Customer Reviews

EVANESCENCE "Origin" CD by BIGWIG, 11 tracks

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Okay, I bought both the original Origin and the reproduced Origin, so here are all the facts:

1. the original Origin has better sound quality than the reproduced one. The reproduced Origin is kind of scrachy and echos alot of Amy's voice in a industrial kind of way, it sometimes can give you a head ache. The original one does not.

2. Although it's true on the reproduced version the tracks Whisper and My Immortal are the Fallen version while on the original version they are different from Fallen, but the Origin version of Whisper and My Immortal is not that different from Fallen. My Immortal is almost the same as the one on Fallen, if you don't pay attention, they sound exactly alike. And Whisper is just a more industrial version than the one on Fallen. So basically only Imaginary is worth hearing.

3. While it's true on the reproduced version there are alot more songs, but pretty much only Wash It All Away, Missing and an addition of a different version of Where Will You Go are worth hearing. The rest of the songs are really not that great, and many of them are fillers. But Wash It All Away and Missing are really really awesome songs you shouldn't miss.

4. While it's true in the insert of the reproduced version alot of the lyrics are wrong, but that also kind of happens on the original version. But on the original version they have credits, but disappointingly, they did not mention who wrote what songs.

5. Someone said there's a hidden track on the original version that wasn't on the reproduced version. Sorry, that is not true. There is no hidden track on the original version, Eternal, the last track, is just composed of the reproduced version of Eternal and demise. That's it.

So buyers: If you don't care about sound quality that much, I suggest you save your money and time (for bidding on ebay, the only place you can get the original Origin under 50 bucks) and buy the reproduced version. If you are a die hard Evanescence fan (like me) then buy both versions, the reproduced version is only about 10 to 11 bucks, what have you got to lose? (and since you are a die hard fan I would assume that you wouldn't care spending a little time and money to get the best sound quality of the Original version)

The album in general:

It's much darker than Fallen. The songs are mellower and slower and the lyrics are less complex than Fallen (meaning they didn't use as much imagery and complex words as they did on Fallen). Alot of organs and piano are used to create a more gothic feeling. Also, on Fallen all the songs (like I reviewed on Fallen) are like they come out of you, one of the reasons for that is because on Fallen all its lyrics are "I" statements. But on Origin there's less of that feeling. two of the songs are directed to "You" (Where Will You Go and Lies). As you know Evanescence was originally titled a "Christian" band, and Origin really has more of that "Christian" feeling: the music is kind of preachy and choir-like. But non-Christians, no worries, the songs did not make any direct reference to Christianity so even if you are really anti-Christian or an Atheist you still can enjoy the songs (I'm an Atheist myself and Evanescence is my favorite band)

I myself haven't baughten one from Amazon, because I already have a copy of the REAL "Origin", that I got on eBay for about 90 dollars. But based on the cover alone, the promise of only 11 tracks, and the claim of the BIGWIG label, I can already validate that this version, the BIGWIG version, is the REAL-EFFIN-DEAL.

So as many others have stated, DO NOT be suckered into "19 track re-release" BOOTLEGS. Get this one. The 11 track version. As it is the REAL-DEAL saught after one. Not the cheap-assed 19 track BOOTLEG knockoff one.

As per a review? This album is magnificent! If you can ever get your hands on one of the REAL ones, you'll be thanking yourself after hearing it the full way through. For Amy and co.'s first full leingth LP, this is quite a good one. Dare I say, even better than Fallen? Origin, is all over the place. It's still the Amy Lee we all love, but a bit more raw.

There are a few songs on Origin fans may recognize. They are "Whisper", "Imaginary", and "My Immortal." But make no mistake, on the LEGIT version of Origin, none of these tracks, sound like they do on Fallen, aside from "My Immortal." Which only has the difference of containing NO violins, whereas it contains them, on the Fallen LP.

Overall, I believe Origin (the LEGIT version) is Evanescence's best full leingth album to date. It's more experimental than Fallen, contains a few "industrial" moments within it, and overall, is just an enjoyable 40 or so minutes worth of music. Any true fan of Evanescence and Amy Lee will absolutely appreciate their begining early years, and will love this album!

So in closing, I say that I HIGHLY suggest finding and buying this album. But again, do not be suckered into 19 track "re-releases", which are infact, really BOOTLEGS. Get the 11 track LEGIT version, from the BIGWIG label. You'll be thanking yourself, once you have.

