Slow Train

After being told to take up singing as a means of strengthening his polio-weakened lungs, the wheelchair-bound Flanders teamed up with pianist Swann and proceeded to write such classic songs as "The Hippo Song (Mud Mud Glorious Mud)", "The Gasman Cometh", "The Gnu Song", "A Transport of Delight" and many others. As well as a gently satirical spirit, all these songs feature the sublime wordplay and interplay of both men.

The first two discs of this box set are actual concerts - "At The Drop Of A Hat" and its successor "At The Drop Of Another Hat". Recorded at the height of the duo's popularity and form, the sound quality is surprisingly good for recordings this old.

"At The Drop Of A Hat" opens with three of the Flanders and Swann classics. "Transport Of Delight", a song in praise of the "97 horsepower omnibus" features the wonderful harmonies of the duo on lines like "any more fares" and Flanders' dead-on impression of a London busdriver "Geddardait, we're full right up inside". "Song of Reproduction" deals with the new, as it was then, stereo technology and features Flanders delivering an incredible monologue using every conceivable piece of audiophile jargon. "The Gnu Song" (in which "gnu" is pronounced phonetically) is a real treat. The audience's reaction to the reappearance of the gnu is superb.
As well as this opening trio, the disc features Flanders' snippets of "Songs For Our Time" (in which he experiments with conventions of hit songs), "Song of the Weather" (a rundown of English weather throughout the year), "The Reluctant Cannibal" (featuring Swann in the tititular role and the chorus "I can't eat people/I won't eat people/eatin' people is wrong"), Swann's foray into Greek folksong "Kokraki" and the justifiably famous "Madeira M'Dear". The performance ends with a rousing version of "The Hippo Song".
Flanders is in fine voice throughout and his comments introducing each song are delivered with deadpan accuracy. The story behind "The Gnu Song" is an absolute masterpiece. Flanders' monologue about the creation of "Greensleeves" is also superb - "'Greenfleeves'. That's an interesting name for a fong" (referencing old English script) being just a taste.

"Another Hat" begins in equally fine form with "Gasman Cometh" and "Ill Wind". "Gasman", presaged as "a tale of unending domestic upheaval", is sure to have most people who've ever dealt with unreliable tradesmen nodding in agreement, while "Ill Wind" is Flanders' attempt at setting words to a French horn concerto featuring the immortal lines "I lost that horn/lost that horn/lost that horn/found that horn/gorn". The performance continues with Swann's Russian/English song "In The Desert", the ending of which is truly side-splitting. "All Gall" (a reinterpretation of "This Old Man" to fit then-French President Charles de Gaulle) is a little dated but very cleverly done. "Song of Patriotic Prejudice", with its introduction and opening lines grabbing the audience's attention is another triumph, while the "Hippo Encore" is a great end to the performance.
Again Flanders is at his peak. His loving description of the Spanish olive-stuffers ("Olividados") and his superb story about flying ("By Air") are both brilliant examples of the shaggy dog story.
My favourite from both of these discs would have to be "First and Second Law". Flanders decides to educate Swann in elementary science and picks on the first and second laws of thermodynamics ("heat is work and work is heat" and "heat cannot of itself pass from one body to a hotter body") and the repetition of these phrases in time to Swann's barely-there piano accompaniment is one of the finest moments in British comedy.

The third disc is largely forgettable. It begins with a series of animal-related songs performed in a studio and without much of Flanders' rambling introductions. "Warthog" has its moments, while the others were clearly not performed in front of an audience for a reason. "Wompom" is also mildly diverting, presenting a story about a made-up substance which is the answer to everything.
The rest of the disc is then filled out with much earlier material in a rather poorly-recorded concert. "20 Tons of TNT" (related to the calculation the pair had done which gave that as the amount of TNT per person on the planet at the time) provides food for thought, but little more.

Is this box set for everyone? No. Much of the humour both within and without the songs does require a bit of background knowledge to what was going on in Britain and Europe at the time (1960s), John Profumo is referenced a few times as well as Charles de Gaulle and the Common Market, while a smattering of classical music knowledge can help out a bit with Swann's work and "Ill Wind". The fact that my grandfather (who's in his late 70s) recalls hearing these songs and laughing may give an indication as to the age of some of the subject matter. Equally the fact that "First and Second Law" references an awful lot of physics might do the same.

