Between the Stars Special Edition

Jessica - This album is just perfect, everything about it is brilliant. I know many people are not happy about having a new singer, but I honestly love Kristen. She's perfect for the band, and I'm more into her than Lacey. Lacey was amazing as well, but I just love Kristen. This album deserves 5 stars, every song is just so enjoyable to listen to. I'm excited to see them tour this album, and meet them personally. I have seen them live before with Kristen, they are so much better live in my opinion. So seeing this new album being performed will be really exciting. Maximus1505 - The first album with the new Flyleaf singer: New style, but nice! Seems like - some people before me realized it too - that the heavy sound got a bit lost. Tracks like 'Set Me On Fire', 'Magnetic', 'Thread' and 'Home' are pretty cool. However my favorite song of the album is 'Traitor', because in this song the band shows a little bit hard rock. Though you can give them all 5 stars for a great rock album! Good vocals of Kristen May! A.F. Washburn - While I'll miss Lacey like crazy, I do have to say that Kristen is a pretty sick vocalist! I love this album and can't wait to own a copy! Favorite tracks are: Set...

Jessica - This album is just perfect, everything about it is brilliant. I know many people are not happy about having a new singer, but I honestly love Kristen. She's perfect for the band, and I'm more into her than Lacey. Lacey was amazing as well, but I just love Kristen. This album deserves 5 stars, every song is just so enjoyable to listen to. I'm excited to see them tour this album, and meet them personally. I have seen them live before with Kristen, they are so much better live in my opinion. So seeing this new album being performed will be really exciting. Maximus1505 - The first album with the new Flyleaf singer: New style, but nice! Seems like - some people before me realized it too - that the heavy sound got a bit lost. Tracks like 'Set Me On Fire', 'Magnetic', 'Thread' and 'Home' are pretty cool. However my favorite song of the album is 'Traitor', because in this song the band shows a little bit hard rock. Though you can give them all 5 stars for a great rock album! Good vocals of Kristen May! A.F. Washburn - While I'll miss Lacey like crazy, I do have to say that Kristen is a pretty sick vocalist! I love this album and can't wait to own a copy! Favorite tracks are: Set Me On Fire, Magnetic, Sober Serenade, Thread, Marionette, & Well of Lies. 5/5 stars! aDyingApril - Honestly, they have lost what they once were and that is very sad... I was kind of waiting to see how this project went, because Kristen sort off came in and just "replaced" Lacey on "New Horizons". They sound all to mainstream now. Lacey was without a doubt the essence of this band! Wajdi Smirat - I think Set Me On Fire was a bad choice for a first single off their new album, there are better songs on the record! Alphonse Asker - I love this album! "Thread" and "Marionette" are my favorites, but I like all the others as well. Thanks, Flyleaf, and congratulations :) Alan - Love this album!!! Even better than I thought it was going to be!!! Unlike most people, I still love all of Flyleaf's music, Lacey or no Lacey. People need to get over the fact that Lacey is gone. Just because you're mad at that doesn't mean you have to take it out in ugly comments about Kristen. Great Album, 4.5/5 stars. Favorites are City Kids , Home & Set Me On Fire. Stage Actor - Sounds like medyum Fireflight. It is missing Lacey Sturm's classic screams. Other than that, this is a pretty good album musically. Mike - The album is good... but it isn't Flyleaf anymore... The new girl can sing, and I'm not dogging her, and the band is still a great band, it's just not the same anymore. Sound nothing like Flyleaf. That being said, I'll still pick up the album, because I like it, but I may label it Flownleaf - to not get it confused with Flyleaf of old, lol. Dieter Jentsch - Thanks Flyleaf for this great new albun. I give 5 stars. What a voice, great. Yes this album is an enjoyable listen..... Ethan Howard - Sounds like Flyleaf is still the best in Christian rock bands with a female lead vocalists. I like this album more than I thought I would.

The 2012 release of Flyleaf's New Horizons was largely eclipsed by the startling news of iconic lead singer Lacey Sturm's departure, a development that left fans uncertain about the future. As one of the most successful crossover hard rock acts of the past decade (their self-titled 2005 debut is certified platinum), transition to a new lead singer was a treacherous path for the band to navigate, requiring them to win over their fanbase all over again.

