Check out the new concept album from Rusty Shipp!
Check out the new concept album from Rusty Shipp!

JFH Music Review


The Violet Burning, The Violet Burning (
The Violet Burning
The Violet Burning ("Lipstick and Dynamite Wonder")



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 12 tracks: 64 minutes, 58 seconds
Street Date: 1996


Many Violet Burning fans point to the band's self-titled release as their greatest album and they can certainly make a strong case. Musically eerie and mysterious are some of the few descriptions I can give to this album. Throughout the album, the music is dark and more meditative than future releases such as This Is The Moment.

The opener, "Crush," begins hauntingly and almost brings the listener to the beginning of time. By the end of it, Michael J. Pritzl's voice and the music collide into a spectacular cascade of sound. The second song, "Arabic Tremolo Radio" continues the mystifying experience, with riveting guitar and an oozing marriage of emotional vocals. "Blind" slows down the pace and is a reflective song, "What went wrong?/ How come I stayed here?/ Far away from the light in your eye/I couldn't help it, I couldn't find your love." "Fever," arguably the catchiest song on the entire album, is the complete opposite of the previous track with screaming guitars and screaming vocals. "The Sun and the Sky," the only song that was turned into a music video, is a rock and roll love song ("So you be the sun/and I'll be the sky") with jangling, noisy guitars.

The following songs are more contemplative. "Underwater" evokes Biblical imagery, "When we walked on water/We were perfect/Decided to go," and Pritzl seems to ruminate over his actions while staying true to the song's underwater theme: "Have I gone too far?/Lately, it's more than just a little bit hard/Cause I'm caught underwater breathing/Breathing is hard." The next song, "Low," clocks in at 7:59 and is another edgy rocker. "Silver" is a mellower love song, with the Icarus myth permeating throughout, "We were the lovers with silver wings/Flying too high/Melting in the rays of the sun." "Goldmine" is another standout song featuring Pritzl's vulnerable vocals pleading for a love, "Don't turn away, please, just let me inside you." The next track, "Waiting," has terrific warbling guitars and the lyrics are blunt and honest, "If you look inside you'll see I'm not/I'm not what you would want." The album tends to tail off with "Eleven," the shortest track, which lacks musical or lyrical flair. Finishing off the release is the longest song, "Feel," which could have probably been trimmed down by a couple of minutes.

Although a fantastic work of art, The Violet Burning's self-titled release lacks any sort of catchy songs that are present in their later albums. Despite this, The Violet Burning's self-titled release is an extra-worldly journey through stunning sounds and deep lyrics. Lead singer and mastermind behind the band, Michael J. Pritzl, has an uncanny ability to sound strong and vulnerable at the same time. While The Violet Burning is typically recognized as an alternative Christian band, this album succeeds in creating a spiritual experience that does not anchor itself down to mainstream Christian music, which makes it more appealing to all.

JFH Reader Review: Review date: 3/28/09, written by Alex Strohschein for Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

 

. Record Label: Domo Records
. Album length: 12 tracks: 64 minutes, 58 seconds
. Street Date: 1996
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Crush (6:28)
  2. Arabic Tremolo Radio (4:51)
  3. Blind (5:21)
  4. Fever (4:20)
  5. The Sun And The Sky (4:48)
  6. Underwater (5:37)
  7. Low (7:58)
  8. Silver (4:39)
  9. Goldmine (5:17)
  10. Waiting (4:47)
  11. Eleven (2:13)
  12. Feel (8:38)

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

                 
Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

Search JFH



This Friday, June 27, 2025
ALBUMS
7eventh Time Down We Praise You [BEC]
The Browns 25th Anniversary: Better Days Ahead [StowTown]
Franni Cash Wild Child - EP [Capitol CMG]
Matt Crocker interlude [Anotherland]
Jimmy Fortune Songs of an American Dreamer [Gaither]
Roxanne Grace Road Trip - EP [DREAM]
JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise The Live Reunion: Washington, DC [James Town]
Kutless The Seventh Seal - EP [BEC]
Evvie McKinney It Ain't Over - EP (independent)
Rusty Shipp Capsized Empire (independent)
SEU Worship A Forgiving God [Provident]
The Shimmering Carnelians The Doorway (Version 2.0) (independent)
We Are Messengers A Thousand Times - EP [Curb]

SINGLES
Anchor & Braille Rattlesnake - Single [Equal Vision]
ANTHNY imposter syndrome - Single [Provident]
Blanca Right On Time - Single [Curb]
Landry Cantrell & Elenee sunshine & rainbows - Single [DREAM]
Eddie Clark Never Content - Single [Syntax]
Colony House Atomic - Single [Roon]
Megan Danielle Preachin' To The Choir - Single [Provident]
Drea LP & OnBeatMusic Don't Try Me (DTM) - Single [Syntax]
Joseph Habedank Running to Me - Single [Daywind]
Lonnie Hunter Flow (Like A River) - Single [Uncle G]
Kashh Kade HELP - Single [Syntax]
KB x KEANU Keanu's Song - Single [Provident]
Tasha Layton Singing In the Dark - Single [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard The Hand That Keeps Holding - Single [Motown Gospel]
Tim Lovelace Celebration of America Medley (feat. Charlie McCoy) - Single [StowTown]
Lecrae Tell No Lie (feat. Jackie Hill Perry) - Single [Reach]
LO Worship The Perfect Love of Jesus - Single [Integrity]
Patrick Mayberry Thank The Lord - Single [Provident]
Michael Monroe John The Baptist (feat. Chris Renzema) - Single [Provident]
Alexander Pappas A Great Awakening / Un Nuevo Despertar - Single [Integrity]
PEABOD Summer in Seattle - Single [RMG Amplify]
Rave Jesus Walk On The Water Remix (From The Chosen) - Single [Provident]
The Rocky Valentines Nat Song - Single [Velvet Blue]
Saints In Exile & Cutright My Dead End (ft. Jeannie Ortega, Luc DiMarzio, Jericko) - Single [Syntax]
Emilie Weiss Take Care (Studio Sessions) - Single [BEC]

DVD
Jimmy Fortune Songs Of An American Dreamer DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, July 4, 2025
ALBUMS
Chad Cory America [DREAM]
Tenielle Neda The Way Of Love [Wings]

SINGLES
Christian Back Now - Single [DREAM]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images