Fallen Reviews

• A Breath of Fresh Air

  
  By AOAW5ARGQWSCY on 2003-05-27
  I haven't written a review in a very long time now, (Probably over a year) but I was inspired to share my opinion on a great new band that has some solid potential. Evanescence has, probably, one of the best overall sounds I've heard in a "new" band in quite a while. While the music does sound comparable to Linkin Park (who I also like) - The Vocals and overall feel of the album is something unique and exciting. I'll do a quick breakdown of the songs:

  Going Under: One of the best songs on the album without a doubt. Surprising and interesting at every turn. Very Original. 5/5

  Bring Me To Life: The song most people know them by. Maybe a little over played on the radio, but a great song none-the-less. And the song that got me interested in them to begin with. 4.5/5

  Everybody's Fool: A solid song that expands you a little deeper into the sound of the band. 4/5

  My Immortal: A haunting and beautiful song. Amy's voice sends chills up my spine. 4.5/5

  Haunted: A great song. Dark and eerie, may incite thought and contemplation. 4.5/5

  Tourniquet: Awesome song. (Though the lyrics are a little on the strange side) Great Melody. 4/5

  Imaginary: This song has a great transfer from the previous song and is a solid effort as well. Both these songs together make for a great 8 minute excursion. 4/5

  Taking Over Me: Best Song on the Disc (in my opinion). Played this one over and over again. All around great melody, chorus and the music is outstanding. 5/5

  Hello: A little strange on this one, but another solid effort. Amy's voice once again, shines on this one. 4/5

  My Last Breath: A Good song. Probably the "average song" of the record, if that makes any sense. 4/5

  Whisper: Now, surprisingly this was my least favorite song on the album. The end of the song is a little out there and while I like the music and the vocals, it seemed to lose me towards the end and seemed a little lacking in the melodies and lyrics. 3.5/5

  Overall, a solid 4/5. While I do see the validity of a comparison to Linkin Park and bands of the like, I must express that I feel this band still manages to have a unique sound that I really enjoyed. Simply, a breath of fresh air.
  
  

• wow...this was suprising...

  
  By A1BKPV7QL36ILS on 2003-10-17
  While I'll admit that I have one of the most eclectic CD collections of anyone I know (Live, Dave Matthews and Enya all live happily next to each other in one section of the rack), I've always steered clear of the stuff that usually gets lumped together with the "goth" stamp on it. So you'd think that a group like Evanescence wouldn't have much of a chance of getting into the collection. However, what I've found here is nothing short of the most addicting sound I've run across in a long time. I expected a Linkin Park-style album with a bunch of tracks like "Bring Me To Life" - the catchy, albeit overplayed first single. What I found, though, was an album with more depth, emotion, and haunting sound than has hit rock in a long time. The first 3 tracks were as advertized: heavy, minor-chord, guitar-riff driven anthems with Amy Lee's powerful voice soaring over the top of them. When I got to "My Immortal," however, I had to pull the car over. I don't know when the last time was that a song made YOU tear, but the unbelievably haunting and angelic sound of Amy and those strings struck a chord in me that I didn't even know was there. Needless to say, I was hooked, and Fallen has been the shower music of choice every morning since. Ok ok, so the group is basically Moody, Lee, and a bunch of hired-gun studio musicians. And yes, the themes explored are dark, painful and at times almost disturbing. But prepackaged teen-angst it is not. What it IS, is an enchanting melodic ride through the more painful parts of life, centered around a voice that could sing the "Hokey Pokey" and give me chills. Or maybe I'm just a goth in a yuppie's body after all...
  
  

• And the award for "Most Overrated Band of 2003" goes to...

  
  By A3UYTW8GXC5EGO on 2004-03-22
  ...Evanescence!

  This "band" (using the term loosely - it's clearly The Amy Lee Show) is obviously the beneficiary of this whole "alternative to teen pop" wave that's going on, along with the likes of Avril Lavigne. "Wow, they play their own instruments and write their own songs - how amazing!"

  People, don't let the whole wave of bubblegum pop distort your view of this incredibly average band. Evanescence can be described as a hybrid of Lacuna Coil (only far more commercial and not nearly as artistic), Linkin Park and Sarah McLachlan - they're desperately shooting for across-the-board mass appeal as well as incredibly image-conscious. They seem to be going for a pseudo-goth look, yet they have these wholesome saccharine lyrics that are in stark contrast to their appearance.

  Let's move on to the actual songs: The guitar parts are as simplistic as your token rap-metal band, the rhythms aren't all that complex, and when Amy Lee sings during the choruses, she sounds like she's auditioning for a Broadway show. "Bring Me To Life" became popular because it sounds just like a Linkin Park song, complete with obligatory nonsense rapping courtesy of Paul McCoy from goody-goody Christian rockers 12 Stones. You also have your overwrought, cloying ballads like "My Immortal", a melodramatic weeper that easily could have been written by the likes of Diane Warren. The other songs on the album sound pretty much like "Bring Me To Life", only thankfully they spared us the hokey rapping.

  In summary: Don't believe the hype, this is not the astounding work of art that MTV and radio want you to think it is. But if you're looking for a by-the-numbers collection of pseudo-gothic rap-rock and maudlin power ballads, here you go.
  
  

• Very Overrated...

  
  By A3CNP5NKE8O2Z on 2003-10-24
  Cutting to the chase, this album is so overrated, its incredible. Actually the album is ok, even below-average. Some people are even calling this the begining of a new era in metal, Melody Metal? Funny stuff alright, but there are much better albums out there. My first problem with this album is the quality of lyrics (I am not broke, dont try to fix me), then the typically processed sound of each and every song. There is something very artificial, shallow, superfluous, with this album. I guess its the way the band made every song very friendly to listen. Its like people sitting down to make great music not great music just coming out naturally. I always thought the difference between pop and rock music is while pop is music made "for" the masses, rock is music made "by" the masses. Its something natural (rock) versus something fake (pop). nothing wrong or right as such.