Nevertheless, for anyone who loves British humour done in a gentle manner or who is interested in the source of "mud mud glorious mud/nothing quite like it for cooling the blood", give these CDs some serious consideration.

Gentle Satire.......2002-04-03

I've been singing Flanders and Swann every day In the Bath since I first heard them in 1964. If you don't know them, think Gilbert and Sullivan by way of English music hall and Noel Coward, with a bit of Tom Lehrer musical satire and classic Bob Newhart or Charlie Manna monologues. F&S commented gently on their times: "The purpose of satire, it has been rightly said, is to strip away the veneer of comfortable illusion and cozy half-truth. And our job, as I see it, is to put it back again." Quite simply the best comic songs and patter of the 20th century. Michael died in 1975, Donald in 1994. Goodnight, Mabel Figworthy, wherever you are.

Here are some samples of Michael's verbal wit.

Wordplay:
- "A Transport of Delight," their song of the pleasures of the double-decker bus "has recently been adopted as the theme song of the Underground resistance movement."
- Speculating that Henry VIII wrote Greensleeves: "and the royalties go to royalty."
- About a tennis referee late in the day: "the umpire upon whom the sun never sets."
- Explaining how he was hoisted in his wheelchair onto airliners by a fork lift: "Why they need a great machine like that to lift forks I do not know. Well, they're only plastic, now, aren't they?"
- On status symbols: "The object is to Gunga Din your neighbor: 'I'm a better man than you' is the acid test," and, "let's bang our status cymbals with the best."
- To a disenchanted cannibal: "You used to be a regular anthropophagi."
- Of a lecher: "And he said as he hastened to put out the cat, the wine, his cigar, and the lamps," while the girl "lowered her standards by raising her glass, her courage, her eyes, and his hopes."
- At the corrida d'olivas (the Andorran festival of olive stuffing, not to be confused with the Spanish corrida de toros, or bullfight): "And a great cry goes up of Ole! He has made an 'ol."
- "It's no good going up to a scientist and saying to him like you would to anybody else, 'Good morning, how are you, lend me a quid, and so on.' He'll just glare at you, or make a rude retort."

Throw-aways
- During the height of the cold war the Soviet Union sent the Moscow Ballet on a world tour. Donald sang one chorus of the Hippopotamus Song "mud, mud, glorious mud - nothing quite like it for cooling the blood" in Russian. Michael: "That should improve our cultural relations."
- During the 1963 Mandy Rice-Davies and Christine Keeler scandal: "None of that going around saying no smoke without fire. Nil cumbustibus, Profumo." Also, from "Friendly Duet," "such models of friendship are precious and rare, while the friendship of models is not."
- "Now if you're writing a musical, as I'm sure practically all of you are, . . ."
- Of Donald: "You know that no one has a higher regard for your music . . . than you do yourself. I merely meant that you are not great because you are not dead. If you wish to be great you must stop composing and start decomposing."
- "We never found a rhyme for (Soviet Premier Nikita) "Kruschev" until he was dead: Did he die or was he "pushed off"?"
- "We spent two dreadful, uh, delightful years, entertaining the Americans whose need, let's face it, is greater even than yours. Of course, when we're over there we say that the other way 'round."
- "No matter what you may say about the Germans, and who doesn't . . ."
- "Some of the songs that have made our names a household word, like slop-bucket . . ."
- "They've started testing cars now. They started at 10 years, then 5, now three. There's even some talk of having them tested before they leave the factory."

Absurdities
- "I'm delirious about our new oven fitted with the eye-level grill. This means that without my having to bend down the hot fat can squirt straight into my eye."
- A spectator during the construction of Stonehenge: "So, it's not going to be lived in. Well, that's something anyway. So what is it, then? It's a what?! A calendar?! A bit big for a calendar isn't it? You'd look pretty foolish with that on your desk."
- "Donald knocked himself out this morning. Got one of those new pop-up toasters. Nasty things."

