Evanescence - Fallen
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Free Music Notes for Fallen
Free Music Review: a personal favorite
Hit: 5 Stars
For the past 3 years now, Evanescence has been my favorite band. Around 2000 I heard the song 'My Immortal'. It sounded nice, but I didn't pay much attention to it, mostly because of the band's long name that I couldn't pronounce. In mid 2003 I had MTV on the background and they aired 'Bring Me To Life'. I was in a different part of the room, so I didn't quite listen to the song, but Amy's voice kept haunting me (imagine my surprise to later find that they actually have a song titled 'Haunted'...). I remember even asking my sister about 'a song that the girl sings and the guy screams'. They were tough to find, mainly because the song's title is different from its catch phrase ('Wake me up inside'). I managed to find out who they are, and to this day it is one of my happiest discoveries. It was also around the time when I had to lose a LOT of weight, and their music gave me the energy and the strengh to do that, while Amy's voice kept me motivated, so this review is also my own personal success story, which is a great debt I owe to them.
Here is my break down of the album:
1) Going Under - this is a great song. The lyrics are very harsh and dark. I read somewhere that it's originally about coming out of a bad relationship. I related to the song differently, because I was teased and bullied a lot when I was a little kid. Often ppl say that the first step is realizing what the problem is, and I think that the song deals with exactly that. I think that the message is: 'You hurt me, and held me back. Now I'm going to try and be successful, but if I fail, then I'll know it's because of you'. 5/5
2) Bring Me To Life - even though it's overplayed, I still enjoy listening to it. It's a very innocent request, and it's almost a love song about a very deep connection between two ppl. It is very beautifully written. I won't quote it here, because I would just end up posting all the lyrics here. 5/5
3) Everybody's Fool - this is one of their songs that I didn't like that much in the beginning, but I grew to like it (at this point, I think I love all of their songs). I guess I just didn't understand it. Turns out that this song was actually written back in 1999, based on an occasion that Amy caught her younger sister dressing up like one of the Britney clones that were all over the 'music' market at the time, so Amy had to give her 'the talk'. I still think that it's too dramatic, but it does send a powerful message to the fans: 'idols' have to maintain a certain image and do not necessarily act that way in real life, and also don't try to copy the ppl you idolize - be original. I also really like the video for this song way they performed this song on the dvd. 4/5
4) My Immortal - where do I even begin with this one? I think I'll start by stating that this magical piece was done back in 1996, when Ben Moody was only 15. It's about 2 very close ppl that one of them dies, and the spirit of the dead one still haunts the person who is still alive, to the point that the living person asks the spirit to leace them alone. Evanescence recorded more demos of it (even the version that is on 'Fallen' is a demo. It's the 2000 version with strings added to it) and performed it in defferent styles, until they came up with the final version, titled 'Band version'. This song demonstrates part of why I love this band so much: they make many different versions of their songs over the years, and you can actually hear them evolve. It is also a piano ballad, which really lets Amy's power vocals shine. 5/5
5) Haunted - like 'My Immortal', this song is based on a story that Ben Moody wrote. I don't like this song as much, but I guess that if you really want to get into it, you should watch their new live performance of it. 3.5/5
6) Tourniquet - this is an adapted cover. It was originally titled 'My Tourniquet' and recorded by Soul Embraced, Rocky Gray's (the drummer) former band. Evanescence added a second verse to it, and wrote the melody (since the original only had the guitar riffs screaming of the lyrics). This song deals with a Christian conflict: on one hand, there is no forgiveness for taking a human life, but you are forgiven for everything once you are about to die, so what happens if you commit suicide?
this song also marks the dramatic climax of the album, as in the middle of the song Amy screams 'I want to die!' (a scream that, may I add, in live shows she never does. She uses a pre-recorded track for it). 5/5
Getting back to my personal story from above; this song made me realize that I didn't want to die like that.
After 'Tourniquet' there is an orchestral interlude which connects it to the next song.