  Keeping the morals aside for a while, Tourniquet and My Last Breath are good songs and they quite rock. I cant think of any other. The only reason I even got this CD is because everybody and their brother was talking about it. Well, dont buy into such talk any more. Let me tell you, there are some more great releases out there you might want to try, Opeth's Damnation/Deliverence are excellent, now that is what metal is. Queensryches Tribe is good, Anthrax has a brilliant record out We've Come For U All, or get thenew Poison The WEll CD, Porcupine Tree's In Absentia is music and save your hard money for good music such as that. Leave this fallen alone, explore the better ones!
  
  

• Quit reading this review and BUY THE ALBUM !

  
  By A2B4ZRYVJSRRKG on 2003-03-06
  If you found out about Evanescence through their work on the Daredevil Soundtrack (like I sort of did), you will be amazed by "Fallen."

  You will be BLOWN AWAY.
  You will be OVERJOYED with your purchase.

  Rarely - if ever - does a new artist burst onto the scene with such refined, cultivated, and delicately manipulated talent. Evanescence uses every bit of their signatures from more widely-distributed tracks (including piano breakdowns, crunchy guitar chords, and ethereal female vocals) to enhance every song on their newest CD. The creative use of stereo harmonies and synthcore-style programming lends a depth to their creation unmatched by any band - old or new - that I have ever encountered.

  If you have trouble defining Evanescence's proper place in the genres, don't feel ashamed. This CD - if nothing else - completely deconstructs the popular notions of several types of alternative rock. At times Amy's voice and David's keys play off each other in such a way that you might think you're listening to a delicious version of new age. But just when you're settling into total relaxation, Ben's guitar wails in the background or thunders to center stage with staggering fortitude. In fact, Ben's work may lead you to describe this CD as doom metal. Choose to limit Evanescence to that genre, however, and I call your attention to track 10 of "Fallen" ('My Last Breath'). Specifically I point out its synthesizer intro, backing strings, and the lead guitar riffs that could easily fit into a Stabbing Westward or Staind track. Clearly, Evanescence is a band that distorts definitions, upends conventions, and enthralls the listener.

  Poetics aside, if I were forced to give Evanescence a single genre (based on "Fallen") it would be Nu Metal. (Feel free to dispute this to your hearts' content.)

  Just in case your curiosity hasn't peeked yet, I'll add one last bit of observation: 'Bring Me to Life' (of Daredevil fame) is NOT the best track on this album. It's in the upper half in quality, but there are better things to be had from a tour through "Fallen."

  "Fallen" has made a true Evanescence believer out of me, and I am confident it will do the same for you!

  So, what are you waiting for? Quit reading this review and BUY YOUR COPY NOW!
  
  

• People with taste need apply.
  By A2O7FFTDI99MVZ on 2003-05-22
  I sift through these reviews and shake my head in amazement. For every review that bashes Evanescence, there are 25 that praise them. I have been listening, playing, writing, and enjoying music for 20 years, and can say this with the utmost confidence, Evanescence is singular. Amy Lee may very well be the most gifted vocalist on the planet. Her haunting sound is something that pulled me into this CD from the very first note I heard her belt out. Ben Moody, while not the most accomplished guitarist on the rock scene is most surely a gifted writer. This may be one of the most justified CD purchases I have ever had the pleasure of making. The songs range from prog-rock to haunting anthems of pain and loss, the music is ethereal, the writing is top notch. Evanescence is energy, synergy, life. One only needs to "listen" to Tourniquet or Hello to understand that this is a band that is here to stay.
  
  
• A VERY Engrossing CD. Wow.
  By A282I839F1HH90 on 2003-03-04
  I've tracked through this disc a bunch of times now - It just keeps getting better with each listen. It didn't take long to realize "Fallen" was going to make its way into my rotation of discs I listen to a lot. I found myself anxiously waiting to hear what came next while listening to it, which rarely happens.

  Their music is hauntingly dark, and beautiful at the same time, and it does have its "rock" moments, thanks to some really nice guitar sounds. And I *love* Amy's voice! The production is huge sounding; the songs are beautifully textured with keyboards, strings and layered back up vocals.

  This is not a 'rap-metal' band, if you've only heard the "Bring Me To Life" single. There's a lot of depth to this group that you might not be expecting to hear ... and a lot of interesting things going on. Definitely not a "throw on at a party" CD - But one that I find myself wanting to explore beginning to end, again and again.

  Besides the lead single, I really like "Tourniquet", "Going Under", "Haunted", "My Immortal", "Whisper" and "My Last Breath." The rest of the songs are also very good ... totally worth picking up, and hopefully an indication of more brilliance to come. Awesome stuff - a CD that's worth your attention.
  
  

• Maybe I can save you a headache ... for details, read below:
  By AF2H1O103LA0N on 2003-10-25
  Let's start off by answering a few questions I've seen in these other reviews:

  What is gothic metal? - Simple, but first you must know what music from the gothic-era of Europe is. Piano pieces, choirs, etc. So naturally, gothic metal is metal blended with these elements. No, not power metal such as Nightwish, that's different. True gothic metal would not focus on such a frantic pace(such as Nightwish's use of double-bass, and often up-tempo metal inflections).

  So is Marilyn Manson gothic metal? NOOOO!

  Is Lacuna Coil gothic metal? Look, I know they are dark, I know they dress in all black, and wear eyeliner. But no. I would consider Lacuna Coil more of an Avante-garde art metal type thing with female vocals. The ingredients just aren't there.

  Is this band "gothic metal"? Eh ... I'll get into that.

  What is an example of the perfect "gothic metal" band? Saviour Machine is one, MAYBE mid-period Christian Death.

  Into the review of this cd . . . it doesn't matter where you have been the past couple months, whether or not you listen to the radio, at some point, you had to hear "Bring Me to Life", simply because it was EVERYWHERE. This song is what originally drew me to this cd, but now, I'm sure like most, I hate that song, simply because of it's overplay. So what's the rest of this cd like? Well ... not exactly like the single, thankfully. There are no more male vocals located on this disc, and you can hear Amy Lee belt out those fantastic notes the way she does. The best songs I feel are "Tourniquet" (<- name of a good band as well), and "Haunted". If you notice, Haunted could very well be the most hated song on the whole list, probably because it's the "heaviest". I don't feel this band gets fair reviews from anyone, generally cause everyone chooses the wrong bands to compare them to.