Incredible multiple rhymes:
- "The fair hippoptama he aimed to entice from her seat on her hilltop above, as she hadn't got a ma to give her advice, went tip-toeing down to her love."
- Of Josephine: "Nonsense, said Bonaparte. She lives on her own, apart, in her own apartment."
- "Oh let us be married if our parents don't mind. We'd be happy and inseparable. Inextricably entwined. We'd live happily every after, said the Honeysuckle to the Bindweed."
- "And you'll always see a single lace-less left-hand leather boot. A bootless British river bank's a shock. We leave them there at midnight, you can track a member's route by the alternating print of boot and sock."

Illegal Cargo
Average customer rating:

Another classic in the making

ILLEGALLY YOURS!!!

Great CD

Just fantastic!

Illegal Cargo
Slow Train Soul
Manufacturer: Tommy Boy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Hotel Costes, Vol. 9

ASIN: B0001LJC5C
Release Date: 2004-04-06

Tracks:

Illegal Cargo (Theme)
Slow Train
In the Black of Night
Tell Me Somethin'
Betty's Revenge
Naturally
Stoned Rays
Inna City Woman
Twisted Cupid
Intuition
Trail of Dawn
Illegal Cargo (Reprise)

Customer Reviews:

Another classic in the making.......2004-10-10

I just picked up a copy of Slow Train's Illegal Cargo and without a doubt it's hottttt for this summer. Lady Z's vocals are on the button with a haunting soulful echos which captivates your entire body. Every track finds its way deep into your mind eventually exploding through your feet. I may be a bit bias on this one since Lady Z is from St.James Trinidad (West Indies). But don't just take my advice, check out any real music lover and they will tell you that THIS ONE IS FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!

ILLEGALLY YOURS!!!.......2004-06-02

I first discovered Slow Train Soul on the "Hotel Costes 6" CD--"In the Black of Night"--and decided to try them out. Slow Train Soul are the petite Lady Z and a hippie named Morten Varano, who have put together a very impressive CD. Lady Z's vocals are dark and sensual and meander across lazy, melodic riffs and funky basslines like a true veteran. Songs of note are "Slow Train", "Illegal Cargo", "Intuition", "Inna City Woman", "Trail of Dawn" and "Stoned Rays." Slow Train Soul's "Illegal Cargo" chugs along at a pace that's easy on the body and on the mind. Recommended!

Great CD.......2004-05-14

I love this album! It's so lush and complex it's hard to describe, but I'll try. I definitely hear some soul influence in the music but it's also pretty electronic in nature. it's very layered, with a variety of different textures and sounds. The production work is genius and the vocals totally hit me right where I live. This could possible be described as lounge music, although I think it's a little more evocative than that. Well, that's the best I can do, all I can say is I highly reccomend it, well done!

Just fantastic!.......2004-05-06

A British friend introduced me to Slow Train and I must say since I have purchased this CD, it has not left my CD player!

Tracks:

Slow Train
Under Paris Skies
Tombeau de Couperin I Prde
Tombeau de Couperin V Menuet
Tombeau de Couperin II Rigaudon
La Vie en Rose
Konzertstus 79 Finale: The Feast
Rondo all Zingarese
Tambourin Chinois
Dein Ist Mein Ganzez Herz
Kai Kett
Kai KettI
Kai KettII
Romanian Caravan
Turkish Medley
Danny Boy

Album Description

Quartetto Gelato are one of Canada's best selling and most acclaimed classical artists, having sold over 150,000 units internationally. Since their debut in 1994, Quartetto Gelato has won the hearts of audiences worldwide with their unique blend of sparkling technique, musical finesse and humor.

Quartetto Gelato have had sold-out repeat performances in New York, Washington, Vancouver, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Toronto, Calgary, Tokyo, Edmonton, Seoul and Hong Kong.

The group now consists of original members Cynthia Steljes on oboe and English horn, tenor Peter De Sotto on vocals and violin and new members Alexander Sevastian (three-time first prize-winner of the International Accordion Competition) on accordion and piano and Kristina Reiko Cooper (Doctorate of Music from the Juilliard School of Music and winner of the 1999 Walter M. Naumberg Chamber Music Competition) on cello.

