Vigilantes of Love

Item: Blister Soul
Author: Vanessa Crooks

Blister Soul

(1995)

Reviewed by Vanessa Crooks

Discogs Bandcamp

Label Capricorn RecordsThe LighthouseSeptember 1995

americana folk rock roots rock

Blister Soul by the Vigilantes of Love is one of those albums that you listen to all the way through and then are ready to hear again. Bill Malonee has great songwriting ability-the results of his craft are eminently listenable. The whole is not revealed at first hearing, but enough is unveiled to bring the listener back again and again.

All of the Vigilantes' albums have addressed our need for love, and the hurt and disillusionment that come from seeking it in today's twisted world. In fact, Malonee is the epitome of a "vigilante of love"-ever watchful and alert to find love and lovers around him. While filled with both sin and salvation, Blister Soul speaks more hopefully and evangelistically than any of Malonee's previous projects. The title cut, which kicks off the album, speaks of the universal longing of the heart:

Yeah the thing we can not speak of The secret we all know Oh ... this blister soul.

And it's reprised version, which closes out the project, shares Malonee's thoughts as he looks at the world and sees its carnage, then turns to Christ and wonders why He gave His life for likes of sinners:

Why did You spend so much? Why did You give it all? Poured out on cold little misers And the returns are so small.

It's obvious that to Malonee, God-and in particular Christ-is the ultimate lover, and source of true love.

Blister Soul is the perfect introduction to Malonee's poignant insights and observations. Musically, it gives the listener a taste of the styles from each of the past four albums. The cuts, "Skin" and "Parting Shot" take the pure folk route of Jugular; they're raw and stripped-down, utilizing accordion and harmonica. "Tempest" and "Certain Slant of Light" are in the same vein as Driving the Nails, a rootsy, country-tinged, band sound that showcases steel guitar. "Real Down Town" is a remake of the song of the same title on Killing Floor, and it has an REM, as well as rock mixed with blues, kind of sound. This version of "Real Down Town" has an added slam that references the problems Malonee had with Core Records on Driving The Nails. Core supposedly folded before the official release of that album, but several years later Malonee, who never received any royalties, noticed that Nails was being sold through various catalog and specialty companies. His wry lines, laced with sarcasm are obviously directed towards this situation:

Now the core of my problem And driving the nails And all but you know How possession's 9/10ths of the law

I guess Malonee has resigned himself to the fact that they have the album, so they get the dough. Finally, "5 Miles Outside Of Monroe" and "Baalam's Ass" exhibit the same aggressive, electric lead-guitar crunch, and grunge feel of Welcome to Struggleville. Blister Soul has a combination of sparse and fleshier arrangements; and each of the musical styles the Vigilantes used on previous projects is mixed into the current sound. These blends do not detract from the overall continuity; rather, they add depth and diversity.

Overall, Blister Soul is more energetic and diverse than anything in the Vigilantes' burgeoning catalog. Bill Malonee has expanded and grown without losing his quirkiness (although his voice continues to bear incredible likeness to Jackson Brown). Much like Mark Heard, Rick Elias, and Bruce Cockburn, Malonee writes in a literate, thoughtful way about the harshness of life and the universal longing for real love. Blister Soul is crisp, clean, and balanced, revisiting many previously explored musical strands. When you label any album a band's "best" that automatically raises the public's expectations; but certainly, Blister Soul is one of the Vigilante's most satisfying performances.