  First of all, Linkin Park. LINKIN PARK? Where did you people get that? Where did the media get that?! Does Linkin Park have a girl? No. Does Amy Lee rap? NO! Does Evanescence implore the use of turntables or ANY hip hop in any from whatsoever? NO. Does Linkin Park involve complicated piano pieces, choirs, guitar solos, or female vocal performance at all? No, no, no, and NO. I didn't think "Bring Me to Life" sounded like Linkin Park, and neither does the rest of this disc.

  Second, Lacuna Coil. Now, there are more similarities here. Two hard rock/metal bands with chic singers ... that's about as far as it goes. Again, Lacuna Coil has a full-time male vocalist that accompanies Christina Scabbia at all times. Whereas a male counterpart plays a role in only one song here. Hell! The voices of Amy Lee and Christina Scabbia sound NOTHING alike anyway. It shocks me 14 people would recommend Comalies over this. Because Comalies is bad? No, I love it, along with Unleashed Memories, and In a Reverie. These are just to way different bands. Evanescence is more focused on putting in choirs and pianos with their hard rock, and Lacuna Coil is more focused on playing a slower-paced, ethereal, kind of keyboard-induced metal, with Christina Scabbia's unique voice. Just how do they sing different? We've all heard Amy Lee sing, and while her backing band may not be Megadeth or anything, her voice IS dynamic. Christina's voice? More flat, monotonous, and haunting. Which works well when harmonizing with Andrea Ferro, and serves it's purpose. So is Evanescence "ripping off" Lacuna Coil? I don't even view how the bands are remotely the same except the few similarities at the top. So I say no. If all Evanescence has to do is be a metal band with a chic singer to rip off Lacuna Coil, I must say, whoever made that is not thinking too critically. But still, if you think they are, keep in mind Lacuna Coil "ripped off" the Gathering . . . kay? And NO, Evanescence sounds NOTHING like the Gathering either. Also, keep in mind, I think Aghora and After Forever are better than all Evanescence, the Gathering, or Lacuna Coil.

  When I placed this cd in my cd player, I was happy to notice the inclusion of guitar solos in several of the songs, and good ones at that (something Lacuna Coil NEVER plays). And I found more of what I was looking for, soaring female vocals, with some classical influences incorporated into a hard rock/metal platform. Is this gothic metal? . . . Eh . . . I don't want to say that it is, chiefly because I have heard much better from the bands that truly belong in this field, and if this was a "gothic metal" (as many call it) release, it'd be fairly poor. I would Evanescence sort of has their own sub-genre of "semi-gothic-moody-metal". I really like it when bands start something or do something very different than what's already out there. Some of which span the commercial rock universe, others the underground. Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax, Rage Against the Machine would be a examples of the bands that started stuff . . . but I more prefer unique bands such as Aghora (<- chic metal right there), Grotus, Celldweller, Zeromancer, Dog Fashion Disco, Sweaty Nipples, Fishbone, Living Colour, Scissorfight ... bands that don't really song like . . . anything. Unfortunately, Evanescence does not really fall into either of these ... but they do what they do well. Really, if you refrain from buying a disc because it's "too well known" or "commercial", you're an idiot. Good music is good music, and that's just all there is. If millions and millions like this . .. . super, good for Evanescence. But if you choose to get into a band that no one has heard of, it makes you like that much more sophisticated. This is a good cd, I know it has sold well, and that's fine. I'd rather this cd top the charts than something like George Micheal. If you read all this, I congratulate you, and I hope it cleared up many-a-rumor being thrown irresponsibly in reviews of this cd on Amazon by people, in major magazines, and even someone into this genre looks to as a "leader" (very foolishly, I might add), the cynical Iann Robinson, who played this as a "Linkin Park with female vocals" band. I'm sorry .. . just not so.
  
  

• Impressive Debut
  By A333FB0B3MFICY on 2003-03-05
  Fallen rocks: it is swirling, cinematic, spiritual, monumental and a fitting debut for a band that will be making waves for years to come.

  Evanescence's label, Wind-Up Records, seems to want to categorize them as something like Linkin Park meets Creed with the female singer twist. (Ignore the label-placed guest vocalist on the first single, "Bring Me To Life.") But between Ben Moody's wunderkind soundscapes and Amy Lee's gorgeous vocals, Evanescence also deserves billing with more adult-oriented artists like Everything But The Girl, Garbage, U2, Sarah McLachlan, and Portishead. Indeed, if Fallen has a flaw, it is that it doesn't foreground Evanescence's incredible versatility. Still, there's not a lot you can do to contain a band like Evanescence and their brilliance shines through even when their versatility does not.

  That said, I still expect Fallen to be a monumentally popular album and one of the best of the year. Because the production on the album is so polished and precise and the songs so tightly arranged and preformed, it is unlikely to receive the critical respect it should get because-- and this is the ironic part-- Ben Moody is too good at what he does. He sounds too much like the kind of guy who can only play whatever type of music he happens to be playing, because he plays them all so well and with impressive craftsmanship.

  This has not escaped Moody at all. He's as cunning as he is brilliant. Evanescence's 2002 Demo tapes, from which the bulk of Fallen's 11 tracks are culled, were made as bait for record labels. Wind-Up Records saw a star in the making and took the bait with gusto-- prominent placement on the Daredevil movie soundtrack, WWE pay-per-view events, TV commercials, music videos, and, ultimately, Fallen followed in relatively short order.

  But if Ben Moody is the dark wizard of Evanescence, crafting intoxicating waves of beats and rhythms, hidden beneath guitars and stacks and switchboards, than Amy Lee is their herald. Lee's voice is the most striking thing about Evanescence and with good reason: it's absolutely beautiful and her control over it is impressively mature. As with the album's two piano ballads, "My Immortal" and "Hello", a heart- wrenching tale of retreating into one's own mind, Lee shows that she's quite capable of carrying entire songs by herself. Yet she's equally glorious complimenting Moody's driving soundscapes, particularly on "Imaginary", when she transitions seamlessly from singing to screaming while still maintaining control over the pitch and body of her voice. That said, Lee's vocal range and strength are impressive but not flawless; sometimes she can't quite get the notes for which she's striving, but this works to the bands credit: Listening to Fallen one gets the impression that at all times they are playing and singing at full force, pouring their hearts and souls selflessly into every lyric and every note.

