The Violet Burning Drop-Dead (Northern) Released February 2006 reviewed by Christa Banister

Sounds like … a blast from The Violet Burning's alt-rock past with the innovative, new wave sensibilities of 1998's Demonstrates Plastic and Elastic.

At a glance … it's great to hear The Violet Burning doing what it does best—moody, creative alt-rock with a Christian worldview

If absence truly makes the heart grow fonder, then maybe that's the reason The Violet Burning's Michael Pritzl decided to return to his alt-rock roots. Whatever the reason for the change in style, Drop-Dead marks a welcome return to form after the more worship-oriented fare we've heard on previous outings. And with Gabriel Wilson of The Listening (formerly Rock 'n' Roll Worship Circus) adding his quirky electronic touches to the mix, the project has plenty of surprising musical twists with beats that rock one moment, or would make a great club track the next.

As far as the actual songs go, "Humm" may start off things with a fuzzy guitar line, but it clearly sets the tone of the album with searching lyrics that ultimately point the listener back to God. "All my life/I'm looking for light I cannot find within me/Hold me now/I think I'm breaking." Continuing in the same moody but hopeful vein is "All I Want," which quickly transitions into an anthem that's armed with a catchy chorus and plenty of soaring guitars and piano to keep the song from creeping into downright depressing territory.

Just when you think you may have the formula all figured out, "Do You Love Me?" and "Already Gone" both throw a curve ball in the mix with the frenetic pacing and too-cool-for-the-room attitude akin to Franz Ferdinand or something from the latest Strokes album. Yet despite the comparisons, The Violets still manage to make the songs their own, with far better lyrics to boot.

The only track that feels out of place on Drop-Dead is "Rewind," which sounds like a trippy B-side from The Postal Service that never really goes anywhere musically or lyrically. That misstep aside, the disc largely succeeds with highly enjoyable songs that keep listeners entertained and encouraged from beginning to end.

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The Violet Burning Drop-Dead (Northern) Released February 2006 reviewed by Christa Banister