Memento Mori (Flyleaf album)

Memento Mori is the second studio album by American rock band Flyleaf, released through A&M/Octone Records on November 10, 2009.[5] The title is a Latin phrase meaning "be mindful of death" or "remember you will die". Memento Mori debuted at number eight on the Billboard 200, selling 56,000 units in its opening week.[6] It also became the first album by a female-led act to top the Billboard Hard Rock Albums chart.[7] The album sold more than 311,600 copies in the U.S. in a little over one year.[8]

Memento Mori
Studio album by
Flyleaf
ReleasedNovember 10, 2009
RecordedJune 2008– August 2009
GenrePost-grunge, alternative metal,[1] nu metal[2]
Length44:03
LabelA&M/Octone
ProducerHoward Benson
Flyleaf chronology
Much Like Falling EP
(2007)		 Memento Mori
(2009)		 Remember to Live
(2010)
Singles from Memento Mori
  1. "Again"
    Released: August 25, 2009[3]
  2. "Beautiful Bride"
    Released: October 6, 2009
  3. "Missing"
    Released: April 5, 2010[4]
  4. "Chasm"
    Released: September 27, 2010
  5. "Arise"
    Released: December 14, 2010

Background

Memento Mori is the follow-up to their 2005 platinum debut. It contains 14 songs, which were selected out of 18 already written.[9] The band reunited with producer Howard Benson to make the album. The album was recorded at Bay7 Studios in Los Angeles, California.[10] It was released on November 10, 2009. The band debuted two songs, "Chasm" and "Circle", from Memento Mori live during a small acoustic tour in Afghanistan for United States Troops.[11]

Writing

The band began writing new music after their debut album was released. Most of the material was written while the band toured, but some songs date back as early as 2005 and 2006. "In The Dark" was written after the band released Flyleaf, though it was never played live. "Again", "Have We Lost", and "Beautiful Bride" were the first songs to be played live before they were released on the album.

"Again", the first single from Memento Mori, was released to radio and digital retail stores August 25, 2009.[12] Meiert Avis directed the music video for "Again", released at midnight September 30, 2009, on MTV.[13] Don Tyler directed the music video for "Beautiful Bride", released October 6, 2009. Diane Martel directed the music video for "Missing", released March 18, 2010. Giles Timms directed, animated and illustrated the animated viral music video for "Chasm", released on September 22, 2010.

The album premiered on the official Flyleaf MySpace page November 6, 2009.

Promotion

The group, starting on September 28, held VIP listening parties throughout the country inviting fans to be the first to hear a selection of songs from the new record and view brand new music videos before they aired nationwide. By partnering with Eventful, fans were given the opportunity to demand that their city get routed into the "Road To Memento Mori" using Eventful's "Demand It!" service. Based on overwhelming demand, there were eight events.

Fans could see Lacey Sturm, Sameer Bhattacharya and Jared Hartmann, who made special appearances at these intimate gatherings across the country.[14]

Reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic(69/100)[15]
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[16]
Alternative Press[17]
Entertainment Weekly(B)[18]
Jesus Freak Hideout[19]
The New York Times(favorable)[20]
Sputnikmusic[21]
Type 3 Media[22]

Memento Mori currently holds generally favorable reviews on Metacritic with a 69.[23]

Track listing
Standard Edition
No.TitleLength
0."Uncle Bobby" (hidden pre-gap track)4:22
1."Beautiful Bride"3:03
2."Again"3:05
3."Chasm"2:54
4."Missing"2:54
5."This Close"3:20
6."The Kind"2:47
7."In The Dark"3:47
8."Set Apart This Dream"3:15
9."Swept Away"4:09
10."Tiny Heart"3:07
11."Melting (Interlude)"0:57
12."Treasure"3:24
13."Circle"3:03
14."Arise"4:18
Total length:44:03

Bonus tracks
Expanded Edition Bonus Disc
No.TitleLength
15."Break Your Knees"4:26
16."Enemy"3:43
17."Have We Lost"2:56
18."Who Am I"2:37
Total length:57:45
iTunes Bonus Tracks
No.TitleLength
16."Stay (U2 Cover)" (Released On "The Target Red Room Vol. 5")4:53
17."Bitter Sweet" (Pre-Order Exclusive)4:03
Amazon MP3 Bonus Track
No.TitleLength
16."Tina" (From Much Like Falling EP)2:31
Rhapsody Bonus Track
No.TitleLength
16."Supernatural (Acoustic)" (From Much Like Falling EP)4:25
Walmart.com Bonus Track
No.TitleLength
16."Justice and Mercy" (From Much Like Falling EP)2:34

