The Violet Burning
The Violet Burning Demonstrates Plastic and Elastic
Reviewed by Doug Van Pelt
This new album, which started out as a cassette-demo that we reviewed in these pages, received such a warm response that the band decided to go back in and master and release as a CD. Unlike the band's previous three albums, this one comes without national retail distribution (ie. it's indie). Musically it's pretty close to the self-titled third album, but some of the pop song sensibilities from Chosen can be slightly felt. Lyrically, Mike Pritzl seems to ride the line between spiritual and sensual a la Bono. "Berlin Kitty" is a good example of this. Then "Elaste," the lead-off track, starts off with very worshipful phrases of, "Lay your hands now on me / let your love cover me / Sing your sweet songs to me." It's reminiscent of those early albums, and it comes back as a hidden-track reprise at the album's end. To order, send $12 to: PO Box 30778, Long Beach CA 90853