Pauper Dreams by Bill Mallonee

~ PAUPER DREAMS ~ (formerly "Recent Demos")
Why is this album important?

It was recorded on 1 & 4 track machines. A "vibe" that is immediate and compelling, I think.

This was the FIRST set of pre-WPA demos I did after VoL's demise.
Very happy with the tracks. Mostly short songs, they capture the garage spontaneity i was striving for in my work at the time...
In some ways, "Talk Around" & "Never Be Another Like You" are as good as any garage recording could be. It's what i love,anyway, about garage-indie bands. Immediate, passionate...and possessing a certain magic.

"With Souls As Big As Western Skies," is one set of the most chilling set of lyrics I've ever written. Still love. They grapple with failure, real & imagined and wrestle with a God Who seems absent, distant.
"Brand New Skin" is a paean to my mother Mary Alice who had recently gone to be with the Lord. I built an other-world quality into it. Lose, imprecise in a very studied way, i think a lot of this was inspired by Big Star's 3rd album. (Big Star 3)

What you're hearing on this "Pauper Dreams" are the first stirrings of a new way of working, delivered in a new format that has become dear to me for it's immediacy and heart-on-sleeve qualities. i think these excursions have made me a better lyricist, a better guitarist and better writer...and it all started here.
Peace,
bill
-Footnote to the 2 Bonus Tracks-
These last two songs, "Shit P.A." & "How Much Longer Will You hang Around?," are analog 1 track DAT player recordings. "Live" in a cluttered room. Primitive. The first installment of a sound (pre-WPA) that began to surface on as a solo artist. You write, learn, take a breath and DO NOT overt think a one-track-one take recording.

Muriah & I recorded this shortly after we were married. We were living in a lil' house in Athens, Ga., a rental from some church friends. The house was situated near a large park, which we strolled in daily. I think we've found that Nature wields an intangible power over our spirits. When ever we feel depressed about eeking out a living as a writer, I am reminded that there are no guarantees. Poverty (& her sister, "Oblivion,") are friends I think I know on a first-name basis. I count it all joy on some days & skip thinking about it on others.

Sober denial can be a studied faith, all to itself.

Anyway these 2 songs showed up, were chased, written & recorded pretty fast. Muriah navigates really well on harmonies, considering we rehearsed them maybe twice before grabbing what i feel was a good take.
enjoy,
bill

Tracklist

1.	TALK AROUND	2:57

2.	NEVER BE ANOTHER LIKE YOU	5:01

3.	(WITH SOULS AS BIG AS) WESTERN SKY	3:42

4.	BRAND NEW SKIN	3:59

5.	OTHER SIDE OF THE WRECKING BALL	6:33

6.	HOW MUCH LONGER WILL YOU HANG AROUND?	5:52

7.	CRAP P.A.	5:02

Credits

released August 18, 2013

Bill Mallonee: guitars, vocals, keyboards, drums, harmonica

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