  And while the songs that comprise Fallen are, by and large, brilliant, the album itself is somewhat lacking. Its primary flaw is that it doesn't do much to differentiate its songs sonically. Some tracks will tease the listener with electronic backbeats before switching gears back to the nu-metal guitars, only hinting at the versatility of which Evanescence is capable. And while the sonic consistency, gives the album a consistent feel, it doesn't capitalize by telling a story with a beginning, middle, and end. There are many neat production tricks that are used to effect to segue seamlessly from one track to the next, but Fallen still feels more like a collection of songs than an album.

  Ultimately, listen to Fallen, particularly if you like bombastic, widescreen guitar rock, delicate ballads, or lush female vocals. If anything whets your appetite, dig deeper. Even now, there's much more to Evanescence than the considerable treasures that Fallen offers.
  
  

• Absolutely thrilling
  By A2WZON0QPX7C9X on 2003-03-06
  I'll never forget the first time I heard "Bring me to Life" on my local radio station. The first thing I remember was hearing this absolutely gorgeous female voice, not something you hear that much on rock stations. Then I was caught by surprise as the band kicked in, the orchestra kicked in, and lead singer Amy Lee showed us that unlike most female rock singers she had not only an amazing voice but also a powerful range. The DJs response "wow." No kidding.

  I was unsure what to expect from this band after only hearing their two tracks from the Daredevil Soundtrack: the dramatic and hard "Bring me to life," and the honest and gentle "My Immortal." I was shocked with the CD. This is a rock band. Even though Evanescence is very new, I already foresee them lasting for a long time. This CD kicks off with the powerful pure-rock, "Going Under" then continues with their first single, "Bring me to Life," that I'm sure everyone has heard now. They add one more great rock song, "Everybody's Fool" before they have a complete change of pace with "My Immortal," a beautiful slow ballad that many would see more fitting to a singer such as Tori Amos. Unlike other rock bands when Evanescence writes ballads, they really write ballads. They don't depend on guitars; they bring in a piano and strings. It sounds strange I know but somehow it still works out. The next song, "Haunted," is obviously about being stalked. The powerful lyrics will send shivers down your spine the first time you hear it. Next we have "Tourniquet" where Evanescence confirms the rumors that they have Christian roots. The lyrics are astounding. I absolutely love Amy's little jazzy effect she puts on the word "screaming," which adds to the meaning of the lyrics.

  Next we have "Imaginary," my favorite song on the CD. It seems to blend in with "Tourniquet" almost, seeing as the last track ended with a nice string piece and the first piece begins with it. This song is probably my favorite because of its poetic lyrics and great beat. Next is "Taking Over Me," a love song that starts out slow and then speeds up to a moderate pace. "Hello," the other ballad on this CD, defiantly shows off Amy's powerful voice and range. "My Last Breath" and "Whisper" go back to the dramatic rock side and finish up this strong debut CD.

  There are so many things I like about this CD. One is with all of the new pop-punk that seems to be all over the radio stations, it's nice to hear something a bit darker, a bit more emotional. The lyrics, written by the entire band including lead Singer Amy Lee and lead guitarist Ben Moody, are also very powerful, almost poetic at times. Evanescence reminds me a bit of an earlier Garbage, although I could picture some of the guitar rifts in, strangely enough, a Linkin Park Song. Evanescence knows how to use strings effectively along with guitars and drums. This is a very solid CD. You can tell that they put a lot of work into it. I would highly recommend it. Amy Lee said that the purpose of Evanescence was to show the world that there was some hope in this world. This CD proves her right. It also shows that there is some hope that the young rock music world has not simply dwindled down to one type of music. I can't wait to see what this band does next.
  
  

• great voice!! a little too much the same, but good!
  By A209HF04KRUVYN on 2003-03-06
  I was pretty hyped to hear this album after they began playing "bring me to life" on the radio. What a great sound! I've heard it described as Linkin Park meets Tori Amos, and I guess that's accurate, but I was a little disappointed to find that Paul McCoy, who does the guest vocals on "bring me to life", is not featured on any of the other tracks. Also, the album is short, with only 11 songs total, and it left me wishing for a little more. However, I thought this cd was delightful! Amy Lee's vocals are stunning, and definitely are the highlight of the band. Each song has somewhat of a gothic romanticism about it; lots of dreamy, almost nightmarish themes of dying, bleeding, taking my last breath, whispering, salvation, and of course, bringing me to life. The feeling is very consistant throughout the whole cd, although it may even be a little too repititous when you listen to the album from start to finish. The standout tracks are definitely "going under", "bring me to life", and especially "tourniquet", which I thought was a little morbid overkill at first, but has really grown on me the more I hear it. Even the cd's several piano ballads are nice to listen to! Overall, Fallen may not be hard enough for rap/metal or techno/industrial types, for whom it seems targeted, but it will surely be a mainstream hit. I would recommend this album to anyone who is thirsting for something refreshingly new in rock, having such contrasting, yet complimenting elements as heavy guitar rifts and beats, side by side with beautiful vocals and passionate lyrics.
  