***BONUS INFO ON THE TRUE (LEGIT) ORIGIN***

-The TRUE (Legit) tracklist of Origin is:

01. Origin
02. Whisper
03. Imaginary
04. My Immortal
05. Where Will You Go?
06. Field of Innocence
07. Even In Death
08. Anywhere
09. Lies
10. Away From Me
11. Eternal

***11 TRACKS, NOTHING MORE.***

-The Song "Eternal" has a bonus track hooked onto it, at about 5 minutes and 50 seconds into it. Many claim this to be a "blooper" of the song "Anywhere", but it's really just a short instrumental entitled "Demise."

-The REAL-DEAL album is black, and only says "Evanescence" then "Origin" on it. And is on the BIGWIG label.

-The song "Anywhere" has a short song hooked onto it of Ben and Amy saying "yeah-yeah", at 5 minutes and 23 seconds. It is NOT a seperate track, but is infact, hooked onto the track, "Anywhere." If this track isn't hooked onto "Anywhere" on your cd, then your Origin isn't real.

-The 3 songs "Imaginary", "Whisper", and "My Immortal" are ALL COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, from the ones found on the Fallen album, except for "My Immortal." Whoms ONLY difference, is that it DOESN'T contain the violins that it does, on the Fallen album.

-The ORIGINAL version of Origin, was released in the year 2000, as stated on the back of the case. NOT, in 2003 or any later than that.

And that's it. Use this review, and this guide of info, to make sure you get a REAL Origin, and NOT a BOOTLEG!

I give this (THE REAL LEGIT VERSION) a 5/5.
It's easily Evanescence's best album to date,
even if it is their first.

Get it!
If you can...

ORIGIN, is a great piece of work not just musicly, but also as a display of what potential a rock band can truly posses. Evanescence has the sound of very musical light metal. It is quite clear that the band has a broad knowledge of musical traits. Amy Lee provides an incredible performance of vocals and effects she can produce with her beautiful voice. Her piano skills adds to the creation of the band's harmony sound, as well as interesting melody lines. The guitar, bass, and drums are for the most part; the rhythm section for the band. However, the guitar parts also contain unique solos and different uses of harmonies. ORIGIN itself has great contour and use of dynamics throughout many of its pieces. It also has a slight atonal quality to it, but not to the point of having unrecognizable melodies and harmonies. I find this quality very favorable to Evanescence's original sound. But, as it so happens, this sound changes for the band's future work. Their sound becomes much more favorable to the ears of Mainstream listeners. ORIGIN reveals Evanescence's original and true sound. Honestly, it is sound the rock band should go back to. This record is remarkable, and one for any music fan.

I love this album! Why didn't they release this to the general public? It rocks!! Anyway, I would have to say do not settle for the "russian re-release" It is in fact a bootleg. Not official at all. If you really want the album as a collectors item, try ebay. They pass through there often (look for the sealed ones, that way you know youre getting the real album).

If you don't wanna get it off ebay, download the music free. Yes, even Amy Lee endorses this so you don't get ripped off buying bootlegs. They aren't getting the money for the actual album anymore anyway (they only released 2500 of these). There are many sites where you can get all these great songs for free (and its legal!!) Google em. You wont regret it. These songs are fantastic. I wish they would really re-release all their Origin and "unreleased" songs on like a two disc set but alas, doesnt look like thats ever gonna happen.

Other songs by Evanescence not included on Origin but released on VERY limited albums (or not officially released at all) in their home town, I suggest you search for these great songs while youre at it:

Before the Dawn
Surrender
Missing (Demo version)
October
Goodnight
So Close
Solitude
Understanding
Exodus
Forgive Me
Forever You
Anywhere
Listen to the Rain

There are others but those are all I can think of... so yea..

Alot of times this type of Origin is refered to as the Russian Re-release version. Do not refer to it that way. It is just a bootleg/fake. The Original tracklisting for Origin is:

1. Origin.
2. Whisper.
3. Imaginary (Piano Intro)
4. My Immortal (Same as Fallen except softer in volume)
5. Where Will You Go?
6. Field of Innocence
7. Even in Death
8. Anywhere.)
9. Lies.
10. Away From Me.
11. Eternal

So don't waste your money on a cheap fakes. Only CD's with 11 trucks are original !!!

While I would recommend this CD to anyone, chances are good you are NOT EVER going to get an original as only 2500 or copies were made/sold. To help determine if you have the real thing this might help you - There's an Anywhere outtake before track 1 you can find it when you hit play and start to rewind, and the serial number is CRT BWE0002 X0A21C. There are other tale-tell signs that you can find out about if you look. Several other Evanescence CDs are being pirated also, best thing if you want an original and authentic check evboard.

If you are serious about this cd check out this page first: [...]



