Description
Audible Sigh is the eighth full-length studio album by the American folk-rock/alt-country combo Vigilantes of Love fronted by singer-songwriter Bill Mallonee, officially released on Compass Records in August 2000. (Also released by Compass with a Limited Edition bonus CD included, featuring 5 bonus tracks: “4 new song demos & an out-take from the ‘Audible Sigh’ sessions”.) The album was recorded during three weeks and was produced by Buddy Miller and Bill Mallonee. “Resplendent” features vocals by Emmylou Harris.
It should be noted that there are various versions available, featuring different cover artwork as well as different album tracklist as compared to the official Compass Records edition. Audible Sigh was first released as an Advance Promo CD by Pioneer Music Group in 1999, manufactured and distributed by Atlantic Recording Corporation (featuring different cover artwork and inclduing a note saying that “PMG Album #92824, Audible Sigh, available April 20, 1999”). Later in 1999 the same version was re-issued through True Tunes Records/Etcetera Records featuring new cover artwork (actually the same cover later used by Compass Records). True Tunes’ re-issue CD was marked “Limited Edition Pre-release” and features a note saying that “This album was recorded for Pioneer Records and was scheduled to be released in April 1999. Only 2000 copies of this Limited Edition pre-release have been made.” An official CD release was available through True Tunes Records/Rhythm House Records in 2000, distributed by Diamante Music Group, featuring new cover artwork as well as new tracklist (different from both the pre-release version and the Compass Records edition that was released later in 2000).
For almost a dozen years, songwriter/bandleader Bill Mallonee has followed his own iconoclastic path, refusing to bend to the expectations of the Christian music industry to tally sales in that realm. Likewise, Mallonee has continued to ignore pleas to dumb down his statements of faith to make his music more palatable to the general market.
On Audible Sigh, as is typical on all Vigilantes of Love albums, Mallonee’s candid writing follows two major themes. Songs such as «Goes Without Saying» and «Nothing Like a Train» address his role as a husband and father who often has to keep his family together from a distance. His life as a professional musician – one who senses a calling and purpose beyond just playing music – is detailed in biting tracks such as «Starry Eyed», «Any Side of Anywhere» and «Could Be a Lot Worse». «Resplendent» (with backing vocals by Emmylou Harris) displays Mallonee’s ability to write a song that combines a modern twist with the resonance of a Dust Bowl ballad, while «Black Cloud O’er Me» has the tragic aura of a Southern gothic novel.
Musically, Audible Sigh combines the rustic charm of the subdued ‘To the Roof of the Sky‘ disc with the frenetic speed folk of ‘Slow Dark Train’ but definitely leans toward the inflections of alternative country. Kenny Hutson (sadly, no longer in the band) does yeoman’s service om steel guitar, mandolin and brittle lead guitar. Other guests include Phil Madeira (B3), Julie Miller (vocals) and Buddy Miller (guitar, mando guitar), who co-produced the disc with Mallonee.
Fans who bought previous incarnations of Audible Sigh will want to note three new songs on this verson [True Tunes 2000], replacing three other tracks.
