Better With The Acoustic Tracks And DVD, Flyleaf Is Worth The Listen!

The Good: Some decent lyrics, Interesting metal sound, Some decent vocals, Acoustic tracks, DVD!
The Bad: Derivative sound, Still short, Some terrible vocals.
The Basics: With the additional tracks and a bonus DVD, Flyleaf's limited version of Flyleaf is actually less limited and appeals to a broader audience than just Christian metalheads.


Not long ago, I found myself kicking through a pile of c.d.s that had been stacked upon my desk and I was deeply amused to discover I had two discs that seemed identical. They were both by the band Flyleaf and entitled (as if taking a cue from Seal) Flyleaf. It did not take me long to realize that one was the standard version of the album and the other was an enhanced release of the album which included the original album plus an additional five tracks, which were songs that had been on the album re-recorded as acoustic versions. That original Flyleaf album recieved a very soft "recommend" from me here! Anyone who is thinking of letting this Christian metal band into their collection should get this, the two-disc version, if not for the DVD, then for the acoustic content. This proves all of the things that the original version only hinted at, which is that with the proper producing, lead singer Lacey Mosley actually has an impressive voice.

Flyleaf was actually recommended to me by one of my pagan friends and I find some irony there. She seemed entranced with the sound and feel of Flyleaf and compared tracks on Flyleaf to the music of Evanescence on Fallen (reviewed here!). The irony here is that my friend was right, but she is all into pagan pride and speaks vocally about how bothered she is by the way Christians get their message out into the marketplace while there is no equivalent movement or venue for pagan music. I didn't have the heart to tell her that Flyleaf is clearly a Christian metal, Christian rock band. The members of Flyleaf are strangely split on this openly admitting to their Christianity and that it has an effect on their work, yet denying that they are "Christian Rock" because their Christianity permeates all aspects of their life, so they are just Christians doing what they do, as opposed to Christians making rock music. I say what makes them Christian rock are the references to praying and Jesus, like on "So I Thought." If you're going to be loud and proud, the least you should do is admit you are being loud and proud!

That said, the enhanced Flyleaf consists of sixteen tracks clocking out at 48:47. Despite my dislike of the repetition (almost half the enhanced album is the same music performed better than the original) on the album, Flyleaf in its enhanced form gets a much more enthusiastic recommendation than the paltry original version. Still, there was still so much more space the band could have used . . . The DVD is a nice touch as well and that does help enhance the value of this album.

All of the songs are written or co-written by members of the band and every song is credited as something of a collaborative effort, which is admirable for any band made up of young people. Lacey Mosley provides all of the lead vocals, which is good because she is one of the people who is credited as a writer on each of the songs. The four men of Flyleaf play the instruments for the music they wrote. However, the limit of their creative control end there as the album was produced by an outside producer. The acoustic tracks are co-produced by Flyleaf and that is nice to see.

The way in which the outside producer is most problematic is in the vocals. Mosley's vocals are all heavily produced, so most of the tracks, like "Sorrow" (quite noticeably) make it difficult to tell how much is actually Mosley's natural voice. Beyond that, she seems obsessed with fitting into the metal image and on "Sorrow" and the opening lines of "I'm So Sick," she simply shrieks, which is not a good sound. Similarly, she is shrill on "I'm Sorry" in a way that is not at all analogous to Evanescence. Still, on things like the refrain to "I'm So Sick" and "All Around Me," the listener hears the potential in her voice that makes us believe she has great pipes. Only on the acoustic tracks, like the acoustic version of "Red Sam" does the listener hear that Mosley actually has a pretty incredible voice. Co-producing the tracks allows the band to sublimate the instrumentals and give Mosley her just due.

