Customer Reviews

Flyleaf

5 star:		(85)
4 star:		(36)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I heard the single, "I'm So Sick," on the radio a few weeks ago. I bought the self-titled album. I went to their concert a couple of hours ago...And now I can't help but write a review.

Flyleaf is young, raw, still growing, and full of energy. On stage, they are passionate and fun to watch. In their songs, they are honest and searching, spiritual and hopeful. Are you tired of bands who wallow in despair or rage? Flyleaf goes to those places and then comes out on the other side. They show there is a way out.

Most of the songs on this album are worth repeat spins, and two or three are exceptional. Lacey's voice is able to draw you in with fragile emotion, then jar you to life with an unleashed scream. I love that in a female singer--and it's a rare trait. There is something here on this album for most rockers. I believe, in the future, we'll see more and even better things from Flyleaf.

Flyleaf is:

* Lacey Mosley- lead vocals
* Jared Hartmann- guitar
* Pat Seals- bass
* Sameer Bhattacharya- guitar
* James Culpepper- drums

Mosley, the 24 year old lead singer who fronts the band, has a voice that sounds sweet and breathy one moment, yet will jar your soul out of complacency with a growl and scream that strikes like a viper without warning. This five member band comes from Temple, TX with a ferocity that says "HEY! Here we are!"

Hardcore fans will devour this standout debut from Flyleaf who is just starting their inaugural headline tour with Staind in the UK. To support their debut album they are touring with Cold, Staind, POD and Taproot after having earned new fans playing in front of Saliva, Breaking Benjamin, 3 Doors Down, and Trust Company audiences during the Spring 2005 tour supporting Flyleaf EP release.

Rip-roaring guitar, brooding beats, and emotionally-driven lyrical delivery from Mosley combine to create the distinct Flyleaf sound of "beautiful aggression". It is a sound that is hard to describe because it can change in an instant. In some ways this captures a specific aspect of humanity in that our thoughts can be simple, yet we complicate them by mulling them around in our finite brains, which creates chaos that becomes
confusion; a jumbled pile of hurt, brokenness, healing, setback, anger, redemption, faith, security, sadness, and hope. Like a silver orb in a pinball machine, our thoughts bounce all around, agitated and unsettled, ceasing only now and then for rest.

The first single off the album "I'm So Sick" is garnering much attention and winning instant Flyleaf fans. Driving bass lines carry along the esoteric and atmospheric guitar that provide the foundation over which Mosley sings a very melodic "I will break into your thoughts With what's written on my heart" and then she cuts with a growl that means business, "I will break, break!" This single is quite representative of the Flyleaf sound.

"Fully Alive", "Perfect", "All Around", "Breathe Today" and "So I Thought" (a very strong ballad-type song) and "There For You" showcase the beauty of Mosley's intimate voice on the softer side, while "I'm so Sick", "I'm Sorry", "Cassie", and "Red Sam" demonstrate through growling and intense vocal singing that this young woman has something important to say and you better be listening! This debut is a deluge of talent from this young singer.

A favorite off the CD is "Cassie" which features the story of Cassie Bernall, the "heroine" of Columbine fame who when asked if she believed in God, responded "yes". That "yes" was fatal to her body, but believers everywhere understand that Cassie's spirit lives on. This song captures the intensity of that moment and what it meant to be asked, or should mean to any believer when asked "Do you believe in God?" Mosley sings with a defiant and definitive "How many will die, I will die, I, I will say YEEEEESSSSSSS!" Another interesting thing to note about the lyrics is that they are written to say "Cassie pulled the trigger" implying that she, with her faith in God, was in complete control of the situation.

"The question asked in order
To save her life or take it
The answer no to avoid death
The answer yes would make it

"...And Cassie pulled the trigger"

This debut showcases the powerful pipes of Lacey Mosley and musicianship of the band members who make up Flyleaf. The songs are honest and always offer hope and positive messages. The driving metal sound is catalpulting their message to mainstream audiences who desperately need to hear them. No doubt that controversy will follow this band with people asking "Is Flyleaf a Christian band or not?", but to me it seems obvious through the lyrics of their music that their hope lies in the Savior Himself.

