Grammy nominated co-founder and lead vocalist Lacey Sturm stepped-down from her role in American hard rock band Flyleaf during 2012 – to concentrate on her family. Kristen May (from the Kansas City band Vedera) was recruited to join the line-up.
Flyleaf quickly released a single – with May on vocals – ‘Something Better’ (also featuring P.O.D rapper Sonny Sandoval). After this, the band announced that they were signing to Loud & Proud Records and working on their fourth album ‘Between the Stars’ – funded through PledgeMusic.
The new album begins with the first single ‘Set Me on Fire’ released in July.
The bass durably bounces through the whole number like a tractor tyre on crumb-rubber asphalt. And the voice reaches such a high core temperature that it almost flares through the nostrils like dragon breath. But somehow the second set of ‘Set me on fire, set me on fire’ vocals (on the chorus) don’t quite work. They seem wonky and out-of-place. Mysteriously crooked.
Whether or not you yearn for Lacey – and whether or not you think that May’s country-pop voice suits the task at hand – one thing is certain: She is effectively performing a fireman’s lift here – lifting and carrying the wounded remains of the band to a better – and maybe safer – place.
‘Magnetic’ is pin-prick sharp. With a voice that sourly laces through the bodice of sound – avoiding the crushing ribs of rhythm.
‘Traitor’ is a one-on-one with a person who betrayed our trust. Maybe a political or business leader. A drug dealer. Or even a family member or friend. The idea is to be attentive to the signs of secrecy, duplicity and hypocrisy.
Another strong song is the piano-accompanied ballad ‘Head Underwater’. On this, cooing guitars and other gentle ripples of sound open up an airy space that allows Kirsten to develop her vocal style successfully and skillfully. This is frilled and sigh-filled … culminating in a display that is amazingly bright and dramatically broken.
A stand-out number is Don Gilmore’s ‘Marionette’ – about the control that other’s have over us. And the act of rebellion – cutting the strings that are manipulated by the puppeteers … who constantly remind us that they have unreliable hands. So, fibrous wisps of guitar cut and slash at the growing voice – and this voice ascends through the gases – growing ever more powerful and intense.
‘Well of Lies’ has some excellent drum work and an electronic pulse that giggles alongside a deep hum of buzzy guitars. This is one of the darker pieces on the album. Black, ink-stained, and well proportioned – it is very well executed. One of the songs here that will stand repeated re-plays.
‘City Kids’ has an insistent beat. The tiny tremors of clanging chords help embellish the rat-a-tat rhythms and create a chocolate-box, water-colour atmosphere that is filled with charm and picturesque quality. The nostalgia continues until you come to the screeching and growling. Then there are some mixed messages. The quixotic nature of this song is intriguing. It means that you will spend a bit of time questioning its meaning.
The album concludes with the slightly hum-drum ‘Home’ with it’s backyard message and a fairly regular melody, which is pretty smooth – but you will think that you have heard it somewhere before. The guitars are bold and bright. And downward spiralling. And that is the strength of this track.
‘Between the Stars’ is a substantial slab of pop rock and power pop. Built out of a common hardship, it is a vision of hope and expectancy.
I am Carl Phelan and I am the author of a new book about the Flyleaf band called ‘Flyleaf Spreads Their Wings’. The book was released on 9-29-2014, if you would like to have a review copy of the book I will be happy to sen it and a press release, just shoot me an email and give me an email address to send it to, your support and input will be greatly appreciated, respectfully, Carl Phelan