By Meghan Alfano
Sound-Off Editor
Published: November 08, 2009
Categorized in | Music
By Meghan Alfano
Daily Titan Staff Writer
Flyleaf’s newest album is something you’ve probably heard before. Memento Mori, which translates in Latin to “be mindful of death,” is Flyleaf’s sophomore release.
Lyrically, the band is quite spiritual, which sets them apart from most popular artists today. The band refers to religion in songs throughout the entire album, especially in “Beautiful Bride,” which makes lucid references to the Body of Christ in the chorus. “In the Dark” is a song about struggling with one’s faith and alludes to the death and resurrection of Jesus. In the closing song, “Arise,” lead singer Lacey Mosley sings “hold on to the world we all remember dying for,” which could arguably be another reference to Christ’s resurrection.
Aside from religion, the band writes about finding oneself outside of a spiritual realm. The songs “Missing” and “This Close” both talk about a void felt after falling out of love, which is something most people can relate to. The lyrics are sung in a way that is very passionate, and as the songs progress the listener feels a sense of empathy for Mosley.
For the most part, the 13 songs on Memento Mori are hard rock songs. After a while, they all started to sound vaguely similar to the previous song. However, one song stuck out and was completely different from the rest of the songs. “Tiny Heart” is a soft, endearing pop song amidst much heavier songs, and its guitar rifts are strong enough so that it fits in with the album; but the lightness of the song makes it the prettiest on the album.
Musically, however, the band is hardly innovative. After listening to the first two tracks, I almost thought I was listening to pop-punk band Paramore. The lead track, “Again,” and “The Kind” have a similar angsty, hard rock sound, although Mosley is a much better vocalist. Throughout the rest of the album, Flyleaf’s hard rock sound began to feel comparable to the dark sound of the band Evanescence. They sound is hard rock mixed with melodic lyrics, and is something the average music listener has heard and probably will continue to hear on mainstream radio stations.
Print this post 
12 Responses to “Review: Memento Mori”
Post a Comment
The Daily Titan wants your comments! Please know that we reserve the right to moderate these.
If you'd like to display your photo, go and get a Gravatar.
Stay connected
- Popular
- Featured
- Comments
- Tags
- Subscribe
- Shades of Green: Assassinating apples
- Canada fails to beat U.S.A. in the Winter Olympics
- ASI, students make t-shirts for silent protest
- Students barricade themselves in the Humanities Building
- Students, faculty to protest state of public education today
- California prisons release inmates
- If passed, new law will shield criminals', victims' information
- UC Davis ends CSUF men’s basketball season
- Students assess CSUF for re-accreditation review
- Man preaches Christianity to students on campus
- Titan Pride Center helps students connect with campus organizations
- Gerard Anderson: Family has been a significant part of his success
- Employers recruit on campus
- California due for a tremblor, experts say
- Mary: Thom Yorke is playing with his solo band. If you do some research, you...
- John: Noob. :)...
- honestly: if it's not about you or i, then why have YOU taken it upon yourself t...
- triplexx: Dang honestly.........dont you know a joke or simple expression when y...
- Ali: That's not Alecko Eskandarian. He's injured. And not blonde....
- James R - Los Angeles: One charged with DUI in I-57 crash that killed one, ejected child Com...
- James R - Los Angeles: One charged with DUI in I-57 crash that killed one, ejected child Com...
Aaron Thompson Afghanistan Angels ASI Barack Obama baseball Bryce Webster budget cuts California Cal State Fullerton CSU CSUF Dodgers drugs earthquake economy education Facebook fee increases Food Fullerton furloughs H1N1 health care Iraq Jer'Vaughn Johnson jobs Long Beach State March 4 Marijuana Music NBA NFL Obama Orange County parking protest review Sports Titan Student Union Twitter UC UCLA USC volleyball
Subscribe to Daily Titan updates!
- Subscribe to the Daily Titan by Email
- Subscribe to the Daily Titan RSS Feed
Poll
Loading ...
Students get Text Links online. Need Debt Relief help for student loans? Buy a Memory Foam Mattress for your dorm room. Consider day trading to pay off college loans. Learn how web hosting is integral to setting up your college Web site. Check out the Cal State Fullerton Titan Yearbook Archive. Find a Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney near campus.
© 2010 The Daily Titan. Powered by Wordpress.
SPAM lol
the songs sound NOTHING alike!
UR CRAZY if you think that
FLYLEAF ROCKS
HOE DARE YOU COMPARE PARAMORE AND EVANESENCE WITH THE BEST BAND EVER ! : FLYLEAF >=|
i meant How , that was a typo i wasnt calling you names
What a terrible review. “Meghan” if that is your real name, you should be ashamed of yourself. The most stupidest mistake any reviewer can make is comparing artists and then not pointing out the decernable difference. Every band cam be compared to another, it is the reviewers job to seperate what the music sounds like as opposed to what other bands in the same genre sound like.
You do realize that the CD is called “Memento Mori” right? It has an “e” not an “o.” I didn’t even read the article since you didn’t put the effort to get your facts straight in the title. I realize this is the internet but let’s try to keep online articles accurate at least.
Marr he spelt it right…
No, they edited it recently after I pointed it out… Notice my comment is a few days old, they have since fixed it. The title of the article used to be called “Momento Mori” and is now correct. You know, Spellcheck, they can edit things on the internet if they make a mistake. I guess the editors decided to start doing their job, lol. You’re welcome Daily Titan.
But yes, spellcheck, it is now spelled right. Oh, and “spelt” isn’t spelled right. I hope this is your attempt at humor and not your inability to grasp the English language. If it is an attempt at humor, well played.
It annoys me when they compare Flyleaf and Paramore. Paramore have gone backwards with Brand new eyes. LAcey is a much better vocalist and their music is NOTHING alike. Brilliant album
“Heard it before”? Duh. Of course. There is nothing new anymore. Totally weightless argument. That is true of every album released in the last 15 years. Even the most artistic bands out there (eg. fleet foxes) are just reformulating 50’s and 60’s pop hooks.
Excellent album. My only complaint would be the abscence of any “I’m So Sick” type songs. Lacey’s pop side is pretty satisfying nonetheless and the band creates a few nice heavy soundscapes for Lacey for Lacey’s vocals to ride.
I’ll never forget. I saw flyleaf at SPAC in 2007. Had no idea who they were. I just remember this little girl in a long brown milk maids dress flailing herself around the stage like she was in a trance and didn’t even know we were watching. It was pretty wonderful stuff. They really stood out that day especially after watching several other bands who posed and postered endlessly trying to “connect” with the audience.