From the Flyleaf bio:

While many loud rockers reopen old wounds by singing about their broken homes and broken hearts, Flyleaf confront past traumas to heal old scars and prove in the process that hope shines brighter than despair.

Flyleaf's self-titled debut album echoes with songs about abuse, neglect, addiction and dysfunction, and messages about overcoming adversity. And the band's wide array of brooding beats, atmospheric textures and lunging riffs compliment Mosley's emotionally revealing lyrics, which range from breathy and beautiful to scathing and aggressive.

The blank page that one finds at the beginning of a book when it is first opened up is the flyleaf. It is the page that one writes a note, usually a personal note, to a friend when they give the book as a gift. Through amazing spiritual and sometimes gut-wrenching lyrics and their emotionally charged metal driven music, Flyleaf is penning the "dedication" on that blank page, and it's a positive and hopeful message to their fans and to hardcore rock music lovers everywhere.

My introduction to Flyleaf was actually unintentional. I was checking out at a local music store and the guy behind the counter kept insisting that I pick up the Flyleaf EP that was out at the time. I had no idea who they were, or what they sounded like, but to shut him up, I put the few bucks down and in exchange discovered a damn fine new band! As I heard the first song "I'm So Sick" (which, like all the songs on the EP, re-appears here) I was hooked. The vocals of Lacey Mosley were not only hard-hitting, but also intriguing and sweet at the same time. There sure aren't a lot of good female fronted hard-rock acts out there, but Flyleaf are definitely one of them!

Now, over half the material on their self-titled full-length debut is recycled material from the debut, as reproduced by Howard Benson (Cold, Hoobastank) so I have to admit, it wasn't as exciting listening to this as it was the EP. And another thing I must admit, is that the EP was actually better! Due to the lower production values, the songs had more charm and just hit a lot harder. Here, a lot of the music is overproduced and just doesn't have that same spark. But, if you've never heard anything to compare this album to, I'm sure you wouldn't think the same. The great thing about Flyleaf is that they can't be categorized. You can't say they sound like "X" band, because, really, they don't. It's a bit nu-metal, it's a bit alternative and Lacey's vocals are often angry, but never distorted or processed. The girl has some powerful pipes and definitely outshines some other male frontmen in the genre. It's hard to imagine how Flyleaf would sound like with some dude front and center...

There isn't much variety on the album, but that can be forgiven, because this is just a debut, and a damn fine one at that. The strongest songs are "I'm So Sick," "I'm Sorry," "All Around Me" and the ballad "There For You" (which features Dave Navarro on guitar). If you are depressed by the lack of good female vocalists in the genre, then Flyleaf will serve as a worthwhile listen. Perhaps on their next album, they will show a little more range, but as it stands, they're onto something good.

Flyleaf is an amazing band out of Texas that everyone needs to give a chance. I came across the band about a year ago on a message board.

This is their First album produced by Howard Benson (My Chemical Romance, POD...). If you liked the EP versions of the songs on this album you will have to get used to the changes. But trust me they are super.

While the bands older eps have a more raw/live feeling. I think they are trying to break out onto radio (with this record) and become something huge.

If you are still dying for some raw Flyleaf their live shows haven't changed at all and will be off the hook!

While Flyleaf isn't labled a Christian band their faith rides all over their music. If you are a Christian (like me) some of the songs on this record will get to you. I swear I could listen to the album and just cry at times. If you pick up this album you will be so blessed by the bands music.

I really can't describe how much I love this band and want you to give it a listen. I am still in shock after hearing it. Just WOW!

