Flags is a dreamy, alternative-pop collection that showcases her agile
soprano, lilting melodies, and knack for telling her stories through the lives
of vibrant characters on songs like "Betty," (co-written with Switchfoot's Jon
Foreman and Ben West of Detroit indie duo The Real Efforts of Real People),
"Crows and Locusts," "Jack Kerouac," and "Ice on Her Lashes." "I've never
used as many characters or as much narrative in my songwriting as I have
on this record," Fraser says. "On my previous albums [2003's What To Do
With Daylight and 2008's Albertine], I was singing completely as myself,
which is why I think I got so burnt out from touring. Albertine was inspired by
incredibly signifi cant events and people and every time I'd sing I'd go back
to that moment where my heart was ripped open. So singing such heavy
songs nearly every night for three years took a toll. On Flags, it's still me
speaking, but it's me speaking through the voices of different characters and
their stories. It's more survivable." The album also features a co-written duet
with Aqualung's Matt Hales, titled "Who Are We Fooling".