7) Imaginary - this song is the final version of the song that can also be found on the first Evanescence EP from 1998. Amy once said in an interview that she has very vivid dreams ('I linger in the doorway of alarm clocks, screaming monsters calling my name... In my field of paper flowers...' and so on), and this song captures some of it, but what happens when the dream you created for yourself to escape from your reality, becomes a nightmare, and you still prefer it to the reality? 4.5/5 (only because there is another version of this song that I like better)
8) Taking Over Me - I think that this song is about the fear of being forgotten, but more than that, the feeling that you are taken over by the memory of someone else, that you don't even recognize yourself anymore. 5/5
9) Hello - similar to the album version of 'My Immortal', this is also a piano-based ballad, which also deals with death. I read that when Amy was very young, her sister died, and in this song she captured her grief, which is why she never performs it live. Musically spaeking, this song is very special on this album, because after the instrumental part, Amy goes up an octave, and reaches some amazing high notes. She has a beautiful and wide range that isn't showcased enough on this album (in my opinion). 5/5
10) My Last Breath - a beautiful 'goodbye song'. the lyrics are really deep, and you can hear that they poured their heart and soul into this song. 5/5
11) Whisper - this is the final version of the song that can be found on their Whisper/Sound Asleep EP from 1999. It's an peic piece, on which you can actually feel the apocalypse coming. It ends with a Latin choir begging us to save them and ourselves from evil. 5/5
I really love the way this band combines the hard-rock, piano the choir and the strings in their heartfelt songs, and to top it off, their singer is the most talented vocalist I have ever heard. She has both the ability to sing (the range) and a beautiful voice.
If you like this album, and want to know more about the band and the origin of their sound, then I recommend that you also check out their demos, which are available all over the internet (in many interviews, the band said that it's ok to download their music to see if you like it, but if it's something that can be bought and you like it - you should support the artists, or there will be ni music to download). One demo collection is even called 'Origin'. My favorite song is from that cd, and it is called 'Even In Death'.
Evanescence also put on a great show. If you're wondering what they are like live, then you should also check out their dvd 'Anywhere But Home'.
Free Music Review: The album that made me love Gothic Metal!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
REVISED FROM ORIGINAL!!! I don't know if my original review was the cause of the reviews being deleted but here's the updated one!!!!
Okay this is a very long review because I have so much to say so if you don't like long, detailed reviews, please just skip this. I don't even know where to begin.
First, I have to point out a few things that I've noticed in other reviews:
This is not a rap-rock band! Please stop saying this. They are a gothic rock/metal band. There's no rap here. They don't sound anything like Linkin Park and I know since I've owned Linkin Park CDs and they are completely different bands. So please stop comparing the two. It's very frustrating reading this which isn't true. Linkin Park don't even have any gothic sounds in their music anyway.
Well, I have always loved the 80's music for so long and pretty much that was all I've ever listed to for the most part. When it came to rock music anyway. I love the bands like Def Leppard, Whitesnake, and Guns N Roses and never got into the whole grunge genre and nu-metal. In the early 00's, I discovered power metal bands like Dream Theater and Blind Guardian. I was never into bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam that much.
So when I would see Evanescence with "My Immortal" on MTV years ago, at first I ignored it because I thought Evanescence were going to sound grunge which I hate. But after hearing that "My Immortal" song several times, I got curious and decided to buy the Fallen album (which I have more than one copy of now) and when I heard the entire album I was really, really surprised. Not only did they not sound like any other band I ever heard but they incorporated these elements that I've always loved: gothic sounds. I've always loved the gothic sounds and atmosphere. One of my favorite video game series is Castlevania which uses a lot of the gothic style so of course it was only a matter of time before I would fall in love with Fallen.
My favorite song has always been Tourniquet and I just love everything about that song. It really speaks to me and I can totally relate to it. I cannot express how much I love that song.
Bring Me To Life has an awesome message about getting back into life. It's hard to explain but I feel it represents how I've been feeling as well.
I love how Haunted really sounds haunted. LOL! It's such a masterpiece and I just love the message about not letting someone get away with these things they're not supposed to. That's how I feel about it anyway. I just love how unique this song is.
Everybody's Fool is a total masterpiece!! I love the part "without the mask....."
Hello is a very emotional and sad song which I love and to me, it's about one or two things. Either it can be about someone who feels dead inside and their voice is talking to them or it can be about someone who has lost someone and they tell themselves not to cry and all that. This is just how I hear it. Of course, it might be something different to the band. A lot of times when I hear it, I start to cry. I love how it also has a really creepy feel to it as well.
Imaginary is another very unique song that I love. It's really hard to describe because it doesn't sound like anything else.
That's one thing that really makes Evanescence stand out. No two songs sound exactly alike. Even when you compare two very gothic sounding songs of theirs, they are never exactly alike. Something that makes Evanescence so unique.
