Numero CINCO!

Not often can one come up with a definite answer to a question that can never be fully answered. Well let's back up, the question is - - "What's your top 5 favorite songs?". Yeah, I know that means you'll have to put your thinking caps on for this one! It's really hard trying to go through a steadily growing list of artist and pick your top favorites. You can have several or even hundreds of different artist that you like. But to pick that one to be called a top. That's truly a task beyond tasks. Unless you're just one of those who listen to one artist and like only one song. Then you would be missing the point, and there would be no real reason for you to continue reading. That makes you the weakest link, goodbye! But for those who actually care and are interested in knowing what I picked as my "Top 5". Keep reading and soon you shall discover the truth.

5) Arcade Fire, "Cold Wind" (2005)

Although there is no definite answer to what the true meaning to the song is. There's a sense of mystery hidden behind the lead singer's cracked-vocals. Not featured on any of their studio albums. "Cold Wind" is one of the best songs by Arcade Fire. It's a good Indie song that stands out from the bunch.

4) Nirvana, "All Apologies" (1993)

One of the best songs by Nirvana. Not because it was played on "Six Feet Under". But the songs is still great. Interesting lyrics and a hardcore edgy style music structure. The song was dedicated to Kurt Cobain's wife and daughter. To summarize the song, "peaceful, happy and comfort".

3) Radiohead, "Creep" (1994)

The song starts off rather mellow with depressing lyrics. As the chorus approaches. Jonny Greenwood plays three dead notes on his guitar as the chorus roars in. In retrospect however, just from those "dead notes" being played. That 'human error' really made the song. The whole song itself is very nicely arranged. Although it was considered to depressing to be mainstream. It's still one of the best by Radiohead

2) Flyleaf, "Tiny Heart" (2009)

Flyleaf is known for hardcore edgy rock songs. But going from hardcore loud to mellow alternative sounding isn't easy. But "Tiny Heart" does this with a good sound. The lyrics are very straight forward. With great vocals and nicely done song structure. When you can make a mellow song sound just as good as your hardcore ones. Then you're on the right track.

1) The Beatles, "She Said, She Said" (1966)

This song has an interesting origin. John Lennon and Peter Fonda were on an Acid Trip. When Peter Fonda told John Lennon he knew what it was like to be dead. After this statement. John was freaked out and decided to write a song based on that statement. That's how the song came to life. With backing vocals from George Harrison, this has to be one of the best examples of Acid Rock at its best.

Devon M

Flyleaf song facts

THIS CLOSE by FLYLEAF

Artist Direct asked lead singer Lacey Mosley about the story behind this song. She replied: "I love 'This Close' the more that I listen to it. It's fitting because I'm going through a completely new season in my life where I don't know who I am anymore [Laughs]. A lot of things that I held on to and had convictions about are shifting. I realized I've been judgmental in certain areas and I have to soften up about them. It's not that the convictions are changing, but the striving to control is changing [Laughs]. I'm not going to try to control the circumstances around me like I felt I needed to before. It's a really relieving feeling to know that God's in control and we're not. Sometimes it means our hands are off. You make decisions that you think with all of your heart are right, move forward and then you find out that they're wrong in the end. That will really shake your sense of your own identity. You have to clean up a bunch of mess, deal with the aftermath, give it all to God and say, 'Please heal my heart and teach me the difference between right and wrong.' That's where we get tripped up the most—really believing in a heart that can be deceptive sometimes. If you've ever had your heart broken, your heart will sometimes deceive you and make you blind and foolish. In the end, you have to be honest and say, 'I don't know who I am anymore.' Admitting you don't know anything is the closest you'll ever get to being real [Laughs]."

THERE FOR YOU by FLYLEAF

This song is about messing up a friendship with someone you care about, and then telling that person you're sorry and you want to be there for them from now on.

Lead singer Lacey Mosley has introduced this song in concert by saying: "When I sing this song, I sing it to Jesus."

RED SAM by FLYLEAF

The title comes from the names of band members JaRED Hartmann and SAMeer Bhattacharya.

In a TVU spot, lead singer Lacey Mosley said: "It's kinda personal, some of the stuff about it. But its really just about how I got saved. I guess when I was 16, before that I was atheist, and then I had all these things. Like I was really just kinda studying to figure out what the truth was, I guess. Then my grandpa was really, well he was having a heart attack at that time, like his 12th heart attack that he had. So I was really upset, and it was like right about that time when I guess God brought me to a place where I didn't have anything or anybody and it was the only way that I was ever going to look up and see that the only thing constant and the only thing I could depend on was God. And that's when all these supernatural things happened, and He like showed me that He was real and that He really loved me and that He wanted to do something different with my life and that's why I was alive. And so that's when I got saved."

