^^ IAW pretty much what Jane said. When I was thirteen, I thought Evanescence was the coolest band ever. They were unlike anything I had ever heard, and I fell completely in love with their sound, their lyrics, and Amy's voice. I felt that everything Amy sang was pure emotion, and I was very emotionally connected to the record. Also, going with what Jane said, many of the lyrics were metaphorical. I could connect with "Going Under" much more than I can connect with "Call Me When You're Sober" although both were essentially about a bad relationship.

That being said, I feel that at the point in my life that The Open Door came out, I could connect more with some of the songs on it than the songs on Fallen, such as Sweet Sacrifice or Lacrymosa. That also being said, I didn't enjoy the record anywhere near as much as I loved Fallen with every fiber of my being. I still listen to SS, Lithium, and Lacrymosa but that is about it. None of the songs grabbed me the way Fallen did, and it took alot of listening before I came to appreciate TOD...but I don't appreciate it the same way I appreciate Fallen. I think Amy fell really short in her promises for a spectacular record. In my opinion, the music is repetitive and mediocre, and her voice leaves alot to be desired. The song she sounds the best in is Like You, and that is the only song that even resembles the ethereal voice I fell in love with on Fallen. I think the records are too different to even begin to compare them, but at the same time, TOD was a major disappointment to me. There is no magic in the songs and I am more likely than not to skip them if one comes on the radio or shows up on shuffle.

And about Amy as a person...well, none of us know her. Its nice that you're willing to defend her, but you don't know she's as great as you think she is...just like some of us who don't like her actions lately don't know she isn't the person she comes across as. When reviewing an album, its best to leave the rabid defense of the artist out of it because it has nothing to do with the music they make.

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