  
• Fanstastic.!!!..or maybe it was the spamwhich
  By A22HUDVMZ9K8XD on 2003-03-23
  Ok, so im a complete spaz, because up until the video aired on MUCHMUSIC USA, I had never heard of this group. I was up on night pondering the possible uses of spam as A bio weapon, when I noticed a wee pale raven haired lass... scaling a very tall building..in her pajamas no less. well, im embarrassed to admit it, i was intrigued, so i put my spamwhich down and took a listen. well even in the haze of my pre dawn spam induced insomnia, i knew i was hearing something special. The video is breathtaking and i found myself upset, and a little gassy when it ended. i wanted more. I ran to sam goodies and purchased the album. This is not the norm for me. when it comes to music, im usually more finicky then a 63 year old grandmother with an swollen kankles at a garage sale full of bio degradable knee high hosiery. But because i was so intrigued, i thought that the group deserved to be listend to again... The entire album is a hit. of course i have my favorites, such as "Bring Me To life". i like it dispite that it was on the daredevil soundtrack and thereby tainted with the name of Ben "bezelbub" Affleck. The album is consistant. And, Amy Lee has a brilliant voice and has incredible control over it. Songs, like "taking over me and My Immortal" display the wealth of feeling and talent that went in to making this album. Its an amalgam of haunting Celtic rhythms and edgy guitar grinding and baleful soul singing. Yes it can be described as Sarah Maclachlan meets linkin park... however those are just lables. This group presents a sound that is hypnotic. its like ive been waiting to hear a sound as completely engrossing, yet ruggedly compelling for the longest time... and until i heard it, i didnt know i was waiting. I recommend the album...but not the spam.
  
  
• Beautiful and Haunting Debut
  By A1MM7MT1HLFGBE on 2003-04-30
  This cd is GREAT! With the strength in the lyrics and Amy's beautiful voice this cd is a definitly worth Five stars or more. The tracks are great, all of them heartfelt, and the lyrics..I can not say enough about them. Everything is just absolutely fabulous...track overview:
  1.Going Under-This is my favorite song on the cd. I love Amy's voice on this song the band sounds great to. strangely addicting 5/5
  2.Bring Me to Life- Come on everyone loves this song. Awesome little "duet". Radio-friendly, great and fast paced. 5/5
  3.Everbody's Fool-Great song. Very catchy sounds kind of old punk. Like this song and the lyrics. 5/5
  4. My Immortal- Definintly one of the highlights of this CD. It is such a beautiful song...I feel Amy's pain as she sings the lyrics. She means them. 5/5
  5. Haunted- Awesome song. It is as it says absolutely haunting. Such a cool song. Love it. 5/5
  6. Tourniquet- Great song with cool interchanging sounds. very interesting. Makes me understand why they call them Christian rock.5/5
  7.Imaginary- Really awesome lyrics. But somewhere in the midst of the cd..I forget it. Good song yes..but fair compared to some others. 3/5
  8.Taking Over Me- Once again awesome lyrics. I love this song. Probably will be a released as a single. 5/5
  9.Hello- Amy sounds REALLY awesome on this track. Great piano and music. Very chilling. 5/5
  10.My Last Breath-Ok song. Another one that gets caught up in the cd, and is fairly forgetable. 3/5
  11.Whisper- Great song. Good way to end the cd. I love it all! haha. 4/5
  This cd is alot different then what you are hearing now a days. very refreshing. Amy has great vocal chops, and the band is awesome. I recommend this to anyone wanting a new sound. Something honest.
  
  
• The Album You've Been Waiting For
  By A2L1V2W857PWE on 2003-03-05
  Sometimes there seems to be too much polarization in music, especially among bands with female singers. On one side of the spectrum there's the Lilith groups like the Indigo Girls and Shawn Colvin and the pop princesses like Britney, Christina, and Michelle Branch that produce light, bland music with no edge. On the other side of the spectrum there's groups like Kittie and Otep that have female singers, but don't take advantage of them. They simply scream and grunt instead of singing. There's very few female singers or female fronted rock bands that actually rock. The only few that come to mind immediately are Lennon, The kidneythieves, and Plumb to some extent. (Of course, there's a few chick punk bands like The Donnas too, but I'm choosing to ignore them right now.) Evanescence belongs in that small group of bands. Their new CD, Fallen, is amazing. Amy's voice is fantastic. A second soprano or alto I'd say, with plenty of power. The songs are dark and very atmospheric. The guitars are quite heavy at times and soft and subdued at others. A piano is also used on many tracks and there are other various effects throughout. The lyrics are deep and poetic and some seem to contain Christian themes. Most, however, are romantic in nature. All of the songs on the album are excellent, but the standout tracks include "Bring Me To Life" and "My Immortal" from the Daredevil Sountrack, "Tourniquet," "Haunted," and "Whisper." Any fans of good alt-rock or chick bands should buy Fallen immediately.
  
  
• Just not enough adjetives to describe how annoyed I am
  By AZD7NEVKD2GBX on 2003-05-03
  Record Company Meeting: 3:00 Monday afternoon.

  MR. Record Company VP speaking:

  "OK everyone, have a seat. I've come up with some ideas for the Evanescence album "Fallen" we talked about last week. In speaking with the band, they are more than happy to make "Fallen" an album that sounds like a mix of Linkin Park and Sinead Oconnor, and the singer has hair! (chuckles from room). Fallen will be a triumphant sucess as radio stations have agreed to play the single "Bring me Back to Life" over and over and over and over again until millions realize this is the next hip thing. Those who actually care about talent and creativity will have no choice but to be subjected to it, no matter how bad it is to them, much like second hand smoke (more chuckles from room). To be quite frank my friends, kids nowadays will buy anything we tell them to! Isn't that obvious? I think we all know it. Fallen will make us all millions of dollars, thats all that matters right? This meeting is adjurned until next week when we discuss the new Metallica! (aaawwws from room)."
  
  

• Superb set of songs with a stunning female voice
  By A3TWMO1X7GIIHG on 2003-11-12
  Although a bit suspicious at first due to the heavy airplay of the first two tracks ("Bring me to Life" and "Going Under") , it was when I heard "Immortal" that I took the decsion to get this cd as fast as possible. (Both previous tracks were gems and I have/had always appreciated hearing them on radio and tv). This cd is a must, and is an oasis in this rap/hip hop/gansta rap overdominated world. The tracks are ingeniously crafted from Amy and Moody and produced into a super set of rock tracks. Don't compare this group to anything else on the market, they are a one of a kind and this feeling will surely sink in after hearing all the songs.
  One of the main reasons of bying this cd was the voice of Amy Lee which is the fresh new female voice that the music industry has been waiting for for a long long time.
  
