Anywhere But Home (w/ bonus DVD) Reviews

• A live CD with a bonus DVD, and all for one great price!

  
  By A3KGYTO6CF8MGF on 2004-11-30
  It's without question. This is something all Evanescence fans need in their collection! I notice this to be something a lot of artists are doing these days, and it probably is just a ploy to cash in, but I personally enjoy live CDs, and especially DVDs, so you can relive the experience or merely feed your curiosity if you missed one of your favorite groups in concert. I haven't seen Evanescence in person yet but after watching the DVD portion of 'Anywhere But Home', which was taped at a sold-out venue in Paris, I definitely think it would be worth it to try sometime. Amy Lee looks innocent yet deadly, her haunting vocals are in healthy form and the band sounds better than ever whilst they perform their greatest hits...which is basically everything since their melodies are all so unforgettable....
  
  Many people claim Amy doesn't sing as well in concert as she does on her studio recordings and though they may be right, take into consideration the fact that she obviously gets really into the songs and because she jumps around so much, which equals exhaustion and breathlessness, I felt she did a pretty damn good job at controlling the words and pacing. You'll notice during the songs she sings while sitting at the piano, like on the wonderful Korn cover of "Thoughtless", the stunningly emotional "Breathe No More", and of course the infamous "My Immortal" she sounds quite better. Also, during a live event if you mess up there's no turning back so be grateful she doesn't lip synch like countless other acts around. And I'm so sick of people dissing this group simply because they had a lucky break and hit it big thanks to the 'Daredevil' soundtrack. I'm not saying Evanescence is better than similar groups who get far less recognition (or at least in the states) like Lacuna Coil, 'cause they're not, but they've also been around a while now so their fame didn't exactly happen over night.
  
  Bottom line is they've got undeniable talent and they are, in my opinion, a blessing to mainstream music which is mostly full of crap. But back to the CD/DVD combo...
  
  Closing the set is the new, or rather recycled track "Missing" (originally found on their hard-to-find 'Origins' CD) and it's a beautiful orchestral ballad, however it's the DVD that's truly spectacular! Aside from the concert it also features a lot of bonus material, and it isn't just filler either. The behind the scenes is great because you get to see a little of how they are in real life and it's not at all boring. It also includes all their videos to date, which are some of the most inventive I've seen in a long time ("Everybody's Fool" is without a doubt my favorite). And for the most part the concepts actually relate to the lyrics.
  
  I predict Evanescence will be around for many years to come and I can't wait to hear their new album set for release sometime next year.
  
  

• Here We Go, Miss Arrogance Makes More Music In Her Sleep

  
  By A300AR4IM0KW21 on 2004-11-30
  This self-proclaiming vocalist Amy Lee ranks amongst my least favourite artists in the current world of popular music. When this band got some publicity for their last album 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 and has a rather posh English accent is horrid. She claims 'music is easy, it's just something I do' - f**k right off. What a terribly demeaning thing to say. There are countless bands out there trying to hit the big time, trying to get the lucky break, and you spring up with a comment like that. Please be quiet.
  
  If the previous release wasn't enough to destroy your well-being, and fill you to the brim with sincere repulse. Well, here you go. Enjoy this amazingly gifted musician who can produced `good' music in her sleep.
  
  
  

• Not bad, not good

  
  By A11V511Q0UIK8U on 2004-11-24
  I am a fan of this band, I have been from the beginning. That being said, I'm not going to fawn over this live CD/DVD. Like I mention in my subject heading, it's not bad, but it's also not good. Let me explain.
  
  I judge the worth of a band on both the quality of their music and the quality of their live performances (after all, what's a rock band if they can't tear it up live?). "Fallen" is both a well-written and well-recorded album. In terms of their live performances (and I have seen them three times), Evanescence isn't all that impressive. They are entertainers more than musicians. While Amy Lee is an incredible singer, and the music her and Ben Moody wrote is compelling and catchy, it doesn't translate very well into a live setting. Anyone who has seen them live knows the band relies heavily on samples, pre-recorded synths, and taped over vocal parts. That being the case, they never perform the songs any different than what they sound like on the album. Some people value that; I suppose I value seeing a band improvise and prove their worth as musicians more than simply performers. All this being considered, their live recording sounds like the album with a less satisfying sound quality. They don't do anything other than perform their music faithfully to its original version, which I find relatively boring. I do give them props on their cover of Korn's "Thoughtless," which proves that they do have some live musical creativity up their sleeves.
  
  So by now I'm sure anyone reading this wants to know what I consider a good live recording, since I just spent a paragraph criticizing Evanescence's. I recently bought Incubus' live CD, "Alive at Red Rocks." Now there's a live CD worth owning. Incubus finds the perfect balance between performing their songs as we best know them and altering them to highlight their individual musical talents. It really is a great disc. Another good live disc is Tool's "Salival."
  