Of course My Immortal I love, both versions on this album. There's the piano version and the rock version at the end of the CD. I love both but the rock version with drums and guitars I love a little more. I love the whole message of this song. The lyrics are so beautiful.
My Last Breath is another amazing track, I just love it!! Same with Going Under.
Taking Over, once again another awesome song, and again, it's different from the rest, like all the songs.
Whisper is amazing!! So awesome!!
It's really hard to put all my feelings into this review because I've never felt so overwhelmed by a band before, not even Def Leppard who are my #1 favorite band of all time. I just cannot express enough how much I love this band and album.
About a year ago, I discovered all their unreleased material that many people don't even know about. Oh My God!! If you have not yet heard these masterpieces, please check them out right away!
There are so many unreleased demos and material that hasn't been released and I hope one day all this stuff will be released because many of the unreleased songs are better than the official material and so many people are really missing out. Believe me, if you hear their whole entire discography, like I have, many of these reviews bashing Evanescence will no longer be the case. Well, even just judging from Fallen, I have no complaints whatsoever but I mean the people who aren't reviewing the album but bashing Evanescence, the band. So I HIGHLY suggest checking out all their material, both unreleased and released before judging because they are far deeper than what you hear on Fallen or even The Open Door.
I love The Open Door as well but my faves of all time are the unreleased stuff and Fallen. But Lacrymosa is another all time favorite for me. I love Good Enough too. I just love it all!! And I love how every song is different and the whole gothic sounds/elements. I can hear this all day and never get bored.
Since I've gotten into Evanescence, Within Temptation have become my all time favorite gothic rock/metal band along with Evanescence. Delain and Nightwish are must haves as well. Delain's Lucidity and Nightwish's Once albums are total masterpieces!!
So after all this, you can imagine how sad I am that Amy Lee is the only member left of Evanescence. It's so very sad and I can only hope one day all the original members will be together again. Speaking of together again, another masterpiece I love!
One final thing I wanted to say: While my favorite bands of all time have always been from the 80's, I can't help but feel closer to Within Temptation, Evanescence, Delain, and Nightwish in many ways. It's not easy to say this because I've always loved the 80's and still do but a part of me feels more free from hearing these bands. Like Within Temptation's Pale and Evanescence's My Tourniquet and many more from them. I can relate so well to the lyrics in so many of these songs verses a lot of the 80's about just partying. I love the 80's of course and Def Leppard will always be my favorite band for the most part but there will always be a part of me that loves these other bands (Within Temptation, Evanescence, Delain, and Nightwish more.) The music just speaks to me. Especially in Within Temptation and Evanescence songs. Oh and of course Amy Lee and Sharon Den Adel have such amazing voices!!
Free Music Review: Fallen
Hit: 5 Stars
No matter what others will say, Evanescence is truly a great band. They somehow made their way into this mess of mainstream music even with their beautiful, unique sound (it's unique to MTV, anyway!). Mainstream rock bands, such as Evanescence, do not normally have female vocalists either, so that adds to it all. It's really neat, actually - the idea that a band this good would get the recognition that they do!
Onto Fallen though! It's a brilliant debut album, I can tell you that. In my honest opinion, there isn't one skippable song on this CD. Amy Lee has an absolutely amazing voice, the lyrics are very pleasing and deep, every song differs from the next, and the music blends so perfectly... If you don't at least try out this album, then you are missing out on a lot, for sure! Evanescence's music can be enjoyed by almost anyone. :)
Here's a song-by-song review of Fallen by none other than me (but you wouldn't have guessed that, right?). I like reading these things so I've decided to make one for other people like me to enjoy. Haha.
1. Going Under -- (4/5 stars)
Very nice way of opening Fallen! It's a catchy song, actually. I really love the guitars in it, and the fact that there's some nice piano music hidden in there makes me happy, too. :D It may not be the best track on the album, but it's definitely worth a listen (or a few listens...). Actually, if you can, try to view the video for this song! It's creepy... In a good way, of course.
2. Bring Me to Life -- (4½/5 stars)
In my opinion, this song is so overplayed! What's unfortunate is, if they hadn't literally played this song everywhere possible, then it would've had a very good chance at being the best track on this CD. It's still a great song, don't get me wrong! It just would've been better if I hadn't heard it hundreds of times before buying the album. :) In reality, everything about this song (even the male vocals) is strung together very nicely. Even if I have heard it more than enough times, I never skip it when listening to this CD.
