Flaw was a quintet from Louisville, Kentucky when singer Chris Voltz answered an ad for a singer for guitarist Lance Arny. They then met and formed the group Flaw, which was originally titled F.Law. But, (I qoute Chris on this) he said that everyone and everything has flaws. That is how they got their name, This is their first CD on a major level, releasing an independant release titled "American Arrogance". They then wrote their second CD, "Endangered Species" before the band broke up due to an on stage dilema.
Flaw for this album-
Chris Volz-vocals,piano
Lance Arny-guitars
Ryan Jurhs-bass, vocals
Jason Daunt-Drums
Chris Ballinger-Guitars
Flaw-Through The Eyes (2001)
1. Only The Strong - Starts out with some static for about 15 seconds, then the gutiar comes in. At about the :30 mark, the whole band comes in and a few seconds later Volz comes in singing very powerful. The chorous to this song has to be one of the best messages, near the end he says , "Only the strong survive". I think that is so true. The instrumets on this piece are really strong in all areas. 5/5
2. Payback - By the title, you probably coud guess what this song was about. It starts off with a nice bass riff for the first :10 of the song, then the band comes in. This is probably the hardest song on the album (Reliance is one of the others). This is their first single, and the song that got them noticed. Bass is cranked WAY up on this piece. Volz screams his heart out. 4.5/5
3. My Letter - Written in a first person view, Volz explains everything as the way he sees it, and basically reads 'his letter', when he says, "This is my letter to you. Hope you're all right , it's been rough for me, thinking all night, of all the places I'd be." He goes on about that for the chorous. Guitar is sof and listenable. Great vocals. 5/5
4. Get Up Again - This is the shortest song on the CD at 2:56, but has a very powerful message. The guitar starts off in a beat and all the other instruments join in. He says "Times will get Tough, Get up again". This to me is the message we need to take from this song and apply it to everyday life. 3.5/5
5. Whole - The second single off of the album. It is about Chris' mom and how she committed suicide when he was 12 years old. The intro is similar to 'Payback'.
"Then you came right in tearing out my soul
How could all this loss be your only goal
I'm left standing here desperate in the cold
Since you took your life mine has not been whole". this is the chorous to the song, and this describes how his mom betrayed him, but he wants someone to love him. This is the highlight of the CD, or the song that stands out the most. 5/5
6. Amendment - Starts off with an Eerie guitar effect that blends into Chris Volz rapping. He isnt that bad of a rapper, in my opinion. I think this is a political song, because he is talking about a generation of fate, saying they don't like it. The chorous is a lot softer than the verse, and then it leads into a VERY quiet bridge, which in my opinion is one of the best bridges written. He talks about how life is too short and that we should live it to the fullest, because none of us should have to die. It then ends with more of Volz rappijng. The end of this song blends into the next song. 4.5/5
7. Starts out with a gutiar from the last song, and brings in a very catchyy bass line. Another political song, against facism. It talks about how they use you for thier work that they do. Chris Volz raps this
"and so you and so you and so you and so you
pass all the fascist asses ignore those classes
of bottleneck masses
producing an all but awful stench, delivering a
section off all the money stole and spent
as you start to recognize you're in the game". This is the chorous for the song. The song also ends abruptly with this line. 4/5
8. What I Have To Do - The longest song on the CD at 5:40. Talks about how everyone has been lead astray and we are a social degregation. He says "Only a few of us go in the right direction, even though we are singled out". This is the few people we need to be. Has a very good brigde. Soft gutiar work and great drums and bass. 5/5
9. Inner Strength - Talks about life and how some of us take it seriously, some play it as a game, and some of us take it as a joke. Has a pretty good guitar riff to start off with. Has a good overall mesage in the song for everyone to relate to. It isn't too bad of a song, but definately not one of the better ones on here. 2.5/5
10. Best I Am - Talks about how he wants to be the best that he is. Has a very "Creed Like" song structure, but done much better, and Volz is actually on key for most of the song. Has a very soft opening bass and guitar lines that go perfectly. Volz comes in with some very powerful vocals and can relate to anybody. One of the better ones on the CD. 5/5
11. Out Of Whack - This is about how we live life, and how someone wants us to live life. He says we are "Born Out Of Whack, .....,, we're just kids trying to get along." Has a guitar solo right after the bridge, not a great one, but this is a nu-metal album, so you are lucky if you get a few. Anyway, very soft bridge, as usual, but still good. 4/5
12. Reliance - The second shortest song on the CD. Probably the hardest, and the one where Volz raps the most. He says he wants us to help fix his life because he says "I can't fix my damn self". But than says he'll feel much better when we are really gone. No really good guitar parts, it is just more of the 'heabanger', has a 'Mudvayne' feel to it, which is pretty sweet. 3.5/5
13. One More Time - The power ballad of the CD. Talks about how he wants his life back and how he wants to live it one more time. Very soft guitar, but builds up near the end of the song. Ends very quiet, saying "I wana live my life one more time." 5/5
Secret Track (Only the Strong) - This is the remake of the first song, but this is unique. It is just Volz and the piano, singing it much more softly and heart felt than i have ever heard it. If you can split One More Time and this wonderful piano ballad (this is an extension of One More Time, making the last track the longest at 11:07), please do. It is thier best remake.
Pros - Bass, Volz, balanced instruments
Cons - May get repetitive (but still catchy), almost no guitar solos :(.
You should definately buy this album if you have the $15. Volz singing is what gets to me all of the time. Definately a must have if you are a nu-metal, rock, mainstream rock, and even like to hear rock singers rap. Hope you like it!
4.5/5!!!!