  I often find that band's release live CD's to pass the time between the end of a tour and the recording of a new album. Evanescence seems to have done just so. Again, the CD/DVD isn't bad, it just isn't good. You'd probably be best off getting this as a present (so you can feel good not having paid for it) or downloading it somehow (if you can live with that ethical dilemma, and considering the fact that these guys are multi-millionaires, it shouldn't be too hard!).
  
  These are just my two cents.
  
  
  I often find
  
  

• Decent...

  
  By AUNQHFVIJVUL2 on 2004-11-29
  I am a fan of Evanescence and I couldn't wait for this CD/DVD to come out. When I got it, I was both happy and disappointed.
  
  The CD is pretty good, but the cheering in the background gets real annoying, real fast. The new songs Farther Away and Breathe No More are very good, and the spinoff of Thoughtless was very nice. Missing had to be the best song on the CD (No cheering) and the vocals and music were very nice.
  
  The Music Videos were awesome. They are all eerie in their own part, but I was very happy to see them on the DVD. They were one of the main reasons I really wanted the CD.
  
  The Live Concert was ok. The camera jumped around too much. Every two or three seconds the camera changed angles and it was a little disorientating. Plus, the cheering maxed out the music and Amy's voice causing you to stain to hear it.
  
  The Behind the Scenes was entertaining and funny. A lot of people look at Evanescence as a gothic-depressing band when in reality they are just regular people having fun.
  
  Overall, I liked this and it should keep me happy until the Sequel to FALLEN is out, but I really wish they would have edited out some of the cheering.
  
  

• GREAT SHOW!!! but the production/editing deducted one star

  
  By A1H8MG421L1SB2 on 2004-11-28
  Evanescence live in Paris, they played most of the songs from the album "Fallen", and Evanescence used to means "Amy Lee + Ben Moody", and now Moody left and replaced by ex-Cold Terry Balsamo, Evanescence now sound more like a whole band and every members put efforts into songs that they changed some of the arrangements of songs, make songs feel a little bit different from the album version, which is good.
  
  Tracks like "Haunted", "Going Under" is difinitely great opening tracks, and they made Korn's "Thoughtless" sound great, too. and they stick "Bring Me To Life" and "Tourniquet" into one song is really head-turning, but "Farther Away" and "Breathe No More" are not as great as those "Fallen" tracks, the melodies are weak on that two i'm afraid.
  
  as a live concert DVD, i'll be more happy if i can really see them play, but the music video kinda production/editing is not focus on the band, but the whole musical climax, which is not bad just i don't like it, i'd prefer focus more on each member in order to see more on how they really play their instruments. if you are familiar with their songs, but not familiar with their faces and gears, this DVD can't help..... if that's the case.
  
  
• If only I could hear over all the screaming
  By A3NMD37OJXDO4U on 2004-12-11
  I was very let down by this album. I don't know who did the clean up on these songs but it stinks. You can certainly tell it's a live recording - half the time you can't even hear the band over the shrill screams of audience members. I own several other live albums and have not noticed this problem in them.
  
  For example, Sarah McLachlan's live album "Mirrorball". While there are some sounds from the audience at the beginings of the songs, you can actually HEAR the songs once they start. Not the case with this. At times you can't hear the band playing, others you can just bearly hear Amy Lee singing, and almost constantly is the shrill, annoying screams of the audience, which personally, I find very distracting.
  
  They should have done a bit more editing of this before putting it out. If you're trying to complete your Evanescence collection, this is probably something you'll want but as far as for the sheer entertainment for listening to, stick to "Fallen".
  
  
• Skip this if you aren't a big Evanescence fan.
  By A3ACOOB9EDZY2D on 2005-03-06
  I love Evanescence. I bought their CD "Fallen" the first day it was released. I don't own "Origin" but I have listened to it and it is amazing. Amy Lee's voice is both clear and powerful, whether she is singing rock or sitting at the piano and singing. However, I don't see much potential here. I found the CD mostly exceptional, while the DVD was okay.
  
  The highlights of this album are the bonus tracks. On the live performances from "Fallen", sometimes you can't hear the beginning of the songs because there is so much screaming (whoever edited this CD could've worked harder on the editing part). The bonus tracks include "Thoughtless", "Farther Away", "Breathe No More", and "Missing." "Thoughtless" is a remake of Korn's song. It is a powerful song about betrayal with rocking guitars in the background. "Farther Away" is another rocking song about how upset you are by what you've become. "Breathe No More" is a sad, emotional song with an acoustic guitar; similar to the song "My Immortal." Amy Lee's voice shines in this song, able to hit the highest notes. "Missing" is a ballad that shows off Amy's clear voice. Basically, the bonus tracks are the great part of this album.
  
