Vixen - Vixen 1988

One of the bands from the deliciously glammed up 80s pop metal revolution that makes fans of the genre rejoice and the detractors cringe, was the all-girl group, Vixen. Even though women were found all over the metal world, they usually were scantily clad and featured on band posters, album covers and in the music videos, very few of them were actually musicians, mostly because the females that did try to make it in the industry were not taken seriously and were often compared to pop groups like the Bangles, even if the music was a world apart from that. The only female rockers that received any media attention were Lita Ford and Samantha Fox, and most of Fox's popularity and publicity came from her topless photo sessions rather than her singing talents. Then there was Vixen. Fronted by Janet Gardner, who's voice sounds like a combination of equal parts from Ann Wilson of Heart, and Lita Ford, and just drips of very accessibly melodic tones and is almost totally shriek-free. The band recieved some public notice and acclaim because of their Richard Marx penned hit song, "Edge of a Broken Heart". Guitarist, Jan Kuehnemund, is actually a decent axeslinger that deserved more credit than what she recieved. Share Pedersen, the bassist, later went on to play on the Contraband cd with metal legend guitarist, Michael Schenker. Vixen's music milked heavily off the pop sounds, and could be called a metal version of 1984 Heart, but it also included bits and pieces of the very poppish Danger Danger, and the unbeatable rhythms of "Contagious" era Y&T.

"Vixen", the 1988 self titled album, won attention from the music industry in a period when there were tons of bands crawling out of the woodwork sporting the same type of sounds which is that over-the-top feel that was fueled by the technology of the time and the super slick production that was finally achieved and it showed in most of the releases at the time, with "Vixen" being no exception to the new rule. The result of the advances in technology aided in creating alot of masterpieces.

The first of the personal favorites from the album that are of note is the softened up rocker, "Cryin'", with rounded vocals from Gardener, plush melodies, hard edged electric rhythm guitarwork, and tons of synthesizers and keyboards all packaged up into a pop styled design. Also set up and aimed for commercial success is "Desperate", with its delicate opening and verses of acoustic which explode into runs of power chords, and the popular gang vocals of the time. Stuff like this should make bands like Europe, Warrant and "Hysteria" era Def Leppard jealous. Most of Vixen's material from this album were written by seasoned songwriters, but Kuehnemund had a hand in this one which shows in the shredding solo. The driving "I Want You To Rock Me", is heavy in the Y&T sound, with a rhythm similiar to one of their instantly recognizable ones on "Contagious", driven by drummer Roxy Petrucci, that serves as the centerpiece of the song. "Love Made Me" breaks out with heavy guitar work that becomes the backbone of this little tune, with Janet's vocals laid on top, heavily supported by a legion of background vocals. Pure 80s with pop written all over it from the abundance of keyboard used to lighten up the overall sound in true Night Ranger - Europe fashion. "Waiting" is painted with a little shade of the blues with building layered vocals that rise up to the gigantic chorus. The first song off the album has to be given its due nod, "Edge of a Broken Heart", since it serves as their only true standout hit. Its opening is dramatic and would rarely be mistaken for any other song. The tune is typically sticky sweet but is packed with a good punch and tons of personality, which is why it became popular. The other songs from this 11 track album kind of flow together, with no standout distiguishing features. Oddly enough the rest of the album is more 'raw' sounding and consists of almost exclusively, straightforward cookie cutter rock tunes.