Another quick EP from the Neil Young of the indie set, Hit and Run is aptly named, having been recorded in one session, complete with the sounds of the recorder being turned on and off and communication between Mallonee and his sound engineer.
The EP feels mostly like cutouts from the last two projects, Dear Life and Friendly Fire, although stripped down. Mallonee is slowly but surely returning back to the Americana sound that seemed to garner his greatest acclaim as of late. "Flowers" is the one exception to this, falling more into the Audible Sigh era of sound (which is a very good thing).
"Willie Nelson's Guitar" depicts the highs and lows of the life of a musician, and "Losing Battle" is a song that could depress the unwary,
telling us we "can't outrun the black clouds". "November Wind" is another in the same vein.
If Hit and Run is designed to be a preview for Permafrost, the next Mallonee project that has been announced, we've all got something to look forward to. With the recent addition of two new players, and yet another name change (back to Vigilantes of Love), one might hope that the next label/genre/manager/band member choice simply isn't another "hit and run."
3.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2005Reviewed by Joel KiekintveldDuring Bill Mallonee's seminar at the 2005 Calvin College Festival of Faith and Music he was asked about the word "prophetic" used to describe him in the program to which he replied, "Are you sure it didn't say prolific?" Prolific is an understatement. Since parting ways with Paste Records at the end of 2003 Mallonee has released the DVD Fade to Black and two CD's (Dear Life and Friendly Fire)…Similar sounding releases
2005Jon RonigerMy World
2004Andrew OsengaSouvenirs and Postcards
2000Martyn JosephThe Shirley Sessions
2000Jason HarrodLiving in Skin
2001Denison WitmerThe '80s
1998Ron MooreMysteryMore from Bill Mallonee
2002My Year in Review
2005Friendly Fire
2004Fade to Black (Video)
2004Dear Life
2002Fetal Position
2003Locket Full of Moonlight