  I can't say that I liked the live concert part of the DVD as much. I almost got an aneurysm and was very dizzy after seeing the concert part of the DVD. The camera switches very fast and doesn't focus on one member of the group. It was hard to tell if some of the band was playing. (I think Amy's voice, the piano, and the drums were the only instruments that were really playing--everything else seemed pre-recorded.) The DVD has some high parts, though; the DVD includes all of the music videos. This includes "Going Under", "My Immortal", "Bring Me To Life", and their newest single, "Everybody's Fool." The behind-the-scenes section includes bloopers, life on the road, and more. Their band is hysterical. Amy is just like everyone else!
  
  In conclusion, if you don't have "Fallen", then get that CD and skip this one. If you're not a huge Evanescence fan, it would be wise to skip this, or you might be disappointed.
  
  
• Amazing Live
  By A28S6YEJ6G71MY on 2005-03-21
  I bought this CD because I had a gift certificate, and it well exceeded my virtually absent expectations. A lot of people said it was basically Fallen live, but I find that it's much more. My favourite tracks are Missing, Breathe No More and the cover Thoughtless, which aren't on any other Evanescence records I believe. Also, new life is brought to Bring Me to Life (a pun? excellent), which I was getting pretty sick of from constant airplay. Going Under on this album is much better than on Fallen, I find. Overall, the live performance is amazing and I would recommend buying this over Fallen because of the seamless vocals, the added tracks, and the emotion a life performance brings. Go on.. aren't you out buying it yet??
  
  
• Terr-ific...
  By A29V1MP4PX5ABN on 2004-11-24
  Whoopdy-frigging-ddo. More evanescence. This live album sucks hard. Want a good live album? Go buy "None So Live" by Cryptopsy.
  
  
• Evanescence has barely touched the surface of their success
  By A1GTTUO3NJFEL6 on 2004-12-14
  Despite other reviews which ridiculed this performance, I loved it! It was very tastefully filmed and edited; it captured the rough-on-the-edges rawness to otherwise well-rounded and powerful music. The effects really brought everything to life. And the big A++++++.... it was filmed in Widescreen! An automatic 10 stars right there for that! Even moreso because they didn't make the mistake of releasing a "Fool Screen" version. In my opinion, any movies or concerts in Full Screen should be burned with utmost haste... it degrades us all.
  
  The renditions were really well done, especially to some of my favorites, "Farther Away", "Bring Me To Life", and the hauntingly beautiful "Haunted". But then again, I have yet to find a song I dislike from Evanescence, which is really amazing and yet again tests their success. Amy Lee has proven herself yet again, this time holding her own in a live performance, and further outdoing herself. Amy has a lot of stage presence, is very interactive with the audience; the band was jamming like there's no tomorrow. The vibe was there...Evanescence was jamming, having a damn good time on stage, and loving every moment of it... a feeling I haven't gotten at all from an artist performing live. The Dolby 5.1 discrete was absolutely amazing!!
  
  In regard to the comment that they need to expand their discography, maybe the reviewer didn't consider "Evanescence EP" (1999), "Sound Asleep EP" (1999), or even "Origin" (2000)? I mean, don't get me wrong, the discography is there. Now, why they don't choose to touch to much on older material, I'm not sure, but it's their choice... some of the older material is very nice, but I don't think it fits the style their trying to achieve, especically since Moody left. For example...listen to "Field Of Innocence" from Origin and the 1997/98 demo "October"...both great, infact awesome, songs, but not the style Evanescence wants.
  
  Always amusing, although a little shocking at moments, yet undeniably hilarious, the Behind The Scenes featurettes were a great addition. We get to experience a little sliver of the personality of Amy Lee, John LeCompt, Rocky Gray, William Boyd, and Terry Balsamo and their experiences while on tour. It's one thing to see Evanescence on stage, and another thing to see them off stage punkin' around. I won't spoil anything for you, since it would very unjust... it's a must see.
  
  A very good move was to incorporate all of the current music videos up to date...it really helps wrap up this DVD into a nice little menagerie of Evanescence's work. And since the only way most people could view these up til now was little , poorly-encoded WMV files on websites...now we get to see them in their full quality! W00t!
  
  The audio CD version was a nice addition, taking away my need to rip the AC3 tracks right from the DVD, which can otherwise be a real pain... now I can jam in the car, rip to mp3, and load to my iPod. Although, it's not quite the same as watching the video feed.
  
