Carly Smithson in “We Are The Fallen” – What Do You Think?
June 25, 2009 by Jeanne
I wanted to write about this earlier but between technical issues and a hugely busy schedule, it just didn’t happen. As I wrote earlier, Carly Smithson has joined up with some former members of Evanescence to create a new band called “We Are the Fallen” (it was originally “The Fallen” but they had to change it because some other band claims to have had first dibs on the name).
Have you had a chance to listen to their first single “Bury Me Alive”? If not, you can go and listen to it on their MySpace page (or listen to a live performance below). Before I go any further, I’d like to say that I am happy for Carly and she does fit this genre and style of music. However, this song sounds too much like something Evanescence would release and, as a result, I feel that Carly is going to have to endure endless comparisons to Amy Lee who, I believe, is an incredible singer. It’s not even just the song, it’s the band’s image too. I just don’t know how I feel about this yet. I like Carly so, if it was anyone but her and I heard this on the radio, I’d say something like “what is this Evanescence rip-off.”
Anyway, I’m going to try to keep an open mind but I’d love to hear what you have to say about it. Leave me a comment.
I think that it’s only natural that they sound similar to old school Evanescence, after all this is 3/5 members of that original band who helped create that trademark sound. If you compare their sound to the more recent version of Evanescence (from the Open Door forward) it’s then that their sounds branch off into two different directions. I can say this, after having seen her cover of Going Under I think she actually pulled it off better than Amy Lee does live, and I look forward to seeing what lies ahead.
It sounds ok but too much like evanescence, She should change a bit, if she wants a new start.
I think that if this band says they are nothing like Evanescence and totally different, Why is the lead singer trying to sound just like Amy Lee. She also looks like a carbon copy. No she can not help what she looks like but is every minor detail a coinsidence? She looks, trys to sound, and dresses exactly like Amy Lee. How about trying to be a little more origional. And am I sensing a few scorned band members. You made a lot of money working with Amy how about not trashing her by saing she has a pretend band. Dont be jealous of something that is better than you, and something that you are not which is origonal forgive me but I think that The Fallen sounds familiar (even if there is a few words you had to add infront).Long live Evanescence.
An Evanescence rip-off? NONSENSE! Ben Moody and the other Evanescence members in this band ARE Evanescence. Ben wrote basically all the songs for Evanescence. Notice how Evanescence has gone downhill since Fallen?
Carly is amazing in this band and I’m so so stoked!
they’re not original at all(not even in their name of course)they just try to make a new evanescence with an american idol girl who’s not as good as amy lee (the real evanescence’s soul).It’s pitiful to see how she wants to sing, to move and be dressed like lee and it’s just frightening when she tries to sing evenscence’s songs! I think they just want to make money thanks to the awesome band evanescence (they don’t need a copycat)
If Ev still has the same sound, it’s because Amy Lee sought out musicians who could play like John, Rocky, and Ben. So really… who’s copying who? Carly is way better live than Amy Lee, anyway.
Definitely an Evanescence rip off. Carly is trying WAY too hard to sound like Amy Lee. Carly is talented, don’t get me wrong, but she just can’t feel Amy Lee’s shoes. Well, I guess fans of Evanescence will have to settle for a less than great version until Amy Lee decides to get back with her band and make another album (if that ever happens). The Fallen is definitely like listening to EV-Lite. lol.
Carly Smithson sounds like Carly- She has an incredible voice.The live performance is better than the mp3. She also looks like Carly,the clothes fit the sound. From what I understand Ben Moody and Amy Lee started Evanescence together,wrote together etc.on “The Fallen” He has an equal right to his early work and his “sound”and to the use of the name of his first album.So why not. I’d like to judge this band on its own merit and if Amy Lee took her band in another direction then Evanescence fans should be cool with that and not so terrified that Ben,Carly and company will outshine them. Good luck to Carly,she deserves it.
Carly is fantastic! She is nothing like Amy Lee, I feel she is better. The song is going to sound familiar. Like a poster above said, 3/5 members made up Evanescence. Its not fair to compare them honestly. Carly is just being herself. Your amazing Carly and I hope “We Are the Fallen” is immensly successful!
