Written by Noelle Simeon
Photographs by Shervin Lainez
When you’re hanging with a friend, and that friend puts on an album you’ve never heard, your ears perk up and start REALLY listening. “Who is this?” you inevitably ask. Your friend incredulously answers, “umm, you’ve never heard of [insert amazing band’s name here]?”. That’s what Easy Access, Vixen77’s debut album, is like. Philly’s all-woman punk band, Vixen77, immediately made me wonder, “where have I been?”. Comprised of Samantha on vocals, Caitlin and Elizabeth on guitars, Jaz on Bass, and Sarah on Drums, they bring the ’77 vibe to their name and pay homage to it. Every aspect of Vixen77 is going at 110%, with each member having already put years of experience under their collective belts. Together, they are refreshing, fun, and invigorating. They have IT: that charisma, that energy, that thing that makes you an instant fan.
Punk-rock music is the perfect platform for women in 2022, and it’s incredible to hear an all-woman band screaming out with complaints about life, love, and toxic masculinity in a realm that men have dominated. Similarly to the roots of punk music, the lyrics speak of rebelling against a system, trash men, the patriarchy, and your crush’s dumb girlfriend. It’s hard to pick a favorite as each song picks you up and drops you into a mosh-pit of awesome.
“Your Love” starts us off with that classic “1-2-3-4” sound, Sarah’s drums hit you hard, and you can’t help tapping your foot to that up-tempo.
It truly is hard to pick a favorite, but standouts for me were “Cry Baby,” a fun take on men who can’t learn the meaning of “no,” “Some Days” is perfect for when you can’t give a fuck sometimes, and “Royalty,” with lyrics “Rock and roll royalty/ When you look at me you better bend the knee.”
Even their cover of “What I Like About You” keeps The Romantics‘ original flirty and fun spirit while making it their own.
“Evade,” “Stupid,” and “Own Me” all have their takes on not giving into toxic masculinity in various ways.
Towards the end of “Own Me,” Samantha breaks from the high you’ve been riding, demanding our attention with a call out “to all you beautiful women out there /For anyone who’s ever felt like they’ve been held back by someone or something / And it’s eating away at your soul /This is your sign that there is light and you are enough / Fuck what anyone else thinks / Fuel your own fire”. Fuck yes!
You can feel the love and passion put into Easy Access. I predict now that it’ll be known as Vixen77’s classic first album. Each track is a banger, and they enrapture us with their youthful “fuck you” energy. Please put this on when you need a pick-me-up because they’re gonna give it to you.
Easy Access is out now!!
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