3. Everybody's Fool -- (4/5 stars)
I find the choir throughout this song very nice - it adds to the song tremendously. The lyrics give you something to think about, too, which is good. Overall, this track is definitely above average, but if you listen to it too many times (which can easily happen), then it certainly does get old. So try not to do that. ;) Oh, and the video for this song is amazing, as well. Definitley check it out.
4. My Immortal -- (5/5 stars)
The first time I listened to this song, I cried. No joke - it literally brought tears to my eyes, and not too many songs can do that. It's a very, very beautiful song. And, I much prefer this version over the "band version" from the video. A sudden blast of loud instruments is just what this song doesn't need! It's an incredible song, and it doesn't require and ounce of rock in it to please listeners. :)
5. Haunted -- (4½/5 stars)
Sounds silly, but this song kind of freaked me out when I first listened to it! Haha. The music, the lyrics, the vocals... The title defines this song very well because it really does sound "haunted." It's a very unique song, and it's not hard to get into the mood that it tries to create. It's the shortest track on the CD, but it's definitely not the worst! It's delightfully spooky, as well, which is just my taste, hehe.
6. Tourniquet -- (3½/5 stars)
Technically, this is the only apparently Christianity-based song on Fallen, though it is rather nice to listen to. I know a lot of people that really like this song, but it's not as appealing to me. In fact, I find it to be the track I like the least. Though, I do like Amy's screaming of, "I long to die!" Haha, I'm weird like that, but I think it sets the mood quite effectively. And the end of this song nicely merges into...
7. Imaginary -- (5/5 stars)
...Imaginary! Definitely one of the best tracks on this CD, without a doubt. It's beautiful, powerful, and I, personally, can relate to the lyrics with ease. The music literally puts you into a "field of paper flowers with candy clouds of lullaby." They've just about perfected this song, honestly. It easily gets five stars from me.
8. Taking Over Me -- (4½/5)
At first, this song might seem rather average (it did to me), but if you pay closer attention to the music, you'll find that it is quite far from average, indeed! Everything goes together very smoothly in this song. The lyrics might strike one as being influenced by Christianity, but even if they were, they're quite a deal more subtle than Tourniquet's, and you can interpret them in any way you choose.
9. Hello -- (5/5)
Oh, this song is beautiful. The lyrics are sad, and the music supports that well. It's another song almost completely held up, music-wise, by piano. I can't even put it into words, really... It may be the best song on this album, in my opinion.
10. My Last Breath -- (4½/5)
I have a bit of an attachment to this song, but it's still a very different and enjoyable track either way. The music is very unique, I think, and the lyrics are very poetic. This song's got more of an orchestral sound to it, really. It's a beatiful blend of sounds, no doubt.
11. Whisper -- (3½/5)
A song about fear... Hey, I can totally relate! Haha. Well, I have to say, it's not a horrible song by any means, it just sort of lacks something. Can't really say what, though. The choir really helps the song move along, and especially the chanting in Latin (I think?) at the very end makes this song what it is. And, really? It ends Fallen on a good note (no pun intended).
So there you have it! I still stand by what I said... There isn't one skippable song on this album, no matter how hard you look. Even the songs I rated three and a half stars are above average! This is truly an outstanding album, and I highly suggest you look into all of Evanescence's previous works (their EP's and such) if you enjoy this CD. You can't buy any of their EP's anymore (for reasonable prices, anyway), but you can download the songs all over the 'net (I seemd to have the most luck at mylastbreath.co.uk). The band has said that it's perfectly fine to do that, so feel no guilt! :P (Just make sure you buy THIS album, as it's still very available!)
If you've read this whole review, then I congratulate you! It took me longer to write this thing than I thought it would, haha! I hope I've helped you in some way. :)
Hey, just for the fun of it, here are some other bands you can check out if you like Evanescence: Within Temptation, Gretchen, Unfinished Thought, Switchblade Symphony, and Flyleaf. There are pleanty of others, you just have to look! ;)
Free Music Review: Maybe I can save you a headache ... for details, read below:
Hit: 5 Stars
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. <OOOH...> 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.
