Vigilantes of Love Fans Sigh with Relief at Last
review by dave kerschbaum

I've been waiting over a year to write this review. I was very excited when I learned of a new disc from the Vigilantes of Love to be released in the Spring of 1999. However, shortly before the release date, the band's new label folded and Bill Mallonee and the band were fortunate just to secure the rights to the record and try to distribute it the best they could themselves. Flash forward a year, and four versions of this record later (an import pre-release, a True Tunes distributed pre-release, a True Tunes official release with three new songs and a Compass Records release) and Bill Mallonee and the Vigilantes of Love finally have themselves their best offering to date, a record called Audible Sigh..

In the meantime, VoL has gone from a four-piece band to a three-piece band (Jacob Bradley on bass and Kevin Heuer on drums) with mutli-insturmentallist Kenny Hutson's departure to pursue other ventures. The personnel change has resulted in a stylistic redircection for the band, and to reflect this (and give the fans a reason to purchase yet another version of this record) the Vigilantes' new label, Compass Records has released a limited number of cds with a bonus ep, Room Despair. This package proves to the faithful that yes, good things do come to those who wait.

Audible Sigh starts with "Goes Without Saying," which also happens to be the first radio single. A radio friendly tune, this kinetic roots rock/alt. country song sets the mood for the rest of the disc. This is followed by "She Walks On Roses." This one is fast paced and frantic, with Hutson's mandolin talents no doubt reminding some fans of "Undertow," from Killing Floor. Julie Miller, wife of the album's producer Buddy Miller, provides background vocals for this one.

"Resplendent," a slow and haunting tune featuring backing vocals from Emmylou Harris, follows. A Hammond organ provices a nice touch and accents the mood of this song, which tells the hard tale of a pioneer family facing struggles and tragedy. Similar in sentiment to the title track from To the Roof of the Sky, the song grabs the attention of the listener with its quiet mourning, as Mallonee sings, "How much of this is failing flesh?/How much the course of retribution?/How loudly we all plead our innocence/long after we've made our contribution."

The first of the three new songs recorded for the current lineup, "Now As the Train Pulls Away," is next, and fits here much better than in the leadoff spot it occupied on the True Tunes official version of this disc. Kevin Heuer's drumming is showcased nicely on this track. Here, the singer laments the giving up of a (fictional) relationship: "People don't stay in love anymore."

A couple songs later, and Mallonee is back at it again with one of his trademark train songs "Nothing Like A Train" is as likely as any song on this record to stay with the listener after the disc has finished playing. A beautiful song with a catchy chorus, this one is filled with meaningful lines such as "When you find there's nothing special/ about that big hole in your heart/'cause everybody's got one/and precious little time to talk aboot it." Julie Miller again lends background vocals to this song.

Other standouts from Audible Sigh include the pull-no-punches, frantic leanings of "Extreme North of the Compass," the all-too-autobiographical "Could Be a Whole Lot Worse," ("Gonna die a failure/but to happiness awake...It's a cryin' shame but it could be a lot worse."), and the two other new tunes for the trio, "Black Cloud O'er Me" and "Solar System." The former is one of my favourites. It is frought with catostropic references, but Mallonee declares, "I turn the eyes of faith upon the Lord." "Solar System" is listed as track 11 + 1, almost as if it is the disc's encore. This one is reworked from a loud concert rocker to quiet ballad about two young lovers facing an uphill climb. One gets the feeling that the spirit of the two kids in the story is similar at times to that of the singer himself.

The limited edition bonus e.p. Room Despair's beginning may surprise some fans, as "It's Not Bothering Me" features more of a poppy sound than perhaps some have been used to from VoL. Heuer's percussion is again nicely showcased. Quirky lines such as "God's light shines through like a prism/I'm so confused by Calvanism" and "Kiss me long upon the mouth like they do in San Francisco." have spurred much discussion on the Vigilantes of Love's e-mail discussion list.

"Dreamcoat" is a jangly tune that references Joseph and Houdini. " I'm Not There" features a guitar line that drops right off the table and draws the listener into this song of gentle remorse and picture of life on the road: "forgive me darlin' when I'm not there."

"Bearin' the Load" is an out-take from the Audible Sigh sessions. It is an ode to living through the tough times: "Here's to the ragged ones and worn/some of us are waiting here a lifetime to be born."

The e.p. concludes with a slow, sad and sweet ballad called "Going South." Like many songs Bill Mallonee has written, this song seems to be a response to some hard, downright depressing times and wounds that need nursing. One of the most touching and soulful songs Mallonee has recorded, "Going South" features a beautiful cello, thanks to Valerie Dunn, Bradley's girlfriend and a sometimes touring player with VoL. As the e.p.'s closer, Mallonee's lyrics stick with the listener: "I'm going south/it's all I see/don't like what it's doing to me/Makes you less/than you should be/I'm going south by slow degrees."

When asked if the Audible Sigh/Room Despair package is representative of the band currently, Bill Mallonee says it is. This is good news, because this is the best this talented and largely unknown band has ever been.

For more information on Bill Mallonee and the Vigilantes of Love, visit http://www.billandvol.com .

To hear a Fishbowl.Online exclusive interview with Bill Mallonee, click here.