  All in all, a wonderful DVD, tastefully produced and executed, showing off the gem that Evanescence is and will be for years to come; escpecially as we await new surprises and directions of Evanescence with the loss of Ben Moody, the gain of independence (most noteably for Amy in the writing process), and the desire to rock even better than before on their upcoming album!
  
  Rock on Evanescence!! We love you!
  
  
• Fallen on stage
  By A35WXTMNM6OUSB on 2005-03-30
  'Anywhere But Home' is essentially Evanescence's debut album, 'Fallen', live on stage. Any true fan of Evanescence will enjoy watching this concert, and listening to the audio disk too. By true fan, i mean those who bought 'Fallen' for the whole album not just to hear My Immortal, or Bring Me To Life. This DVD shows the bands true colours and shows us just what they are, how the look etc. The bands appearence may shock some as they are a lot more gothis on this DVD.
  
  As a live performer Amy Lee is brilliant. She is one of the few artists around, performing this stle of music, who can actually sing live. She is exceptionally talented to sit and play the piano and sing at the same time (its very hard....trust me ive tried!).
  The band sound almost like they are taken directly from fallen, they sound near perfect, which for a live recording shows just how good they are.
  
  This DVD is a must have for and Evanescence fan! It shows you who and what Evanescence are and proves just how talented they are.
  
  
• A Must-Have For Those of you That Love Evanescence
  By A1BH34IMUVK9WP on 2006-08-15
  There is no question when I tell you that Amy rocks out loud live! She definately knows how to work the crowd. During her performance, she and the rest of the band do a KoRn cover of "Thoughtless" (which I LOVE) and also perform two other songs not found on the U.S. version of 'Fallen' including Breathe No More (from Elektra soundtrack) and Farther Away (from the Bring Me to Life Single and/or Jap. version of Fallen) Of course, any true Ev fan would already know all of that info. The dvd includes the entire live performance, all the music vids from Fallen, and some behind the scenes footage of the whole band. (Some of it is really funny) A great buy.
  
  
• to all the 2 star reviews posted by children
  By A3EAU736LWTDCE on 2004-12-01
  
  Dear Morons
  
  This is a live DVD. Live DVD's are NOT supposed to sound like studio recording, hence the name "live" If you are complaining that this doesn't sound like the studio album versions then you either A: have never been to a real concert before, or B: are an idiot. People that go to live concerts (or hear live concerts) and say things like "god they sounded nothing like they do on there albums, I really wished it was more like their albums, I was disappointed, I really wanted to hear the album" should have stayed home and just listened to the STUPID ALBUM, DUH! You people are something else, if a band plays live and is perfect, you say "it was too close to the album version, I would have liked to see them do something different live" then if they don't play the album perfect you say "god I wish they would have played it like the album" I should smack you people, are you on crack?!
  Anyway, my review: This isn't really my genre of music, but they do an good job. I think it would be hard to do this type of music live, after all its not that heavy, and with her voice, and the notes she hits, she cant be dead on every time, but for you thick-skulls we could play a prerecorded track for you like Ashley Simpson if you like? ...well it's a good DVD, and I own a lot. The performance is good. For a live DVD the mix isn't too bad, although the guitars could come up a little. My beefs with it are the camera that jumps around too much, it can give you a headache! ..and last but not least is the: song selection. I would never try to bore an audience with sappy elevator music like the songs "Breathe No More" and "missing" I would have done 2 other covers before I went that route. Overall: good DVD
  Interesting note: Most of the members of this band like death metal. Amy has also mentioned the possibility of doing a heavier album, If their next album is heavy, then I'm going to laugh in the face of all you mainstream listeners.
  
  
• This was strongly emotional to me
  By A2XLGLF0V4O7JD on 2005-01-11
  While passing through some very difficult times in Life, it happened that this album came to fit into the situation so well...
  
  Amy Lee has one of the most powerful and emotionally charged voice I have ever heard and particularly in "My Immortal", she simply devastated my heart.
  
  I strongly recommend this album although there are some technical gotchas but they are all compensated by Amy Lee's strong voice and presence.
  
  It is outstanding that Amy Lee was able to make the audience sing along "My Immortal" and getting a highly emotional response from them, considering the French being a little bit "hostile" to English language.
  
  
• Screw Brittany Spears, we've got Amy Lee!
  By A1FTL0NMYRVSNW on 2005-03-02
  A nice refreshing break from mainstream poo. Evanescence has awoken music from the dead.
  
  Everybody's Fool-Everybody who doesn't love this song is a fool. This is my favorite song.
  
  It beats everything I've ever heard. It's deep, and thinck with rich instrumentals, not puny, simple chord structures and shallow lyrics.
  
