Customer Reviews

To the Roof of the Sky

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The best thing that can be said about any record is that it impacts and connects with the listener in such a way as to actually become a part of their life, taking residence in the same nostalgic slice of memory as good friends and great conversation. I bought "To the Roof of the Sky" a couple weeks after it came out. Soon after it became my companion for a 1200-mile solo trek in my beat-up Toyota pickup truck. These songs made that long journey not just tolerable, but introspective and enjoyable. Great art has the power to do that. This is the real thing. Unqualified 5 stars.

I bought "To the Roof..." last year at this time, at a point when I was skeptical of the umpteenth new incarnation of VOL. Those of us who felt the previous "Slow Dark Train" was a solid but not splendid outing, will be enthralled with "To the Roof..." It is the album Mallonee fans have longed for since "Killing Floor".Full of do-it-yourself energy and road-weary regret, to mine its richest treasure is to climb inside, kick back, and watch it unfold. There's several full throttle garage/americana tunes ("But Not For Long", "Run Through My Veins", and "Perishable Goods"), but its the albums more somber mid to slow tempo tunes that really connect. The title track, "Isadora Duncan", "Farther up the Road", and "On the Verge" are some of the most touching and endearing songs Mallonee has written. Kenny Hustons excellent guitar work adds an element to VOL that has been sorely missing for years. I'm not one to throw around the word "classic" or to give a casual five star rating to any album, but "To the Roof of the Sky" certainly deserves it. It is one of the few 90's music additions to my all-time top ten list (keeping company next to Mark Heard's "Second Hand").No small feat.Essential.

I just picked up this CD this week (3/3/2003). I lived for 8 years in Athens, and have had the pleasure of seeing Bill Mallonee several times. And I've seen VOL in about 4 or 5 different incarnations. Bill, who is essentially VOL, is an amazing song writing rollercoaster, with emotion that rips and often heals. Now, let's talk about To The Roof of the Sky. This release is a little more rocking than some releases. There's the trademark sweetness of his voice and the guitar in songs like "This Time Isn't One of Them" and then there's the energy of "Filigree" and "Run Through My Veins". I remember when he performed with Billy Holmes and his bass drum was a mic placed under a crate that he'd stomp on with one foot. His tribute song, "Isadora Duncan" is a great story. I had to research who she was afterwards. The lyrics are so well written. It's lamenting the hardships of life, while always clinging to hope. Hence, the title "required listening for the soul."

It is hard to sum up the impact that Bill Mallonee's writing has had on me. Several years ago I came across Blister Soul in an used CD store. After listening to that album ten or so times I was hooked.

Mallonee is one of the most honest songwriters around. By honest I mean this; He is honest about despair, and he is honest about hope. So many songwriters who write about their faith write like after conversion there are no problems. Mallonee's songs are songs of hope written in blood. Open a vein and take up a pen so to speak. This album seems to be (with the possible exception of Summershine their newest) to be the "happiest" album. The strenth of these songs is in their brutal honesty about the difficulty of existence, but the ability to hold that difficulty up to the light and find hope.

This album is probobly my favorite VOL album of the ones I have (all except Slow Dark Train and Jugular).

In my mind there are no songwriters to compare to Bill Mallonee except for the late Rich Mullins and Don Chaffer. As time has progressed, the intensity of feeling and ruthless honesty have remained hallmarks of his writing, but he seems to have focused the passion and anger (as a reviewer of Slow Dark Train notes) and is an even stronger songwriter now. This album or Audible Sigh would be my suggestions for a starting point, though many would argue that Killing Floor would be best. No matter what you start with, though, prepare yourself to have your inner secrets exposed, your mind challenged and your heart pierced...

If the Vigilantes Of Love are one of your favorite bands, you're a lucky listener. As a fellow fan, you know what I mean. They're a great band to hear - on disc or in concert. They get your toe tappin' to the music and your mind thinking about the lyrics. The singer's stories come from his heart, and you can feel it. This band runs through your veins.

"To The Roof Of The Sky" is an awesome tune. It's mellow. There is a certain slant of sadness to this slow song. It's a beautiful experience if you were ever fortunate enough to see and hear it done live by the Vigilantes. This song has a melancholy steel guitar swirling in the bacground, but it doesn't make you feel down, it makes you feel good.