Tracks 1-8 I listen to over and over and over again. They never get dull or boring, no matter how much I listen to them. Lacey...that girl can WAIL...I have never heard a voice like hers, and I don't think I ever will. I have heard them compared to Evanescence, and though they bear some similarities, Flyleaf truly has their own sound, and it is amazing. Pair that with metaphorical, passionate songwriting that is almost without compare, and this CD is one that I will be listening to for a long, long time. Be sure to go to flyleafmusic.com to get the lyrics. They are a little hard to decipher at first, but after you know what she's saying, you're like, "oh, yeah, of course that's what she's saying." The lyrics are deep and while sometimes dark, there's a common thread of finding truth, love, and goodness, even in dark circumstances. Take these lyrics in Red Sam:

Here I stand, empty hands
Wishing my wrists were bleeding
To stop the pain from the beatings
And there You stood, holding me
Waiting for me to notice You

But Who are You?

You are the Truth
Outscreaming these lies
You are the Truth
Saving my life

The warmth of Your embrace
Melts my frostbitten spirit
You speak the truth and I hear it
The words are I love you
And I have to believe in You

But who are You?

You are the Truth
Outscreaming these lies
You are the Truth
Saving my life


It starts out kinda dark, but then she comes from a dark place. You can hear it in the lyrics. You can hear the deep and passionate love she has for God because of the deep pit that He brought her out of.

A fantastic CD. If you like rock music at all, GET IT.

This is one of the best cd's I've ever bought. It hooks you the first time you listen to it, the result of the great guitar riffs, vocals, and occasionally beautiful melodies. After that, you begin to hear the creative side of the band. Every time I listen to this cd I hear something new hidden in a different song...time signature changes, a dissonant chord here or there, a series of guitars hitting on the upbeat when they've been hitting on the downbeat throughout the song, a new meaningful lyric uncovered...this cd never gets old. Listen to a sample of "I'm So Sick" before you buy. If it doesn't smack you in the mouth too hard, you'll love this cd, no matter what you normally listen to.

i heard "im so sick" on the radio and couldn't help but turn it up. i listened for the name of the band after the song was over but they didn't say it. this happened three more times over the next few weeks and finally i called them. i downloaded the entire cd off of limewire and discovered an amazing band. i just now ordered the cd and can't wait for it to get here. the vocalist has a singing voice 10 times better than the lead singer of evenescence and a scream 10 times better than the lead singer of kitty. the guitars are not only hard and crunchy but chatchy. the bass is driving and if it is turned up loud enough, the drums make you want to bang your head. there are two softER songs on this album (notice i didn't say soft. there aren't any of those) which are, in a word, breathtaking. this woman sings about addiction, pain, hatred, overcoming obstacles, love, and even her faith (which is something that i respect because it is so contovrtial). each song on the album is good enough to be a single.

Lacey, lead singer of the band, has an incredible voice! She can be quiet and touching, then screaming and raw all of the sudden. Flyleaf's sound is very original and has somewhat of a dark sound w/o the dark lyrics. Though I've seen Flyleaf and they were even better live, the CD is great and a smart buy.

I became aware of Flyleaf a little over a year before they released their debut album. I saw them open up for Trust Company and they really impressed me. I picked up their little 4-song EP and was hooked by it...all the songs that appeared on that EP have been re-recorded for this album. If you're unfamiliar with the group, Flyleaf is a female-fronted hard rock band. They list their influences as Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Incubus, Silverchair, ect....but I think their sound is a tad more aggressive than those bands. The opening song, "I'm So Sick" could pass for full on metal. Lacey, the singer, screams like a banshee one minute and then shouts a very catchy chorus the next. The next song, "Fully Alive" is one of my favorites, the chorus just makes you say "WOW" as soon as you hear it. Other songs like "Cassie" and "Red Sam" are just as excellent. Overall, this is a hardrock album, but some songs like "There For You" and the final song, sound like a slow song that Avril Lavigne might sing. (Note: I HATE to compare Flyleaf to Avril since she sucks, but these songs kinda sound like her, except they're good.) Any way, if you're into Evanescence, Staind, Audioslave, or any female-fronted rock groups, I srongly urge you to try this CD out!

Lacey Mosley has an amazing voice , a powerful combination of melody and rage all mixed together. After hearing "I am so sick" and "fully alive", I got a new energy to burn my calories at the gym.. Check them out !!!!
Its sad most of us dont know about them, instead we see all those stupid videos all the time on MTV.