  Must buy!!
  
  
• The continuation of Evanescence after 'Fallen'
  By A3UZHPT6414PS0 on 2005-08-19
  I often wondered after the popularity of 'Fallen' faded away and the leaving of Ben Moody (a co-founder of Evanescence) what would happen to Amy Lee and Evanescence in total. 'Anywhere But Home' is a double CD/DVD combo featuring Live in Concert performances from The Zenith in Paris from the 2004 European tour. The audio CD covers the complete concert and includes only one non-live song in the B-side 'Missing'.
  The DVD contains the complete in concert feature and also a 1 hour behind the scenes footage and documentaries and interviews of the band and Amy Lee herself. Through navigation on this DVD copy the fan will find 6 music videos of the famous songs like 'Going Under', 'Whisper' and 'My Immortal'.
  This album release shows Evanescence is not a spent force but Amy Lee and her trio of rockers will carry the torch on. I totally enjoyed the CD and DVD and all I can say, Amy's voice is wonderful.
  
  
• Unbeliveably numerous bad reviews
  By A2WS9FE0NRXAFB on 2006-06-22
  okay, those who says Amy sounded so bad live and/or she can't sing has no energy driving behind her voice etc are all just SO. IGNORANT about singing. I was a chorus singer, and BELIEVE ME, you people who don't sing just have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA just how exhasting and energy-draining singing is, especially opera-like songs by using chess-voice. I remember whenever I haven't had a good-enough meal and/or was hungery when I sang, lots of time I almost fainted after my session(I was a Soprano so it's especially energy-draining). And my voice cracked if I sang for too long, and that's just singing while standing, I can't even imagine what it will be like while doing all that jumping and movement. Singing is VERY tiring, it takes alot of energy to sing the songs that are like Evanescence's (which all have that opera choir-like sounds/singing). Alot of singers, in order to survive live concerts, do LOTS exercise to build-up strength.
  So basically, after I saw Evanescence live, I was just SO IMPRESSED with Amy who can actually hold her note, and make her voice not cracking 90% of time while doing SUCH intense movements(makes me love her more). Though I would've perferred her movement not as intense, if she just waves a little, walk around a little and taps her feet or something I would've liked it just fine.
  And on a side-note, alot of other rock/metal bands use "screaming-singing" instead of "singing-singing" so not even to mention opera-singing, find me another rock-band that uses opera-singing, I can guarrantee you there are VERY few. Alot of bands, since they use "screaming", they won't tire out as quickly. This is percisley because screaming is not as energy-draining as singing.
  As for the editing, I would like it better if it doesn't flash too much, but it's still not THAT bad. I totally enjoy it, and it's also short enough for me not to get tired of it.
  Amy's voice is just absolutely stunning, the preclude of "Bring Me To Life" is enough for any fans to get this album. I was not disappointed. And plus, you get four new songs, though I didn't like Thoughtless as much, mainly because it's not their song and that it's weird to hear Amy cussing (which is one of the main problem I have with majority of other rock bands- they just CUSS WAAAAAAY too much), but of course I liked it much better than Korn's version, and it's still a pretty good song.
  
  
  
• Anywhere but Home Indeed
  By A5R3U8ZSFKAL4 on 2006-06-28
  In my review of the album Fallen I quoted Lemmy of Motorhead saying that the album was above and beyond the call of duty. The rest of the quote was that he felt they couldn't do it live. Well I have to disagree with Mr Kilminster as having seen the 'World Domination' tour on it's Australian leg I have to say that the band sounded spot on. And this CD shows that they can actually fill up the sound mix just like on their breakthrough album.
  
  This is actually a bit of a no frills thing in terms of audio. The sound is fine, the band are tight which is interesting given the personnel dramas of the time. The crowd noise appears to have been phased in and out though that's a fairly regular situation. The main difference between these tunes from Fallen and their live versions here is that the sound does sound a touch hollower.
  
  Really this is a cash in job on their fame. Putting out a live album when you've got next to no back catalogue is a bit cheeky. It also serves to fill the gap between their albums - aforementioned personnel upheavals no doubt played their part. Not that filling in time between albums w/ live releases and curiosities is a new idea (G'n'R Lies anyone?).
  
  For fans of this band this is probably essential listening. The songs do sound good, the crowd is suitably adoring and they are a likeable project.
  
  Three stars for the strength of the songs and because it doesn't feel like there has been massive overdubs.
  
  The fourth star for the extra DVD which shows the band putting in value. They did also sell the DVD separately for a while however. Make sure you get this version with the DVD already in it as it really is worthwhile viewing.
  
