"Good Behavior" by Plumb from Chaotic Resolve

"I'm sick of feeling like a traitor—is this the price for good behavior?"

Tiffany Arbuckle Lee, stage name "Plumb," pulls emotions into this song and could almost (but not quite) be mistaken for Amy Lee (who Plumb actually influenced). Plumb's third album was coming out when Evanescence launched its first.

A gentle albeit synthesized beginning switches to a harder metal element. (Plumb's 2006 album Chaotic Resolve melds her original edgy dark rock sound with her more recent pop style works.) This sound is again reminiscent of Evanescence songs like "Taking Over Me."

In fact, Plumb could even be thought of as a Christian edition of Evanescence, since she likewise honestly explores dark topics in her lyrics. "Good Behavior" speaks of how constricting rules can have the reverse affect of what's intended.

The narrator has been surrounded by rules and kept inside them, but it's driving her mad. There's no salvation in following a mere set of rules, she knows, and she's "sick of feeling like a traitor" from playing hypocrite.

That the narrator breaks free—and goes recklessly wild because of it—is a warning to many of us, I think. It can be so easy to narrow things into categories of rules that children in particular can be overlooked as people who need (as they grow) to learn why the rules are there.

Overall, it's a fine enough song (along with "Better") that I'm adding Plumb on my "to-get" list.

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Lyrics: 4/5
Music: 4/5
Vocal(s): 4/5
Overall: 8/10

"Better" by Plumb from Chaotic Resolve

"I don't wanna hate; I don't wanna be broken; I don't wanna hate you!"

Now, that's a nice twist of lyric, as is "But in the end / what leaves you broken in the end / makes you better!"

I first heard "Better" on Pandora about a year ago before I even considered making this blog, and liked it enough to take "I like it!" I ultimately left Pandora for several months (mostly because they lacked certain bands and songs I wanted to hear). I forgot about the song, then popped back in one night and decided to listen to my "gothic rock" station I'd made there. "Better" came up, and I immediately jotted it down to review it.

Turns out, Plumb's a Christian singer. I almost regret learning that, since it made me realize what the song reminded me of: other CCM (contemporary Christian music). It almost could be Evanescence meets Rebecca St. James. Okay, that was a weird comparison. But the alternative slightly-gothic rock music blends with enough attractiveness and memorability to warrant an "above average" rating, albeit too conventionally for me to hand a "5".

Plumb, whose actual name is Tiffany Arbuckle Lee, sings prettily. Again, I'm reminded of Evanescence's Amy Lee with traces of Rebecca St. James and even Flyleaf's Lacey Mosley (in a good way). Nonetheless, "Plumb" sounds a bit overly breathy when she's trying to sing quietly. It's a bit annoying.

Now for the lyrics. As you can probably guess from the quotes I have above, "Better" discusses not hating someone who abuses you. The song specifically speaks of the unbeliever who persecutes the Christian "because of fear." It's encouragement to the Christian who is facing a hard time, perhaps getting emotionally torn to pieces by someone. "What leaves you broken in the end makes you better." Notice that unusual statement.

For a song in general, it's well above average. For CCM, it's extraordinary.

UPDATE: I've learned that Amy Lee actually credits Plumb as one of her influences for Evanescence. So small wonder they sound comparable.

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Lyrics: 5/5
Music: 4/5
Vocal(s): 4/5
Overall: 8/10