Search - Britny Fox :: Britny Fox

Underrated 80's metal gem from an overlooked band

Daniel J. Hamlow | Narita, Japan | 06/09/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"80's metal, now derogatorily called hair metal-gotta love it, as I grew up on it. One group that didn't do as well as Cinderella, Motley Crue, or Warrant, was Britny Fox. A pity, as their metal quotient would've set caused airport metal detectors to explode, whereas the likes of Europe, Warrant, or Winger would've given them mere Aspirin headaches. A hard-edged guitar and lead singer Dizzy Davidson's shrieker pipes a la Cinderella's Tom Kiefer showed they had teeth.



Two singles lead off their debut album (1988). The first is the rocking and rowdy "Girlschool," which begins with the background buzz of girls chatting at school before a school bell and piercing scream cuts through. Cue the music, the powerfully pounding skins of Johnny Dee, superlative guitars of Michael Kelly Smith, and Davidson's throaty vocals singing about rebellious high school girls breaking rules. The video was a Catholic school with uniforms, if I recall correctly, where even the teacher ends up jamming at the end. The best song here without a doubt. "Long Way To Love" has Vinnie Vincent-ish guitars and a sound belonging to Lick It Up era KISS. Their only charting single peaked... where? Hint, it has three digits. Humiliating, as I would've given it at least Top 20 status.



The frustration of teen alienation is shown in the thundering "Kick `N' Fight" whereas "Fun In Texas" is just about that. "Save The Weak" is a power ballad, and Davidson's non-shrieker vocals, when accompanied with the harmonies of the others, makes them sound somewhat like KISS.



Though Tipper Gore and the PMRC were three years behind, the anthemic "Rock Revolution" heralded by some pounding drums at the beginning, addresses the issues of people who had problems with rock and roll. "They say we're loud and violent for this joke system/but yet they air violent shows about death, r-pe, and fighting too." Yeah, what is up with that? One of the better songs here. Standing up for rock and roll-aww yeah! Yet they still optimistically think America is a fun and rocking place in "In America," which like "Hold On" gives AC-DC more than a run for their money.



Britny Fox then does the Quiet Riot thing-covering a Slade song. Their pick is "Gudbuy T'Jane" from 1973. I haven't heard the original, but BF sure have the energy going in this song. Many of the songs tend to sound alike, but the consistent strong sound of the band's energy more than make up for that. An underrated gem from the late 80's, whose energy has made me feel nostalgic and younger still.

"