  
• Fake concert!
  By A2GWPKZNICCAPO on 2004-12-08
  First, I am an Evanescence fan. That's why it's painful to have to admit that this DVD/CD "live" set is horribly disappointing. The only part of the concert that is live is the voice of Amy Lee. Everything else is pre-recorded. No wonder some of the reviewers here state that the band sounds great. Of course they do. All they had to do was show up and pretend to play. That's why you don't see any clear shots of the musicians in the concert footage. A sour guitar note or a stray drum beat is ever heard. It's all hocus-pocus. What a shame that the fans don't get to see and hear a real live performance in this DVD. Save your money and just by a traditional Evanescence studio CD.
  
  
• save your money - skip this
  By A2D2ZXPLBP7ZKQ on 2004-12-10
  As a huge Evanescence fan, I was hoping to hear all the songs I love, Amy Lee's amazing voice, plus the energy of a live setting. This album bombs on all counts. She sounds terrible and is off key almost all the time. The instruments sound flat and are frequently inaudible. I would complain about the songs that were left off the cd, but considering how bad the ones they did play sound, maybe it's better they didn't further embarrass themselves. This cd is so bad I wish I could get a refund. Skip it and don't let the disgraceful versions of these songs cloud your memory of what the songs were meant to sound like.
  
  
• WOW
  By A3K8E1P5GTHQ6J on 2004-12-22
  Evanescence's live CD/DVD package "Anywhere But Home" is beautiful in itself, but all in all, its just something to hold the fans over with until the sophmore album. As many hardcore fans (like myself) have already done, we've already heard the "unreleased" material (not on "Fallen") such as "Farther Away", "Breathe No More", and "Missing". New material absolutely saves this release from becoming just a new "Fallen".
  
  Yes, this is a LIVE release which makes this CD SOO much heavier than on "Fallen". Amy Lee's headbanging and screaming evoke so much emotion within the audience and pump up the crowd for the rocking hour of showtime. Be forewarned, to parents who like to sing along to the bouncy melodies of "Bring Me To Life" and "My Immortal" - this is not a rock CD, its a METAL CD. It's loud, heavy, and beautifully breathtaking.
  
  Yes, Amy curses slightly in KoRn's "Thoughtless" but to the lawsuit that is going on currently - its a bunch of crap. This song is by far the best on the CD. Also, the extended ending of "Farther Away" is AB-SO-LUTELY AMAZZZING! If you can listen to that song and not bang your head, you must not have been listening clearly.
  
  "Anywhere But Home" should gain far more credibility with the metal-heads than "Fallen" did with mainstream-pop/rockers. This package also lets radio-listeners know that this ISN'T "The Amy Lee Show (and uh, those other guys)" - This is EVANESCENCE the BAND. Love them or hate them, you can't deny that "Anywhere But Home" ROCKS.
  
  Lastly, the DVD is HILARIOUS. The behind-the-scenes footage is the DORK side of Evanescence while you can view the Music Videos (My Immortal, Everybody's Fool, Bring Me To Life, Going Under) and the Live In Paris concert where you'll see the ROCKSTAR side of Evanescence. The concert is shot with fast moving cuts and flashes of color that will really get you lost in the essence of the show. The videos are 100 times clearer than on MTV/VH1/FUSE and it's a nice treat for the fans.
  
  (...)
  
  
• Almost Perfect
  By AF3L1S11PBR78 on 2004-12-28
  "Anywhere But Home" was better than I expected. The videos were great, I loved that they included that. The behind the scene footage were abosolutely hilarious and delightful. "Thoughtless" was the best and "Farther Away" was also very good. The only complaint I have against this DVD is that the camera angles and the over-editing. Too many spinning scenes and effects and lights and colors.... But overall, this was what i've been waiting for...for a year!!
  
  
• Very good but production could have been better
  By AXFI7TAWD6H6X on 2005-01-02
  Evanescence is one of the few new bands in the past couple of years that I have succumbed to. Most of the new artists/bands coming out nowadays don't interest me but I honestly can say I like Evanescence. "Fallen" is one of my favorite albums from 2003. What attracted me to Evanescence's music is Amy Lee's beautiful vocals. I wouldn't go as far as to compare her with Tori Amos but I can certainly hear her influence Amy's vocals. Granted the singles off "Fallen" were played to death no thanks to heavy rotation on MTV/VH1/Clear Channel-owned radio stations, but that hasn't stopped me from listening to them.
  
