Yes, I am talking about Evanescence. The hard rock/poetic/alternative band, whose lyrics are familiar to every 15-year old. I still remember sitting with my friends Thomas and Babis to a friend's house and listening to a rock radio station, when suddenly our ears were mesmerized (sp?) by the unresistable combination of guitar and piano. Yes, I am talking about "Bring Me To Life". The song was cool, as was the ballad "My Immortal". Musically speaking, I would love to have more rock songs like that, but that's just me. The lyrics don't bother me that much, but if they make sense, they are welcome.
In the beginning, everything was cool: Evanescence were known only to a selected few people. Then, radios started to play their songs more and more and one day I caught my (then) 12-year old sister listening to them. For me, the band went instantly from a insider's tip to mainstream and then catapulted into über-mainstream, meaning even my grandma knew who Evanescence were.
Even worse, they didn't brought out a single or an album that equaled the feeling of what I've heard on the radio for the first time. They made more and more emo songs, Amy Lee "cried" and "whimpered" on her mic, blaming the world for everything. I've lost my interest on the group. If this wasn't enough, with Linkin Park's dissapointing LP "Minutes to Midnight", I've lost faith that this style of music could ever appeal to me again. I mean, if Linkin Freakin' Park make a mediocre CD, then what hope can there be?
I was wrong...
Evanescence's new album, entitled "In The Shadows" is surprisingly good. It's that good, that restored faith to a non-emo, non-metal, non-rocker like me. While the band never denies its emo roots, they've managed to create 11 songs that vary from very good to potential hits! The worst song of the album is an... acoustic version of their old success "My Immortal", and this says a lot.
Their sound is powerful and yet pleasant to the ear. The songs never try to be too rockish or too gothic, but maintain a style that was missing from these kind of albums. There is much more lyrical tone that in their previous albums, something that I like. Fast percussions, good use of samples, great vocals. Amy Lee sings like a woman in love, with energy and vigor and not like some angry, pissed-off bitch (and without a good reason, I might add). Their music is strong, lyrical and, I don't know any better way to express it, "well bound together".
Evanescence didn't try to make an album to prove they are "hardcore" or "alternative". They are now mainstream, but this doesn't mean they can't be so without quality. "In The Shadows" is a great album, with very good songs for everyone. Just the fact alone that I wrote a review for a music cd, speaks volumes of how good this album is. Do yourself and listen to it.
Evanescence's new album, entitled "In The Shadows" is surprisingly good. It's that good, that restored faith to a non-emo, non-metal, non-rocker like me. While the band never denies its emo roots, they've managed to create 11 songs that vary from very good to potential hits! The worst song of the album is an... acoustic version of their old success "My Immortal", and this says a lot.
Their sound is powerful and yet pleasant to the ear. The songs never try to be too rockish or too gothic, but maintain a style that was missing from these kind of albums. There is much more lyrical tone that in their previous albums, something that I like. Fast percussions, good use of samples, great vocals. Amy Lee sings like a woman in love, with energy and vigor and not like some angry, pissed-off bitch (and without a good reason, I might add). Their music is strong, lyrical and, I don't know any better way to express it, "well bound together".
Evanescence didn't try to make an album to prove they are "hardcore" or "alternative". They are now mainstream, but this doesn't mean they can't be so without quality. "In The Shadows" is a great album, with very good songs for everyone. Just the fact alone that I wrote a review for a music cd, speaks volumes of how good this album is. Do yourself and listen to it.
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