Flyleaf Featured in Alternative Press
Posted 12/1/2009 by amoctone
Though the five member of Texas' Flyleaf are all Christians, it would be unfair to immediately label them a "Christian rock" band. Yes, their faith inevitably has an impact on their art, but they don't allow it to become an unavoidable theme. But, Flyleaf are - as this, their second albums, proves - a super-tight metal band capable of writing a more - than - decent tune. Frontwoman Lacey Mosley has a voice that puts Amy Lee to shame, while guitarists Jared Hartmann and Sameer Bhattacharya have far more up their sleeves than standard metal power chords. This album's weak point is the fact that it has been polished to within an inch of its life. Any rough edge has been thrown into the Pro Tools trash can, while the songs are crying out for a little bit of character. Still, Memento Mori is a good album, with the awesome "Set Apart This Dream" and "Again" shining with their anthemic choruses and deft use of pop melody. The tragedy is that it could have been great.
(A&M/OCTONE) Brett Callwood
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USA Today Mentions Memento Mori's Debut at #8
Posted 11/19/2009 by amoctone
Bon Jovi's The Circle made its debut atop Billboard's album chart this week. . .
The only other debut in the top 10 was Flyleaf's sophomore outing Memento Mori, which sold 56,000 copies - a career high for the band - to enter the chart at No. 8.
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Flyleaf Featured in Black Velvet
Posted 11/18/2009 by amoctone
MEMENTO MORI
(A&M/OCTONE)
"Memento Mori" is a whole-some and fulfilling 13-track release from Flyleaf. Emotional, atmospheric, sensationally stunning, this is an album that will whisk those into alternative rock up, up and away. "Tiny Heart" is a bona fide hit, while Lacey Mosley's vocals peak in the beautiful "Circle". The band have created something artistically empowering, the instrumentation becomes louder and then distances itself in time with Lacey's vocals. "Again" drives harder as the song goes on, while "Beautiful Bride" begins like a rocker before Lacey's vocals step in with a quirky tinge to them. The album will definitely hit the right spot with many rock fans, in particular them any young females that are inspired by Lacey. The album ends stunningly with Lacey singing the last few notes of "Arise" solo after the instruments have stopped - which again shows off her amazing voice and really wows you - just in case the rest of the album didn't already. Flyleaf are one of those bands that really ought to be flying right up to the top of the charts. In "Missing" Lacey sings "something's missing in me" - but in "Memento Mori" nothing is missing at all.
- SBV
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USA Today Reviews Memento Mori
Posted 11/13/2009 by amoctone
Texas five-some Flyleaf achieved surprise platinum status with their slow-build 2005 debut- a success due equally, no doubt, to their brooding alt-metal aggression and Christian sub-text. Frontwoman Lacey Mosley couches her searching wails in couplets that expertly walk the line between secular and God-centered. Her passionate devotionals make for galvanizing, if eventually exhausting, listening. Even the Lord rested on the seventh day. B -LG
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USA Today Reviews Memento Mori
Posted 11/10/2009 by amoctone
Flyleaf, Memento Mori
Three Stars- HARD ROCK OF AGES
"Their sophomore album is full of potent imagery that transcends cliches."
-Jerry Shriver
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Flyleaf Featured in The Battalion Online
Posted 11/9/2009 by amoctone
Texas-based rock band Flyleaf has risen from humble beginnings in Temple, Texas, to an internationally recognized delight. To commemorate this feat, the band is releasing their second full-version album "Memento Mori" Tuesday.
"It feels like yesterday," said bassist Pat Seals of the band's quick rise to success. Flyleaf formed in 2002 and after playing local shows, got some attention at the South by Southwest Festival in 2003. The band released their first self-titled album in 2005 and has been on the go since then with tours and traveling.
"You can put 10 years into those four. We were able to figure out who were as a band and see a lot of the world and the U.S. a couple times over," Seals said.
The band, which consists of lead vocalist Lacey, guitarist Sameer Bhattacharya, guitarist Jared Hartman, bassist Pat Seals and drummer James Culpepper said they were excited to work with producer Howard Benson and his crew again on the new album.