  As the band is currently putting on the finishing touches on their next album, they recently released a live cd/dvd combo called "Anywhere But Home". I thought it was appropriately titled since the band spent most of the past year and a half (at least) on the road. Normally I don't buy live cds but I thought this live combo package was worth owning. There are a few 'new' songs which I really wanted to hear. I never heard the original version but I dug Evanescence's cover of Korn's "Thoughtless". "Missing" and "Breathe No More" I thought those two ballads were excellent and destined to be Evanescence classics. The dvd was great to watch. I really dug the behind the scenes footage of the band, and the concert footage was good too. The only flaw with this package is the somewhat muddled production. It definitely could have been better. Maybe "Anywhere But Home" is a cash cow for the band and record label but it is a pretty decent appetizer until the band puts out a new album (which I hope will be sometime this year).
  
  
• A definite must have!
  By A1T71FOH8FTF4Y on 2005-01-09
  "Anywhere But Home" is not only a fantastic set and a definite must have for any die hard Evanescence fan, but it goes to show that they sound just as good live as they do on a studio recording. As I'm sure you're aware, this CD is a recording of their concert in Paris last spring, and also includes the unreleased (well, at least here in America anyway) studio recording of "Missing." The concert consists of every song from "Fallen" as well as "Farther Away," which wasn't included on the album's American release, their new song "Breathe No More," which will be on the upcoming Elektra soundtrack, and in my opinion the centerpiece of the recording, an amazing cover of Korn's "Thoughtless." If for no other reason, it's honestly worth buying this CD just for this song alone. I actually prefer this version over the original. It's a tremendous concert. There's a particularly nice moment in "My Immortal" where Amy just plays and lets the audience sing. My only minor critiques are that Amy definitely scrapes the bottom of her range on "Going Under," and that she has a tendency to not enunciate the ends of words, but as I said those are just minor things.
  
  As if the CD wasn't enough, "Anywhere But Home" also includes a bonus DVD which has a video recording of the concert, all four of their current music videos, and plenty of behind the scenes footage. While the seizure-inducing videography of the concert leaves much to be desired (and that's putting it very nicely), it's great to be able to listen to it in 5.1 surround sound. The music videos are great, and go to show that there are so many different ways to interpret their music. But the best parts of the DVD are the behind the scenes footage, particularly the gag reel and the "Evanescence Unleashed" section. They really go to show that they're not just fantastic musicians, but awesome people as well.
  
  "Anywhere But Home" is an essential addition to any fan's collection. It's a great way to satiate us fans as we wait for their next release. The only thing better would be if they rereleased "Origin." Do yourself a favor, pick up a copy. You won't be disappointed.
  
  
• Who mixed this?
  By A871D7IVI5AJ5 on 2006-01-31
  This CD was poorly produced and mixed. It sounds like a bootlegged copy -- as it if were recorded by an audience member with a recorder tucked away in their trench coat. Or perhaps the lead singer's mic wasn't working and the audio was being picked up by mics by the drummer or the guitarist. I like Evanescence and their music -- but as a real audiophile, I was absolutely appalled and disturbed by the way this cd was mixed. It is very difficult to listen to and to enjoy. Very "tinny" and tough to hear the vocals. I've purchased well over 500 CD's in my lifetime, and this is one of only a very select handful that I feel I should be able to return.
  
  
• Must have, but lots of flaws.
  By A1ZSVVTDSWEZT2 on 2006-03-14
  If you're a fan, buy it. Good setlist, some nice spruced-up live versions of the songs, good audio, good picture. Having the MTV videos is certainly a major attraction. The standout feature is the cover of Thoughtless. At the very least, this is much better than a bootleg.
  
  Lots of flaws though. The editor/director inserted a cut pretty much every two seconds, rendering the video nearly unwatchable. He should be banned for life from manipulating motion pictures of any kind. You can last through one song without much problem, but getting through the whole concert like this is tough. Before you start the show, have some dramamine at the ready to counter the impending motion sickness. I suppose all these cuts are to quicken the pace, but that is a real departure from what most concert experiences are (standing or sitting in one place).
  
  Also, Amy Lee jumps around so much that it causes her singing to suffer. If these were the Sex Pistols that wouldn't matter, but for Evanescence the killer voice is what makes or breaks it. She should consider settling down a bit. Her rocker-girl enthusiasm doesn't even seem genuine. It's as though she does it because that's what people like to see (do they?).
  
  Last gripe, and a small one, is that she uses a backing track on certain songs when they should have just hired a backup singer. With all the money invested in this band, you'd think the record company could get a 2nd voice on stage instead of going el-cheapo.
  
  Despite how grumpy my review sounds, I'm happy with the purchase and looking forward to the next album. Buy it!
  
  
• Flawed...but not bad
  By A3T8PNCT836JD3 on 2006-05-28
  Overall, I like this. Evanescence gave an outstanding performance (although some songs sounded a little alike), and I was surprised at good they sounded live. Also included are the band's music videos to date, which are worth checking out if you haven't seen them before. The "insightful" behind-the-scenes segment offers a personal look at the band, revealing a free-spirited (although sometimes silly) side that one would not expect when considering the content of their music.
  
