AMG Review of Blister Soul

Darryl Cater
All Music Guide

This is singer-songwriter Bill Mallonee's fifth album under the Vigilantes of Love moniker (and the fifth VoL band lineup). Producer John Keane has moved away from the glossy rock sound of the last VoL record, but he has moved in two opposite directions: half of the songs are harder and noisier, and the other half are mellow acoustic numbers. Unfortunately, the unplugged numbers have been given an overly sentimental pop sheen, and lack the grit and heart of the early VoL folk (with the exception of "Skin," a spiralling ode to VanGogh which ranks with the best VoL songs). Keane's production choices are dominated by cliches, and so are Mallonee's usually incisive lyrics.