Their latest release "Travels the Orient Express" follows the route of the storied train that runs from London to Istanbul. The songs change and shift in theme and style as the scenery would outside the traveler's compartment window. Travels the Orient Express is an exciting musical journey for the listener.

Information on the band can be found on their website.

Customer Reviews:

A long-awaited return.......2004-11-30

I love Quartetto Gelato, so perhaps I'm not the most objective reviewer. But I had some fears that the group might not be as great as it used to be after some personnel changes. I approached this CD with some trepidation.

QG is not the group it used to be, I must admit. But...the new QG is every bit as good as the original, just different now.

The CD is a great concept, a musical voyage on the classic Orient Express. The opening track, "Slow Train," represents London and is rather melancholy and sets the tone for a nostalgiac trip on a train voyage that (at least as far as I know) is no longer running. ("Slow Train" is by the British comedy team Flanders & Swann, an uncharacteristically solemn piece.)

Paris is represented by Ravel's "Tombeau de Couperin," brilliantly arranged, and by two familiar chestnuts, "La Vie en Rose" (giving Peter a chance to do Piaf), and "Under Paris Skies," giving new accordianist Alexander Sevastian a chance to strut his stuff.

"Konzertstuck" and "Rondo al1 Zingarese" give us a taste of Munich, and then cellist Kristina Reiko Cooper excels outrageously on Kreisler's "Tambourin Chinois," representing Vienna. Standing in for Budapest are Lehar's "Dein Ist Mein Ganzez Herz" and Kodaly's "Kallai Ketos".

My two favorite tracks come next. Bucharest is represented by an original piece, "Romanian Caravan," an energetic piece redolent of gypsy wagons and open fires. And "Turkish Carnival," for Istanbul, is another original piece, utterly intoxicating in its exotica, bringing images of odalisques, harem guards, and all the gaudy delights of the Near East.

The CD winds up with a return to the UK with "Danny Boy," bringing the voyage full circle.

Yes, it's light stuff, but it's good light stuff. I was once lucky enough to see QG live and they are a group who truly enjoys what they do, and their concerts have a sense of fun and delight that few classical performances have. Their CDs (I have them all) do capture some of that, and for that reason alone they're worth the attention of all classical music fans.

Average customer rating:

Slow Train Coming
Dylan's Greatest Moment In The Studio
Will it Convert Me? Probably Not, but it's Still Awfully Good Music
Praise the Lord
A Great Gospel Record

Slow Train Coming
Bob Dylan
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Saved
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Street Legal
Infidels

ASIN: B0000C8AVI
Release Date: 2003-09-16

Tracks:

Gotta Serve Somebody
Precious Angel
I Believe In You
Slow Train
Gonna Change My Way Of Thinking
Do Right To Me Baby
When You Gonna Wake Up
Man Gave Names To All The Animals
When He Returns

Customer Reviews:

Slow Train Coming.......2007-04-24

Slow Train Coming-Bob Dylan ****

Who saw it coming certainly not me. Bob Dylan a born and raised Jewish man who his entire career had songs dealing with his faith suddenly converted to Christianity. In 1978 Bob Dylan officialy converted to the Christian faith and has been devout ever since. In the process of embracing Jesus Christ as his lord and saviour he managed to write an entire album about it and a hit one at that. Slow Train coming would be the last hit Bob Dylan album for almost thirty years and it would also give him his last hit single of his career. Who knew that singing about the most contraversial subject ever could be turned into a massive success, only Dylan could make it happen.

After Slow Train Coming Dylan would go into a finger pointing faze preeching instead of spreading the word of his lord, but doing so with the threat of hellfire and brimstone and consequently losing a lot of his fan base in the process not that he cared. Slow Train Coming was a rare album and a rare moment in the history of Bob Dylan because we never saw him this happy, voulnerable, or inspired again in his career

