Violent Femmes and Craft Recordings have teamed up to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the band's sophomore album, Hallowed Ground, with a special vinyl reissue.
Once considered an overlooked gem, Hallowed Ground has since emerged as a pivotal album in the Violent Femmes’ discography, influencing both post-punk and alt-country genres. Pre-orders for this highly anticipated reissue are available now (CLICK HERE), with the album available for purchase on November 8. This release offers fans a unique opportunity to rediscover the album that has played a significant role in shaping the band’s legacy and live performances over the years.
Released in May of 1984, Hallowed Ground was an artistic departure from the self-titled debut of the Violent Femmes. Their first album was jam-packed with catchy angst nuggets such as "Blister in the Sun" and "Add It Up," but Hallowed Ground was much darker and thematically more complex. Seamlessly weaving American roots music into the band's unique brand of folk-punk, it was a combination at once captivating and polarizing at the time.
Tracks like "Country Death Song" and "I Hear the Rain" revealed a band that could get into storytelling and atmospheric experimentation, representing a far more important step in their sound's evolution. "Country Death Song" is very eerie narration. "I Hear the Rain" goes into a gothic atmosphere, something that many alt bands tried for, but very few were able to execute quite right from the mid- to late-'80s. Yet those songs genuinely only tread the tip of the iceberg in terms of this album's many sonic landscapes. The other great ones are "Sweet Misery Blues" with an inkling of Lou Reed's influence and the more upbeat "Jesus Walking on the Water," a track that would become a concert staple for years to come. It also makes use of the contributions from banjo virtuoso Tony Trischka and avant-garde composer John Zorn for the experimental edge of the album's more unconventional tracks.
In addition to the standard black vinyl repress, the reissue includes four collectible color pressings: Green Smoke (available through vfemmes.com and craftrecordings.com), Orange Smoke (available at independent record stores), Azure Blue (available at Barnes & Noble), and Onyx (exclusive to Spotify’s Fans First program).
To commemorate the milestone, Violent Femmes are currently on a North American tour that kicked off with two electrifying shows in Northampton, MA, and will wrap up on October 9 at Nashville's Schermerhorn Symphony Center. These concerts offer fans a special chance to experience the band's ever-evolving artistry while celebrating the enduring power of Hallowed Ground. (SEE DATES BELOW)
Click here to pre-order or stream/download Violent Femmes' Hallowed Ground (40th Anniversary Edition).
Visit http://vfemmes.com for more information.
Violent Femmes’ Hallowed Ground Tour Dates:
8/13: Northampton, MA – The Pines Theater
8/14: Northampton, MA – The Pines Theater
8/16: Centre Wellington, ON, Canada – Riverfest Elora 2024
8/17: Lafayette, NY – Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards
8/18: Middlefield, CT – Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort
9/7: Copper Mountain, CO – Union Peak Festival 2024
9/8: Sandy, UT – Sandy Amphitheater
9/9: Sandy, UT – Sandy Amphitheater
9/21: Southwest, DC – HFStival 2024
9/26: Lake Buena Vista, FL – House of Blues Orlando
9/27: Pompano Beach, FL – Pompano Beach Amphitheater
9/28: St. Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live
9/29: St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre
10/1: Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall
10/2: Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater
10/4: Louisville, KY – Old Forester’s Paristown Hall
10/5: Asheville, NC – Rabbit Rabbit
10/6: Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Symphony Hall
10/8: Birmingham, AL – Avondale Brewing Company
10/9: Nashville, TN – Schermerhorn Symphony Center
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