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Post by acoustic_ev on Oct 17, 2015 23:37:39 GMT -5
I think I'll always love The Open Door the most: it's just perfect for me personally. I will never understand the dislike for CMWYS, it's my favorite thing right now.
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Post by ladychaos on Oct 18, 2015 12:06:22 GMT -5
I think I'll always love The Open Door the most: it's just perfect for me personally. I will never understand the dislike for CMWYS, it's my favorite thing right now. I don't get that either, I really like that song. I also don't understand everyone's love for Your Star, personally that is my least favorite song on the album...in fact it's my least favorite Ev song period. It honestly just doesn't sound that good and the lyrics are not up to par with most of Amy's other work. Ah well, I'm probably alone on that one and that's alright.
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Post by AeternusAmatorius on Oct 18, 2015 19:59:16 GMT -5
For me, TOD is a musical masterpiece as well as an artistic masterpiece (artwork wise). I've never called it my favorite though I know in my heart it probably is.
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jonkazerouni
Baron/Baroness of EvThreads
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Post by jonkazerouni on Oct 19, 2015 8:44:20 GMT -5
I feel The Open Door was a huge departure from Fallen which is why I feel they lost a great number of listeners. this is taking in to consideration the departure of Ben and Will, the negative press painting the image of an evil dictator of Amy, and the music in general was a whole different sound than that of Fallen. I love the simplicity of Fallen. I feel it wasn't trying to prove anything where I feel The Open Door was trying too hard to show that Amy could pull the weight of the band. Amy and Ben had a great thing because they complimented eachother. the rest of the guys were really just used to fill the slots of the band. So when it came time to write together it didn't work. Musicians aren't like car salesmen. I say that meaning that if you're looking to buy a car, it doesn't matter who you go to because the job can be done regardless of who it is that is helping you. Where as a musician is someone who brings their soul and their experience and their perspective. I don't feel the guys and Amy had that special magic that Amy and Ben had. That's not me praising Ben that's just simply my opinion in what I am looking for when listening to Ev or any other musician. Amy's ideas alone were her own ideas as well. Which is great that she had her own direction but still I feel the album missed on a few points. I feel the album was trying too hard. It was trying to be heavier than Fallen, trying to convey that amy had grown vocally in range and in style (the "soulfulness" she added in her melodies) and even the production which is the main issue the stands out for me. I was really unimpressed by the production on The Open Door, it just sounded stale to me. Overall the songs are good, but I think the album could have been much better. I personally feel the self titled record is really the gem for me. Though I feel the album was over produced and lost a lot of emotion in Amy's voice with the overkill layering of her voice and effects on a few songs. Still TOD will always have a soft spot in my heart because of the era it was released in. For the band and for music and for myself.
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Post by AeternusAmatorius on Oct 21, 2015 12:56:21 GMT -5
I feel The Open Door was a huge departure from Fallen which is why I feel they lost a great number of listeners. this is taking in to consideration the departure of Ben and Will, the negative press painting the image of an evil dictator of Amy, and the music in general was a whole different sound than that of Fallen. Don't forget that Will did record bass for TOD. He left when the album was done and before the tour started because he didn't want to do another extensive tour like they did with Fallen. As for the press making Amy out to be a dictator, I think that was after the departure of John and Rocky, since John was very bitter about it and posted a lot of angry/heated "in the moment" posts about her - which weren't necessarily true.
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jonkazerouni
Baron/Baroness of EvThreads
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Post by jonkazerouni on Oct 22, 2015 9:05:48 GMT -5
I feel The Open Door was a huge departure from Fallen which is why I feel they lost a great number of listeners. this is taking in to consideration the departure of Ben and Will, the negative press painting the image of an evil dictator of Amy, and the music in general was a whole different sound than that of Fallen. Don't forget that Will did record bass for TOD. He left when the album was done and before the tour started because he didn't want to do another extensive tour like they did with Fallen. As for the press making Amy out to be a dictator, I think that was after the departure of John and Rocky, since John was very bitter about it and posted a lot of angry/heated "in the moment" posts about her - which weren't necessarily true. Yes, i'm aware Will recorded bass for TOD. But I do remember some interviews, one in particular by Kerrang titled "Malice In Wonderland" where they made Amy out to be this temperamental Diva that the guys had to tiptoe around. It's interviews like that that I am referring to. But regardless the band has still pushed through it all. I remember people would say there's no way they would continue in success and be remembered. In a way that's true and not true all at the same time. Die hard fans of EV are committed to staying updated on any news we are given where as friends of mine who were fans of Fallen always ask me, so what ever happened to them? Did they break up? While it's not the wisest decision business speaking for the band to have such drawn out waiting periods between albums, Amy isn't an artist that seems too concerned about staying relevant. I think she's comfortable in knowing there will be a core fan base that's always looking forward to what she puts out next. And she's a mommy now which is totally awesome seeing how far she has come not only in her career but as a person after 12 years.... wow... 12 years, that just hit me. lol
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Morgan
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caught pink eye from Sooo Hard
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Post by Morgan on Jan 3, 2016 21:39:53 GMT -5
I'm currently re-listening to The Open Door for the first time in a very long time, seriously, it's been too long. Lately I've been more into electronic-pop music and I gues that's why.
