Customer Reviews

Dear Life

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Former Vigilantes of Love frontman Bill Mallonee has been releasing solo albums for three years, and Dear Life, as an album, is perhaps the most rewarding.

The best way to prepare you for the album is to comment on the front and back cover art. The front bears a deceptively inviting drawing of scouts sitting around a campfire and listening to songs. Soft and black, the image evokes childhood memories and happy times. The back cover is a sharp color photo of an aging hand strumming a guitar. We will be led by that hand from cozy security to naked truth.

The Songs: The first six songs are comfortable songs, sort of nostalgic musically. "After All This Dust Settles Down" opens the album with a sincere thank-you to all the folks who placed preorders to support the album. The next two songs are, on the surface, cut from the same cloth, but lines like "and you're wasted now and the whole thing was a lie" prove we will be heading toward the underbelly of Mallonee's heart; Ready and Red-eye is particularly upbeat musically. The next three are wistful love songs with touches of humor ("people sure buy a lot of what doesn't make 'em happy/but our love is money in the bank").

The next two songs are transitional and set us up for the desolation to come. "The Kidz on Drugz (or Life)" is thought-provoking and sad: "and you wanna ask God about things like cancer/but you don't think you'll get much of an answer...and the baggage that we all carry around/has this way of dragging you down." This song reminds me of "Silver Transparent" from Perfumed Letter. "Chameleon Me (Pin My Hope)" is an excellent, upbeat song about getting up off the ground. It would have made a great closer for Dear Life, but the hope hasn't been apprehended yet, so...

On past VOL and Mallonee projects, an album would often end in a lament or dirge. This album has three, each one progressively darker and confessional than the last: they are brilliant, ranking with the best Mallonee's ever done. "I Will Never Be Normal (After This)" takes us from dependence on drugs, both literal and figurative, to dependence on faith: a lyrical masterpiece with one of the best statements of faith I have heard. "I Will Miss You Girl" takes us to the heart of the matter: how love suffers when we suffer for it. All of the props are gone in "Songwriter (Numb)," and Mallonee is most naked here: "I tried to make you like me with some words and a six-string...and even when it got cold, I hardly knew I'd died." After an entire album of counting the cost, Mallonee softly wails.

Overall: The album has a definite cumulative impact. Song by song, the album unwinds like gauze to reveal a wounded heart. Thankfulness spirals downward into emptiness with little outposts of hope along the way. Life can be like this, and yet it is still dear. Highly recommended.

Bill Mallonee hooked up with producer John Keane (R.E.M., Cowboy Junkies, Unlce Tupelo, etc., etc., etc.) in Athens, Georgia for the recording of "Dear Life" in the spring of 2004 and it is one of Mallonee's finest to date. A rootsy americana folk record, "Dear Life" strips away the pop sheen of previous efforts (wonderful efforts in their own right!) and gets back to the basics. Word is finally starting to get out about Athens, Ga's best kept secret as evidenced by the reviews here, on the AllMusicGuide site and in various national publications. The stellar reviews are well deserved and long overdue as I'm sure you'll attest after buying this CD.

These songs are deeply reflective and beautifully haunting, an honest outpouring of the songwriter's heart. Most of the tracks feature no bass or percussion, which gives the album a very intimate feel, sort of like gathering around a fire and listening to someone tell stories. Its simplicity lends it an atmospheric grace. The best music I've heard from Mallonee since "Audible Sigh," and I think you will be moved by it.

It starts off slow and saves the best for last. The final 5 songs are more than worth the price and the rest is great too.

Keep going Bill - they will find you and figure you out eventually.

bushman

_Dear Life_ is classic Bill Mallonee. His most heart-wrenchingly personal lyrics in years, wedded to a stark folk/country sound, make the album one of the best I've heard in a while. For comparison to Bill's past work, think of songs like "On the Verge" or "This Time Isn't One of Them" from _To the Roof of the Sky_. Keep up the good work, Bill!