With the exception of 'When You Gonna Wake Up' the album is mostly happy and up beat in praise and very possitive. The song 'When You Gonna Wake Up' was a sign of things to come in a negative way, becaus earound the corner was nothing but judgement from Dylan. Really it was nothing but albums of judgement. But being as this record was recorded with legendary hardcore Jewish producer Jerry Wexler (Ray Charles, Motown), I dont think the man would have stood for finger pointing. 'Gotta Serve Somebody' became Dylans last hit single of the 1970's as well as his last hit single of his career. It's got a very loose feel and is full of Jamacan influence and lots of heavy organ, it is easy to see why this became such a big hit. Throughout the album someone other then Bob Dylans musical abilities shine, and that is of Mark Knopfler of Dire Straights, yes the legandary axe slinger plays through out the album and is an asset to the team on tracks like 'Precious Angel' and 'Slow Train.' The former is amazing and would have fit well on Dire Straights debut. The later 'Slow Train' is quite simply one of the best songs that Bob Dylan has ever recorded in his life period.

Dylans lyrics have always been known for beig nothing short of brilliant, but on this album they seem and feel more inspired then usuall. That may be do to his new found faith. The imagery dipicted in his words are amazing and you feel like your there whitnessing Dylan speak to his lord right in front of you. 'Man Gave Names To All The Animals' does seem like nothing more then a childhood neursery rhyme but it does at nice texture to the album and lighten the mood a little as it is a nod to Noah and his ark.

Slow Train Coming is a must have for all fans of Dlyans work. It is his last essentail album for almost thirty years. After this Dylans albums were all hit or miss and even the decent ones are not essential and sound very dated. It wasnt until the late 1990's that Dylan did anything worth while. Since then he has released three albums that are among his best, Time Out Of Mind, Love And Theft, and Modern Times. Make Slow Train Coming apart of your Dylan collection.

Dylan's Greatest Moment In The Studio.......2007-04-24

"Shine your light, Shine your light on me"

On November 17, 1978, Bob Dylan picked up a silver cross that was tossed on stage by a fan at a concert in San Diego, California, that was nearly marking the end of a year-long tour. He then had a vision of Christ while in a Tuscon, Arizona, hotel room, and - at the final tour date in Miami, Florida - debuted a new song, Do Right to Me Baby (Do Unto Others), which began the merging of Dylan's new personal faith as a born-again Christian with his music to produce his greatest studio effort ever.

Released in August 1979, Dylan's trek into Christian teachings and philosophy are heard in the nine songs, that clock in at about 47 minutes, with the album reaching number three on the U.S. and number two on the U.K. album charts.

"I just can't make it by myself"

Though most of the instrumental focus is rightfully on the Muscle Shoals Horns and Mark Knopfler (g) & Pick Withers (d) of Dire Straits, the powerful background vocals of Carolyn Dennis, Helena Springs and Regina Havis place exclamation points on the powerful gospel numbers.

Gotta Serve Somebody does not skirt the stark consequences when a person willfully elects to pursue the avenues of evil. Precious Angel has an utterly beautiful melody and you will not hear as powerful a sermon from any pulpit as found in Gonna Change My Way Of Thinking. The guitar solos by Knopfler on Slow Train compliments the classic Dylan lyrics and America 2007 is found in When You Gonna Wake Up, as provocative a protest song - written for 1970s America - ever penned by Dylan.

"I'm a little too blind to see"

But the song, I Believe in You, which concerns being cast out due to unpopular religious beliefs, seemingly set the stage for a six-month tour - starting on November 1, 1979 - to promote the album. Dylan would not play older compositions - radio ads and other media material informed fans of the tour structure - and he oftentimes spent portions of the concerts lecturing hecklers who yelled out song requests or derided him for his Christian beliefs.

But what was lost in much of the critical noise then is Dylan's powerful messages of protest/patriotism, fellowship, friendship and love - themes that he had written about in the past - were given additional meaning when a rainbow of promise & hope appeared in his life. That he wanted to share his faith with others made his personal mission to spread the gospel even more wondrous.

Will it Convert Me? Probably Not, but it's Still Awfully Good Music.......2006-09-04

Praise the Lord.......2006-08-26

Great Gospel and inspiration from one of our most original artists. Great Wexler sound. Cant believe I found this album so revolting when I first heard it years and years ago. It is one of his best. Great backup female singers. This man's great inspiration comes from women as much as anything else.

