Search - Vigilantes of Love :: Summershine

Summershine S.O.S? Don't Panic, VOL's Not Fading

james cordrey | ardmore, pa | 08/29/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When you spin Summershine for the first time make sure you keep the CD booklet handy - you'll need it to reassure yourself that you really are listening to Vigilantes of Love. You will also want it to make sure you get the impact of the lyrics. All that time VOL spent Across the Big Pond, which resulted in numerous tours and an EP of the same name, shaped this record. For longtime VOL fans it may be an adjustment to hear Bill Mallonee being so poppy, it was for me, but once you listen and read the lyrics you'll see familiar landmarks. "SOS", "Puttin out Fires", "Happy Being lonely . . ." and "Sailors" are just a few songs that call to mind themes that run throughout VOL's music. Always one to shine a light on the human experience with songs like "Blister Soul" and "Welcome to Struggleville", Mallonee continues to do so even on the Beatle-esque pop tune "Stand Beside Me". The pop nature of the songs on this album actually make it more important to pay attention to the lyrics, lest they be forgotten. It's interesting that for a poppy album such as Summerhsine, it ends with the somber tune "Sailors," which is similar in tone to "Judas Skin" from the 1997 release "Slow Dark train." But unlike "Slow Dark Train," the images on this album are flowers, sunshine and a "Green Summer Lawn" - a strong tune in its own right. What Summershine shows is that Mallonee is truly a gifted songwriter because he crafts 13 tunes in a style not normally his own that are genuinely top quality. You'll find these songs stuck in your head for days and that's the test of a good pop tune. Fans of the EP "Room Despair" which was sold with a limited number of "Audible Sigh" discs will remember "It's Not Bothering Me," which features a great "trippy" drum loop - letting you know right there htat you won't be hearing any songs like "Resplendent" from "Audible Sigh". For the record, "Resplendent" is a fabulous tune. On the "Summershine" version of "It's Not Bothering Me" Mallonee makes two lyrical changes from the original. Instead of singing " I thought the GRASS was greener" he sings "I thought the CASH was greener" - and - instead of singing "I'm so confused by CALVINISM" he sings "I'm so confused by TELEVISION." Mallonee is known for playing with lyrics in his live shows as well, and if you like any of his recorded music, you really need to see Mallonee and VOL live."

Bye bye Kenny, hello Pop!

David Bennett | Ohio, United States | 09/17/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I became reacquainted with VOL in 1998 when they released "To the Roof of the Sky." That album changed the way I viewed music. After that, I was a hardcore country-rock fan. If an album didn't have a mandolin or pedal steel player on it, then it wasn't a good album! So I was delighted with "Audible Sigh," which had excellent country-rock credibility (Emmylou Harris, Buddy and Julie Miller). Also, VOL had acquired Kenny Hutson, a multiple instrumentalist who played Mandolin, pedal steel, and dobro on 2 VOL albums.But Kenny is not on this new album, and Bill and his band are belting out music reminiscent of the pop they grew up on. Frankly I love it. I must say musically I still love the country-rock style of VOL's older material. But this new CD is upbeat, encouraging, and has a "summer" feel to it. When I saw VOL in concert at Eddie's Attic in Atlanta, Bill revealed 2 important insights about "Summershine:" It would not be theological, and it would display the pop influence they picked up in the UK. Many of us were a bit worried, but now we worry no more. My only issue with "Summershine" is that Bill's voice and the vocal harmonies of the band come across stronger in a country-rock setting rather than a pop setting.My favorites are, "Along For the Ride," "Happy Being Lonely, Lonely Being Happy," and "Green Summer Lawn." The last song, "Sailors" is hauntingly beautiful and reminds me of the mood of "To the Roof of the Sky." While there are no mandolins on this record, Bill has incorporated mellotron, piano, and beautifully played strings. This album will truly make your summer shine! However, during the cold, long fall and winter, I might still have to put in "To the Roof of the Sky," but rest assured, I will take "Summershine" out once spring hits."

Summershine a perfect evolution for VOL!

Nick Purdy of PasteMusic.com | Seattle, WA USA | 08/14/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Bill Mallonee once again shows why he's one of America's great songwriters - but this time with a Brit-pop flair that had long lain dormant. Songs like You Know That are what pop music is all about. This album definitely goes some new directions for the band but is still very much VOL. Fans of The Byrds will like the sound of a Rickenbacker used through much of the record - and fans of Blister Soul's Tempest will likely find some familiar vibes. This one's not to be missed."