  That said, this package is still far from perfect. My cheif complaint was the videography itself. There are lots of unnecessary special effects edited into the performances, and the cameras switch so often and so quickly that it actually makes the show uncomfortable to watch at times. Also, the CD track listing is incorrect, and this could potentially cause some problems when trying to copy songs from the CD.
  
  Because of those complaints, I would recommend this primarily for Evanescence fans, especially those who have never seen them play live. For everyone else, I suggest checking out the "Fallen" album first.
  
  
• Anywhere But Home-Worth The Wait
  By A2UOZBX5ZYIVXX on 2004-11-23
  I waited for this new album for about 6 months, when I found out is was coming out. All I can really say is I am totally amazed, by the raw talent of lead singer, Amy Lee's, voice. From the first rift of Haunted, to the smooth Melody of Breath No More, to the pure energy in Bring Me To Life, Evanescence has had me singing along to the concert. The remake of Korn's Thoughtless, who honestly I don't like all that much, is just wonderful. All in all, this concert/cd is a wonderful addition to any music fan's collection. Now for a track listing for ya.
  
  1. Haunted
  2. Going Under
  3. Taking over Me
  4 Everybody's Fool
  5. Thoughtless (Korn cover)
  6. My Last Breath
  7. Farther Away (previously unreleased)
  8. Breath No More (previously unreleased)
  9. My Immortal
  10. Bring me to Life
  11.Tourniquet
  12. Imaginary
  13. Whisper
  14. Missing (on Cd, previously unreleased studio Track)
  
  Also, you get a ton of bonus features, including all 4 music videos, bloopers, and Evanescecne Unleashed.
  I do urge you, if you are an evanescence fan, to go out and buy this album, it is definatly worth it.
  
  
• Even better live
  By AVIH1UYOMQS65 on 2004-11-30
  Well, I lied in my review of Fallen. THIS CD is the best CD I've ever listened to. It displays just how much talent Amy and the rest of the band have. They sing BETTER live than they do on their studio album. I saw them live this past summer, and they freakin' rocked. This CD brought me right back to the concert. If you haven't seen them live, I can see where you'd get kind of annoyed by all the cheering, but if you have, it just makes the CD that much better. The first song "Haunted" gave me goosebumps. They drag out the opening to make it dramatic, and it definitely works! There are three new songs not on Fallen, and they're all great of coarse. "Farther Away" is a classic head-banger, "Thoughtless" is an outstanding cover by Korn, and "Breathe No More" is Ev's best slow song yet in my opinion (NOT "My Immortal"!!). The DVD is awesome too. The behind-the scenes showed me a lighter side of the band I hadn't seen before. It shows them goofing around and having a good time, and even in some serious moments. The live shot of the concert is sweet; I like all the special effects and zoom-ins and outs. And of course, the music videos are awesome too. If you're an Ev fan, don't miss out on this!
  
  
• great show
  By A8TM0MI3D9T29 on 2004-12-03
  Evanescence proves that they are just as good live as in the studio with this release. Amy sounds great and the band sounds equally amazing. The concert footage is what makes this performance even better, I like the way the camera doesn't just focus on Amy. As intoxicating as she is, I would rather see the entire band doing what they do best. The setlist is also great, in which they play all of their hits, and everything in between. The cover of Korn's Thoughtless is what stands out the most in my mind. Adding the piano to that song was a nice touch. Also Farther Away was done perfectly, and the added jam session to the end of it was a good call on the band's half.
  
  The extra features are a thing to behold too. The footage shows you what the band is like when they're not on stage, and it's nice to see that they're not depressed all the time. It shows everything from their rehearsal to Amy playing ping pong while on roller skates. Another "perk" is that you also get to see the band Seether in the clips also. I found that the bloopers satisfied me the most when it comes to the footage as a whole.
  
  Putting all of the band's music videos together is also a great touch to this already magnificent DVD. As you probably know there are 4 videos in all which are Bring Me To Life, Going Under, My Immortal, and Everybody's Fool. While I like all the videos my personal favorite is Everybody's Fool since it's so unlike anything Evanescence has done.
  
  A few of the best songs are Thoughtless, Farther Away, Missing, and Imaginary. All of the songs are performed perfectly, and of course they're all great. The bonus CD included is also a good listen, so definitely make a point to check this out.
  
  

• The Open Door
• Fallen
• Lithium Pt. 2
• EVANESCENCE "Origin" CD by BIGWIG, 11 tracks
• Use Me