CD Info

This seven-track EP takes avoids some of the sonic sturm und drang found on the Flyleaf's albums in favor of a more restrained but no less intense approach. The songs — a mix of new material and hard-to-find tunes from the band’s early days — are mostly rendered acoustically, with bursts of electric guitar crunch added for emphasis. Singer Lacey Mosley shines in this stripped-down setting, letting the bruised beauty of her waif-like vocals fully connect with the pathos and salvation within her lyrics. “Dear My Closest Friend,” “Believe In Dreams” and “Light In Your Eyes” burn with an incandescent fire as they celebrate hope while acknowledging suffering. “Justice & Mercy (Violent Love Version)” is a revelation — by stripping away its familiar metallic edge, the song’s defiant tenderness gains heightened power. “Arise” — remixed here by ex-Evanescence guitarist Ben Moody — gains a sweeter taste while retaining its gothic bite. More than just a preview of a full-length project, Remember to Live stands on its own as a compelling statement artistically and spiritually. - iTunes