"He makes it so unbelievably easy for me to do to my job, which isn't all that hard to begin with," Seals said.
Seals, who is not a fan of the recording process, said that Flyleaf was able to try some new things with "Memento Mori" since they had more room to write the songs and more time, with no immediate shows to play after the recording.
"We were a little more focused on this one with a more cohesive idea behind the whole thing," Seals said.
The members decided to take a look at the music to find a common thread when it came to naming the album and chose "Memento Mori," which, roughly translated, means "remember that you are mortal."
"There have been a lot of personal situations that made us really think that our time here is precious. We thought it was important to say," Seals said.
The band started their "thank you to our fans tour" at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles Oct. 29 to support the album. Seals said he is happy to be with the band.
"We're like a big family, always there for each other. A lot of great songs came out this time around and it's good to have someone to share it with," Seals said.
"Memento Mori" is toned down in terms of heavy vocals from Lacey and although fans may not be, her throat is probably thanking her. Nevertheless this tiny girl is still a powerhouse of sound as well as writing.
"Lacey wrote this song called 'Beautiful Bride' and I wasn't sure about it at first but it actually turned out to be one of my favorite songs from this album," Seals said.
The best way I can describe the songs of "Memento Mori" is hypnotic. You are enticed by the seductive lure of female vocals when suddenly, the bold guitars keep you locked in with every chord and then you are forced to bang your head with the rhythm of the drums.
Though the female-fronted rock group is not traditionally what people think of when they think rock band, it is definitely a rising trend the band has been able to step into beautifully through their songs that make a connection with everyone who listens to them.
By: Lorelei Willett
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Flyleaf Featured in The Battalion Online
Posted 11/9/2009 by amoctone
Texas-based rock band Flyleaf has risen from humble beginnings in Temple, Texas, to an internationally recognized delight. To commemorate this feat, the band is releasing their second full-version album "Memento Mori" Tuesday.
"It feels like yesterday," said bassist Pat Seals of the band's quick rise to success. Flyleaf formed in 2002 and after playing local shows, got some attention at the South by Southwest Festival in 2003. The band released their first self-titled album in 2005 and has been on the go since then with tours and traveling.
"You can put 10 years into those four. We were able to figure out who were as a band and see a lot of the world and the U.S. a couple times over," Seals said.
The band, which consists of lead vocalist Lacey, guitarist Sameer Bhattacharya, guitarist Jared Hartman, bassist Pat Seals and drummer James Culpepper said they were excited to work with producer Howard Benson and his crew again on the new album.
"He makes it so unbelievably easy for me to do to my job, which isn't all that hard to begin with," Seals said.
Seals, who is not a fan of the recording process, said that Flyleaf was able to try some new things with "Memento Mori" since they had more room to write the songs and more time, with no immediate shows to play after the recording.
"We were a little more focused on this one with a more cohesive idea behind the whole thing," Seals said.
The members decided to take a look at the music to find a common thread when it came to naming the album and chose "Memento Mori," which, roughly translated, means "remember that you are mortal."
"There have been a lot of personal situations that made us really think that our time here is precious. We thought it was important to say," Seals said.
The band started their "thank you to our fans tour" at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles Oct. 29 to support the album. Seals said he is happy to be with the band.
"We're like a big family, always there for each other. A lot of great songs came out this time around and it's good to have someone to share it with," Seals said.
"Memento Mori" is toned down in terms of heavy vocals from Lacey and although fans may not be, her throat is probably thanking her. Nevertheless this tiny girl is still a powerhouse of sound as well as writing.
"Lacey wrote this song called 'Beautiful Bride' and I wasn't sure about it at first but it actually turned out to be one of my favorite songs from this album," Seals said.
The best way I can describe the songs of "Memento Mori" is hypnotic. You are enticed by the seductive lure of female vocals when suddenly, the bold guitars keep you locked in with every chord and then you are forced to bang your head with the rhythm of the drums.