Unfortunately, producer Howard Besson frequently produces the instrumentals over the vocals, so one has to strain to hear the muted, yelling vocals. This would be less problematic if Flyleaf were playing something truly original. Here the comparison to Evanescence holds, at least when one considers the enormously popular song "Bring Me To Life." On that song, on the radio, there were guest guitarists who gave the band a real gothic metal sound. That sound is pretty much the constant rock/metal sound of Flyleaf. The problem here is that it is entirely predictable and pedestrian; it is the trademark sound of a guitar, bass, drum band. And in the case of Flyleaf, there are two guitars thrashing and strumming on songs like "All Around Me." On the acoustic tracks, the instrumentals are softer and presented in more melodic ways, clearly defying the metal tradition that the produced part of the album portrays.

That said, what separates Flyleaf from other albums and other artists are the lyrics. It is hard to deny the power of many of their lines. Perhaps the reason so many listeners mistake them for something other than a Christian band is that some cannot conceive of a Christian metal band (oh, it's so much of a broader world out there!). Flyleaf might confuse some with their thrashing guitars and darker sound and plaintive wailing presentation of their lyrics. And unlike some bands, their lyrics are not upbeat, perky Christian lyrics. Instead, this is the closest one might come to Christian goth with lines like "This fire rising through my being / Burning I'm not used to seeing you / I'm alive, I'm alive / I can feel you all around me / Thickening the air I'm breathing / Holding on to what I'm feeling / Savoring this heart that's healing" ("All Around Me"). Admittedly, these are songs that carry both a sense of faith and a sense of conflict with life and society.

Still, the lyrics actually have a deep sense of poetics to many of them. Even when their sound is not one of hope, their lyrics often are. In traditional Christian rock fashion, there is often a message of redemption in the poetics, as there are on "There For You." On that, Mosley sings "You're always a true friend / I don't deserve you / 'Cause I'm not there for you / Please forgive me again / I wanna be there for you / Someone you can come to / Runs deeper than my bones / I wanna be there for you" ("There For You"). There is a sense of accomplishment and belief in the subtext and Mosley and her co-writers phrase it in an interesting way.

But at the end of the day, it is hard to argue that Flyleaf is anything other than a metal-sounding Christian rock album. It is, however, one of the more original ones and on songs like "So I Thought," there are actually some beautiful poetics "All your twisted thoughts free flow / To everlasting memories / Show soul / Kiss the stars with me / And dread the wait for / Stupid calls returning us to life / We say to those who are in love / It can't be true 'cause we're too young / I know that's true because / So long I was / So in love with you . . ." before it gets into the obvious exhortations like "And all these twisted thoughts I see / Jesus there in between." Flyleaf may deny they are Christian rockers, but their lyrics say otherwise.

This is, however, no reason to be prejudiced against them; Flyleaf rocks on Flyleaf and it is a worthwhile c.d. for anyone who likes gothic sounding metal and who can handle a pretty overt Christian message of redemption and faith. For those tired of its perky, more subtle equivalent, this makes for a welcome change.

The DVD that comes with this enhanced version has the acoustic versions that are performed on the main disc performed visually, which is somewhat pointless. Still, for fans of the band there are music videos for "I'm So Sick," "Fully Alive," and "All Around Me" and they are much more visually interesting. The DVD is a nice touch for anyone who likes the band and that type of bonus is bound to increase the value for those considering the group.

And there is a lot to enjoy on Flyleaf. They might be derivative, but they picked good, interesting sources to emulate and there is something to be said for that!

The best track is the acoustic version of "I'm So Sick," the low point is the less memorable "Red Sam."

For other, similar, musical artists, please visit my reviews of:
Addison Road - Addison Road
No Name Face - Lifehouse
Memento Mori - Flyleaf

6/10

Check out how this album stacks up against others I have reviewed by visiting my Music Review Index Page for a comparative listing!

© 2013, 2009 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Deny It All They Want, Flyleaf Is Dark, Decent Christian Metal.

The Good: Some decent lyrics, Interesting metal sound, Some decent vocals
The Bad: Derivative sound, SHORT, Some terrible vocals.
The Basics: With a weak "recommend" (because there is a superior version with more goodies), Flyleaf establishes itself as a darker Christian rock band.


