Evanescence’s new self-titled album came out today. Normally I’d wait until I got a chance to listen through the CD a few times before writing about it, but I have to get this down now.
It’s amazing. Maybe I’m just biased because they’ve been tied for my favorite band with Linkin Park for over 8 years now… but I have to say, this album was well worth the wait.
When I was around 12/13, I had very little knowledge of music and a very short list of bands I listened to. Evanescence was one of the few bands I played until I memorized every single song, word for word, note for note. I fell in love with them when their debut album Fallen came out (despite having an album before that, I think that was considered their debut, as it was the one with their first single) and have been with them ever since.
Now, I don’t know as much about the band as I do some other contemporary favorites of mine, like Attack Attack!. I attribute that to them having been in their prime during a time when, like I said, I wasn’t as into music as I am now. I appreciated it with the same vigor, I just didn’t know why—nor did I research it as thoroughly as I do now. But I did know that they had broken up with no official intention of getting back together, and it crushed me that they did so right around the time I was getting into my concertgoing habit.
Anyway, about the CD. I got to work at 9 this morning, turned my laptop on, and saw an e-mail from Hot Topic about it. It was released today, and the Best Buy by me—the only place for miles that sells music—opened at 10.
You can bet I rushed over and got there by 9:55. I was the first one in the music section and the first one with a copy in my hand, and upon giving it a go in my car, I’m thrilled.
So far I've listened to the official album songs—I’ve yet to hear the bonus tracks for having to get back to work— and I can definitely say that Evanescence is back. What’s so impressive about the songs, beside the always epic instrumentals and overwhelming power of Amy Lee’s voice, is the direction they’ve gone in since The Open Door (2006). Rather than leaning toward the more mainstream sound that earned them so much criticism in TOD, they’ve adopted a more progressive sound, with fewer refrains and repetitive choruses and more focus on extended verses.
Personally, the album came around exactly when I needed it--I've been under a lot of pressure and stress, and all I've wanted was to feel a real connection to something again. I stated in my last post that I hoped that connection would be writing, and I know that will come around again soon, too, but this album gave me the lift I need. I’ll probably add to this/fix it up after I’ve listened to the bonus tracks and give the rest of the songs a second listen, but so far, I’m definitely impressed. The five years they spent recouping, writing and recording have been a success, and it definitely shows.
My lovely copy of the new album. :D
It’s amazing. Maybe I’m just biased because they’ve been tied for my favorite band with Linkin Park for over 8 years now… but I have to say, this album was well worth the wait.
When I was around 12/13, I had very little knowledge of music and a very short list of bands I listened to. Evanescence was one of the few bands I played until I memorized every single song, word for word, note for note. I fell in love with them when their debut album Fallen came out (despite having an album before that, I think that was considered their debut, as it was the one with their first single) and have been with them ever since.
Now, I don’t know as much about the band as I do some other contemporary favorites of mine, like Attack Attack!. I attribute that to them having been in their prime during a time when, like I said, I wasn’t as into music as I am now. I appreciated it with the same vigor, I just didn’t know why—nor did I research it as thoroughly as I do now. But I did know that they had broken up with no official intention of getting back together, and it crushed me that they did so right around the time I was getting into my concertgoing habit.
Anyway, about the CD. I got to work at 9 this morning, turned my laptop on, and saw an e-mail from Hot Topic about it. It was released today, and the Best Buy by me—the only place for miles that sells music—opened at 10.
You can bet I rushed over and got there by 9:55. I was the first one in the music section and the first one with a copy in my hand, and upon giving it a go in my car, I’m thrilled.
So far I've listened to the official album songs—I’ve yet to hear the bonus tracks for having to get back to work— and I can definitely say that Evanescence is back. What’s so impressive about the songs, beside the always epic instrumentals and overwhelming power of Amy Lee’s voice, is the direction they’ve gone in since The Open Door (2006). Rather than leaning toward the more mainstream sound that earned them so much criticism in TOD, they’ve adopted a more progressive sound, with fewer refrains and repetitive choruses and more focus on extended verses.
Personally, the album came around exactly when I needed it--I've been under a lot of pressure and stress, and all I've wanted was to feel a real connection to something again. I stated in my last post that I hoped that connection would be writing, and I know that will come around again soon, too, but this album gave me the lift I need. I’ll probably add to this/fix it up after I’ve listened to the bonus tracks and give the rest of the songs a second listen, but so far, I’m definitely impressed. The five years they spent recouping, writing and recording have been a success, and it definitely shows.
My lovely copy of the new album. :D
Current Mood: 
rejuvenated
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