Deciding which album to review for my first ever Rock-Out Review was a toughy. My first temptation was to go way back and talk about some of my all-time favorites. But seeing how all the bands I used to listen to are now broken up or dead, and are therefore never going to release a new album, I should try to make this a little more relevant to today’s music scene.
So I was on the search for new bands that best represent my 21 previous years of rock-out experience. After much consideration and money spent on new releases, I have come to a decision.They’re called Flyleaf. A quintet from Texas, signed with Octone Records and J Records (If you pay attention to that kind of thing). Here’s what really caught my attention about them:the Vox. Before I go into that though, tell me, what’s the ratio of men and women in rock, exactly? I think it’s something like one girl rocker for every one-hundred and fifty dudes? Something like that. Next, can Avril Lavigne, Gwen Stephani, or Shirley Manson (Garbage) rock nearly as hard as say Zack de la Rocha, Johnathan Davis, or Marilyn Manson? Not that I have anything against Lavigne, Stephani, or Manson, it seems like female rockers are grossly misrepresented.
This is why Flyleaf stands out, Lacey Mosley turns an above-average grunge band into an amazing rock army. Their self-titled debut album is amazingly refined for a relatively new group. Their first track “I’m so sick” begins with the most adrenaline-pumping banshee scream I have ever heard. When I first heard this song in FYE, it was after listening to thirty seconds clips from every song on every CD I could reach from the listening station. Needless to say, my brain was all gush and gore by the time I pulled Flyleaf out of a sheath of crappy music. When Lacey screamed into my ears it was like she blasted life back into the corpse I had become. My only issue with this album is that Lacey does not take full advantage of the god-given power in her voice. Her scream is so pure and on-the-spot that it leaves you rather thirsty for more. I guess this is good for those with less of a rock threshold than myself.
Whether your library is mostly full of Punk, Grunge, Alternative, Screamo, or whatever, Flyleaf will be an excellent addition to your collection. Plus, admit it, you need more chicks in your repertoire.
Other girl-rock bands you might want to check out:
Tsunami Bomb
Veruca Salt
Coal Chamber (girl on the bass)
Yours Truly,
Nik King Cook