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By JEFF MAKI
Evanescence's 2003 release, Fallen, was a phenomenal, multimillion-selling album. Led by the beautiful and often outspoken front women, Amy Lee, Fallen's nu-metal single "Bring Me To Life" and the emotional ballad "My Immortal" helped it become one of the biggest crossover successes of the last few years. As is often the case when a band finds mainstream success, Evanescence has endured harsh criticism from fans and press over the last two years. Further complicating things was the much publicized departure of songwriter/guitarist Ben Moody while on tour in 2003.
To many, Evanescence's future was in question. Lee filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against the band's former manager, Dennis Rider of Rider Management, charging "breach of fiduciary duty," sexual assault and battery, professional negligence and currency conversion, among other claims. The lawsuit has yet to be resolved. To further add to the turmoil, guitarist Terry Balsamo suffered a stroke in November of 2005 stemming from a blood clot in his neck. And finally, bassist William Boyd quit the band in July 2006, just three months prior to The Open Door's scheduled release. Evanescence went from being perhaps the most popular modern rock band in the world to being on the verge of a one-hit wonder.
To expect The Open Door to match the success of Fallen is absurd. Albums like that only come along every so often. But the pressure was there for Evanescence to deliver a solid follow-up. Secondly, why all the hate toward Amy Lee? Is it because she spouts off in the press or the band is the definition of mainstream rock now? I obviously don't know Amy Lee personally, so I can't tell you what kind of a person she is. But in the end, it's the music that counts. The fact is that Lee's singing, style and performance go unmatched in today's musical climate and she delivers strongly on The Open Door.
For those expecting a clone of Fallen, be warned. Though there are similarities that exist between the two albums, they are different animals. Gone are most of the electronic loops and hip-hop beats, though some are still sprinkled in here and there. Evanescence easily could have made a duplicate of Fallen and sold another eight million albums, but instead they went in another direction, with a darker and more straightforward sound. It is still pop-oriented but less accessible after the first few listens. With The Open Door, comparisons can be made to Within Temptation or Lacuna Coil, rather than Linkin Park. This is a good thing.
The lead single, "Call Me When You're Sober," is by far the most accessible track of the album. "Sweet Sacrifice" begins the album and showcases Lee's vocals with strong melodies and a powerful chorus. "Weight of the World" sounds like it could have been on Fallen, with a similar structure to "My Last Breath." "Lithium," a beautiful gothic ballad with pianos, violins and acoustic guitars, is one of The Open Door’s strongest tracks. "Cloud Nine" catches your attention immediately with it's eerie keyboard sweeps and Lee's distorted vocals. This song already is receiving airplay and has the potential to be a huge single. I've never heard anything quite like it; it’s indescribable. "Lacrymosa" is Evanescence at its gothic best, with a background choir that could have been featured on the Edward Scissorhands soundtrack and a rare guitar solo. "Like You," "The Only One" and "Lose Control" are all solid piano-based goth-rock songs, moody and depressingly beautiful. "All That I'm Living For" has single potential, as well, and is similar to material on Fallen. Aside from this song, the second half of the album has a slower, singer/songwriter type feel. It may turn away fans expecting the beats and grooves of Fallen, but it’s intriguing nonetheless.
Evanescence deserves major credit for not selling out completely after their success. The Open Door's title alone accurately describes what this album is about. By not pigeon-holing themselves with another nu-metal-flavored release, the band has secured itself as a mainstay in the goth-rock scene with this very different and impressive album. |