I've got to say, I'm astounded by Amy's vocals. Don't get me wrong, I DID like Evanescence but her vocals there were not the best showcase of her abilities and versatility. Also, the lyrics on that album were great on their own accord but... man, just, man, The Open Door is a beautiful masterpiece.
Herd vocals in TOD are just so smooth and perfect, you've got her doing so many things with her voice (harmonizing, head voice, belting, vibrato, falsetto, whispers, synth-voice modification/distortion, oft-overlooked lower register use...) that you just never get bored of listening to her even if she stays bound to her usual antics (long, outstretched notes for choruses, for example). The tone of the voice and performances are also so clean and clear, it's a pleasure. The lyrics are also perfect in and so well thought-out, carefully calibrated in every single song, I love those times where Amy sings two different things, in different tracks and ways, overlapping (Cloud Nine, Snow White Queen,Sweet Sacrifice -love the little poem in the middle eight). I find myself fixated in a couple different sentences from each song, something that doesn't happen to me with any of Ev's other records.
The music's also amazing, I love just how different and authentic The Open Door feels. It's not trying to be pop, it's not trying to be hard rock, or goth or anything. It's a lot of different things put together and carefull asssembled. I think none of it is the best guitar work ever done, and none of it is the best piano work ever done or the best vocal, but it's all about how it's orchestrated into a beautifully balanced picture that goes in many alternative directions. There IS pop in it, there IS rock in it but there's also a bit of soul, a bit of electronica, a bit of opera and a lot of heart and art. I will never get over how underrated this album was at the time and continues to be.
The visual aspect of the project, from its artwork to its music video, is also a thing of wonder that has not been topped to me, in terms cohesiveness across mediums, where artists' releases are concerned.
Over all, I'm just remembering why for the longest time The Open Door was one of my favorite records of all time, and still is. I just wish it were somehow available on Spotify it would make my listening experience a lot easier. And I'm looking forward to Amy experimenting with music this way in her solo career this coming year. However brief it may or may not be.
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StormsxSaints
Baron/Baroness of EvThreads
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Post by StormsxSaints on Jan 4, 2016 2:41:54 GMT -5
I just wish it were somehow available on Spotify it would make my listening experience a lot easier. The Open Door shows up on Spotify for me, but when I try to play a song from it, Spotify flips out and starts playing Haunted from ABH Fallen does the same thing (except then it plays MI Band Verison). Ev3 is completely fine. Is this what you're referring to, or does it not show up at all? Also, I agree with basically everything you wrote about this album. I can't believe so many people hate it and think it sucks compared to Fallen-for me it's the other way around.
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Post by RapturedLight on Jan 4, 2016 15:17:37 GMT -5
^I think it's so difficult for some to appreciate simply because of the fact that it just doesn't sound like anything else, even though that's what makes it great. It's so creative.
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Post by mydnyghtamethyst on Jan 4, 2016 23:09:29 GMT -5
I also don't understand everyone's love for Your Star, personally that is my least favorite song on the album...in fact it's my least favorite Ev song period. It honestly just doesn't sound that good and the lyrics are not up to par with most of Amy's other work. Ah well, I'm probably alone on that one and that's alright. I mainly feel this way too. I wouldn't say it's my least favorite, but I skipped it for a long time.