Though the female-fronted rock group is not traditionally what people think of when they think rock band, it is definitely a rising trend the band has been able to step into beautifully through their songs that make a connection with everyone who listens to them.
By: Lorelei Willett
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Flyleaf Featured in GL
Posted 11/8/2009 by amoctone
Labeling the band Flyleaf as a super successful group could be an inch short of what they have achieved with only their self-titled debut. Spending weeks on the Billboard 200 and going gold, as well as platinum, the band is finally back and ready to do it again.
Overflowing with raw emotions and hard rock beats, it seems as if vocalist Lacey, guitarists Sameer Bhattacharya and Jared Hartmann, bassist Pat Seals and drummer James Culpepper have perfected their undeniable talent for music.
Flyleaf has spent their time performing for the U.S. troops in numerous combat zones across Afghanistan. But the Texas based rockers have returned to the States with their second album, Memento Mori (in stores Tuesday, Nov. 10).
Their first single, "Again," is already receiving reviews about the powerful lyrics and its ability to move listeners. The song is about accepting painful memories and growing from them.
The search for identity is a huge part of any teenagers' life, and Flyleaf packages the whole experience into one nice, catchy tune in our fave track, "Missing." With the official music video already released, you can't help but put this song on repeat and sing along, "something's missing in me, I found it deep within me."
By: Emily Jang
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Preview of Flyleaf's Memento Mori in The San Francisco Examiner
Posted 11/8/2009 by amoctone
"Memento Mori" is the follow up to Flyleaf's platinum selling, self titled debut album. The Texas quintet's latest offering is a collection of poingnant, passionate and pensive hard rock songs. The release features 14 tracks.
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Flyleaf Featured on AltSounds
Posted 11/8/2009 by amoctone
Flyleaf Releases Two New Memento Mori Webisodes
Flyleaf have just added Memento Mori webisodes parts 3 and 4 to their Kyte Channel. In the 3rd webisode the band talks about the artwork behind Memento Mori, which was created by bassist Pat Seals, using a woodcut technique. In the clip, guitarist Sameer beams, "Pat is an amazing artist. We've kinda assigned him to doing all the artwork on the record, videos, and for photo shoots." He later exclaims, "The whole texture of woodcutting and the way it looks, it has a really beautiful feel to it."
In the 4th webisode the band talks about the photo shoots for Memento Mori, as well as the album packaging (the scenery for which was also created by bassist Pat Seals). Vocalist Lacey describes the meaning behind the scenery: "The scene comes out of a story about a King who won a battle and came home victorious, where a slave (me), traveled behind him saying, "Memento Mori" (remember mortality)." Later on in the clip Pat talks about brainstorming ideas for music videos. "Sameer has actually been taking the reigns on brainstorming ideas with different directors we have....it kind of freed up some of the weight off the location and the theme of the video. It allowed for some of the creative aspects to come through us."
Memento Mori arrives in-stores everywhere on 11/10.
The band is currently on tour with Paper Tongues throughout the fall. Dates are as follows:
Nov. 3rd in Seattle, WA @ Neumos Crystal Ball Reading Room
Nov. 4th in Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
Nov. 6th in Salt Lake City, UT @ Murray Theater
Nov. 7th in Boulder, CO @ Fox Theatre
Nov. 9th in Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater
Nov. 10th in Chicago, IL @ The Bottom Lounge
Nov. 11th in Pittsbug, PA @ Mr. Smalls Theatre
Nov. 13th in Toronto, ON @ Mod Club
Nov. 14th in Montreal, QB @ Cafe Campus
Nov. 17th in Boston, MA @ Middle East Club
Nov. 18th in New York, NY @ The Gramercy Theatre
Nov. 20th in Baltimore, MD @ Sonar
Nov. 21st in Philadelphia, PA @ TLA
Nov. 23rd in Atlanta, GA @ The Loft at Center Stage Arena
Dec. 18th in Detroit, MI @ Fillmore Detroit (89X FM's "The Night 89X Stole Xmas 12)
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