Phoenix New Times, in a 30-year anniversary look-back, called the album the band's "finest musical effort" and praised Gano's lyrics as his "definitive moment as a lyricist." They also stated the album was an early predictor of the alternative country movement. Brian Ritchie was interviewed in 2018 about the album's divisive legacy: Ritchie later revealed Hallowed Ground was the band's favorite album, and singled out "Never Tell" as his favorite song to play. Track listing Personnel Violent Femmes Gordon Gano – vocals, acoustic guitar (1, 2, 4, 7, 9), electric guitar (3, 5, 6, 8), violin (4) Brian Ritchie – acoustic bass (1, 2, 4, 7, 9), electric bass (3, 5, 6, 8), slide bass (8), celesta (5), marimba (2), jews' harp (8), vocals (2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9) Victor DeLorenzo – tranceaphone (1, 2, 4, 7, 8), acoustic and electric drum kits (1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9), stompatron (8), percussion (8), vocals (all songs except 1) Additional musicians Mark Van Hecke – piano on "Hallowed Ground" and "It's Gonna Rain", organ on "I Know That It's True but I'm Sorry to Say" Tony Trischka – banjo on "Country Death Song" and "It's Gonna Rain" Christina Houghton – autoharp on "Jesus Walking on the Water" Peter Balestrieri – vocals on "Jesus Walking on the Water", tenor saxophone on "Black Girls", harmonica on "It's Gonna Rain" Cynthia Gano Lewis – vocals on "Jesus Walking on the Water" Drake Scott – cornetto on "Black Girls", sackbut on "Sweet Misery Blues" John Zorn – alto saxophone, clarinet and game calls on "Black Girls" John Tanner – clarinet on "Sweet Misery Blues" Horns of Dilemma - clarinet and trombone Production Mark Van Hecke – production John Tanner – engineering Warren Bruleigh – engineering Charts References Violent Femmes albums 1984 albums Slash Records albums Rhino Records albums