Vixen, Vixen

By Christian Lipski

I will admit that the novelty of an all-female metal band was the initial attraction. Metal was so uniquely associated with the posturing womanizer that it was a great advantage to have a band that inverted the standard. But they could honestly play and more specifically, they could honestly play the kind of music I liked.

The hit, “Edge of A Broken Heart” (written by Richard Marx and Fee Waybill), had a video that was played all the time in 1988, and was supremely catchy. The same could be said for “Cryin’” as well. What interested me at the time was the fact that glam metal songs could be written that were not about getting in fights and picking up chicks at the bar. Maybe that meant that when you listened you didn’t have to worry about bumping up against a lyric that was blatantly sexist, so the songs were safer. On the other hand, the songs were also safer, and so not as challenging. Vixen was a good album for me to listen to when I didn’t really want to focus on the songs. I could put it on and do homework or read and still enjoy it as much as if I were actively “participating” in the songs.

This record takes me right back to Berkeley and hanging out on the couch with my friends as we made fun of everything and shirked our responsibilities. It was a good time to be suspending our worries about life and just enjoying it.