Evanescence - "Synthesis"

Evanescence - Synthesis
2017, BMG

1. Overture
2. Never Go Back
3. Hi-Lo
4. My Heart is Broken
5. Lacrymosa
6. The End of the Dream
7. Bring Me To Life (Synthesis)
8. Unraveling [Interlude]
9. Imaginary
10. Secret Door
11. Lithium
12. Lost in Paradise
13. Your Star
14. My Immortal
15. The In-Between (Piano Solo)
16. Imperfection

When I heard Evanescence was going to put out an album full of old songs redone with orchestra and what not, I was pretty ambivalent about it. Add to that the fact that the You Tube concert my wife and I watched wasn't mixed very well. I had no idea about how I was going to feel about this album when I bought it. I must say, though, I am quite surprised - I really enjoyed this. It stands as a display of just how good Evanescence's songs are and how good Amy Lee's voice is. Sometimes I think people don't take them seriously because they're perceived as sort of faux-goth. Make no mistake, these are good songs and good arrangements. It's impressive that none of the passion or power of these tracks has been lost. Even without the crushing, heavy guitars they still have the power to reach me. It actually reminded me a little bit of Origin with the more industrial elements. There are two new songs on here as well, "Hi-Lo" and "Imperfection." The latter of which was kind of a grower, honestly. Hopefully we don't have to wait another six or so years for a new album.

Useless Fact: For some reason the CD case doesn't list tracks 8-11. It just goes right from 7 to 12. Weird.

Evanescence - "Evanescence"

Evanescence - Evanescence
2011, Wind-Up

1. What You Want
2. Made of Stone
3. The Change
4. My Heart is Broken
5. The Other Side
6. Erase This
7. Lost in Paradise
8. Sick
9. End of the Dream
10. Oceans
11. Never Go Back
12. Swimming Home
Bonus Tracks
13. New Way to Bleed
14. Say You Will
15. Disappear
16. Secret Door

I guess Amy Lee has some rule about releasing new albums less than five years apart, 'cause dang. She sure does take her sweet time, doesn't she? Well, no matter. The new Evanescence is here and... it's a grower. Not bad, just a grower. There are a couple reasons for this. For one, some of the textures of the earlier albums have been replaced with a giant wall of distortion that runs through most of the album. The guitars are really up front in the mix and LOUD! I love chunky guitars and the riffs here are cool. The problem is that they get in the way. It feels like you have to listen to the song around the guitars instead of them being a part. This would be great if Evanescence was a shoe-gazer band, but alas. Second, during the first listen or two Amy Lee's vocal melodies tend to sound too similar from track to track. I grew to appreciate them after awhile but the combo of the guitars and vocals make a lot of the songs sound the same. Thankfully, after a few listens I began to pick out the songs, enjoying them more.

I also think this album is more commercial than the artsy The Open Door. "What You Want," "Sick," and "Oceans" are all cool hard rockers designed for radio airplay. My favorite songs are probably "Swimming Home," an ethereal ballad and "Say You Will" - a hook filled bonus track from the deluxe edition. Seriously, people, what's with leaving some of the best tracks as bonuses? If I had my way I would have swapped out "My Heart is Broken" and "Lost in Paradise" for "Say You Will" and "Disappear." Don't get me wrong, I enjoy Evanescence but it's definitely not breaking any new ground.

Now let's talk lyrics for a second, shall we? Amy Lee is married, rich, and famous. Just how tortured can she really be? I mean, I know that celebrities can have problems but the angst in these lyrics seems rather manufactured to me. As my wife mocked, "My heart is broken... from being so rich and famous!" At one point Amy Lee sings, "I now know what it's like to be lost" or something like that. Really? It just feels fake to me, especially hearing about how recording this album was so much fun for her. I would rather she just write happy lyrics. That's okay, y'know!

Useless Fact: There were several pre-order packages offered and we, of course, got the deluxe edition with four extra tracks and a DVD. Haven't watched the DVD yet though.

Evanescence - "The Open Door"

Evanescence - The Open Door
2006, Wind-Up

1. Sweet Sacrifice
2. Call Me When You're Sober
3. Weight of the World
4. Lithium
5. Cloud Nine
6. Snow White Queen
7. Lacrymosa
8. Like You
9. Lose Control
10. The Only One
11. Your Star
12. All That I'm Living For
13. Good Enough

I like this one better than the debut. There's a little bit more variety and the sound is more mature. I like some of the intricate guitar parts in "Like You" and some of the industrial leanings in "Lose Control." "Good Enough" is a piano ballad that has... get this... MAJOR CHORDS! Man, I hope Amy Lee doesn't become all happy because then these Evanescence albums will probably suck. Another positive - every song on this disc isn't tailor made for the radio. One good thing about Ben Moody leaving was that it freed up Amy Lee to be a lot more creative and The Open Door is a lot more compelling as a result.

Useless Fact: "Snow White Queen" is about Amy Lee's experience with a stalker.

Evanescence - "Fallen"

Evanescence - Fallen
2003, Wind-Up

1. Going Under
2. Bring Me To Life (feat. Paul McCoy of 12 Stones)
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

I remember a friend letting me borrow this CD in college because it was this new band that he discovered. Upon first listen I was really impressed. It's actually pretty heavy and Amy Lee's vocals are great as well. There's a lot of good riffs in here - I don't care if it's "commercial" or whatever - I like it! How many rock bands can pull of a girl singer AND piano? I rest my case.

Okay... now for something totally different. They have "Bring Me To Life," a pretty Christian sounding song with Paul McCoy from 12 Stones (a Christian band). Then they have "Tourniquet" which is a song from Rocky Gray's band Soul Embraced - also Christian. Then they get some fame and all of a sudden Ben Moody is saying things like "Why do people think we're Christian?" Well... that's because you WERE Christian, at least long enough to get some fame. That kind of crap annoys me. It's one thing to cross over. It's another to completely deny where you came from. Oh well... still a good album! Rant mode: off.

Useless Fact: "Everybody's Fool" is about pop princesses like Britney Spears. Amy Lee was upset that her younger sister liked them.

Evanescence - "Origin"

Evanescence - Origin
2000, BigWig

1. Origin
2. Whisper
3. Imaginary
4. My Immortal
5. Where Will You Go?
6. Field of Innocence
7. Even in Death
8. Anywhere
9. Lies
10. Away From Me
11. Eternal

This was Evanescence's demo album that was independently released. It's far more industrial and Gothic than their major label debut. It's alright but I mainly sought it out because my wife is a big Evanescence fan. I don't really listen to it much as I prefer the newer ones.

Useless Fact: The first few tracks appeared on Fallen.