If you own any VOL cds that you like, if there are any of their songs that you love, then you owe it to yourself to buy "To The Roof Of The Sky." It's a good cd. This may be their one disc that does it for you. It may have so many good tunes on it that you'll want to kiss me for encouraging you to get it. Don't be paralyzed, Amazon may be out of stock, but you can click on the link to "used" cds and break out your wallet. I'll let you think about it, but not for long.

I think nine of the songs on this album are good. The other six are good to listen to, but I listen to the others first. Check out "Doin' Time," and "Avalanche." Then there's "This Time Isn't One Of Them," that cut alone is worth the price of the cd.

This album came out after Blister Soul, and Slow Dark Train. But there is no heavy guitar work on this release that compares to the loud stuff on those previous two. If that's what you're looking for, play "Filigree," "Proving Ground," and ("Please) Leave Me The Bones" first. But they really don't even come close to the other blasting stuff of 1995 and '97. With this album, the Vigilantes are back to their roots. But don't say they aren't bearing fruit, because the opposite's true.

Bill Mallonee writes all the songs and sings his heart out. He plays the guitar with talent. He's the real deal and all of his words are honest. Listen to him and enjoy.

This CD is amazing. That's it summed up. The guys from VOL are at their best here, plain and simple. They mellow out on this CD, going acoustic for the most part. The heart and soul that was poured into this CD is evident in the lyrics and strong arrangements. My favorites are 'Farther Up the Road' and 'This Time Isn't One of them.' I have had the CD for a year and a few months and I still listen to it!

I bought "To the Roof..." last year at this time, so I've spent some considerable time with this collection. This is without question the definitive incarnation of VOL(yet) on CD. Those of us who felt the previous "Slow Dark Train" was a solid but not splendid outing, will be enthralled with "To the Roof..." It is the album Mallonee fans have longed for since "Killing Floor".Full of do-it-yourself energy and road-weary regret, to mine its richest treasure is to climb inside, kick back, and watch it unfold. There's several full throttle garage/americana tunes ("But Not For Long", "Run Through My Veins", and "Perishable Goods"), but its the albums more somber mid to slow tempo tunes that really connect. The title track, "Isadora Duncan", "Farther up the Road", and "On the Verge" are some of the most touching and endearing songs Mallonee has written. Kenny Hustons excellent guitar work adds an element to VOL that has been sorely missing for years. I'm not one to throw around the word "classic" or to give a casual five star rating to any album, but "To the Roof of the Sky" certainly deserves it. It is one of the few 90's music additions to my all-time top ten list (keeping company next to Mark Heard's "Second Hand").Essential.

VOL is one of the best bands to come out in the past eight years. When I first got this album, I could not stop listening for a couple of weeks. I listen to this band 90% of the time. There just is not another band out there that is this good. If you get this CD and like it, check out any of their other ones,they are all incredible.

As a native Georgian, I have had the luxury to hear VOL perform several times. After purchasing To the Roof of the Sky, I have made a mistake by not catching a show within the past year. Bill Mallonee's poetic skills are put to excellent use here, especially in Doin' Time, Avalanche, and the title song. The musicians of VOL are at the top of their form again, with enough instrument and style changes to keep the listener guessing through the entire album. Continuous transitions from acoustic to electric guitar mixed with generous portions of mandolin team up with the lyrics to create an immensely enjoyable, reflective album.

FREE FROM THE CONSTRAINTS OF TONE-DEAF MUSIC CORPORATION EXECS, BILL MALLONEE & VOL HAVE INDEPENDENTLY PRODUCED THE FINEST CD OF THE YEAR. I HAVE NOT(CAN NOT) STOPPED PLAYING THIS "ON THE ROAD" THEMED MASTERPIECE SINCE I FIRST PUT IT ON A MONTH AGO. I FEAR, HOWEVER, THAT MALLONEE, LIKE PAST GREAT ARTISTS, WILL BE MORE APPRECIATED 3O YEARS OR SO DOWN THE ROAD THAN HE IS NOW.