cryin'" a bit, and just like its sister single, it's one of those reactions against a rotter. "I won't be cryin'" goes the chorus. Jon Butcher wrote "American Dream" for these femmes, and the song tackles those looking for the title concept and those who have trouble, the poor and those striving to break the glass ceiling. Some great guitarwork by Kuehnemund here, and even grittier playing on "Desperate," which really comes alive in the choruses and bridge.All too often, the songs make one ache for the heavy guitar, which dies down once Janet Gardner starts singing, and at least her voice is strong enough to keep the listener in tune. Songs like the hard-edged "One Night Alone" and "Love Made Me" benefit from that combination, Gardner in the lighter moments, Kuehnemund in the heavier moments. In the chorus of the former, the entire group sing in unison, and combined with the instrumentation, that's when things are at their most powerful."Cruisin'" is by far the most hard-driving song on the bunch, built around the fast-paced drumming by Roxy Petrucci, while the equally ripping "Charmed Life" about a silver-spooned brat who's got her daddy's brand new car and mother's mastercard, and everything she wants.What they lack in being lighter than the likes of say, Europe, they make up for in a cohesive, consistent sound permeating throughout most of the songs. And a lead guitarist who can still remind the listener that they can rock hard enough was vital to the hard metal of the 80's, which pretty much makes Jan Kuehnemund the backbone of the group."

It's about time

Mikey Twain | Virginia | 11/14/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After VH1's bands reunited got Vixen back together for a one time performance, an EMI exec at the show decided to re-release their first two albums. God bless you. If you remember when rock was fun and not always anger and pain, when bands like Motley Crue, Poison, and Warrant ruled, then you'll love Vixen. Thanks to EMI, we can now buy these underrated gems. Thank you EMI."

The best female hair/pop metal band ever.

Johny Bottom | Jacksonville, NC | 08/03/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The 80's were great, there were so many cool bands. Vixen was right in there with the best (and worst) of them. An all girl band that teased their hair to the moon, wore a lot of make up, and shopped at the same clothing shops as Poison and Warrant.



My first taste of them was MTV of course and their first single 'Edge of a Broken Heart'. My initial thoughts were this is a catchy tune, and Janet Gardner (lead vox) was the most beautiful woman on the planet. She was smokin! I bought the album that week, actually it was a tape way back in 1988, and I bought it with a gift certificate I had won from Camelot Music.



For those who enjoy or need a light album of rock every now and then, Vixen's debut should do you good. You can listen to the whole album straight through. No clunkers here. My personal faves are 'Edge of a Broken Heart', 'Cruisin', and 'I want you to Rock me'.



I really missed them for a long time, then Tangerine came out. That's a different review, but that album is awesome. Well worth the wait."