The Violet Burning

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Fans of the Violet Burning, with their atmospheric, otherworldly, layered pop and Michael J. Pritzl's unique and evocative vocals, have for some years been wishing for a retrospective disc, especially since most of their earlier recordings are out of print. I Am A Stranger In This Place fits the bill perfectly, as some of the most beautiful songs from The Violet Burning, "Strength", and "Chosen" form the core of this compilation, with a couple of representative cuts from Demonstrates Plastic an Elastic and even a new composition, "Arabella", rounding it out. The kicker is that these are all new recordings of these previously-released songs. Thus, I Am A Stranger In This Place provides new emphases on, and differences from, the earlier versions, making this newly-recorded retrospective a good place for virgin Violet listeners and for long-time fans to hear old friends newly discovered. As always with the Violets, these are incredibly beautiful, absolutely ravishing sonic snapshots of faith, surrender, and devotion to Jesus. How blessed we are to have this available. Do your soul and your spirit a favor, and buy this.

The Violet Burning, Music, Stranger In This Place

Drop Dead
Average customer rating:
Drop Dead
The Violet Burning
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
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Violet Burning

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ASIN: B000E5N2NS
Release Date: 2005-11-03

Average customer rating:

Powerful Worship Album

Gets under your skin

The VB--still Christian music's undiscovered best

Faith and Devotions of a Satellite Heart
The Violet Burning
Manufacturer: Sovereign
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
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Demonstrates Plastic And Elastic

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ASIN: B0002060DY
Release Date: 2006-09-12

Tracks:

Invitacion Fountain
Clean (My God Has Rescued Me)
The Blood Of Jesus
Forty Weight
All Right
Nobody Else
Beautiful (I Cant Live Without You)
Maker Of The Stars
I Remember
Lord, Shine Your Light

Customer Reviews:

Powerful Worship Album.......2005-05-14

This is an excellent recording. My favorite thing about it is the candid and very meaningful lyrics of worship of the Lord. It is not a typical worship album. In my opinion, the lyrics are more meaningful, and the music is well, different. I LOVE it! You will find this album is slower paced than many of The Violet Burning's projects, and you might take some time to warm up to it, but once you do it will most likely be one of your favorites. A must have for anyone.

Gets under your skin.......2005-01-31

This CD was the first I heard by TVB, and at first I wasn't that taken with it. Honestly, I thought it was nice enough, but I thought it was a bit long and drawn-out.

My music tatse matured over a couple of years, and after seeing them live, I realised that this was one great band. The CD came alive, and these gentle original songs began to get under my skin.

"Clean", "Invitacion Fountain" and "Forty Weight" especially are absolutely fantastic songs. Beautifully recorded and arranged. Truly an "alternative" CD, with a very overtly praise-centred theme- this is well worth having in your collection.

The VB--still Christian music's undiscovered best.......2004-04-11

Let's say, if you are reading this review, you are one of three types of people: (1) not Christian, but interested in music and heard rumors about the Violet Burning; (2) Christian, interested in worship and living for God, but turned off by the plethora of pop worship CDs springing up everywhere; (3) somewhere in between, looking for something better than you currently have. Well, friends, you've hit the right group. No one (in any of the above categories) to whom I've lent any of my VB CDs has not liked them intensely. "Faith and Devotions" is probably VB's most overtly "worshipful" recording since "Strength" (their best recording, in my opinion). "Demonstrates Plastic and Elastic," "I Am a Stranger in this Place," and their self-titled release, all have a somewhat darker, more brooding sound (hence the frequent comparisons to The Cure and similar groups). This CD, on the other hand, just pours out the heart, whether it's broken, angry, or full of joy, and lifts the listener to God. Here's a listening tip: Don't listen just to the opening of the songs to see whether or not they sound catchy. In Mike Pritzl's style of songwriting, very often the real heart of the song, the hook that catches your spiritual core, comes somewhere around the middle to the end. Then you find yourself singing along, over and over ("Lord, my cup is empty--won't You come now and fill me up?" is a case in point). In case you haven't figured it out yet--I highly recommend this CD, as well as the others mentioned. (For "Strength," try E-Bay.)