  
• The rising of the Fallen
  By A2LXTAXALKOQSG on 2003-03-05
  I've been a big fan of Evanescence for about a year now. After a friend played their previous release, Origin (on Big-wig records), I was in love. The two main players, Amy Lee and Ben Moody, met at a church camp while she was messing around on the chapel's piano. In an interview, Ben said how blown away he was by her playing. If you've heard 'My Immortal' (Daredevil: Soundtrack) you know exactly what he's talking about. I was unable to get 'Origin' but I was stoked to see 'Whisper', which originally released on 'Origin', on 'Fallen'. 'Whisper' is an unbelievably awesome riff-driven headbanger. I guarantee you'll be hearing Amy's haunting vocals going 'Don't turn away, don't give in to the pain, don't try to hide, though they're screaming your name, don't close your eyes, God knows what lies behind them, don't turn out the lights, never sleep never die'. If you have 'Daredevil' and are afraid that this just some nothing band that got a few lucky tracks, fear not, you're wrong. If you love 'My Immortal' and 'Bring me to life' you'll be glad to know that the whole CD is that good. The mixture of Moody's deep, driving guitar mixed with Amy's classically trained vocals and thin piano make a creepy sound that no can resist, even my Mom likes this stuff. Though it seems oxymoronic that a band that is often mistaken for goth-rock is made up of Christians (add onto this that they're from Arkansas) the Christian messages work really well with this music. And don't think this rock's answer to P.O.D., trust me, the entire Satellite album (including the insane Crystal Method remix of 'Boom') is matched in three of Evanescences songs. If I had to compare this CD to something, which is diffacult given how rare it is to find these guitar-works without some [one] screaming over them, I'd compare it to Thomas Harris' book 'Hannibal'. Beautifully haunting and somehow finding a balance between the elegant and the brutal. My one disapointment is that 'Fields of innocence', another song from 'Origin', wasn't on here. Buy this CD, even if you don't like Christian music. It's like Charlotte Church singing Marylin Manson and the pay-off is incredible.
  
  
• beyond amazed...
  By on 2003-05-27
  the first time i saw evanescence was when i was browsing through one of the many cd departments/stores in town. since i hadn't paid my cable bill in awhile, and the radio stations down here [are bad]. (the only alternative station was shut down, blleeccckkk!) i took a look at the cover, read the list of songs and generally assumed it was another female attempt at 21st century folk rock, and dismissed the album. i realized that i had made a huge mistake when i heard the song "bring me to life" while staying up late, watching mtv. i know many have said it's "linkin park-ish", but it's a new twist on the whole "rap rock/epic rock/dark rock" genre (or wherever you choose to place it), plus amy lee is an amazing singer. you hear more of a classical (as well as goth, and hard rock) influence in the songs, other than the usual rap beats, and computer blips, which i'm very sure that most of the population is sick of by now. what really saves it is the haunting true-to-life lyrics that read like a diary of a troubled soul...
  quite frankly, i think it's a breath of fresh air from the depth-lessness of preppy rock/neo 60's-70's rock.
  
  
• GREAT on the first listen...
  By A1EQL5TSPKTHOP on 2003-06-02
  ...but it falls apart quickly. Amy does have quite an incredible voice... if that's from the help of auto tuners, I don't know. I am hoping not. Anyway I, like a lot of the more... ehh I hate to say it but "educated" of the Goth metal scene and European metal will SCREAM Lacuna Coil rip-off when they hear this, and that's exactly what I thought too. BUT I have to say Lacuna Coil is musically much more interesting. Sure, Amy has a catchier voice... but... ack... The riffs and underlying chord progressions of these songs are SOOO cliché and boring if you are actually paying attention. The riffs are nothing... something an idiot Linkin Park fan in high school could write and play. Now let me say this... I don't even consider Lacuna Coil to be that inventive or complex musically... I get bored with them after a while too... but they STILL walk all over these guys. Listen to the album closely... and tell me the melodies and riffs don't sound 90% the same on EVERY song. They REALLY didn't bother to learn to write in more than one way...

  I will say now though I do love Amy's voice and about 5 songs in I thought this CD was pretty cool. But halfway through I was just too much like.... ok... are they going to do anything new? You only really need 3 or 4 songs by this band. Bring Me To Life is pretty good, same with Everybody's Fool, and I think Hello and My Immortal are quite beautiful. BUT stop there. There's nothing else to offer on this CD that can't be found in these few songs. The other songs aren't bad per se, but they're basically just "bring me to life" remixes and variations I'd have to say. There's not much that sets them apart. Like every one is just a "single" and all based on the exact same formula. I can say I have no real interest in listening to this CD any more, it was good for one spin, and only My Immortal really caught my attention to listen to repeatedly.

  I hope Amy breaks away from the band and does solo work or joins a band with a more ambitious scope of song writing... she is definitely the star of the band, and it's a damn shame that the band has no interest in writing anything but the SAME SONG over and over... oddly on their first album, Origin, the songwriting was a lot more varied... Anyway, if you enjoyed this album, I can say you would likely enjoy albums from Lacuna Coil, The Gathering, and Ambeon. Maybe not as initially catchy as Evanescence... but MUCH more to the bands than one style of song and simple boring riffs. It works here though, since the average person doesn't pay close enough attention to notice how bland and repetitive the riffs are since they are mesmerized by Amy's voice.... ugh I hate the superficial listening habits of most people... THERE IS MORE TO MUSIC THAN THE VOICE PEOPLE... ahh well that's never going to change... but that still doesn't make it any more of a tragedy in my eyes. I think Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree said it best in the song "The Sound Of Muzak"

  "Soul gets squeezed out, edges get blunt
  Demographic gives what you want

  Now the sound of music comes in silver pills
  Engineered to suit you building cheaper thrills

  "One of the wonders of the world is going down
  It's going down I know
  It's one of the blunders of the world and no one cares
  No one cares enough"

  Most of you reading this review will never understand how sad that last line of the song is to someone who spends their LIFE discovering and diving their entire conscious into music... Music is so much more than something to bob your head to and hum a catchy melody... by the way, to see how to write MORE than one style song and actually have some emotional depth and diversity... pick up Porcupine Tree's In Absentia album... The songs don't sound the same, have different themes, yet every one is an emotional masterpiece. There's a band anyone can enjoy regardless of preference.
  