Track notes
  • "Tiny Heart" is a re-worked demo of a song that was written in the mid-2000s, before the release of Flyleaf's debut album.[24]
  • "Again" and "Have We Lost" were written in 2007 and often performed live. These songs underwent lyrical changes during the Memento Mori sessions.[25]
  • "Uncle Bobby" is a hidden track that is placed before "Beautiful Bride". The song can be heard by rewinding the disc to -4:28. On digital versions of the album, the song is track 15, after "Arise".
  • "Set Apart This Dream" was inspired by the best-selling, inspirational John Eldredge book Wild at Heart.[26]
  • "Treasure" was written about Lacey's engagement to Joshua Sturm.[27]
  • The expanded edition bonus track "Enemy" was used during the opening segment of the season 5 Criminal Minds episode "Risky Business".[28]

Chart performance
Chart (2009) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[29] 8
US Billboard Alternative Albums[29] 1
US Billboard Christian Albums[29] 1
US Billboard Hard Rock Albums[29] 1
US Billboard Rock Albums[29] 2
US Billboard Digital Albums 2
US Billboard Tastemaker Albums 4

Awards

The album was nominated for a Dove Award for Rock Album of the Year at the 42nd GMA Dove Awards.[30]

Personnel
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References
  1. Christopher, James (November 10, 2009). "( Memento Mori [Expanded] > Review )". allmusic. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
  2. https://www.allmusic.com/album/r1663608
  3. "Flyleaf News - 8/12! - MySpace-blog | van Flyleaf". Blogs.myspace.com. February 3, 2010. Archived from the original on August 17, 2009. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
  4. "The latest news, information, tour dates, pictures, mp3s, videos, lyrics and more". Flyleaf Online. January 13, 2010. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
  5. Memento Mori: Flyleaf. Amazon.com.
  6. "Top 100 Music Hits, Top 100 Music Charts, Top 100 Songs & The Hot 100". Billboard.com. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
  7. "Lacey Sturm Becomes First Solo Woman to Top Hard Rock Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  8. "The latest news, information, tour dates, pictures, mp3s, videos, lyrics and more". Flyleaf Online. August 19, 2010. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  9. "Flyleaf". The Gauntlet. October 20, 2009. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
  10. "Video Player". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
  11. "Texas Band Flyleaf Delivers High Spirits to Troops Overseas". Dvidshub.net. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  12. "Flyleaf News - 8/12! - MySpace-blog | van Flyleaf". Blogs.myspace.com. February 3, 2010. Archived from the original on August 17, 2009. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
  13. "The latest news, information, tour dates, pictures, mp3s, videos, lyrics and more". Flyleaf Online. August 14, 2009. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
  14. "BLABBERMOUTH.NET - FLYLEAF: 'Memento Mori' Listening Parties Announced". Roadrunnerrecords.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2009. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
  15. "Memento Mori by Flyleaf Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  16. Christopher Monger, James. "Memento Mori - Overview". Allmusic. Retrieved November 29, 2009.
  17. Callwood, Brett (December 2009). "File Under: Arena Metal". Alternative Press. Cleveland, Ohio: Alternative Magazines, Inc. (257): 108. ISSN 1065-1667.
  18. Greenblatt, Leah. "Album Review: Flyleaf - Memento Mori". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
  19. "Flyleaf, "Memento Mori" Review". Jesusfreakhideout.com. November 10, 2009. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
  20. Caramanica, Jon (November 22, 2009). "Worlds Rural, Urban, Midlife, Teenage: Flyleaf". The New York Times. Retrieved December 21, 2009.
  21. Spencer, Trey. "Album Review: Flyleaf - Memento Mori". SputnikMusic. Retrieved November 9, 2009.
  22. P., J. "Album Review: Flyleaf – Memento Mori". Type 3 Media. Archived from the original on April 28, 2013. Retrieved October 16, 2009.
  23. "Memento Mori reviews at". Metacritic.com. November 10, 2009. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
  24. "Tiny Heart Revenant Media". Revenantmedia.com. October 7, 2009. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  25. "The latest news, information, tour dates, pictures, mp3s, videos, lyrics and more". Flyleaf Online. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
  26. Spring Music Preview: July/August, Rolling Stone. Published March 20, 2009. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
  27. "FLYLEAF Singer Lacey's Wedding Proposal". YouTube. November 13, 2009. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
  28. "CM 5.13 1". YouTube. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
  29. https://www.billboard.com/music/flyleaf/chart-history/
  30. 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards Nominees Archived July 10, 2011, at the Wayback Machine on DoveAwards.com
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