I think she just sounds like Carly. I hope she and the band do really well. She’s one of my favorites from idol. Good luck to Carly and the band. I do hope they do more songs that will really showcase her amazing vocals.
This seems like a much better fit for Carly than how the record companies were trying to package her previously.
Well, with the new band having most of the old members of Evanescence, comparisons will be inevitable. I mean really, when you get right down to it, you can compare bands like Lacuna Coil and Within Temptation to Evanescence and WATF and they are all kind of the same, right? But I think there is room in the genre to for all of them. I’ll be watching WATF with interest.
Different bands different times, but oh that sound I loved and “fell” for in ‘03. I don’t feel the need to chose, like Moody said the world can include both. With his recent assembly of talent I believe it’s a home run. They’re more mature and have a higher desire to express their creative sound, yes the time is right…
I love the idea Carly and this new group. I crave for more Evanescence, and if I can’t have more, I’d take someone who can sound like them with new tracks any day. Why does the Evanescence sound have to die with Amy Lee? Just wish some other group would come back sounding like Prodigy too
This is so an Evanescence rip-off Carly is ok but Amy Lee is one million times better than her . I dont mean to be rude but i think that Carly was trying to sound like Amy Lee but i think that Ben is trying to get Amy back for braking up whit him if Amy Lee dosent make any more songs (wich i wish she does) than ill just keep listening to their old songs cuz id rather have the last Evanescence than to have some Evanescence rip-off
Carly was my favourite on idol, and i think she is extremely lucky to have landed on her feet with the engineers behind Evanescence, but i think that ben moody is feeling guilty about how he left things with amy & is trying to make up for it with this band, it’s a pity they couldn’t reconcile.
carly sound´s better than amy lee come on you must be kidding….carly have a voice for pop like aguilera not for rock….omg one more exactly copy of evanescence…come on ben stop your stupid “revenge”….and one more …carly try to copy amy —-,—-….
I would like to send my best to my cousin Carly and I hope this is her big break she has always dreamed of. And to the nay sayers. AMY QUIT and there for more power to Ben for going on without her.
To all of those who said that Rocky and John were original members of Evanescence: they were not. They were both hired people for ‘Fallen’. That correction made, I’ve got no taste for this new band; funny. They’re so much like Evanescence, I honestly thought I would, but somehow they’ve finagled a way to make a carbon copy of Ev without any of the charm.
Plus, the fact that this is the second time I’ve seen something exactly like this makes it seem hilariously unoriginal. I feel like if these three wanted a new band, they should’ve gotten some new ideas. Apparently they’re even going to initially do shows using some Evanescence songs. Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like their using Evanescence songs, turning this Smithson woman into an Amy clone, retaining the same basic Evanescence sound and style, and getting together to form a band with their sole advertised claims to fame being that they’re old members of Evanescence and especially alluding to the first album in their band’s title are all cheap attempts to cling to the coattails of the old band. I want something new.
Here’s how it is: Ben met Amy and started writing songs together. David Hodges joined up and they made Origin and Fallen. David left right before Fallen was released to start his own projects (Trading Yesterday, The Age of Information, davidhodgesmusic). Rocky, John and Will were hired to assist Evanescence (just Ben and Amy at this point). Ben left, the others stayed. Will resigned to be a family man. Amy fired John and Rocky (after Open Door).
Ben was clearly the structure of Ev. Amy definitely was the artsy, creative voice. If you listen to “Fallen” you will hear a lot of song structure. If you listen to “Open Door” (which I cannot stomach), you will hear a lot more free-flowing creativity and less structure.
To say that We Are the Fallen is a cheap knock-off of Ev is completely inaccurate. The one song that they have released is very similar to the songs found on “Fallen,” which makes sense because three of the band members were from the “Fallen” era.
And I think it is okay that Ben plays HIS songs at concerts, regardless of the name of the band that released them. Eric Clapton played Layla long after Derek and the Dominoes (Eric’s former band) broke up.