  

• Arrogant Singer, Poser Band, General Poorness
  By A300AR4IM0KW21 on 2004-11-14
  This self obsessed voclaist, Amy Lee ranks amongst my least favourite artists. I saw an interview with her on MTV and she irritated me immensely with her laid back arrogance, strive to look like 'she doesn't give a damn' when in fact she really does. Her attempt to look hippie, scrappy, poor, when in fact she's rolling in money, has a rather posh English accent, comes accross as arrogantly educated, and is obviously no hippie is horrid. She claims 'music is easy, it's just something I do' - f**k right off. Arrogance doesn't bring you fans, you may well be a talented composer, but we don't want to hear outrageous comments about how good you are. Please be quiet.
  
  
• Dark, Moody, Perfect.
  By A2Z9EM2EUIVVOF on 2003-03-06
  Evanescence burst onto the scene thanks to their hit song "Bring Me To Life" from the Daredevil movie. Bands that become popular because of a song in a movie generally don't last too long and it would be easy to say that Evanescence is just a flash in the pan based on that alone, but that would be an unfair assessment.

  Evanescence has a sound that is not popular in the mainstream and most likely will not play on the radio long which is too bad because the talent is there. Their music tends to be a bit moody, provocative, and has some dark undertones, which makes this a perfect cd for the "goth" crowd. If you like Lacuna Coil you will love this band. That said, I would still recommend this album to anyone and everyone. The sound itself can't be beat. You just have to love a hard rock beat with a beautiful melodic voice.

  The music also has quite a bit to say if you actually pay attention to the lyrics. Their songs speak of pain, betrayal, and understanding. A couple of the more stirring tracks are "My Immortal" and "My Last Breath". If you are a big fan of "Bring Me To Life" I recommend listening to "Going Under" and "Whisper".

  If you are like me then you look for an album that has more than just a couple of good songs. This album is for you. There are eleven songs on this album and not one of them is a disappointment.
  
  

• Oh my god, why did I buy this?
  By A2CKTU2L4EOEVU on 2003-09-05
  This CD is the most unimaginative thing I've heard in a long time. I couldn't wait to turn it off. Hopefully, I can sell it used and get some money back.
  
  
• When Kittens Cry
  By AEDGYXJXFZ4J3 on 2005-03-07
  Recently I had the misfortune to be given this cd by a homeless man. I was coming home from my job at the paper clip factory, where I put paper clips into cardboard boxes, when I passed a man asking for spare change. I apologized because I had none to give him, and he handed me this cd. "Take this," he said in his grizzled wino voice. "I tried to sell it to make money for food but no one would buy it."
  
  I would probably be able to completely ignore the existence of this whiney little boy band if it wasn't for song 4 "My Immortal". This song gives me a new reason to feel rage. ! It's a song about cheating. When I hear that song I have to fight the urge to break stuff. I don't care if the rest of their music is great. Just for singing that song they should have to bow down and kiss the feet of every old man they see. If I could give any CD by these guys a zero, I would. This is basically due to the fact that this is not music, it is record executive product designed to prey upon the mindless public's addiction to unabridged cheezy music. This genre of music is so manufactured that it's motives are highly questionable.
  As one of the greatest muscioligist from the last century I can't believe I'm actually partaking in reviewing a "boy band," but I couldn't help. I have nothing really to say about the band or the album because I haven't heard it(nor do I intend to). I just think it's incredibly amusing to read all these silly comments made by teenage girls (or boys, but to a lesser degree). It's like they live on a different planet where everything is trite and inane!!
  
  iTS FUNNY you girs who say I love you jeff or i love you justin timberlake. This band was started to gain mass profit and fame, not to express passion through music and give their hearts out. The shame of being actually in one of these bands is quickly overridden by the mass amounts of beautiful women(I cant blame em, as much as they do suck)They are money hungry and fame hungry,not caring like you think they are. They are probably very simple minded and boring, even though they are "hot". dont believe their lie. the only positive thing is that there are 4 guys instead of five, which shows some amount of individuality(not. All shallow teenage girls listen: You will love these guys! they have no talent, no lyrical abilities, and cant dance! They do however have what you love, which is a whiny voice, a pretty face, and a good melodic song(which they didnt write) Remember Leif Garret? well, he is ridiculed now, and so will all teeny boppers in 10 years
  
  To sum up: While yes I do concede this boyband are a slight cut abouve the rest with their unique mixing of nu-metal angst with bubblegum pop as exemplified by the song "Bring Me Back to Life" which has uncomfortable connotations for me due to it's use by the anti-ethunasia lobby who dont understand us old folk who just wanna lie down and die. What really depresses me to the core of my existense is these men who insist on singing like girls. I cant get over who much the lead vocalist of this band shrieks like a little girl. This guy looks so much like a girl, he's such a freak. Why do people like him? he's the Tom Green of music, liked for hhis utter weirdness. This sounds like music from a greasy, quirky demon from the bowls of Hell. His voice is really annoying, he's like whining and screaming and crying. If you're ever in the mood for Evanesecense, scratch your nails across a chalk board, it's the same thing, it will likely satisfy the disturbing urge that won't last long anyway. and I'm not joking. there's like 1 good song on it, the rest are trash. he sounds like a pre-teen girl when he sings and their songs suck.
  
  
  
  
• amy lee kicks ass
  By AX4LXW2FGUIH7 on 2004-01-19
  if you want a blend of goth-rock, and a female, then evanescence is just what you need. amy lee has an amazing voice, she can do the goth, and she can really sing. i bet simon would like her, and he likes no-one, she has a voice, like, like kelly clarkson's except amy's is a whole lot better. there's a mix of violins and guitars, weird eery sounds and like a classic sound. truly amazing cd
  
  
• So, when is the next fad showing up?
  By A3116ITCY40DC6 on 2005-07-09
  15 minutes is up, Evanescence we'll see you on vh1's where are they now in about 10 years. If you like this you have no taste. This is mainstream and this fails. Amy Lee is cocky and arrogant, she trys to act underground and angsty but she has more money than I can imagine. Only one kind of girl looks up to somebody as pathetic as her. The cliche "goth" girls ranging 12-17 because this kind of music can totally relate to the pain of growing up in suburban america, don't forget to keep cutting yourselves to relieve all your mental anguish, ladies! Look at rock these days, now look at rock a decade ago. The difference is disgusting, while mtv had some credability left then, it is all but gone now. Go ahead, disagree with me, I could care less. Listen to some real music and then we can talk. Avoid this like the plague.
  
