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Quotes for "Dear Life,"
"Dear Life (***) This ex-Vigilantes of Love frontman is full
of faith even when he's short on hope -Mallonee writes vulnerable,
insightful songs that make those who fall under their spell yearn for a
next installment. On this country-tinged album, Mallonee sings as if he
has more on his mind than he can possibly express in the time he has.
Mallonee's songs give words to shadowy fears of intimacy, of its loss,
even of the value of what he feels compelled to do." "...this is an album that takes a long hard (and intelligent)
look at this crusty old world of ours and still finds hope among its
ruins. Overall, Dear Life is Mallonee's country-ist album in a long
while. Dear Life is a musical letter that finds Mallonee very much alive
and well." "Ex-Vigilantes of Love man Mallonee is one of the
underappreciated songwriters of the post-No Depression Americana to
which his hometown heroes R.E.M. opened the doors. Mallonee's latest,
Dear Life, may be his greatest." "Dear Life depicts a campfire singalong on the front cover
and Mallonee in a cowboy hat on the inside booklet, and the music
resembles the sweetened country-rock of Neil Young's Harvest album. That
sound takes the edges off Mallonee's peculiar tenor and fits his
musical meditations on a love that is both unreliable and
indispensable." "Employing a style characterized by powerful rhythmic guitar
and harmonica played more skillfully than what I usually hear around
town, Mallonee makes the most of the dynamics of his voice, varying the
range frequently, often mid-note. It has a pleasing effect; for days
certain songs will remain in my head." "Leader of one of the most unsung acts of the alt-country
era, the Vigilantes of Love, Mallonee now tours as a solo/duet artist.
He's also revived the pop elements that defined his formative music
experiences in Athens, GA, as a young fan of REM, the dbs, and Mitch
Easter's Let's Active. His latest, Dear Life, is an unapologetic attempt
to score a hit, something that has eluded Mallonee throughout the
nearly 20 years he's been crafting strong songs and clever lyrics." "Best of 2004 - #27" "Undoubtedly this is a brilliant Bill Mallonee album, his
devastating use of lyrics and melody is a gift that will surely never
leave him...His greatest ability is to turn the harsh light of his
talent on to the listener, by the end of the album it's not just his
life that's in the unforgiving glare. Whether live or on CD, listening
to Bill Mallonee is never less than compelling and always absorbing.
Here...the messages are strong and unequivocal." "Dear Life plays like a letter from a good friend,
adventurously honest and vulnerable. It finds Bill Mallonee back in alt.
country territory, returning from the Britpop outings of his last three
releases." "(****) This is a record full of contradictions; it reflects
bewilderment and brokenness yet reports them with the only responses
left: acceptance and loving kindness toward all those forces one cannot
control. With a patchwork country music backdrop that is framed by rock
and American folk styles, Mallonee's protagonists speak from the various
portals of life's endings... On Dear Life, the middle-aged Mallonee is
bent and broken with a shaky voice; the rage is gone but it's been
replaced with the wisdom of humility, and as such he remains an enigma,
full of bittersweet words about the precious nature of the traps as well
as the fleeting glimpses of the treasures." "...stripped-down arrangements of mostly acoustic guitar
backed by pedal steel, fiddle, and mandolin. Mallonee is
characteristically reflective throughout, thoughtfully exploring the
twists and turns of a life that is not always just, making for a solid
record that will certainly excite the rabid VOL fan base if not bring
him wider acclaim." "I've known Bill Mallonee for many years, been a fan of his
music for many more. Bill never ceases to amaze me as an artist, a
writer, and friend. On this new record he goes even deeper. It's
incredible, creative, inspired, and beautiful."
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"...a new maturity
pervades this stripped-down, deeply personal song cycle."
Photo by Brenda Mallonee