Evanescence - Fallen (Fallen - Evanescence)

Member Name: ManUtdBoi

Product:	Fallen - Evanescence
Date:	13/10/04 (2228 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: angelic, heavy, soft

Disadvantages: moody's departure

As of the present day, Ben Moody, the co-founder of the Little Rock outfit, has departed to pursue his own interests, which have so far included co-writing ‘Nobodys Home’ with Avril Lavigne for her 2004 album entitled ‘Under My Skin‘. With Moody off trekking the world, Amy Lee has been left to pick up the pieces from his rather abrupt departure during their last European tour, and given the task of producing a follow up the 2002’s finest album ‘Fallen’, she knows that the worlds media will be at her front door once any inkling of failure becomes clear. Well best of luck to her, as there is no doubt she has the quality and attitude to succeed with or without Moody. So that’s the future, but this ‘Fallen’, is very much the present, released in 2002 through Wind-Up records, it was Evanescence’s first venture into the mainstream, following on from a couple of EP releases through independent labels within the underground circuit. For anyone that is about to jump on the ‘Evanescence are just Linkin Park with a female lead’ band wagon, my advice to you is to get off before you crash and burn.

Where Linkin Park were the first truly decent effort at fusing rap and rock to make a unique brand, finally producing the awesome ‘Hybrid Theory’, Evanescence are simply a hard working, young rock band that have had to work their butt off to get where they are today. ‘Origin’, there release prior to ‘Fallen’ showed the undoubted talent of Amy and Ben, yet failed to have the facility to elevate that talent to world domination status, but that’s where Wind-Up came in. Through this deal with such a widely respected independent label, Evanescence were given the freedom to write at their own pace, allowing maximum time to produce the goods. ‘Fallen’, the result of two years of writing sessions in New York, mixes the angelic vocals of its front woman, with the undoubted talent of a gifted musician that has since left for pastures new. First single ‘Bring Me To Life’, a track that had to be the most played radio track of that year, is unfortunately rather like a couple of early Linkin Park songs, yet that is as far as the comparisons go. Having also earned a slot on the soundtrack to the movie ‘Daredevil’, Evanescence had already branched out to a rather vast market in the space of no time. Bring Me To Life went on to top the UK singles charts and did so for the next month (the joint longest top slot holding in the last 3 years), as well as topping numerous other worldwide singles charts in the process. Instant success eh !

Then came the ‘Evanescence are one hit wonders’ brigade, you know, the people that have to pick at the most petty of things just to sound different from everyone else. Well Amy and Co. shoved those comments back down their throats with the release of second single ‘Going Under’, a song that despite not topping the feats of its predecessor, still did the business as best as could be expected. Going Under, like Bring Me To Life, uses the typical comfy verse crashing into a stunningly loud chorus to produce a second song that gave the Arkansas group plenty of hope for the album itself. Once the release of ‘Fallen’ came around, you would have struggled to find a person that had not heard of the band in some shape or form. Of course with the expectation at the level that it found itself at, the album shot off the shelves faster than a fat man in a doughnut shop, selling nearly a million in its first few weeks alone. Third single ‘My Immortal’, funnily enough a track that also popped up on the ‘Daredevil’ soundtrack, was a complete middle finger to the first two releases. Where Bring Me To Life and Going Under portrayed the band at the full on rock best, My Immortal gave the first real glimpse of what that wonderful voice of Amy’s could really do. Ben Moody’s departure came as the video for the single began getting airplay. Therefore giving the song even more of a personal touch than already was there. For me, My Immortal is one of the stand out tracks in terms of getting your attention and your respect.

There’s no question that Evanescence could have picked any of the other eight tracks for the final single to be released, yet the honour was bestowed upon ‘Everybodys Fool’ returning to the rock heavy roots of the first couple of singles. In fairness, as far as my opinion goes, I honestly favour ‘Everybodys Fool’ over those other releases, as it has more relevance personally. So with the singles cleared up, your probably thinking what else do these guys have to offer ……….a lot more. The remainder of Fallen mixes the full on rock of tracks such as Taking Over Me, with the subtle Hello, a track both haunting and beautiful at the same time. The strength of Amy Lee’s voice does allow Evanescence to slacken in other areas if they so wished, I mean would you notice a missed note with it being covered by the majestic voice that Ms. Lee has at her disposal, no you wouldn’t.

‘My Last Breath’, a track that is as hard as anything else here, is the first real personal effort from the band, giving clear indication to past references from certain members of the band. It rocks, there’s really nothing more to say other than it rocks. It hit’s the all the right notes, flicks all the right switches and pushes every correct button, and really gets you listening to the lyrics rather than simply concentrating on the vocals. Something that stands Evanescence above other certain bands of today, is that Evanescence write about mature subjects for the mature listener. Take Sum 41 for example. Where they write a song like In Too Deep, covering the fact that they’ve got themselves into more than they had intended. Evanescence’s take on the same subject would have to be ’Taking Over Me’. Now the comparisons, other than the theme, are non-existent. Sum 41 make a childish track full of angst and pain, while Evanescence make a song that is both angst-free and absolutely fantastic at the same time. Point proven.

Of course huge credit must still go to Ben Moody, as nothing here would have been possible without his huge input to the careers of the two young friends ever since summer camp in the late 90‘s. Yet with the ability to produce the goods, and with a debut like ‘Fallen’ under their belt, Evanescence are a band that are truly here to stay …..whether you like it or not !

Track listing

1. Going Under
2. Bring Me To Life
3. Everybody’s Fool
4. My Immortal
5. Haunted
6. Tourniquet
7. Imaginary
8. Taking Over Me
9. Hello
10. My Last Breath
11. Whisper

www.evanescence.com
www.wind-up.com

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