  
• Hands down the best album I've heard in a long time.
  By A3LG7LW80GD4KE on 2003-04-30
  Absolutely phenomenal! It's refreshing to hear a band this talented and interesting. The whole album is full of captivating sounds and layers. Each song is dripping with emotion and actual complexity. Nice to hear from a new band.(ie most new bands are a joke in the talent department) And wow what a voice! I absolutely love her voice. Silky and powerful! I would be glad to wake up to that voice every morning. Picture Sarah McLachlan meets Loreena Mckennitt. If you get one album this year, this is it. Linkin Park's Meteora isn't a bad choice either.

  Don't get hung up on what the record label says about them sounding like a mix between linkin park and creed. C'mon, Creed blows. This band is way better than Creed could wish to be. Linkin Park is a more fitting comparison.

  If you like guitar music, you will also love this album. I'm a huge Metallica fan and I find a lot to relate to in this album. There are some great riffs and rhythms and some well phrased solos as well.(what do you know, a guitarist that's not afraid to play a solo. You mean there are guitarists still out there that actually practice more than a half-an-hour a week?)

  Sorry If I seem so angst driven. I'm just tired of listening to non-melodic, overly-simplistic, overly produced, pop garbage written by lazy people that don't care or know how to master their instruments. If art reflects our culture, we're in a heap of trouble. I mean the fact that J-Lo even has a record deal should tell that the end of the world is at hand.

  But all this aside and in conclusion, buy this album. You will not regret it. It's worth your time if you're an intelligent human being.

  P.S. If you like sappy-overproduced-hey i'm a guitar player but i can only play 3 note solos-garbage, go buy a Creed album. Or if you already own a Creed album,(you've sold your soul to the devil) then go buy another Nickelback album. I think they were formed in the same gene pool.
  
  

• choices choices choices
  By on 2003-05-11
  I usually try not to review albums I think are just straight out awful, unless theyre overhyped by the press and i need to burst some bubbles. Well this band doesnt really do well with critics, but everytime i turn on the radio its like somebodys drilling into my skull. This kind of wanna-be tori amos meet creed sound with horrible orchestration behind it and two of the most annoying nu-metal vocals ive ever heard. so at a party i heard the album... again like drills in my skull. this album has been called a stylistic breakthrough by people whose music tastes dont extend past mtv2, but i just gotta say this type of thing has been done before and it been done way way way better. check garlands by the cocteau twins and dummy by portishead.... but aw yes this sound is being done way way way better right now. by a band off of jade tree records (yes i know terrible label) called denali. theyre sound is intense. and i dont mean radio ready get your buy on intense, i mean theres actual passion behind it.. they dont sound totally dead. so if anyone is intrested in hearing a less corny, less christian rock version of the great idea behind this horrible band, i just want you to know there are alternative.
  
  
• Amy Lee is Sexy and She Can Sing
  By A3OO5ZH1EFWNS4 on 2004-01-19
  ...But you'll be better off just getting the single "Bring Me To Life". The followup stuff is about as exciting as Heart in the mid 1980's- not very. "Bring Me To Life" is a great song I will give them that. But the clown that sings with Amy kind of ruins it. It would have been one the coolest songs in rock had they instead used Ozzy Osbourne in his place. The guy doing it makes me and my 16 year old little bro laugh our asses of everytime he says something during the song. And we haven't laughed so hard since Sheryl Crowe did "Picture" with Kid Rock.
  
  
• Great Album
  By A12B5SY49EMN70 on 2003-05-01
  This is by far the best album I have heard in years, and being over 40 this goes back quite aways. Not being a big fan of the so-called nu-metal bands, which all seem to follow the "let's see how loud and angry we can sound formula" I was very surprised by this band. I was curious about them after hearing the single, "Bring me to Life". I think the comparison to Linkin' Park is way off. Just cause they put a male metal/rapper in the song everyone says, "Hey Linkin' Park Jr.". I think there sound is much more diverse and full. With the combination of strings, piano, synths, and heavy guitar you would think this would be one big sonic mess, but they pull it off quite well. Make no mistake, all of the various instrumentation and arrangements, are there for one purpose, and that is to support Amy Lee's amazing vocals. Even in their heaviest moments they make sure her voice is front and center and not obscured by anything. I just have to say, where did this girl come from? She is by far one of the best female vocalists to come along in years. She has the dynamic range of Pat Benetar with the melodic voicing of Ann Wilson, and she manages to eclipse both of them. I think the real test of her vocal power are on the 2 ballads, "My Immortal", and "Hello". I think these songs show that Amy could sing the phone book and make it compelling. I have listened to this album at least 30 times in the last 5 days, and I have not tired of it yet. I can't wait to see what they do next.
  
  
• A+ debut album
  By A1MJS1YRKNMU04 on 2003-05-04
  This CD is absolutely brilliant! I wouldn't call it heavy metal, though (which I equate with Metallica, Pantera, etc.) It is rather a perfect fusion of darkwave lyrics and melodies, metal guitar with strings, piano, and oh, yes, the voice of an angel "fallen" from Heaven. My favorite part is the seamless segue from the end of "Tourniquet" into "Imaginary", it sends chills up my spine. This is my new favorite band and I also can't wait to see what they do next. However, despite their spiritually meaningful lyrics, they are not Christian rock (check out the article at MTV.com "Evanescence's Label Tells Christian Outlets to Yank 'Fallen'") which makes it easier for my pagan sensibilities to enjoy.

  My only question is, when are they coming to Denver??
  
  

• The Open Door
• Anywhere But Home (w/ bonus DVD)
• Hybrid Theory
• Meteora
• Three Days Grace