I have already glanced through the other reviews written and everyone has pretty much summed it up. Evanescence's 'Fallen' is a very unique album that none of us were expecting in today's punk loving music community. But no one really went into depth on why it was so great. Is this really the CD you want to spend your hard earned money on? I'll do my best to help you decide.

To begin with, the instrumental background is something I have never heard before. The band takes hardcore metal and adds violins, cellos, piano, the works. What I thought would sound completely ridiculous turned out to be the most amazing thing I have ever heard. 'My Immortal' is a beautiful ballad, and while most bands would leave it with vocals and piano, the most logical thing to do, Evanescence took it to a whole other level. They added drums and guitar (both are pretty risky in such a delicate ballad) and added a whole orchestra behind that making the sound feel full rather than dull and lifeless as it would have been with traditional piano and vocals.
Which is not to say that piano, played by vocalist/pianist Amy Lee, isn't amazing by itself. Under Lee's hands the songs are given a "texture", in a sense. Those who play instruments should have an idea what I'm talking about. With the right skill a song can sound delicate, rough, etc. Lee, without a doubt, has this skill.

On to the lyrics, if you're looking for bouncy up-lifting songs, I'm going to be honest, this album is not for you. While these songs may be beautiful and inspiring, they are not in any way going to give you a more optimistic outlook on life. They are honest, edgy, sorrowful, and moving. They make you think. Hard. For example, the song 'Hello' is a beautiful song but it took several times of listening very carefully to truly understand the meaning of the lyrics. Almost all the songs have metaphors or some hidden way of saying things. While many bands who attempt this over-do it, making the song completely nautical, Evanescence gives the song more... personality, for lack of a better word.
In these lyrics you'll find suicide, tragedy, betrayal, and raw songwriting talent. Some say the lyrics are depressing, but I find them truly inspiring. Maybe it's the songwritter in me, or maybe it's just morbid side of me. Either way, there's something in these songs you have to hear to truly understand why I'm raving on about them.

And last but not least, vocals. What more can I say about Amy Lee that hasn't already been said? She's been getting rave reviews from everywhere, appearing at the Grammy's for a live preformance and even at the VMA's, I believe.
Her voice is what you would expect to find at a watered down opera performance, not in a metal album at Wal-mart. It's incredible. She's the Alicia Keys of rock. But even Keys has nothing on Lee. She has this hypnotic, enigmatic voice that just floors me. There is truly nothing to describe a voice like this. The vocals bring the already beautiful lyrics soaring above every other album of the genre.

So overall, I was amazed and relieved to find such talent. Today so many people can get away with having so-so voices that you don't find much talent like this. This is definetly something you need to hear to understand. But I stand behind it no matter what.