That new lead singer is Kristen May, a powerhouse singer/songwriter who formerly fronted disbanded act Vedera. Despite Lacey Sturm's warm, heartfelt endorsement of her successor and the way Kristen immediately began proving her powerful voice on stages with Flyleaf across the country, many fans continued to remain skeptical or, in the worst cases, outright hostile. The studio debut album for the new line-up, Between the Stars, should definitively prove the criticism ungrounded.

Lead single "Set Me On Fire" has already given fans a taste of the harder side the album has to offer, with raw guitar riffs and keen vocals. Guitarists Sameer Bhattacharya and Jared Hartmann are on point throughout the album, providing chugging, gritty g...

The 2012 release of Flyleaf's New Horizons was largely eclipsed by the startling news of iconic lead singer Lacey Sturm's departure, a development that left fans uncertain about the future. As one of the most successful crossover hard rock acts of the past decade (their self-titled 2005 debut is certified platinum), transition to a new lead singer was a treacherous path for the band to navigate, requiring them to win over their fanbase all over again.

That new lead singer is Kristen May, a powerhouse singer/songwriter who formerly fronted disbanded act Vedera. Despite Lacey Sturm's warm, heartfelt endorsement of her successor and the way Kristen immediately began proving her powerful voice on stages with Flyleaf across the country, many fans continued to remain skeptical or, in the worst cases, outright hostile. The studio debut album for the new line-up, Between the Stars, should definitively prove the criticism ungrounded.

Lead single "Set Me On Fire" has already given fans a taste of the harder side the album has to offer, with raw guitar riffs and keen vocals. Guitarists Sameer Bhattacharya and Jared Hartmann are on point throughout the album, providing chugging, gritty guitar riffs that ground songs such as "Traitor" and "Well of Lies" firmly to Flyleaf's established sound.

Some songs however venture into more pop-inspired territory, with more mellow vocal tones and subdued instrumentation. Melancholy pop-rock-leaning "Blue Roses" and hopeful "Home" exemplify this style. "City Kids," an album highlight exploring nostalgia and the bittersweet blend of loss and gratitude accompanying adulthood, also leans towards the pop end of the spectrum, although some raw screams carrying the transitions between chorus and verses help it retain a distinctly Flyleaf vibe.

Lyrically there is a definite shift in this new era of Flyleaf, with the intensely spiritual, cerebral lyrics of Memento Mori and New Horizons giving way to more concrete themes and storytelling with spirituality serving as an undercurrent. "Platonic" explores navigating the murky waters of undefined relationships. "Sober Serenade," another album highlight, addresses an addict, expressing with heartache the occasional necessity of disentangling yourself from the self-destructive spirals of our loved ones.

Although faith themes are expressed with more subtlety than the band's past two albums, they are definitely present. "Head Under Water" declares the need to step beyond the words that have shamed us. Kristen May sings words that echo the truth God speaks to each of us: "Will you let them tell you who you are? / My love is deeper than the stars / and you are bigger than the scars that you feel at night."

It is strongly to the band's credit that they don't use this album as a platform simply to vent the angst that could easily be born from the challenges of their transition. However, it may be that struggle in part that validates songs such as "Marionette," a track which expresses refusal to become a puppet of others' expectations.

Closing Thoughts:
The first comment I've seen from many upon hearing Between the Stars or the live recordings released previously is some variation of "Kristen's not Lacey." That is clearly a factual statement, but rather than being a hindrance to the band, it is actually an opportunity. Kristen May displays beautiful artistic and personal integrity in choosing to be herself rather than attempting to be Lacey 2.0, and the result is an incarnation of Flyleaf that is certainly different but equally powerful.

Given that I am one of thousands of young adults for whom Flyleaf's debut was a definitive part of my teen years, and given that I have loved each release since, I certainly went into this album with deep curiosity. With Between the Stars, Flyleaf blew past my expectations on the first track, momentum which only continued to build through the remainder of the project.

Not only has Flyleaf proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that this new incarnation can hold its own; they have also made what is easily one of the best albums of their career. Between the Stars hosts raw, down-to-earth yet emotionally rich lyrics alongside thundering guitar-driven instrumentation that maintains the best of Flyleaf's past while forging ahead into their future. This easily lands near the top of the year's list of must-have rock releases.

Song to Download Now:
"Set Me On Fire" (Get it on iTunes here.)