Customer Reviews

Live & Learn

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Definitely a melodic rocker of an album. Jan Kuehnemund doesn't have to worry about the legacy of the band she founded, which was screwed up by the third album (which didn't include her).

Live and Learn starts out very strong with "Anyway" and the title track. "Anyway" has a little bit of Reb Beach's riff on "One Track Mind" from The Mob in it, which is cool sounding but I think that's coincidental. "Little Voice" will be familiar to anyone who got the live album. The songs range from solid to great in quality, without a bad one among them. While I think Tangerine might have had 3 or four adequate songs. Even the first two albums, while good, had one or two clunkers on each.

Jenna Sanz-Agero has a strong voice that has hints of Natalie Merchant in it. Though I think she sounds much more like Jewel on the live album for some reason. So if you ever were curious of how those two would sound with more rocking music, this is sort of an indication. Jenna doesn't have that sexiness in her voice that Janet Gardner had. Not good or bad, just an observation.

The drumming and bass work is good and fits the music very well. Lynn Louise Lowrey (I think) has a very sweet sounding tone to her voice in the background vocals. And then there's Jan, who sounds much improved in chops and songwriting. I really like the solo in "Don't Want It Anymore." This album is a great sign of things to come.

I know that some old time Vixen fans might be put off that the only original member in this band is the guitarist, but I look at the beauty of Jan reforming her livelyhood, and giving her fans what they crave!!!!!!! For a band that is not equipped with its original members these girls have undeniable chemistry! I saw them live and they put on an incredible show. The CD is very catchy and the musicianship is tight. The singer has a bit of a Natalie Merchant quality mixed with her own uniqueness. Jan is quite the guitarist, she leaves me speechless. This is a straight up rock album. I love the Cd because it is not overly modern. It doesn't sound dated but they don't throw away their roots.

I'm not one to come on here and write reviews (though I read many of them) but I just find this album hard to pass up. I have owned it for a year and a half or more and to this day I still can't get enough of it.
I'm writing this review. Not just because it is a great album but for people to give it its just due without the original line up. Nothing drives me crazier than to hear people say "I don't listen to Journey anymore since Steve Perry isn't with them." Hello! Have you heard Arnel on Revelation? I love Steve Perry as much as the next but there was a Journey before him and there is definately a Journey after him. As well as the likes of Survivor who brought in Jimi Jamison on vocals and didn't miss a beat. Sounded better than ever plus had several Top 40 hits. Well, this is one of those albums!
Yes. Jan Kuehnemund (whos presence is felt here unlike Tangerine where you could tell her presence wasn't) is the only original member on Live & Learn but the chemistry with the other three ladies just knocks it out of the park. Her and vocalist Jenna Sanz-Agero write almost 90% of the songs on here. Which I'm sure is one of the early positives. One or two of the people who wrote reviews on this album and said that Jenna sounded like a mix between Natalie Merchant and Jewel are right on. My favorite song on here is 'I Try'. If Jewel was a little rocker chick, you would think it was her. Jan does a great guitar riff on this song that will catch you finding yourself playing air guitar on your steering wheel.
Not to leave out Kathrin Kraft on drums and Lynn Louise Lowrey on bass. They just make all of the rest of Live & Learn come together. Not too thumpy or over the top. And if you like this. I would highly recommend Extended Versions to get a nice fresh breath of some older Vixen songs.
The only thing I could say that these ladies could do more is put out some more music and lets do a tour! (Don't overlook the midwest states. We love great rock as well as any coast).

Vixen is back with "Live & Learn". Founder and first guitarist Jan Kuehnemund is back after being absent on their last album, "Tangerine". Singer Janet Gardner has been replaced by Jenna Sanz-Agero. She had big shoes to fill, and personally, I miss Janet Gardner.

Soundwise, "Live & Learn" follows the tradition of "Tangerine". Darkerm less polished and more noisy compared to the more radio friendly "Vixen" and "Rev It Up".

Vixen used to be a melodic rock band, but on "Live & Learn", the melodies are minimal. Often one phrased repeated over and over. Most of the songs sound pretty much alike, except for one ballad. It's not easy to tell the songs apart, and none of the songs are very memorable. There are certainly no "Edge of a Broken Heart" or "Love is a Killer" in sight. Overall, it feels quite uninspired.

Unsurprisingly, gutarist Kuehnemund is the album's biggest asset. She delivers several fine guitar solos, and deserves better material to work with (although to be fair, this is her own material, she's credited as composer for almost all of the songs. She and the other band members had more help in the songwriting department in the band's early days, and it shows; her true talent is playing the guitar.

Since Janet Gardner isn't here, I would recommend this album, not to Vixen fans in general, but to Jan Kuehnemund fans. But don't be too sad if you should miss it.

If you're a Vixen fan from the 80's, one word of advice about this album: DON"T. It sounds like they're playing in slow motion. The music is so-so (although, Jan is still the queen of the guitar). The singer needs to learn more than one octave and speed. I truely hope their new album (reported due out in 2012) will be much better.

IT IS SOME OF THERE BEST TO DATE,I HOPE THEY KEEP ON ROCKING,VERRY GOOD MUSIC,

TO ME VIXEN ISN'T VIXEN WITHOUT ALL OF THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS AND YOU CAN DEFFINITLY TELL THAT JAN IS NOT THERE,, MAYBE IT'S TIME TO REGROUP WITH THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS AND MAYBE GET SOME WRITING HELP , JUST A SUGGESTION I KNOW HOW HARD WRITING AND COMPOSING A SONG CAN BE . THIS IS CONSTRUCTIVE CRITISIZM ,NOT BASHING , I PROMISE. ANYWAY TAKE CARE AND GOOD LUCK TOWARD MUCH SUCCESS AND GOD BLESS. BARBARA