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Crazy Lixx: Crazy Lixx
 A lacklustre performance a few Firefest's ago and a, shall we say, mediocre album in 2012 (Riot Avenue) had me completely writing Crazy Lixx off as also ran wannabes. And yet their fourth, self titled, album has me furiously back tracking as these Swedes finally hit their stride big time. Honestly I can't quite believe the step up in class here.
"Hell Raising Women" bursts through the doors, insisting you drop everything you're doing and simply gape in awe at the gallus swagger of riffs and hooks. Guitars flick out all manner of tricks, while a Kix like chorus has things ready to explode. Surely the pace can't be maintained at this mighty lick…yet "Sound Of The Loud Minority" struts a make-up-less era Kiss groove into Def Leppard choruses via a cool, clean blast of guitars. It's a mighty one-two and one "Outlaw" doesn't quite match, as it tries and ever so slightly fails to change the dynamics while retaining the punch. However following that with the surge of the best track on the album is genius, "Girls Of The 80s" a shimmering slice of scything vocals and cutting riffs. Throw in some banked backing vocals, a key change and utterly cheese-ball chorus that you'll be singing for days and this is superb stuff.
In truth, things aren't quite kept to this high standard, "I Missed The Mark" attempting a Coney Hatch cool that doesn't quite come off, "All Looks, No Hooks" the only time a "by numbers" feel appears. However factor in the fist-pump of "Ain't No Rest In Rock N' Roll" which takes AC/DC and slams them into Skid Row to great effect and "Psycho City" which doesn't simply nod towards a Kiss album for inspiration (quick, hide, Simmons might sue over this one…), it blatantly plunders their best moments and there are winners everywhere. "Wrecking Ball Crew" again heads into the Skid Row school of romp n' roll, kicking all in its path out of the way as it does so, the carefree attitude possibly the key to why this album makes such a hefty impression.
OK, it isn't perfect and OK, there's maybe one too many heard it before moments here, yet credit where it's due, this lot were headed for the scrap heap after their previous effort. As turnarounds go, this is a hefty, sharp and most welcome about face.
Track Listing
1. Hell Raising Women
2. Sound Of the Loud Minority
3. Outlaw
4. Girls Of the 80s'
5. I Missed the Mark
6. All Looks, No Hooks
7. Aint No Rest In Rock n' Roll
8. Call To Action
9. Heroes Are Forever
10. Psycho City
11. Wrecking Ball Crew
Added: December 16th 2014
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score: 
Related Link: Crazy Lixx online
Hits: 1982
Language: english
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Crazy Lixx: Crazy Lixx
Posted by Simon Bray, SoT Staff Writer on 2014-12-16 06:26:39
My Score:
Lead singer and producer Danny Rexon on the reason why the band has gone down the eponymously-titled album name: "We were discussing possible titles for the album and we didn't really feel like any of the suggestions were quite right. Then I came up with the idea of a making it a self- titled album and we all agreed this was the right time for one. You know, bearing the very name of the band, a self-titled album does have a lot to live up to, but we all felt that this album has what it takes to represent the band as a whole, both in terms of the songs, the sound and the performance." So I think we can determine that the band feel that this is their ultimate statement thus far and very enjoyable it is too in the main. In going forwards they've gone backwards for inspiration by re-recording "Heroes are Forever" which was their first single in 2006 and Loud Minority which was previously only available in a long deleted format.
This is my first acquaintance with the band since the Riot Avenue record two and a half years ago which didn't overly impress me with what I considered to be a lack of memorable songs and one which my colleague described as, "undoubtedly a disappointment." This self-titled effort is anything but disappointing.
Straight from the off this is a harder, leaner more serious Crazy Lixx. The opening quartet of "Hell Raising Women" (which brilliantly sets the tone,) "Sound Of the Loud Minority", "Outlaw" and the infectious "Girls Of the 80s' " are a fabulous way to begin an album and if a name band such as KISS had put this out everybody would have been beside themselves with joy. Unlike Steven Reid in his review above I also really enjoyed "I Missed the Mark" and found myself playing air drums and waving at the crowd throughout. I do, however, fully agree with Steven's assessment that the second half isn't quite as good as the first but as a whole it is a huge improvement on Riot Avenue.
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