11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Fine Compilation, but Don't Miss the Early Discs!, December 6, 1999
This review is from: V.O.L. (Audio CD)
VOL is a fine compilation for the Vigilantes. While not perfect, this disc serves as an excellent introduction for new listeners and a fun collection of great tunes for die-hard fans.
The greatest strength of the album is the selection of songs from previous releases. Sure, every fan can point to a favorite that didn't make the cut, but a disc that packs such classics as Earth Has No Sorrow, River of Love, Skin, Undertow, Losin' It, Struggleville, and Who Know When the Sunrise Will Be cannot be seriously faulted on grounds of song selection. Additionally, while many fans swear by Welcome to Struggleville and Blister Soul, both these discs are flawed albums, one by production and one by weak songs. This discs does a fantastic job of rescuing the one or two classic songs lost on each of those discs, so fans can now own Skin and Struggleville without purchasing their parent CDs. (The only MIA classic from these two albums is 5 Miles Outside of Monroe, but while the song is a terrific rocker, it is not a fan favorite. I understand why it didn't make the list, I just wish it did.) This is an important fuction of a "best-of" collection, and VOL comes through.
Still, this great compilation is not flawless. The Vigilantes tend to change their style quite a bit over their career, careening from stark folk to folk-punk to AAA rock, and as a result, their singles simply do not hold together quite as fine as albums like Killing Floor do. This sounds like a number of singles thrown together, and this disrupts the unity of the CD. Perhaps this could have been helped by keeping the songs in chronological order, but I doubt it. Some bands simply make albums so deliciously unified that a sampler can only hint at the greatness of their actual albums. U2 is such a band, and so are the Vigilantes.
But the main flaw here are the new, "unreleased" tracks thrown on to entice fans who already own the previously released material. Like most new songs on best-ofs, they are quite a bit weaker than the older songs, especially the Christian hit Double Cure. While many new listeners seized this song as a bit of an anthem, it simply lacks the creative depth of the Vigilante's finest works and sounds more like a Blister Soul outtake (and the song is an outtake) than a song that belongs on a best-of album. While the other new songs are better than Double Cure, I would much rather have a classic like 5 Miles Outside of Monroe, Hotel Room, or Eleanor on here instead.
One more additional, minor gripe. I know the new version was a bigger hit, but the original Real Down Town was the superior song. Too bad that was not the one included.
But enough nitpicking. This is a terrific sampler of some fantastic albums. I encourage any one enticed by the songs here to search out a copy of Killing Floor immediately.
Enjoy!
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Intelligent and soulful songwriting that stays with you, March 19, 1999
This review is from: V.O.L. (Audio CD)
Like other VOL fans, I was first introduced to the band's unique sound through this ONE OF A KIND compilation. For anyone out there who might be curious: THESE GUYS ARE DEFINITELY WORTH CHECKING OUT. Not only so, but I would say that Bill Mallonee (along with Pierce Pettis and the late great Rich Mullins) is one of the greatest songwriters (who happens also to be a thoughtful, expressive, unabashed Christian)in America today - or the world for that matter! V.O.L. offers it all: wonderfully eclectic and skillful music, intelligent and thought-provoking lyrics, and an inexpressible, undeniable raw energy which I believe comes from Mallonee's deap-seated Christian faith. He finds grace and joy in unexpected places in this world, amidst the endless ragged parade of all of us "blister souls." His songs are enthusiastic encouragment for the mind, heart and soul, from one traveller to another - all of us trying to find our way Home.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"V.O.L" is a great introduction to a great band, June 11, 1998
This review is from: V.O.L. (Audio CD)
If you are wondering where to start your Vigilantes of Love collection, this is the place. "V.O.L" is a compilation of some of the best tracks from previous albums, and adds four new ones. After listening to this, lead singer/songwriter Bill Mallonee's beautiful expressions of human frailty convinced me to purchase their entire catalog. This collection has some jangle-pop, rock, and folkier stuff with mandolin, etc. Highlights include "Double Cure," "When I'm Broken, See What Happens," and "Skin." After purchasing this one, be sure to get the two albums that follow it: "Slow Dark Train" and "To the Roof of the Sky."
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