Evanescence - The Open Door
|
List Price: Our Price: $5.49 You Save: $3.46 (38%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $3.33 (click here) Category: Music CD See more new music releases 
|
|---|
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Free Music Notes for The Open Door
Free Music Review: Like a fine wine.. it gets better with age..
Hit: 5 Stars
I have been a fan of Amy Lee and Evanescence ever since I first discovered her.. back during the Fallen album and her performance on Leno that caught my ear and attention. Amy Lee is an amazing talent, a true artist, and with a voice that is sultry and evokative and simply gorgeous. I am a musician myself.. I am very critical, especialy when it comes to singers.. and Amy Lee is one of the most unique voices I have ever heard. I am a big fan of the original debut album Fallen.. like so many debut works you could hear the heart and soul of the artist, in this case Amy as she sang and spilled her sole out with every note. There was a lot of this in Fallen.. but still in many ways it was a commercial album. Don't get me wrong though, it was still a very personal album in many ways.. and that came through... Fallen is an amazing album that I cherish.
Now to The Open Door... I purposely did not write this review until I had a chance to listen to the album multiple times. This is a very different album then Fallen.. not that it is worlds apart, but it has a different center to it. Before I bought the album I had heard "Call Me When You're Sober" over the radio.. and loved the sound of it immediately, as it broke some new ground with its unique harmony blends, especially towards the end. Hearing this song wet my pallet and made me pre-order The Open Door.. and I awaited it eagerly. So when it arrived, I immediately listened to it and I have to say I was surprised. On first listening this album was not what I expected, especially after hearing "Call Me When You're Sober" before hand... Immediately certain songs stood out to me, and I liked them very much.. but this was only about half the album.. the rest of the songs were kind of lost on me. So I listened to this album again and again over the last few days.. and something amazing is happening. This album is really a work of genious.. the thing is, you don't hear it right away. Like so many other great albums, you don't always get it right away.. "Meteora" by Linkin Park comes to mind.. as that album too was more experimental and artistic then its predecessor, and took multiple sittings to understand. This album sounds more artistic to me.. I have not yet examined all the lyrics.. so I won't comment on that here.. but musically this album is more experiemental then the first. There is a real attempt here on Amy's part to break new ground, and to make something different from the first album, but still cohesive as a total work. To me this is a more mature album then the first.. in that the music is more free to experiment. This is not as commercialized in its sound. Each song is different, using sounds I have never heard before, lots of experimenting, unique harmonies and nuances, and Amy's voice soars with these melodies, intertwining perfectly with the sound. Listening to her voice is like drinking a fine wine to me.. it is so lush.. flavorful... corny metaphor I know, but this is true about her voice.
If you are looking for a repeat of Fallen, this is not it. This is more a work of artistic expression. So much depends on the listener.. this album takes some patience.. as it did for me. I have found that those songs that didn't register with me on the first few sittings are now sounding amazing and making sense. Sometimes you just have to get in the artist's head to hear the beauty of their work. This album is not completely different from the first, the general sound of the band is intact, but the songs are definitely breaking new ground, and for this reviewer that is the mark of a successful second album.
I definitely reccomend The Open Door.. but please be patient with it and listen to it a lot before passing judgement.
Free Music Review: Absolutely stunning
Hit: 5 Stars
To start with, this is not a carbon copy of Fallen. Not by a long shot. The departure of Ben Moody left a huge mark on this band, and they are better for it. Amy Lee is now much more free and able to be more creative. The songs on this album are richer, more vibrant, more emotional, and simply better than the ones on Fallen (and all of Evanescence's pre-Fallen material as well). Everything this band does seems to be better than their previous efforts.
Tracks
Sweet Sacrifice - Amy Lee has declared that this will be the third single from the album. This is a scathing, guitar-driven song that opens the door with a bang. Terry Balsamo, Ben Moody's replacement, immediately makes his presence (and superiority to Moody) known.
Call Me When You're Sober - the lead single from the album. This was a great choice as the first single from this CD because it is something of a bridge between the band's sound on Fallen and their sound on The Open Door.
Weight of the World - another crunching anthem in which Amy Lee's angelic voice carries the lyrics over the guitars as if they are floating.
Lithium - the second single from the album. It has a very atmospheric and cool video with lyrics that are the pinncale of what it means to be Evanescence - laced with sadness and misery, yet at the same time hopeful and carrying a positive message. Nobody can pull this off the way Amy Lee does.
