Chosen

Description

Chosen is the debut album by the American alternative rock band The Violet Burning, released on New Breed Music in 1989, a division of Vineyard Music Group, distributed by Frontline Distribution. The album was recorded and mixed by Chris Wimber at Vineyard Studios in Anaheim, California; with Wimber and the band producing.

With this highly-crafted and well produced debut, the violet burning has accomplished in one album what it takes most bands three and four albums to accomplish; creating a unique musical niche that has commercial grounding in the pop trends of the moment. Taking full advantage of the groundbreaking efforts of Peter Gabriel and Murphy among others, ‘Chosen’ goes the high-tech new music route, adding with varying degrees of success a populist lead guitar sound. Vocalist/lyricist Michael J. Pritzl, who often writes in a first person voice of God, and this violet burning, is at his best when taking an aggressive, passionate stance, as in «Love is the Loaded Gun», «The Last Ones» and «Groove Baby-White Soul». Just as sure as Murphy’s «Cut You Up» is the surprise hit of American commercial radio, the violet’s «If You Let Me», with its Sly Stone “I’ll take you higher, higher,” will take Christian radio with storm.

Pritzl’s is a welcome voice, and ‘Chosen’, with its broad scope, yet definitive direction, may well be the strongest debut of the beginning of the new decade. Proof, in and of itself, that alternative Christian music has come of age, overcoming nay sayers and seemingly insurmountable odds. Ten, even five, years ago bands could not have come up with debuts this satisfying from artistic and production standards.

The violet burning bring a poetically satisfying and aurally exciting new presence into the Christian rock arena, one that opens the door to music’s future. [Brian Q. Newcomb, CCM, August 1990]

The fact that it’s taken nearly two years to see this gem of an album released in the UK should not deter lovers of quality rock music. Dubbed an ‘alternative’ band by America’s Christian music industry (meaning they sound more like the 77s and Choir than Michael W Smith and Petra) their billowing, droning, eery sound has dated not an iota while the lyrics pitched artfully at the spiritual seeker bite with all the power of an encounter with the utterly convinced. Michael Pritzl’s lead voice is a wonderous hoarse bellow on the rockers and hoarseley soulful on the climatic ballads, The guitar work from the guys, be it open hired drone (ala Choir) or funk rhythm on «If You Let Me» is mean and nasty. The best cuts are the heavy metalish «Love Is A Loaded Gun», the strutting «Groove Baby ~ White Soul» and the truly devastating ballad The Killing”. In the States there’s a new Violet Burning album out but catch this one first. [Tony Cummings, Cross Rhythms, October 1991]

CD tracklist:

01. There Is Nowhere Else – 4:30
02. If You Let Me – 3:41
03. I Will Always Stand By You – 4:31
04. Rise Like The Lion – 4:37
05. Love Is The Loaded Gun – 4:47
06. The Killing – 6:47
07. The Last Ones – 5:09
08. Groove Baby – White Soul – 3:16
09. Violet – 3:56
10. Sweet Mercy – 4:16
11. Heart Wide Open – 4:01
12. New Breed Children Rise – 3:15

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by New Breed Music.

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An advertisement for the New Breed Music label – featuring debut albums Chosen by The Violet Burning and Free by Chris Lizotte – was published in the April 1991 issue of CCM Magazine.

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