Lately, I forced myself to clear out my cache of other c.d.s. I have recently encountered a few new (to me) bands and having reviewed the self-titled album by Addison Road (reviewed here!), I find the only thing left on my desk are two near-identical c.d.s from Flyleaf, both called Flyleaf. It seems reasonable for me to start with the shorter of the two discs, so I find myself listening to Flyleaf.

Flyleaf was actually recommended to me by one of my pagan friends and I find some irony there. She seemed entranced with the sound and feel of Flyleaf and compared tracks on Flyleaf to the music of Evanescence on Fallen. The irony here is that my friend was right, but she is all into pagan pride and speaks vocally about how bothered she is by the way Christians get their message out into the marketplace while there is no equivalent movement or venue for pagan music. I didn't have the heart to tell her that Flyleaf is clearly a Christian metal, Christian rock band. The members of Flyleaf are strangely split on this openly admitting to their Christianity and that it has an effect on their work, yet denying that they are "Christian Rock" because their Christianity permeates all aspects of their life, so they are just Christians doing what they do, as opposed to Christians making rock music. I say what makes them Christian rock are the references to praying and Jesus, like on "So I Thought." If you're going to be loud and proud, the least you should do is admit you are being loud and proud!

That said, Flyleaf consists of only eleven songs comprising just over half an hour of music (33:37). My ultimate recommendation is a VERY soft "recommend." The reason for this is ridiculously simple, the limited edition version of Flyleaf is longer and has some acoustic versions of some of the same songs as well as an additional DVD that makes it a better overall value. I always say hold out for the version with more bells and whistles. Still, there is enough artistry on this version of Flyleaf to recommend and appreciate.

First, all of the songs are written or co-written by members of the band and every song is credited as something of a collaborative effort, which is admirable for any band made up of young people. Lacey Mosley provides all of the lead vocals, which is good because she is one of the people who is credited as a writer on each of the songs. The four men of Flyleaf play the instruments for the music they wrote. However, the limit of their creative control end there as the album was produced by an outside producer.

The way in which the outside producer is most problematic is in the vocals. Mosley's vocals are all heavily produced, so most of the tracks, like "Sorrow" (quite noticeably) make it difficult to tell how much is actually Mosley's natural voice. Beyond that, she seems obsessed with fitting into the metal image and on "Sorrow" and the opening lines of "I'm So Sick," she simply shrieks, which is not a good sound. Similarly, she is shrill on "I'm Sorry" in a way that is not at all analogous to Evanescence. Still, on things like the refrain to "I'm So Sick" and "All Around Me," the listener hears the potential in her voice that makes us believe she has great pipes.

Unfortunately, producer Howard Besson frequently produces the instrumentals over the vocals, so one has to strain to hear the muted, yelling vocals. This would be less problematic if Flyleaf were playing something truly original. Here the comparison to Evanescence holds, at least when one considers the enormously popular song "Bring Me To Life." On that song, on the radio, there were guest guitarists who gave the band a real gothic metal sound. That sound is pretty much the constant rock/metal sound of Flyleaf. The problem here is that it is entirely predictable and pedestrian; it is the trademark sound of a guitar, bass, drum band. And in the case of Flyleaf, there are two guitars thrashing and strumming on songs like "All Around Me."

That said, what separates Flyleaf from other albums and other artists are the lyrics. It is hard to deny the power of many of their lines. Perhaps the reason so many listeners mistake them for something other than a Christian band is that some cannot conceive of a Christian metal band (oh, it's so much of a broader world out there!). Flyleaf might confuse some with their thrashing guitars and darker sound and plaintive wailing presentation of their lyrics. And unlike some bands, their lyrics are not upbeat, perky Christian lyrics. Instead, this is the closest one might come to Christian goth with lines like "How many will die / I will die / I, I will say yes / Do you believe in God / Written on the bullet / Say yes to pull the trigger / Do you believe in God / Written on the bullet / And Cassie pulled the trigger" ("Cassie"). Admittedly, these are songs that carry both a sense of faith and a sense of conflict with life and society.