Cloud Nine - rather than having the vocals and guitars seem to be trying to outduel each other as the focal point of the song, this track allows one to take the lead for a while then shifts to the other.
Snow White Queen - Amy Lee loves the story of Snow White. Here she tells the story of a stalker from the point of view of both the stalker and the stalked, using the "Snow White Queen" as the image for the individual being hunted. Moving and beautiful.
Lacrymosa - a truly experimental song that pays off big time. Equal parts Mozart and metal. The band's desire to take risks results in this operatic anthem that borders on over the top cheesiness yet manages to walk the fine line between that and elegance.
Like You - similar to Hello from Fallen, this is Amy Lee's tribute to her departed sister.
Lose Control - here we hear a much different side of Amy Lee. This song is about an affair, and uses Mary's lamb ("his eyes black as coals") as a metaphor for the cheating man. Lee sings from the point of view of someone that has been restrained and desires to break free.
The Only One - smoothly slides between quieter parts and frenetic guitars without missing a beat.
Your Star - the simple piano at the beginning of this song makes the energy and intensity reached by its end that much more shocking, impressive, and engaging.
All That I'm Living For - rocks out in a manner similar to that of Sweet Sacrifice. The last taste of metal on the album.
Good Enough - The Open Door is about freedom, opportunity, and, ultimately, the hope for happiness. Amy Lee allows herself to be happy in this peaceful song filled with beautiful imagery that is carried by the power of her vocals.
Free Music Review: Silencing the doubters...
Hit: 5 Stars
As much as I love Evanescence, I was kind of worried about their sophomore effort The Open Door, as were many fans. The obvious reason is the fact that Ben Moody left, and he was supposed to be the "commercial" half of Ev, the one that made their music listenable. This had me concerned that Amy's songwriting and musical direction would carry the band too far from the one I had become obsessed with after hearing Fallen. I now feel foolish for ever doubting her.
The Open Door is a complete masterpiece, although it took me more than a few listens to realize this. The first time I listened to it I was a little disappointed at how different the sound was from their first release. I probably thought five songs were great right away, and the rest were good or okay. But the more listens, the more I got used to their new sound and it is just fantastic. Amy takes more chances vocally on this album, hitting high notes and stretching her voice more often. It is also in a lower tone for many songs, which goes along well with the dark mood trying to be set. Since her incomparable voice is why I became fascinated with Ev in the first place, this is my main reason why I prefer this album over Fallen.
Also, TOD is less commercial and more experimental. Amy managed to set each song apart from the next and give each it's own identity, but still maintained the same sound we're used to hearing. Terry's guitar work is better than Ben's IMO- more intricate and less repetetive. The lyrics are more straight-forward and less imaginative than the last album, but I don't really mind it. They all circle around Amy's relationship troubles and the problems she has gone through the last few years. Despite that, this album kind of has a positive vibe going on to me, moreso than previous efforts anyway.
Sweet Sacrifice, Weight of the World, Snow White Queen, and All That I'm Living For are probably the ones most will associate with their previous sound(heavy, more mainstream rock). Lithium is comparable to My Immortal, only stronger and deeper. Like You is comparable to Hello in that it is a very personal song concerning Amy's sister-guitars kick in half-way to really drive the song home. Call Me When You're Sober is the most popish song and was a good choice for the first single. The Only One gives me the most positive vibe, and therefore is a tough choice as my fav song for now-a heavy and inspiring anthem. Lacrymosa is heavy, epic, and just amazing. Lose Control and Your Star are very experimental and a totally different sound for the band. Cloud Nine is the one that best shows off Amy's amazing vocal talent. Good Enough is the only song that doesn't have guitars-it's a heartfelt ballad and is nice to hear just Amy's voice standing alone with piano.
Obviously not all fans will like this new CD, but if you're a fan of Amy and her amazing voice and were looking forward to something different from Origin and Fallen, pick this up and give it several good listens-you shouldn't be disappointed!
Free Music Review: you know all you saying it's a bad cd are going to be at their concert.
Hit: 5 Stars
Ok. Opinions aren't illegal. But seriously people. The album rocks. I think it's much better than "Fallen" and "Fallen" is still one of my top faves. But this one is much more rock, a beat more upbeat. Every song on the CD is great in it's own way and I don't personally hate any songs on the cd.
