Evanescence - Fallen REVIEW
We are not GOTH, We are ...?
DEVO? .... (what Wind-Up Records has done with its CREED money ... ha)
Actually one of the best discoveries by the Luau this year, which we have taken 8 million years to write about
(ed.note: A review of Evanescence - Fallen follows within)
So it all begins with a mixed movie called Daredevil ... and two songs that really stand out on the soundtrack ... one a pianoey melancholy gut wrencher during the funeral of Elektra Natchios father ... the other a crushing nu-hard rocker while Elektra was taking out sugar bags that looked like Castaway's WILSON ... ha
Evanescence - Fallen: A-
(Satan's Luau: Major Debut of the Year ... so far)
Ok, so what are Evanescence ... are they GOTH .... are they eeeek, Christian?!?!?!? ... ha ... what they are to me after all these many listens are the revitalization of GOTH music in that they freshen it up entirely, and bring it to the masses ... whether they are X-ian or not? who knows, but a ton of Christian radio playlists had them listed for a while because it seems as if that was this band's roots ... and some of their music is spiritual in content
What is striking about the music is its darkness and moodiness and soulfulness combined with really amazing, clear, powerful, and HAUNTING vocals ... oh did I say Female vocals? ... yes, one of the most powerful female vocalists I've heard in a long time ... and the songs are compelling in their own individual way --- in other words, they don't blend into each other and put your ears to sleep with sameness sounding
In debating whether to do a track by track, this CD is one where you must listen to it to appreciate it ... soft to loud, emotional vocals that go real thick on the EMO ... orchestras, pianos, heavy guitar ... it's all here ---
And I think that one of the great things about this album is that there's NO POSE to it ... what I mean is that there's no aggression for aggression's sake ... or doing the Tori Amos for no apparent reason ... the songs feel wonderfully authentic even though really listener friendly and accessible
To me, if you don't like 'Bring Me To Life", you don't like music --- its a testament to how powerful music and vocals can use diffrent tones and accents to evoke strong emotion ... and the first fresh sounding duet of clean vocals and rap in a LOOONG time
There are so many standout tracks on this CD ... I guess what you come away with is this feeling that this is a really fresh approach to hard rock or so-called nu-metal music (or gothic themed music, for that matter)
What really strikes our fancy at the Luau is the unique blending of typical TESTO rock crunch with heavy emo piano and haunting female vocals ... its like REESE peanut butter cups ... who knew that the two could go along SO WELL together
I think everyone wants to dismiss this band as too derivative of Linkin Park or other nu-metal ... but having a Mike soundalike rapper on ONE track, does not a LP make ... nor does nu-metal, or pop-rock, or hard rocking Tori-Amosishness cover the territory that this band covers (or seem appropriate as a label)
Simply one of the best and freshest of the year, Christian, Goth, or any other adjective notwithstanding ... Evanescence is REALLY REALLY good ... and highly recommended by your friends at the Luau