A Great Gospel Record.......2006-05-20

Average customer rating:

A Very Pleasent Ride

Escape the Sun

Manufacturer: Slowtrain
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0007WP4N4
Release Date: 2003-10-07

Product Description

12 Tracks

Customer Reviews:

A Very Pleasent Ride.......2007-04-09

Another album from an Austin band that I stumbled upon and ended up liking quite a bit. A very nice and engaging sound centered around guitars and pianos. Actually, the music contains a lot of the same sounds you would hear on a lot of mainstream radio stations. Take a little Tom Waits and mix it with some Leon Redbone and toss in a little Randy Newman. Now that has to perk your curiosity some?

Average customer rating:

One of the best
If you don't know Norman's work but are interested
A sleeper.

Slow Train through Georgia
Norman Blake
Manufacturer: Rounder Select
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000003MD
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Fiddlers Dram/Whisky Before Breakfast
Slow Train Through Georgia
Old Grey Mare
Down Home Summertime Blues
Spanish Fandango
Randall Collins
Church Street Blues
Done Gone
Bully Of The Town
Nashville Blues
Ginseng Sullivan
Macon Rag
Nobody's Business
The Streamlined Cannonball
Cattle In The Cane
Little Joe
Weave And Way
Six White Horses
Richland Avenue (Front Porch Wood Pile) Rag
The Banks Of Good Hope/The Green Fields Of America
Colombus Stockade Blues
Down At Mylow's House

Customer Reviews:

One of the best.......2001-09-01

I do not yet own this CD, but am about to buy it. When I was in school, my roommate owned this CD. I liked it very much at the time. Now, whenever I hear any music in this genre, I always think, "Yes, this is nice, but I sure would rather be listening to that Norman Blake CD." Well, I've had enough wishing, I must own this CD. This CD is peerless, without a doubt on my list of CD's I'd want on a deserted island.

If you don't know Norman's work but are interested.......2001-06-18

This is a compilation from 3 of his albums, from '71,'76, and '84. It is a great CD and perhaps the best single one you can get to introduce you to the incomperable Mr. Blake's talent over a period of time. I absolutely guarantee you will like this CD.

A sleeper........1998-10-05

Rounder comes through again with great compilation. This one has one good number after another. Highly recommend.

Average customer rating:

Love of Vigilantes
VOL's "angry" record
Groaning, growling, snarling, yet thoughtful VOL
excellent!
Excellently LOUD, if somewhat frustrating

Slow Dark Train
Vigilantes of Love
Manufacturer: Volcano
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Audible Sigh
Killing Floor
Blister Soul
Summershine
Welcome to Struggleville

ASIN: B00005LMVV
Release Date: 1997-06-03

Tracks:

Locust Years
Tokyo Rose
Black Crow
Only a Scratch
Taking on Water
Points of My Departure
All the Mercy We Have Found
Version of the Truth
Sitting
Willingly
Facsimile
Love Cocoon
Hang on Every Word
Judas Skin

Customer Reviews:

Love of Vigilantes.......2004-03-29

After the Welcome To Struggleville CD, the Vigilantes Of Love released the harder sounding Blister Soul, in 1995. Then in '96 they came out with their compilation (best of). After that, they continued the hard rocking guitar sound of Blister Soul with 1997's "Slow Dark Train." The Vigilantes have always been hard rockers (except for their debut, "Jugular"), but with the "Blster Soul," and "Slow Dark Train" cds, they have put an emphasis on a heavier and louder guitar sound.

But both discs also have their acoustic (but still electric) quieter moments. On Slow Dark Train, there is "Only A Scratch," a haunting tune with strumming acoustic guitar backed by various other instruments including background vocals that sound like they're emanating from a far away, big, empty hall. Its not a negative song, but it has a sad melody. "I know I'm reeling, life it goes so fast, and I know I'm bleeding, but its only a scratch."

The heavy guitar rockers would be "Locust Years" (available, once again, as a single), "Tokyo Rose," "Black Crow," and "All The Mercy We Have Found." They were made to be played LOUD. So crank up your stereo and break out your electric air guitar (unless you have a real one, then I envy you).