Average customer rating:

Disappointing
Inspiring hypnotic punk-goth-metal-pop-new wave music
this is the moment I lost interest in this band

This Is The Moment
The Violet Burning
Manufacturer: Northern Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music
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Demonstrates Plastic And Elastic
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Drop Dead

ASIN: B0009AHKO0
Release Date: 2003-01-01

Tracks:

Lovesick
Everywhere I Go
Radio Jesus Superstar
Only One
I'm Not Letting Go
Heaven Holds My Heart
Lost Without You Near Me
Lord, Rescue Me
Slowa
I See Stars
Let It Begin
Manta Rae

Product Description

Playlist: LOVESICK, EVERYWHERE I GO, RADIO JESUS SUPERSTAR, THE ONLY ONE, I'M NOT LETTING GO, HEAVEN HOLDS MY HEART, LOST WITHOUT YOU NEAR ME, LORD RESCUE ME, SLOWA, I SEE STARS, LET IT BEGIN & MANTA RAE

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing.......2006-11-21

I saw the Violet Burning live the day before I bought 'This Is The Moment', and based on their passionate, rocking performance that night,was convinced that this would be their best album to date.

I was confused when I actually heard the record, though.

Both the arrangements and mixing are depressingly similar to the ubiquitous, insipid adult-contemporary 'rock' on corporate radio [similar to Matchbox 20's production, for example]- everything is safely packaged and bland, no one element stands out too much in the mix except the sparkling vocals. Sam West of the bands Stavesacre and Scaterd Few was drumming for the Violet Burning on this record, yet most of the tracks predominantly feature cheesy drum machine programming instead of live drums, and the precious few live drums are mixed down so far that they don't lend much power to the songs anyway. This was a shameful waste of a talented musician who would have given some life and animation to the album if they'd have only let him shine.

Most of the songs themselves are good, and some are among the best the Violets have ever written, in my opinion ['Lovesick' and 'Slowa', particularly]. However, they sound light years better when played live than they do on this CD, because they're real, sweaty, passionate, imperfect, and most of all they ROCK.

Inspiring hypnotic punk-goth-metal-pop-new wave music.......2006-02-28

I've followed the Violets for many, many years. The Violet Burning is basically Mike Pritzl and whatever musician happens to be in the general vicinity. Another reviewer has indicated that their sound and ideas are dated, etc. But honestly, how much has AC/DC or Aerosmith or Yanni or anyone else REALLY changed over the years? The Violet Burning found their own distinctive sound early on and tweak it only slightly for each release. Why should they change it? Their sound is STILL unique after all these years and still a powerful medium for communicating Mike's emotional psalmic song-writing. This particular offering from Mike and the boys is surprisingly brooding AND hopeful at the same time. Howdidtheydothat? I've never heard the Violets quite like this. Usually their music and lyrics border on tragic melancholy, but this release is undergirded with a happy hope. So, this release, musically and lyrically, is as good as anything else that the VB has put out and that's saying a lot. If you are a long time fan and understand the nature of the Violet Burning music, you will be touched by this outing. I dare you not to weep during Manta Ray. I dare you! If you are not into inspiring hypnotic punk-goth-metal-pop-new wave music, then by all means don't buy this. If you ARE into weird rawk music, then you should check this band out and give it more than one listen. The VB music and mayhem takes some getting used to, sort of like wrestling with God.

this is the moment I lost interest in this band.......2006-02-23

i have to say that there is always a point where a band or solo musician loses new ideas and inspiration and continues making albums to satisfy label contract agreements. sadly, the violets (or violet) have wilted and are no longer in bloom. their earlier albums were much better that this or the 2006 release. save your money and buy something better.