Still, the lyrics actually have a deep sense of poetics to many of them. Even when their sound is not one of hope, their lyrics often are. In traditional Christian rock fashion, there is often a message of redemption in the poetics, as there are on "Breathe Today." On that, Mosley sings "Logic forces me to believe in this, / And I have learned to see, / And I can only say what I've seen and heard, / And only you can choose, / And every choice you make will effect you, / Suit your own self. / You can breathe today" ("Breathe Today"). There is a sense of accomplishment and belief in the subtext and Mosley and her co-writers phrase it in an interesting way.

But at the end of the day, it is hard to argue that Flyleaf is anything other than a metal-sounding Christian rock album. It is, however, one of the more original ones and on songs like "So I Thought," there are actually some beautiful poetics "All your twisted thoughts free flow / To everlasting memories / Show soul / Kiss the stars with me / And dread the wait for / Stupid calls returning us to life / We say to those who are in love / It can't be true 'cause we're too young / I know that's true because / So long I was / So in love with you . . ." before it gets into the obvious exhortations like "And all these twisted thoughts I see / Jesus there in between." Flyleaf may deny they are Christian rockers, but their lyrics say otherwise.

This is, however, no reason to be prejudiced against them; Flyleaf rocks on Flyleaf and it is a worthwhile c.d. for anyone who likes gothic sounding metal and who can handle a pretty overt Christian message of redemption and faith. For those tired of its perky, more subtle equivalent, this makes for a welcome change and one finds themselves wishing for more. Fortunately, there is (on a slightly better incarnation of the album!).

The best track is "All Around Me," the low point is the less memorable "Red Sam."

For other groups that rock, please visit my reviews of:
Tear The World Down - We Are The Fallen
Highest Hopes: The Best Of Nightwish - Nightwish
World Clique - Deee-Lite

6/10

For other music reviews, please visit my Music Review Index Page for a complete listing of all the music reviews I have written!

© 2012, 2009 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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I've Heard It Before, More Subtly: Memento Mori By Flyleaf Is More Overt Than Flyleaf.

The Good: Good sound
The Bad: Short, Derivative, I'm not wild about a lot of the lyrics
The Basics: Flyleaf's more overt Christian rock lyrics make Memento Mori less of a mainstream attempt which is likely only to please the fans.


I have a very mixed relationship with genres that proclaim to be "faith based." More often than not "faith based" translates to mainstream society as "narrow and dogmatic." The problem with being a "live and let live" liberal (which I proudly declare myself to be) is that when people spout very specific and esoteric interpretations of what any religion (or religious text) states, the reaction of the "live and let live" liberal is "eh, you're entitled to your opinion." We take a stand for things like what are taught in schools and keeping theistic language from public policies, but beyond that, our solution to a lot of the stuff we disagree with is to turn the channel or read other books and the like. Still, I make an effort to expand my horizons quite a bit. One of the ways I do that is by listening to a lot of music.

A few years back, I found myself listening to and generally enjoying the debut album for the band Flyleaf, so when I found out they have a new album, Memento Mori on the market, I decided I would see what direction they decided to go in. Any ambiguity about what Flyleaf is all about in the music they make is fully eliminated with Memento Mori. With Flyleaf, the band was a group of rockers who had fairly subtle Christian undertones which gave them the chance for real mainstream success. With Memento Mori, they abandon the pretext of trying to appeal to the mainstream and they go for "spreading the word." As a result, this is very much a hit-or-miss album and those who tire quickly of hearing evangelical talking points will quickly find this is not an album they want to keep. Despite the generally listenable, rockin' nature of many of the songs on Memento Mori, the lyrics just don't have the same universal appeal and angst of many of the songs on Flyleaf.