Well yea she does sound like Amy Lee. But her voice is so versatile, that she can pull any sound off. I am an evanescence fan and i love amy lee. but i do like we are the fallen too. i cant wait to hear what they come out with. they have potential. i dont think it should matter what the person sounds like. i think the quality of the music and if it sounds good is all that should matter. who knows all the songs may sound different. and thats not a bad thing. i love a versatile band. it means they have real talent.
Carly sounds at lot like Lacuna coil….but i have to say Amy is way better than this Carly. I think they are just being a rip-off of Evanescence. I’m a huge Evanescence fan and i must say i find it a disgrace that they would try to mock Amy in any way.
Btw, was carly a former Ev fan?
I liked it when Amy had no competition but then Ms.Carly ‘i’m so cool’ waltzed up on stage and acted like she was better than the world. ..and well, i’m srry to say but she’s not!
I’ll be looking forward to Amy’s new album.YAY! XD
Amy is good live, she just sounds like crap when she’s moving around. If she was sitting and they were doing it acousticly it’d be great!! Carly just SUX!!!!!!!!
Again people…Ben WAS Evanescence. Rocky and John were also in it. How can you rip off yourself?
carly got an OK start, but bury me alive reminds me of weight of the world or going under, or watevr evanescence song. i still think amy lee is more “pitch perfect.” evn if carly doesnt sound like amy, cuz evrybody IS different, i hav a feeling that amy is more “bettr.”
p.s. just 2 let u no, im not offending the fans of carly, this is my opinion/POV.
p.p.s 4 those of u who think evanescence is “ovr” they will come bak on 2010 wit new musik! amy is taking a break cuz of her marriage and things…cant wait til 2010!
I think its stupid! Evanescence still exsists and to me all this band seems to be doing is copying evanescence! Why dont they make different style songs and WHY DID THEY call themselves we are the fallen i mean fallen is evanescence first album. I hate the whole idea and to me Amy Lee is incredible and its her that makes Evanescence and this new Carly girl well she will neve get close to the talent than AMY Has yet she still dresses like Amy why wont she be her self? just my opinion!
I wish people would stop saying that Ben Moody was Evanescence. Neither Ben nor Amy are Evanescence. All the members combined make a band. Not just one single person. Most of the old songs were yes written by Ben, but Amy made them her own in her own way. On the new album (which I love so much more) it’s her and Terry. There was a lot more creativity flowing in The Open Door and I believe it’s because she didn’t have Ben breathing down her neck telling her how it should be. Now I feel bad for Carly (who I didn’t even know of before this whole thing) because Ben is just wanting another Amy.
I personally do not like this band, for too many reasons though that I cannot list.
Can’t wait until 2010 for Evanescence’s new album. Woot.
I heard the single bury me alive and i wasn’t very impressed,doesn’t compare to anything off the “Fallen” album.And why do they have a vocalist obviously copying Amy Lee’s style and sound?
Ben Moody did not make Amy Lees voice or style,so why copy her?
They would have done better to do their own thing and sound brand new rather than copy the whole Fallen,Evanescence theme.
Seems like they are all jaded about how things went with Evanescence.
I know Ben Moody is a great writer but damn,whats up with copying his old bands sound?
Since they ahve Ben Moody who created a lot of Evanescence’s songs in the Fallen era I’m not surprised the single would sound better.
I ahve to say though the band’s image is a complete rip off of Evanescence. When I saw Carly I though wiw the band will be taking a more modern direction, kind of like Paramore to separate themselves from Evanescence. But when I saw the it;s like omg… You look at Carly in her pictures and you think she looks like a gorgeous spunky girl. She does have a punk edge to her but she is definitely not goth, it’s a shame because it seems like she’s conforming to an image which is not herself. And if she sings Evanescence songs she’ll be compared to Amy and not be able to break from her shadow and rise as her own personlity. And even if she is better than Amy in the convers the truth is that especially if the person is still alive or part of our generation, we’ve already heard it and all the hype generated from the song is already gone. I hope they decelop away from Evanescence’s image and Carly gets to express who she is with the band.