This album has several great songs, but "High and Lonesome" soars in a hauntingly beautiful way. I also love "The Kids on Drugs (or life)."
I would buy the cd if those were the only two songs on it. Melancholy!
You will love this cd!!!!!
If you ever get the chance to hear Bill and Muriah in concert, Go!!!!!
Contact them to come to your town for a show. They will work with you on the price. You seriously could do this and it is such a joy to kick back and enjoy a live show. How delightful to hear these songs played live. They are wonderful people. What an enjoyable way to spend an evening! All his new albums are good as well. I also like "Victory Garden" and "Fetal Position", and "Locketful of Moonlight." "Perfumed Letter" has a lot of the same songs as another of these, so check the songs list. You may like it more than the other similar comlilation. Of course, "Audible Sigh" and "Summershine" are the rave as well. CLASSICS! Book Bill! [...]

Don't get me wrong-I am a huge Bill Mallonee fan and was a huge Vigilantes of Love fan. This man has put out some amazing records over the years. "Audible Sigh" in its many forms is a true American classic and "Summershine" was so underrated when it came out. Bill has put out some solo stuff in recent years. "Fetal Position" and "Locket Full of Moonlight" were very impressive in their own rights, especially the song, "Dirty Job" and "Life on Other Plants". Last years "Perfumed Letter" was a let-down for me because it was mostly made up of songs that were on his two previous albums.
I know that a lot of fans will disagree with me but I think this album is an average record at best. I know that the budget was low but the sound quality on some of the songs here is horrible. There are several songs on here that I have to turn my CD player almost all the way up just to hear the full sound. A lot of the songs also sound similar to one another. There are some songs on here that I really like though. "Chameleon Me(Pin My Hope) is a great song and "Pin My Hope" should have been the album title if it were up to me. It has a better ring than "Dear Life". "Ready and Red Eye"-the first single could have appeared on "Audible Sigh" its so good. I love the haunting "The Kidz on Drugz" and the Elvis inspired "Who Will You Love?" But again, I think that this album no where near ranks up there as being some of Bill's greatest work. Perhaps "Friendly Fire" will inspire me more. And maybe I'm still bitter that the promised "Bonus EP" was cancelled and was the main reason that I helped fund this record. Oh well-Bill-you owe me one. Sorry to be critical folks but I have to be honest.

I have been a huge fan since I saw VOL at the New Earth Coffeehouse in 1995, when they were touring in support of Blister Soul. As a songwriter, I have always held up Bill as the Gold Standard, but this album is terrible. Lyrically, it's not interesting. There are a few decent spots, but it is not up to his usual work. Most of the songs are just a little off and don't quite work they way his older stuff does. This is the lowest point in his "solo" career. I am glad to hear that VOL is back as his moniker and I can only hope that the writing quality is back as well.

I was introduced to Bill and the Vigilantes of Love back in college. I will admit that it took time for me to get used to his voice. I made mention of this to the friend who introduced me to V.O.L.'s music. All he would say is just give it time. I'm glad I listened because Bill and V.O.L. have become a staple on all road trips.

Bill's lyrics are genius and I find few that can equal his writing ability. He is really underestimated as a musician as well. Maybe that's why I love the, "Stripped Down" approach of this album. It really is the best of both worlds. His lyrics will move you each time you listen to the songs and his ability to play the guitar is such a treat. There is nothing fancy about this album and maybe that is why it is so good. You could argue that the, "stripped down" approach was also a mirror into his soul. You see his struggles with the ugliness of the world but the beauty in it's simplicity is redeeming. In the end you find yourself doing a lot of soul searching as well and, I believe, if Bill can get you to do that, as he does here, then he made an excellent album.

Bill Mallonee - Dear Life is a great CD. Much of the recording budget for this CD came from pre-orders directly from Mallonee. This album goes back to the Americana, folk, country sound with lots of acoustic guitar. This CD should appeal to those who already like VOL, Bill Mallonee, Wilco, etc. It has a lot more of a laid back sound compared to the past few albums he's released. This is not the Brit-pop like many of his CD's since Summershine were. I consider this to be his best album since Audible Sigh. The last five songs are probably my favorites. In fact, I think they are some of the strongest songs Bill has ever written. And I guess I should tell you I own every CD Bill has ever released. Bill has really reached inside and is sharing very personal topics in the lyrics. He also continues to write about trials, falls, hope, and faith in his lyrics. His lyrics touch on things everyone goes through in their lives. People can easily relate to the topics of which he speaks.