Though often accused of being morose and even bitter, Mallonee rejects cynicism in favor of an unflinching examination of how one embraces one’s faith in a world that is consistently at odds with the Christian belief system. There’s world-weariness to be sure, but that’s always tempered with a clear application of a gospel message. [Bruce A. Brown, CCM, April 2000]
Singer/songwriter Bill Mallonee changed lineups to his Athens, Ga., outfit like some frontmen change hairstyles, and with the personnel moves came a variety of styles from alt-folk to indie rock and even Americanized Brit-pop. But one of the band’s best album’s was a straight-up alt-country gem. Audible Sigh benefitted from Kenny Hutson’s versatility on mandolin, guitar, pedal steel and dobro, production from Buddy Miller and backing vocals from Emmylou Harris on standout track «Resplendent». It’s Mallonee’s vivid songwriting that elevates the album to “overlooked classic” status, though. Audible Sigh trades in Dustbowl imagery more than most of his catalog, but he can’t stay completely away from the personal demons he’s spent a career turning into confessional songs, like on «She Walks on Roses»: “They say that pride, well it’s the chief of sins / Well I know all of his deputies, I’m well acquainted with them.” Song titles like «Hard Luck and Heart Attack» and «Black Cloud O’er Me» fit well on the twangiest album of his impressive catalog. [Josh Jackson, Paste Magazine, August 2016]
> Apple Music (Bill Mallonee & Vigilantes of Love – Audible Sigh, Compass Records Edition)
CD tracklist:
01. Goes Without Saying – 3:19
02. She Walks On Roses – 3:05
03. Resplendent – 5:03
04. Now As The Train Pulls Away – 3:12
05. Starry Eyed – 4:28
06. Extreme North Of The Compass – 2:43
07. Nothing Like A Train – 5:17
08. Hard Luck & Heart Attack – 4:22
09. Black Cloud O’er Me – 3:27
10. Good Luck Charm – 3:47
11. Could Be A Lot Worse – 3:39
12. Solar System – 3:40
Room Despair CD-EP tracklist:
2-01. It’s Not Bothering Me (March 2000 Demo) – 4:17
2-02. Dreamcoat (March 2000 Demo) – 4:25
2-03. I’m Not There (Outtake From Audible Sigh Sessions) – 3:57
2-04. Bearing The Load (March 2000 Demo) – 4:01
2-05. Going South (March 2000 Demo) – 5:29
Note: Available at Bandcamp:
https://billmalloneemusic.bandcamp.com/album/audible-sigh-21-song-deluxe-edition
https://billmalloneemusic.bandcamp.com/album/audible-sigh-the-acoustic-renderings-1998
Tracklist for Pioneer Music Group’s pre-release edition, 1999: for 01. Goes Without Saying (3:18) / 02. Any Side Of Anywhere (4:40) / 03. Extreme North Of The Compass (2:42) / 04. Resplendent (4:59) / 05. Starry Eyed (4:27) / 06. Could Be A Lot Worse (3:37) / 07. Good Luck Charm (3:56) / 08. But Not For Long (2:52) / 09. Nothing Like A Train (5:16) / 10. Paralyzed (4:09) / 11. She Walks On Roses (3:04) / 12. Hard Luck & Heart Attack (4:11) / 13. Your Part Of The Story (4:59).
Tracklist for True Tunes Records/Rhythm House Records’ official edition, 2000: 01. Now As The Train Pulls Away (3:09) / 02. Goes Without Saying (3:18) / 03. She Walks On Roses (3:02) / 04. Black Cloud O’er Me (3:25) / 05. Resplendent (5:00) / 06. Starry Eyed (4:26) / 07. Extreme North Of The Compass (2:41) / 08. Nothing Like A Train (5:15) / 09. But Not For Long (2:51) / 10. Any Side Of Anywhere (4:40) / 11. Good Luck Charm (3:44) / 12. Could Be A Lot Worse (3:37) / 13. Solar System (3:39).
The album was independently released on 12-inch vinyl LP for the first time in 2017 by Bill Mallonee, through a Kickstarter campaign. 21-song on a 180 gram vinyl double album, pressed in 200 copies. 2LP tracklist: A1. Goes Without Saying (3:19) / A2. She Walks On Roses (3:04) / A3. Now As The Train Pulls Away (3:10) / A4. Resplendent (5:03) / A5. Extreme North Of The Compass (2:43) / A6. Starry Eyed (4:27) / B1. Nothing Like A Train (5:17) / B2. Hard Luck & Heart Attack (4:20) / B3. Black Cloud O’er Me (3:26) / B4. Any Side Of Anywhere (4:40) / B5. Good Luck Charm (3:47) / C1. Could Be A Lot Worse (3:55) / C2. But Not For Long (2:51) / C3. Paralyzed (4:09) / C4. Your Part Of The Story (4:56) / C5. Solar System (3:40) / D1. It’s Not Bothering Me (4:17) / D2. Dreamcoat (4:25) / D3. I’m Not There (3:56) / D4. Bearing The Load (4:01) / D5. Going South (5:29).
“Resplendent” (MUSIC VIDEO)
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