I have mixed feelings about this album.When I heard that Vanity left the Vanity 6 group,I was disappointed because I knew that a second Vanity 6 album would have been amazing.But when she signed with Motown,there was alot of hype and anticipation.I got really excited waiting to hear what she would do as a solo artist.I had really high hopes for this project.

While I enjoy a few tracks,this album,as a whole,is disappointing.We all knew that Vanity wasn't a 'real' singer,so i didn't expect to be blown away by the vocals.But her vocals on this album are terrible! Alot of squealing and weird phrasing throughout.The lyrics are atrocious,especially on "Crazy Maybe" (the album's worst track).The songwriting is uneven and unfocused.

A few tracks are likable."Pretty Mess" lives up to its title (lol),but there's a certain charm about it.The album's best track,"Mechanical Emotion" (featuring Morris Day),is funky,sexy and sultry...despite Vanity's less-than-stellar vocal performance.The production on this track is top-notch....pure Minneapolis.

Speaking of production...that's another problem with this album.The production is too sterile and by-the-numbers.Compare it to the vibrant,edgy production that we heard on the Vanity 6 album.Motown should have spent some real money and brought in some heavyweights (like Jam and Lewis) to produce this much-anticpated album.

Thoughts?

Yay a million times to both her albums, they're two of my all time favourites.

It's funny, I guess it depends what you're looking for out of it, but Mechanical Emotion is probably my least favourite on the album (probably because it's the most predictibly MPLS sounding track), and Crazy Maybe one of my favourites, it's a pretty trippy track.

I really like the production of the LP too. The second LP is probably better overall, it's got some really strong tunes on it, but I still prefer 'Wild Animal' just for Flippin' Out, Strap On Robbie Baby, Samuelle and the title track. I have a couple of copies actually one with her name in red, one where it's in orange/yellow that was sealed I bought so I could get a pristine rip!

Yay like muhfug

It was underwhelming upon release but those jams grew on me. Robbie Baby, Mechanicl Emotion....Wild Animal! whoo boy!

I was disappointed when I bought it in 1984 because it wasn't what I was expecting which was the cold Minneapolis sound but I like the album now over the years.

When I first got heard this album, I thought it was boring and didn't like how it only had 7 songs (I still don't like that it's so short). But now I like all of the songs except Crazy Maybe and Mechanical Emotion. However, I still prefer the Sking on Skin album, which I like every song on it.

Diana80 said:

When I first got heard this album, I thought it was boring and didn't like how it only had 7 songs (I still don't like that it's so short). But now I like all of the songs except Crazy Maybe and Mechanical Emotion. However, I still prefer the Skin on Skin album, which I like every song on it.

Skin On Skin is a huge improvement.I heard that Motown was so disappointed with the poor sales of Wild Animal,so they closely monitored the recording of the next album.They brought in outside songwriters and chose the songs.Vanity's vocals are better on Skin On Skin.The first single "Under The Infleunce" is better than anything on Wild Animal.

SoulAlive said:

Diana80 said:

When I first got heard this album, I thought it was boring and didn't like how it only had 7 songs (I still don't like that it's so short). But now I like all of the songs except Crazy Maybe and Mechanical Emotion. However, I still prefer the Skin on Skin album, which I like every song on it.

Skin On Skin is a huge improvement.I heard that Motown was so disappointed with the poor sales of Wild Animal,so they closely monitored the recording of the next album.They brought in outside songwriters and chose the songs.Vanity's vocals are better on Skin On Skin.The first single "Under The Infleunce" is better than anything on Wild Animal.

True dat! The Infleunece was also written by a hot songwriter at the time. Robbie Nevil who had a minor hit with C'est La Vie and a pretty good CD himself at the time

2020 said:

SoulAlive said:

Skin On Skin is a huge improvement.I heard that Motown was so disappointed with the poor sales of Wild Animal,so they closely monitored the recording of the next album.They brought in outside songwriters and chose the songs.Vanity's vocals are better on Skin On Skin.The first single "Under The Infleunce" is better than anything on Wild Animal.

True dat! The Infleunece was also written by a hot songwriter at the time. Robbie Nevil who had a minor hit with C'est La Vie and a pretty good CD himself at the time

on that song,her vocals are very good...her singing sounds very "controlled".On the first album,it sounds like she just went in there and sang the songs anyway she liked...lol....she needed a proudcer who would keep things running smoothly."Under The Influence" is smooth,sexy and intoxicating....a much stronger,more infectious tune than "Pretty Mess".

Love this album!

love this album! there isnt really one song I dislike, I've Pretty Mess on repeat for a week now

I agree that Skin on Skin is a better album, but there is something about the rawness and kookiness of Wild Animal that I do find appealing. I like every song on side 1. So I vote "yea".