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Morgan
Baron/Baroness of EvThreads
caught pink eye from Sooo Hard
Posts: 303
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Post by Morgan on Jan 5, 2016 15:20:56 GMT -5
I just wish it were somehow available on Spotify it would make my listening experience a lot easier. The Open Door shows up on Spotify for me, but when I try to play a song from it, Spotify flips out and starts playing Haunted from ABH Fallen does the same thing (except then it plays MI Band Verison). Ev3 is completely fine. Is this what you're referring to, or does it not show up at all? Also, I agree with basically everything you wrote about this album. I can't believe so many people hate it and think it sucks compared to Fallen-for me it's the other way around. FOR REAL? All I get from Evanescence on Spotify is Fallen and Together Again; no ABH, no The Open Door and no Evanescence! Maybe it's the Mexican Spotify or something (I live in Mexico). And if that's the case, it really sucks cause there's the same problem with iTunes, and it's been years and nobody's done anything about it. So I'm screwed, I guess. Good thing's I haven't had problems gettin Amy's Cover singles or Aftermath in Spotify at all, so that's nice. And yeah, love, love The Open Door. Forevermore.
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Jamie
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Post by Jamie on Jan 5, 2016 15:55:33 GMT -5
The Open Door shows up on Spotify for me, but when I try to play a song from it, Spotify flips out and starts playing Haunted from ABH Fallen does the same thing (except then it plays MI Band Verison). Ev3 is completely fine. Is this what you're referring to, or does it not show up at all? Also, I agree with basically everything you wrote about this album. I can't believe so many people hate it and think it sucks compared to Fallen-for me it's the other way around. FOR REAL? All I get from Evanescence on Spotify is Fallen and Together Again; no ABH, no The Open Door and no Evanescence! Maybe it's the Mexican Spotify or something (I live in Mexico). And if that's the case, it really sucks cause there's the same problem with iTunes, and it's been years and nobody's done anything about it. So I'm screwed, I guess. Good thing's I haven't had problems gettin Amy's Cover singles or Aftermath in Spotify at all, so that's nice. And yeah, love, love The Open Door. Forevermore. Well at least you get Together Again! They removed a lot of Ev's most popular songs (so GU, BMTL, Lithium, CMWYS, etc.) from the UK Spotify, probably because of the whole Wind-Up fiasco. They only appeared a few weeks ago... I just ripped the CDs into iTunes and downloaded them onto my phone Spotify is great, but its library is really volatile. Oh, and "Missing" (from ABH) is still ironically missing.
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Post by AeternusAmatorius on Jan 6, 2016 14:42:01 GMT -5
Also, I agree with basically everything you wrote about this album. I can't believe so many people hate it and think it sucks compared to Fallen-for me it's the other way around. I see those who hate anything but Fallen mostly in those who are the "Ben LOVERS" and who say Ev isn't any good without Ben and need to bring Ben back. :/ Now, don't get me wrong, there are Ben fans out there that still like TOD and Ev3.
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Post by Rarkphoenix on Jan 6, 2016 15:29:52 GMT -5
I'm a Ben fan and this is my favourite album, full stop (probably doesn't help that I rate Amy as a songwriter even more than I do Ben, but meh technicalities ). Fallen is utterly unique, but still feels like something from the early 2000s. The Open Door feels like nothing else before or since. It's like something out of a dreamworld... even the artwork from this era just makes me want to sit and daydream the day away.
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mrmellow
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Post by mrmellow on Apr 29, 2016 12:50:33 GMT -5
I've been revisiting TOD today, and I notice a lot of people saying the same thing I've been noticing. The sheer diversity and creativity on the album is what makes it so great. It's easily my favourite Ev album, and I can't believe I haven't listened to it in so long. Amy's vocals are so varied and expressive, and I love all the vocal layering - it seems so much more experimental and interesting when compared to Ev3 (which I still feel is a bit 'Ev by numbers' for me, as much as I love it). The emotional spectrum seems much broader on TOD - Fallen was pretty much all desperation/being lost/feeling afraid, Ev3's pretty much all frustration and aggression, but TOD.....loss, lust, anger, fear, longing, redemption....it's all there.
Even the tracklisting for the album seems to be perfectly balanced between the rockier first half and the piano-led second half.
The sheer variety of instrumentation, and mix of electronica and rock is what makes it great too. To be honest, I was expecting even more of that from Ev3 and it just didn't have it. It was a straight up rock album, pretty much from start to finish. Great live, but I'm definitely finding myself revisiting it the least out of Ev's releases. God, I wish we'd had the version of Ev3 that Amy wanted us to have....fingers crossed the Lillywhite sessions surface soon...
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