The rest of the songs have great guitar work, but nothing crunching. Its the usual VOL sound that can be found on previous cds like "Driving The Nails," "Killing Floor," or "Welcome To Struggleville." In fact, the last cut, "Judas Skin," is acoustic enough to fit well on "Jugular."

The jumpy pop tunes from Slow Dark Train would definitely be "Version Of The Truth," and "Love Cocoon." The former is probably the best song on the cd. The latter was originally released on Jugular and was pumped up a bit to be included on this album. If you're a hard core fan, you can even get it as a single, again.

I'll sum up by saying that Slow Dark Train is a good album. But if you're a Vigilantes fan, you already know that. What you might not know is that they have a CD out called "My Year In Review." It has at least four songs included on it that are not on any other disc. It's available at Pastemusic.com.

The Vigilantes Of Love are one of the most talented bands that ever existed. My advice to you is to buy every one of there CDs that Amazon offers. Then crank up your sound system and enjoy.

VOL's "angry" record.......2001-10-18

Vigilantes of Love frontman Bill Mallonee has called Slow Dark Train his "testament to despair," and it fits. When the record isn't raging against corrupt record labels, false friends, and human nature itself, it finds Mallonee weeping in a motel room over his own fallenness and inability to follow the truth.

The opening triumverate--"Locust Years," "Tokyo Rose," "Black Crow"--is about is hard and angry as VOL is ever likely to be, but from there, the band retreats back into more identifiable territory with the Dylan-esque "Only a Scratch." Some songs work--"Points of My Departure" is a winner, and "Judas Skin" is Mallonee's most heartbreaking song to date--and some don't, like the painfully misplaced remake of "Love Cocoon" and "Hang on Every Word," which just can't decide where it's going. Still, Slow Dark Train is a fine album, and while the first-time listener will be better off with Killing Floor or Blister Soul, they should come to this one third.

Groaning, growling, snarling, yet thoughtful VOL.......2000-04-09

This album came as a shock to many longtime VOL fans. The opening chords of "Locust Years" are thunderous & pounding (very bass heavy.) Its not until track 4 "Only a Scratch" that the more melodic and folky side of VOL appears on this album. There are some fantastic, challenging songs on this album. Lead singer/songwriter/guitarist Bill Mallonee's words are just as potent as ever, and I like this album because I feel it contains some of his most challenging lyrics. Tracks like "Version of the Truth," "Sitting," "Willingly" and "Judas Skin" will shake you to the core if you deal honestly with yourself. With Mallonee, however, there's always balance. Hope is evident with songs like "All the Mercy We Have Found," & "Only a Scratch." The heaviness of this album is indicitive of the turmoil the band was experiencing during this time (record company troubles, etc...) Even in situations like that Mallonee is able to work his typical magic. I like to think of his philosophy as... "When life hands you a pile of crud, sculpt something beautiful out of it."

excellent!.......2000-01-04

This is a most excellent CD. I actually bought this after I bought 'To the Roof of the Sky' and found it unlike that CD in many ways. Initially I only liked a few of the songs. After I listened to it a few times I loved it as much as 'Roof.' My favorites are 'Judas Skin' and 'Hang on Every Word.' The songs are haunting and melancholic, much like 'To the Roof...' but in a different way.

Excellently LOUD, if somewhat frustrating.......1999-10-14

The V.O.L. album that MUST BE PLAYED LOUD to be appreciated! After the brilliantly produced masterpiece "Blister Soul" didn't make the big splash it deserved to, it appears V.O.L. had a lot less cash to work with on Slow Dark Train, their follow-up studio album. The band does their best to turn this to their advantage by cranking out Southern post-punk garage rock songs of despair held in check only by day-to-day faith in God. They mostly succeed, and the album is full of excellent hooks, in addition to Bill Mallonee's typically inspired lyrical genius: "I was drowning in/complancy's cheap perfume/yeah, licking my wounds..." is one of many indellible verses. Unfortunately, the somewhat canned sound of the album lets down the material at times -- several songs cry out to have the sonic force of Neil Young's "Mirror Ball" or "Ragged Glory" albums, others the polish of "Blister Soul," but SDT's production just doesn't quite hit that level. Two or three of the best songs here can be heard to much better effect on V.O.L.'s "Live at the 40 Watt."