SORROW by FLYLEAF

Lead singer Lacey Mosley from an interview with Christian Music Planet: "One of the ones I think is important to play is 'Sorrow.' That's because in our day and age, there is such a huge number of people who deal with depression, or know someone who deals with depression. In the Bible, it says, 'Jesus was a man of sorrow.' On the secular side, there are people who deal with depression because they feel empty. On the Christian side, there are people who deal with depression because they feel alone with their Christianity or because they mess up. That's the spirit we're combating when we play it. The promise in the end is, 'Joy will come.'"

ARISE by FLYLEAF

Lead singer Lacey Mosley has this to say in an interview with New Release Tuesday: "There's a song on the album, called 'Arise,' which sums up the message we want people to walk away with. We want them to come away feeling empowered to arise and be all that they were meant to be, so that they can ultimately fulfill their purpose. The lyrics say, 'Arise and be all that you dream,' but I believe most people have a purpose for their lives that far exceeds any dream they could ever have. Even on our self-titled record it says that our lives should exceed all that we can dream, and that's how I feel when I'm singing 'Arise.' I believe there's a purpose for your life that only you were meant to fulfill. So our prayer, for anyone who listens to the message on the record, is that they would fulfill their purpose and answer the highest calling for their lives."

A New Horizon for Flyleaf

A polite way to say goodbye ***

Flyleaf’s last album with lead singer Lacey seems rather sad than the uplifting title New Horizons suggest. But once you listen to the first few tracks, you’ll realize where the concept of this album is heading to. It’s not the edgy and high energy songs of their first self-titled album, nor as experimental as the second album Memento Mori. It’s sort of like reading a graduation speech for the fans, each song just feels like they are slowly drifting into different directions. Does this mean that Flyleaf will be no more? Well there’s always a hopeful chance that the band will become like Animals as Leaders and just have all instrumental tracks. Even though that’s wishful thinking, the possibility of that could eventually emerge if the band doesn’t find a lead singer to replace Lacey..

New Horizons starts off with Fire – Fire, which is a great album starter. The song kind of reminds you of Beautiful Bride mixed with Cassie. It’s a very guitar heavy track and Lacey’s vocals seem strong with lyrics at times sounding repetitive. Somehow you forgive the lyrics as the song’s energy really does help you forget that. New Horizons is also a good track. It’s not the in your face song like I’m So Sick or All Around Me. The song itself just feels appropriate for the band and the message they are trying to put out there with this album. The lyrics themselves are very interesting and the fact that it leaves you wanting more than what the song offers somewhat disappoints a little. Fire, Fire is another example of Beautiful Bride which invites the male band members to sing the chorus and backing vocals in the song. It’s a unique touch and doesn’t feel as clumsy as Beautiful Bride in structure. It’s a great song and of course the message again is clear in this song.

A track favorite of mine is Calling You Out. The lyrics and the angry tone of the song does is what makes it a very interesting listen on the album. I really do enjoy the message of the song and that’s the truth will always come out no matter how much you lie. (Of course that may not be the exact meaning of the lyrics. But then again they are many interpretations of the lyrics). New Horizons is a great album and a great way to say farewell to Lacy their former lead singer. This album may not be as good as their first self-titled album, or as experimental as the Memento Mori. For what the album offers it’s a great listen and has its moments.

Devon M

"Chasm isn't fixed yet"

Flyleaf's first album sold over 1 million copies, with amazing sounding singles such as "I'm So Sick", "Fully Alive and "All Around Me" which landed on the "Billboard Hot 100". Having such a successful launch, can Flyleaf repeat this with their second album? Well, the answer is yes! "Memento Mori" is one great album. "Again" is still that same Flyleaf that you've grown to love, but is far more watered down trade-off to the deeper and more passionate "Tina" and even "Cassie" with the extreme question of "Do you bleive in God?" in the catchy chorus. "Chasm" has deep references towards the Bible, but the punk rock styled music arrangements makes it sound more dark and disturbed. This isn't a bad thing. After all "Cassie pulled the trigger". "Tiny Heart" is probably the best song on the album hands down. It may not be as loud and racy as the other songs you're used to, but leans more towards an alternative sound that does suit the band very well. "Memento Mori" is worth checking out and shouldn't disappoint fans because it does surpass expectations and even entertains just as well as the first.

Devon M