With fourteen tracks (there is a musical interlude between "Tiny Heart" and "Treasure") occupying just over fifty minutes, Memento Mori is very much the work of the band Flyleaf. The band wrote all of the song and Lacey Mosley provides all of the primary vocals as the lead singer. The band plays all of its own instruments, which are pretty standard metal-driven guitar, bass and drums, though there is a keyboardist brought in for a few tracks. The guest keyboardist is also the album's producer, so one assumes the band was generally pleased with his production.

Memento Mori sounds exactly like what one would expect if Evanescence was singing Christian rock, with a less melodic overall sound. Mosley has an angst to her voice which she carries well on songs like "Beautiful Bride" where she leads the chant-like accompaniment of the audience which makes the listener feel like they are at a giant revival meeting. Mosley does have the ability to entrance with her vocals and one suspects a large amount of her popularity comes from the ability translate a very traditional message into an appealing modern sound. On "Arise," she is clear and articulate and she has a practiced, inspirational sound. And when the vocals are not produced over with reverb and used as mere accent pieces to the sounds of followers, Memento Mori resonates.

Instrumentally, Flyleaf on Memento Mori could be any number of rock bands. They have a very generic guitar-bass-drums combo sound which makes them as indistinct as the Goo Goo Dolls or Daughtry from the instrumental accompaniment. Indeed, Flyleaf has moments, like on "Beautiful Bride" where it could be a Tool album for the instrumental accompaniment. The real difference is that Flyleaf makes a point of making sure their lyrics may be understood. Most of the songs, though, are made up of repetitive guitar thrashings with limited tunes actually being created. After several repetitions of the album, it is certainly the vocals which stand out, despite the fact they are competing with pounding guitars, drums and bass.

The reason the vocals are so produced to be prominent is Flyleaf has a message and on Memento Mori it is an unwavering, overt Evangelical Christian message. Songs like "Beautiful Bride" cry out for the "Beautiful bride / Body of Christ / One flesh abiding / Strong and unifying / Fighting ends in forgiveness / Unite and fight all division" before making a battle cry loaded with Evangelical buzzwords like "Urgency's here now / Train your fingers for battle / Fighting this violence / With your feet wrapped in peace / Sad tears and silence / Now screams of joy / Victory" ("Beautiful Bride"). On Memento Mori, the songs are frequently a call to action or a glorification of god.

Unfortunately for mainstream rock listeners, it is a very narrow message and it plays poorly on multiple listens. Flyleaf is not creating an album about faith and the strength of belief with Memento Mori, this is instead a call for belief in a very specific god. When Mosley sings "Time for surrender / Spread out your open hands / And He will raise you up / Confessing all that's broken / And watch the healing come / Spread out your open hands / Admit you've held them shut / Be swept away by this" ("Swept Away") she is evoking very specific Christian imagery and evangelical doctrines.

And here's my real problem with Memento Mori; I picked this album up under pretenses that were quickly dispelled as false. Flyleaf, the band's hugely successful mainstream crossover album rocked and the Christian elements were not present in all songs. Instead, Mosley and her bandmates created an almost emo sound and feel which captured well the overall angst of growing up. On Memento Mori, they mortgage universal emotions for straightforward evangelical Christian messages like "Can I tell you a story / As we dance while the Son starts to bleed / Trees rejoice with the wind here / Hallelujah, Yeshua" ("Treasure"). It is, frankly, not what I signed up for. I wanted rock with incidental (if any) Christian themes. What I got was overt evangelical proselytizing with a bland metal-rock sound backing it.

To be fair to Flyleaf, the band is no longer doing what I despise most about many in the genre. Flyleaf is overtly singing about their Christianity and their desire to spread it to the masses. Instead of trying to create mainstream hits that one has to dig or know the code for, on Memento Mori, the band openly declares they are making faith-based music. And if you don't like that, don't buy the c.d.

The best song is "Chasm," I was not impressed by the interlude "Melting."

For other women with powerful voices, check out my reviews of:
Tear The World Down - We Are The Fallen
One Cell In The Sea - A Fine Frenzy
Many Great Companions - Dar Williams

4.5/10

For other music reviews, please be sure to visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2011, 2010 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.




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