Free Music Review: A Truly Stunning and Remarkable Album
Hit: 5 Stars
Few people were able to open their minds enough to really appreciate Evanescence. Most were quick to call the group copies of Lacuna Coil and Linkin Park. After listening a little of both of these, I see very little resemblance. Aside from the fact that Evanescence and Lacuna Coil both are rock bands with female singers, there is not much in common. Amy Lee, the lead singer, has an incredible voice that is haunting, mesmerizing and beautiful. I would not call this group goth and I don't see how people can even call them metal, but their lyrics are pretty deep or at the very least, pretty and poetic. Most would expect rock-styled music to overshadow a female singer, however Amy holds her own quite nicely, shining particularly on piano ballads.
The album kicks off with "Going Under", a dark, haunting song, which serves as an excellent introduction to the band's musical and lyrical styles. Amy's powerful vocals are showcased exceptionally in the chorus, while in the rest of the song she takes on a darker tone. "Bring Me To Life", a song I'm sure everyone knows, features Paul McCoy of 12 Stones. The song was featured on the Daredevil soundtrack and features more of Amy Lee's stunning vocals. The lyrics are astonishing, especially when compared to most of the other material from the same time period. "Everybody's Fool", a song that I misinterpreted until it became a single, follows in the same vein. I always thought the song was about someone from the "in-crowd", however the video showed a different interpretation: a song about self-hate (in a way). The song seems to be describing someone who acts differently to the point where they are unrecognizable from their old self.
"My Immortal", the first piano-ballad, is definitely a highlight (even though every song is excellent). The song talks about a lost loved one (it seems to be in the sense that someone has died), and as hard as you try to move on, you find that the person is still with you and yet you are still alone. It also tells about how the person's spirit is still with you. ("I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone, but though you're still with me I've been alone all along"). "Haunted" is nothing short of creepy. Amy's vocals are layered (so that you can hear both high notes and low ones at once) and the lyrics really add to the effect. ("Watching me, wanting me. I can feel you pull me down."). This is the first of several dark songs and it definitely proves that the band can do the style well. "Tourniquet", a song about suicide and salvation, is written incredibly and performed even better. The bridge in particular sounds amazing (especially the "my suicide..." part).
"Imaginary" is a slower song, though a different version than the one that appeared on Evanescence's virtually unknown debut "Origin". The song has a mysterious, atmospheric kind of tone. It seems to be talking about creating an imaginary world to escape from the pain of reality. ("I know well what lies beyond my sleeping refuge, the nightmare I built my own world to escape"). The bridge is exceptional as well (including the musical break right before it). "Taking Over Me" is another of my favourites. This desperate, longing love song has heartbreaking lyrics, even though it is not a ballad. Amy's emotive delivery of the powerful lyrics truly makes this song exceptional. The same can be said for "Hello", a piano-ballad that is as good as (if not better than) "My Immortal. The lyrics are confusing, yet beautiful and the delivery is once again extraordinary. The entire song is haunting and melancholy, but the bridge truly stands apart. ("Suddenly I know I'm not sleeping, hello I'm still here. All that's left of yesterday"). The soaring vocals in this part truly show off the power of Amy's voice.
I do not understand why there are such split opinions over "My Last Breath". Some love it, and others find it dreadfully mediocre. Amy's vocals are once again showcased, and the lyrics are simply stunning. The lyrics paint an extremely clear mental picture of what the song is about ("Hold on to me love, you know I can't stay long. All I wanted to say was I love you and I'm not afraid"). As evocative as all of the songs are, to me this is one of the most powerful. Lastly, there is "Whisper", which was also on the "Origin" album. The second verse ("I'm frightened by what I see...") sounds particularly beautiful. The choir vocals in the background, as well as the Latin chant, add a great deal to the song. Lyrically, this song does not speak to me as much as most of the others, but it is great nonetheless.
Overall Mark: 5/5
Few people, as I've already mentioned, were willing to accept Evanescence. Instead, they settled for labelling the band as unoriginal and manufactured. Those that are willing to give the band a try are likely to enjoy the deep lyrics, incredible vocals, and darker rock-styled music. I disagree with reviewers who believe and "teenager with angst can write like this" because frankly, its not true. Any teenager with angst can write about these concepts, sure, but it will definitely not be this calibre of writing. I also do not understand how this is a Christian band (not referring to the religion of the members, but to the music they make). Only one song ("Touniquet") has any remotely Christian references. However, the thing that puzzles me the most is how people can deny that Amy Lee has an incredible voice. Like the band or not, Amy is a talented vocalist who's voice actually suits the style she sings. Overall, Evanescence's commercial debut (they actually already had an album "Origin", which is virtually impossible to find) is truly exceptional. People really should give this album a fair chance. I think they'll be surprised.