Throne of Grace - Touching the Father's Heart #12

Average customer rating:

Throne of Grace - Touching the Father's Heart #12

Manufacturer: Vineyard Ministries
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

Praise & Worship | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music
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I Bow Down / Throne of Grace - Touching the Father's Heart (Live Worship)

ASIN: B0006HILYY

Average customer rating:

Sometimes Even Plastic is Elastic

Demonstrates Plastic And Elastic
The Violet Burning
Manufacturer: Northern Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Christian Rock | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

Christian Alternative | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

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Drop Dead

ASIN: B0000BY7P1
Release Date: 2000-06-24

Tracks:

Elaste
Moon Radio
Berlin Kitty
She Says Electric
I'm No Superman
Oceana
Sugarlight U.S.A.
Ilaria
Robot Fluide Robot
Gorgeous
We Close Our Eyes
Seamonster

Customer Reviews:

Sometimes Even Plastic is Elastic.......2003-12-28

The Violet Burning's "Demonstrates Plastic and Elastic," a sneak-up-on-you and amazing classic may not work for everbody, but I believe that anybody who gives it a chance and time will eventually see it work its way into your life few like few other musical offerings can even begin to. The Violet Burning's fourth full length release, builds on and transcends all that went before: "Chosen"'s groundbreaking passion; "Strength," the first and finest modern worship album (only eight years ahead of its time), and the self-titled CD's grungy, gut-wrenching (and guitar-wrenching), brutally honest psalms and heartbreak.

The pressing and practical problem for record-store folks is where to file this CD..which is precisely the genius and point of this offering. Is it rock or is it worship? Yes. Is it punk or ballad? Believe it or not; both/and! No contradiction; just paradox. Or maybe a contradiction..but who cares? But the real genre breakdown, and interpretive key to this layered and intriguing work is spelled out as early as the title ("Is this CD plastic or elastic?" "Yes, both, precisely)" Michael Pritzl, who basically "is" the Violets, was inspired to have his band cut this CD after returning from Berlin and seeing a sign reading "Plaste und Elaste"..that is, "Plastic and elastic." This sign triggered his thoughts that life, relationships, romance and faith are sometimes divided into "plastic" experiences and songs (fun, maybe superficial and throwaway party stuff), and "elastic" items (flexible, fluid, stretching, deep, profound, emotional to the max). So about half the songs are at heart "plastic": fun, rollicking rockers like "Moon Radio," "Berlin Kitty", "I'm No Superman".."new-wavish" songs and "single jingles" that stick like crazy in your head, and are all incredible on CD; and triply more so in concert; but songs I confess sometimes only preface the real treat of this disc: the "other half": the very "elastic" and ultimately astonishing, elongated, ethereal beautiful and at times almost-impossible to deal with emotive "feeling" songs; both in lyric and guitar. Like "She Says Electric" (a song about ..among other things, that is..remember that plastic "stretches" thematically) what a friend told Pritzl it feels like to be lost in worship": I am electric..face to the sun." Like "Oceana," (about ..on some listenings and levels anyway..how another friend leads him closer to God; and "Gorgeous" (most days my favorite song of basically, well..nothing less than all time..tied with "Goldmine" from the previous VB CD and "Song of the Harlot" from "Strength") ....a song I believe invokes how God feels about us: "I feel so much the distance in your eye..You won't catch me that way.. You're gorgeous".

But it's the last two songs, "We Close Our Eyes",the memorial to the band's former producer and mentor Chris Wimber (son of founding Vineyard pastor, John), taken from life at an all-too-early age. How could one truly listen and engage the promise of the hushed lyric and not believe it: "We're not alone..We're going to live forever." And I dare you not to take Pritzl literally when he recommends that "we close our eyes" while soaking up this song. Try on "Seamonster" (about God casting our sins in the deepest sea, and remembering them no more"; "eating" our sins like a seamonster..what?) that transport me even higher and deeper into Kingdom reality,and can move me to tears and hear-rending intercession and on-my-face worship....Indeed, I am electric and can't be interrupted when these two closing tracks unfurl, shimmer, build, swirl their way into me in an unhurried and other-worldly vibe, and in the words of bassist Herb Grimaud, Jr, "take you on a journey every time."

