Problems with golden privits

We have Golden Privet planted facing south every other one with burning bushes. Our burning bushes are lush green and beautiful. Are Golden Privet appear like they have no green growth they look dead then suddenly we have some green growth on the bottom and very few on some of the stems. Did they get Frost bitten or winter frost? Should I cut this back? That would mean my Bushes are really short next to my tall other bushes. It has looked this way before this way before and I think they recovered. We live in Nebraska. Are these bushes just late in getting their leaves?