drop-dead

Description

drop-dead is a studio album by the American alternative rock band The Violet Burning, released on Northern Records in 2006.

We’re all drowning… in sin, in despair, in stress, in doubt. The Violet Burning’s Michael Pritzl has always acknowledged this through honest songwriting, and with his latest release, drop-dead, he offers a lush, lifesaving album to rescue weary souls in search of Spiritual dry land.

The disc begins in a semi-sonic underwater setting. Waves of distorted guitar and whitecaps of deep-toned, tribal drums undulate at the start of the disc’s opener, «Humm». “Turn out all the lights and let’s begin/ Switch on all the dark and let the music spin…” Pritzl pleads before diving into the deep to throw resuscitative arms around the listless listener. He grasps on tight and smoothly guides plugged ears and hushed hearts upward toward the surface where more healing words and melodies await.

drop-dead is a return to roots of sorts for The Violet Burning. After the “kinder, gentler,” white-themed Northern Records release This is the Moment (2003) – with its near radio-friendly hooks and brighter production – Pritzl has again embraced the delicious darkness that has made The Violet Burning longtime indie rock heroes of alternative Christian rock. Within those shadows of human nature, Pritzl reaches heavenward to seek and find solace in the One who knows the challenges of earthly existence: Jesus, the central saving figure most often referred to in the psalm-like lyrics Pritzl pens: “Yeah, you’re my heart, you’re my home” («One Thousand Years»); “Will you carry me? You’re all I want” («All I Want»); “All my life, I’m looking for light I cannot find within me / Hold me now, I think I’m breaking” («Humm»).

The glorious, “my-speakers-can’t-handle-this-intensity” glam of «Do You Love Me», the mesmerizing key-drone and swelling build of «More», and the underground New Wave pulse of «Rewind» prove that The Violet Burning’s best work is decidedly ahead, not behind. Pritzl’s choice of studio musicians who share his vision for authentic art and audio transcendence (VB live drummer Jason lord Mize, The Listening’s keysman Josiah Sherman, and tracking gurus The Glitter Twins [a.k.a. Gabriel Wilson and Chris Greely of The Listening]) propels drop-dead into the stratosphere, orbiting in the company of previous brilliant VB efforts, including Strength and The Violet Burning.

Surrender to this album; surrender to the Spirit that inspired it. Recommended if you like The Cure, T. Rex, U2, The Listening, Cush. [Greg Adams, The Phantom Tollbooth, 5/24/06]

American rockers The Violet Burning are, as every self respecting Christian rock buff should know, one of the pionees of spiritual alternative rock though in their 15 years they have never been exactly prolific in their output. Michael Pritzl, the driving force of the band, has written all the songs and plays the vast majority of the instruments on their latest outing. However, it is his voice that is noticed first. Defying comparison – the nearest would be Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys if he sang rock – Michael goes for the gentlest of whispers to the loudest scream without effort and brings life and passion to all the tracks. Don’t look here for simple heart on your sleeve God lyrics. Instead find excellent rock with God in its soul. For those that are already familiar with their previous releases, you won’t be disappointed by their return to a more cutting rock sound over those pervasive synths. A definite must have album. [Tim Holden, Cross Rhythms, July 2006]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/drop-dead/553146889)

CD tracklist:

01. Humm – 5:17
02. All I Want – 4:02
03. Do You Love Me? – 3:26
04. Already Gone – 3:55
05. More – 5:40
06. Swan Sea – 3:50
07. Eleanor – 3:42
08. Rewind – 3:41
09. Blown Away – 4:10
10. Trans – 0:41
11. The Ends Begin – 7:00
12. One Thousand Years – 6:46

Note: Available at Bandcamp: https://northernrecords.bandcamp.com/album/drop-dead