And what to do with one of the most discussed songs on the bands website:,"Ilaria." Frankly, I think every song in the VB catalog has an element of God talking to us in the lyrics(Even if it "seems" at first to be about a human relationship or event, or even a throway "plastic" moment) . In "Ilaria"'s line, "I kind of like it when you sway", I think this is directed to God. Pritzl has admitted being fascinated with a literal translation of the Hebrew of Genesis 1, where the Spirit is "swaying," "hovering" or "moving" over us. Much of this CD evokes for me what it may be like to sway and move with God, a place we don't often let our hearts take us. And the infectious "robotic dancing" of "Robot Fluide Robot" is a creative synthesis of "plastic" instrumentation and "elastic" lyric. "Sugarlight USA," perhaps another plastic/elastic combo, is arguably about addiction, David Bowie's "Major Thom" persona, a critique of American culture , alienation, television and (inevitably) our God-images ... all at once.

Fans of the earlier three CDs, and the three later CDs, will find this CD an indispensable crucible, landmark, and launching pad. A band captured on the rebound from an intense, heartbreaking season, full of joy..full of..well, plastic momnets where there is no shame or guilt in reckless abandonment to a (not really)disposable dance number...and glorious, evocative "elastic" pilgrimamges and pilgrimmages . The lyrics..of the elastic pieces, anyway,,are not inmediately accessible (a different animal altogether from some of the more recent worship and pop numbers) and are right-brain impressionistic invitations to explore life, God, ones own bare heart and relationships,..and like good art, will mean different things to different listeners..which of course is an "elastic" quality.

Opening with, and briefly closing with a worshipful pouring out of ones naked longing and vulnerability before God "Lay Your hands now on me..Let your love cover me".... first accomapanied with ear-splitting punk riffs, and finally with barely audible organ, purposefully frame this whole CD event as authentic, creative , and fresh worship, the like of which is found nowhere else I know.. For who else could weave plastic and elastic, let the twain creatively meet, and couch it in profound worship..even though some may note detect a note of worship until a third or fourth listen! I may be a sucker for ethereal guitars and extended vibe and drone (a genre the later Violets may not visit as much) , but to me, when fused with the uncompromisingly honest and pasionate heart of Michael Pritzl and company , I admit with no shame that such has midwifed many a holy moment with God and others in my life. Whether you like droning guitars or not, if you prayerfully let this CD into your life, including those dark soul-recesses, you'll likely find , in the langauge of "Fluide" , "we're all the same"...desperate vagabonds sniffing for , in the lyric of "Elaste", "something strong to fill our hole."

Having said and accoladed all that, in a sense, this disc is almost incomprehensible without the context of its predesssor, the self-titled CD ( a true masterpiece, a word I would not quite apply to "P and E"... though you noted I began this essay with an easy "classic" rating and 5 stars), because it is only most fully seen and tasted in the light of finding ones way back from near despair, and finding God blesses us with both plastic and elastic foretastes of unspeakable joy..which Michael Pritzl in an apostolic way can begin to articulate and speak for us.

Average customer rating:

I can't believe these guys aren't famous!
Brilliant
A masterpiece!
I second that.
"Pour Yourself Like Water Over Me..."

Violet Burning
The Violet Burning
Manufacturer: Domo Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Christian Alternative | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

Christian Contemporary Music | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
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This Is The Moment

ASIN: B000005WNE
Release Date: 1996-02-20

Tracks:

Crush
Arabic Tremolo Radio
Blind
Fever
The Sun And The Sky
Underwater
Low
Silver
Goldmine
Waiting
Eleven
Feel

Album Description

On their debut release, Violet Burning expands their epic alternative rock sound with sweeping soundscapes and intense personal lyrics.

