Vigilantes of Love - To the Roof of the Sky

Label: Meat Market Records

Released: July 7, 1998

Recorded: Full Moon Recording Studios, Watkinsville, GA

Producer: Bill Mallonee, Tom Lewis, Mark Lewis

Band Members: · Bill Mallonee - Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica, Mellotron · Kenny Hutson - Lead Guitar, Mandolin, Pedal Steel, Dobro · Jacob Bradley - Bass · Scott Klopfenstein - Drums

The Vigilantes of Love, from Athens, GA, have been plugging away for 10+ years. Their first three albums (Driving the Nails, Jugular, and Killing Floor) which solidified them on the Athens/Atlanta music scene in the early nineties gave only a glimpse of the powerful music that Bill Mallonee had to offer. Moving to Capricorn Records in 1994, the Vigilantes added more edge to their sound as well as gaining more exposure especially in the southeast. After three strong records and one compilation with Capricorn, VOL parted ways with Capricorn which led to the birthing process of To the Roof of the Sky. Out from under the restrictions of Capricorn, Bill regrouped with a new rhythm section that allowed him to stretch out and try new directions. Writing most of the material on the road or retrieving it from his back pages, Mallonee creates an aura which overflows with authentic sounds ranging from hard edged rocking guitars to folk to country flavored ballads all encompassing the treasure in Bill’s tranquil yet intense voice. Consisting of 15 songs, the liner notes come with a warning not to “let it scare you.” What’s inside these 15 songs is a story of faith among life’s disillusionment. The first song, “But Not For Long,” picks up right where the previous album, Slow Dark Train, left off with it’s rocking guitars and adult view as he sings, “Innocence…there goes an old friend.” Although Bill is trying new directions, the songs display strong, catchy choruses that lend to a solid album. Songs such as Run Through My Vein, Paralyzed, Filigree, and Leave Me the Bones, are straight-ahead rockers. The folk tinged songs such as This Time Isn’t One of Them, On The Verge, Farther Up the Road, and Opposite’s True are soul grippers that share the struggles that are common to many of us surpassing 30. As in Opposite’s True, with the accompaniment of a mandolin, Bill relinquishes that after late nights of searching and praying, he has found that many times the opposite of what is real is true. The strongest set of songs such as To the Roof of the Sky, Doin Time, and Avalanche have a heavy country flavor and message. Avalanche, with it’s pedal steel weaving in and out of the versus, is one of the best songs I’ve heard from Bill. Because this cd is on an independent label, it is difficult to locate however I would recommend GEMM.com if you want to purchase this cd.

1. But Not for Long (Mallonee) - 2:53 2. Run Through My Veins (Mallonee) - 3:50 3. To The Roof of the Sky (Mallonee) - 4:28 4. Paralyzed (Mallonee) - 4:30 5. Avalanche (Mallonee) - 6:10 6. Doin' Time (Mallonee) - 3:43 7. Perishable Goods (Mallonee) - 3:39 8. This Time Isn't One of Them (Mallonee) - 4:09 9. Filigree (Mallonee) - 4:00 10. Isadora Duncan (Mallonee) - 4:39 11. Proving Ground (Mallonee) - 4:38 12. Opposite's Time (Mallonee) - 4:19 13. On the Verge (Mallonee) - 4:56 14. (Please) Leave Me the Bones (Mallonee) - 4:47 15. Further up the Road (Mallonee) - 5:43 Time 66:24