It's been how many years since "Fallen" came out? Of course their going to sound different. And some people on here got too comfortable listening to "Fallen" over those years expecting them to come out with something sounding exactly the same.
No.
Artits change.
And whats with people saying their commercial and fake? I highly doubt someone said "Hey Amy, let's put you in some black clothes and make up some 'gothic' music and you'll sell millions". Sorry, that's T.A.T.U.'s job. Their the ones who aren't really lesbians but are making millions off it.
1. "Sweet Sacrifice"-Great opening. Lots of attitude. I don't see it much as a single though.
2. "Call Me When Your Sober"-Now the first time I heard this song I didn't really like it because it was much different than anything they had done, but it has grown on me.
3."Weight of the World"-One of my faves. Loud. The lyrics are strong, Amy's voice powerful like always.
4. "Lithium"-I think this is the next single. I don't know. I think. One of the ballads, Amy's voice really shows emotion on this one.
5. "Cloud Nine"-I don't know why many people don't like this song, saying it's too different. This is my top fave on the cd. Much different. Very cool sounding.
6. "Snow White Queen"-I will admit, not one of my faves, but I don't hate it either. I haven't listened to it closely enough to really like it.
7. "Lacrymosa"-Classic Evanescence. Violins. Spooky Choir. Lyrics Great.
8. "Like You"-I don' remember the words, I just remember I like this one too.
9."Lose Control"-My second fave! I love this song mucho. The whispering. Than the loudness and anger. "Mary had a lamb" thrown in there. Love. It.
10."The Only One"-After I actually listened to this one, I really loved it. Some duck noises in the beginning, but I love it.
11."Your Star"-Another one I forgot the words too. Another slow song, but I remember it being good.
12. "All That I'm Living Room"-Reminds me a bit of "My Last Breath". A bit. Another great song that starts off loud, dies down a bit, than the chorus is loud again.
13. "Good Enough"-WONDERFUL WAY TO END THE ALBUM!! This song is so great. Very pretty. Very good lyrics. Ends the album on a nice sweet note.
So enough with the "This album is bad, it's different, blah blah blah".
The cd is great. A different sound, but I'm open to anything.
Free Music Review: EVANESCENCE IS BACK
Hit: 5 Stars
I love this album. Evanescence is back and there better than ever. this album is so much better than Fallen.
Sweet sacrifice 5/5 I love this song itsso good reall one of the top ones on the album. What can i say but GREAT
Call me when you're sober 4/5 The first single wasnt the best choice for a single but i understand why they chose it. It is a little poppy but its chatchy and i dont mind pop.
Weight of the world 5/5 One of the best. Its a really good rock track. Love the guitars at the begining and when amy hits that really high note. Very good song
Lithuim 100000/5 WOW the second single it should have been the first. Its AMAZING. Her voice is perfect and so is the piano. The 3rd best song on the allbum. This song has Hit all over it.
Cloud nine 4/5 this song is great. It got my attention right away but kind of weird at first but in a goood way great solid track
Snow White Queen 5/5 Love it. Reminded me of Origion the begging anyway. Very chatch later on the "you belong to me my snow white queen" part. Very good song
Lacrymosa 1920293939473884706065996596895/5 Speech less. The best song on the album. Is evanescence at the greatset. Her voice gave me the chills. and the gitar solo WOW. Definatly should be a single but would be hard to make a music video but they could do it.
Like you 4/5 i like this one kind of slow but its writen for amys sister just like hello. This is better than hello and a good sad song
Lose Control 5/5 i like this one very experimental but in a good way. Some parts are crazy but good anyway.
The only one 4/5 i really like this one. Alot of peoples favortie but not mine. Is pretyy good the duck at the begining cracked me up.
Your Star 4/5 VERY GOOD its slow at the begining but gets more heavy. Not much to say btu a great track
All that im living for 5/5 WOW classic FAllen. it was co writen by jon and he did a good job. Great Rock track one of the best songs cant get it stuck out of my head
Good enough WOW the best Piano Balled Evanescence has writen. This is amys song and she has grow up. This is the happy song and it has a good felling to it. The intro written for the narnia movie is AMAZING. Amys voice really shines and gives your chills. This was also the last song written for the open door so now lets see how the 3rd album will be like. Anyway GREAT song i LOVE IT
Great album is better than fallen EVANESCENCE has done it again
I think 3rd single should be good enough then lacrymosa and if they do a 5th single probably All that im living for.