Customer Reviews:

I can't believe these guys aren't famous!.......2006-03-21

This album has everything that rock n' roll is made of! And extreme talent, all the way. The best songs are 'blind', 'silver', and 'goldmine'; but the best song is 'underwater'...that song can take you right to heaven. The feelings in all these songs are so real that you would never guess that they're actually talking about God.

Brilliant.......2005-01-31

When I first heard this album, I was scared out of my wits. I'd heard some of TVB's later stuff, and this was quite a shock to the system!

Songs like "Crush" and "Fever" made me genuinely uncomfortable, but aftera few listens, I found the whole thing quite enchanting and oddly beautiful for something so loud and raw.

There are some real gems hidden among the raging feedback- not least the fan favourite, "Goldmine" which is just pure genius.

Clearly a milestone for the band, this album is a real standout, and one worth having if you are into the heavier end of things. Emo, feedback rock- whatever it is, it's great. It even got a song on MTV rotation ("The Sun and the Sky").

A masterpiece!.......2004-09-11

I wouldn't give this cd 5 stars if I didn't feel like it deserved it. It ranks right up there with The Prayer Chain's - Mercury album.

The songs are so full of emotion and personal reflection. It is 65 minutes of soul searching. It's loud. It's quiet. It's hard. It's soft. It truly has a bit of everything a rock masterpiece should have.

If you are someone that hurriedly scans an album for the best songs, then you should skip on this cd. I am not saying you won't find a song you like, but you might not appreciate the whole picture that is so vividly painted from beginning to end.

If you like this album also check out The Prayer Chain's - Mercury album. Andy Prickett the guitarist for The Violet Burning also plays on that album.

I second that........2003-11-23

This CD is amazing. Period. Buy this now.

"Pour Yourself Like Water Over Me...".......2003-05-09

If I were stuck on a desert island and could only take 10 CDs with me, I would take this one without a second thought. Sonically, it is one of the most incredible albums I have ever heard. It falls in the same genre as the Cure and Echo & the Bunnymen with its post-punk flavor; the sheer beauty of songs such as "Silver" and "Goldmine" easily equals the best material of either of those bands.

Unlike both bands, however, the Violet Burning surpasses them with the sheer depth of their music. These songs are genuinely deep; they are genuinely spiritual. Michael Pritzl, the lead singer, knows how to write a song that melds perfectly with the lyrics that he mostly sings, sometimes yells, and sometimes mumbles. The album starts with the emotional "Crush" before continuing with "Arabic Tremolo Radio," a song whose beauty I will always marvel at. The solo at the end of "Arabic..." - and I can only say this about a few songs, such as U2's LiveAid version of "Bad" - left me (and leaves me) with goosebumps and a silence that is rarely evoked by most songs, let alone most bands. The Violet Burning, for lack of a better word, "forces" the listener to truly listen: "Underwater" and the rocking "Low" are, like the rest of album, songs that you have to pay attention to. The CD ends with "Feel"; after finishing the CD some 65 minutes later, the listener feels as if s/he has been on an emotional-spiritual journey with Pritzl and the rest of the band. It begins with pain, traverses dark Psalm-like territory, reaches its darkest point with "Low", reminisces with "Silver" and "Goldmine", and ends open-ended with "Feel". However, this open-ended-ness should not be taken as being despair; rather, there is a type of hope that undergirds the entire album and asks itself at the end of the CD.

The songs are heavy on dynamics. They range between quiet and loud; the dynamics play off of each other to give the songs genuine contrast. Different effects are also employed throughout the song - it isn't the same distortion or lead guitar effect that you hear on every chorus. The result is music that comes across as refeshingly fresh. It's new; it's different. The songs flow as they desire; as lead guitarist Andy Prickett once said, their philosophy is that "the song is boss." Such a philosophy genuinely shows.

This album impresses. If you can get it, then do, as it will be worth your money. Hopefully they will get signed to a major label again at some point and release more CDs with the same stunning, sonic and spiritual force as this one.

Strength
Average customer rating:
Strength

Manufacturer: Bluestone Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000FICSUW