The tracks on this page are provided in accordance with the express permission granted by Ben Moody and Amy Lee in their interview with DC101 radio on February 24, 2003.

interviewer: but now do you realize how much your old stuff is selling for on ebay right now?
amy: it's a shame
ben: two hundred and fifty-five dollars
interviewer: isn't that amazing?
ben: I want to say right now, and I posted this on the message board, that's ridiculous
amy: we are not doing that
ben: download it
amy: yeah, download it
ben: download it - that's old stuff, you can't buy it, so you're not stealing anything from us, just download it
amy: honestly, just buy the album [Fallen] it's so much better now than we were when we were kids
ben: and for those of you selling it for that amount of money, it's a
amy: damn you!
ben: yeah, that's a freaking joke
interviewer: Ben, do you guys get pissed when you find out people are downloading your music?
ben: no
interviewer: not the old stuff, but I mean like anything like new that floats around?
amy: we want people to hear our music however they can and since the CD is right now - it's not out - you know to go online and to download it and to hear it and see if they want to buy the album that's totally great - I encourage that but you know we hope they'll like it enough to go buy the album when it comes out
ben: we have faith in the people who, if they really like our music
amy: they'll want to support us
ben: they're going to be cool enough to want to support us and realize that if they don't, then the record label gets our first born child

I have the real original release (complete with short out takes that start 39 seconds before track 1). I also have the fake 19 track version, which is worth the money ie a lot less than the real 11 track version if you can find it.
As for if the one sold here is the real thing, consider 2 points:
- If they only made 2500 of them, how come this place has enough to keep a line of them to be sold at prices so far below the bid price on e-bay? If they're a real company, trying to make money, why not sell them on e-bay and make a lot more profit
- If they can't even pay enough attention so that they get the spelling in the banner right (what are 11 "trucks" exactly and how do you get them onto a CD?), how can you think they are a reputable seller?

If you see something you want at a "too good to be true" price, then you know what, it probably isn't true and it's your own fault for falling for it.

I've given this 1 stars 'cause this lot should be avoided by a wide margin. The album itself is worth 5.

Save up and be prepared to buy the real thing for the real price.

I'm not interested in buying from here, since I bought Origin from BigWig's site for $15 before Bring Me to Life hit the radios and Evanescence made it big time... but I can say, that yes, if you think you have an original rewind before the first track, and somewhere around -37 seconds there should be an outtake of Anywhere if it's real (this only works in a CD player for me... my computer refuses to do it). If it's not there, then I'm afraid you have a copy.

As for the CD, I honestly enjoy it better than Fallen. The songs have less of an overpolished sound to them, and several of my favorites from this CD didn't even make it onto the major label release.

Track by track...
0 (or before 1). Anywhere outtake - Just a little clip of Anywhere which fades into a horrid voice-cracking solo by the guy singer, who then says "You're not saving that." It's just there for the humor aspect.
1. Origin - This is pretty much just an intro to Whisper... it's short but fits nice when listened to directly before Whisper. It features two quotes from some obscure horror film ("You hold the answer deep within your own mind" "Death in its most hideous form").
2. Whisper - Even without the intro, it's great. I adore the opening guitars and then Amy's haunting voice coming in. It's a great song.
3. Imaginary - It starts off simply with Amy's piano and singing, then the band joins in for the chorus. The lyrics are very dreamlike, and sound like a world you'd enjoy as a child, but it has a bitter edge to it, almost lamenting that childhood and dreams have passed by.
4. My Immortal - This song is very simple, and very melancholic, but in a beautiful way. I love it.
5. Where Will You Go - I've always loved the weird beginning to this song. This song rather reminds me of the group Plumb.
6. Field of Innocence - Easily my least favorite song on the album. It's still a fair song, but it borders on whiney at times, and I can't really listen to it over and over without growing sick of it.
7. Even in Death - From my least favorite to one of my two favorites from the album. I love this song... it's so very dark and haunting, yet it's still a love story. Loving someone beyond the grave... creepy. ;)
8. Anywhere - This has one of the most beautiful guitar solos, and it happens to be my other favorite from the CD. It's quite similar to the song "Before the Dawn" (an unreleased demo), and it's a pretty song about two people running away together.
9. Lies - This starts out almost operatic, then morphs into a rock song, with parts that border on hard rock or whatever the screamy type rock is. Generally that's not my thing, but I think it works well in this song.
10. Away From Me - The thing I enjoy most about this song is the background piano, it's excellent. Overall it's a good song, but it's not one of my favorites.
11. Eternal - This song is completely instrumental. It starts out sounding almost techno, then goes to a thunderstorm for a moment, and then to some truly beautiful piano playing which fades into rain sounds (and then "Demise," -which isn't listed- is after the piano... it's just basically a short instrumental clip and nothing spectacular).

Overall, a CD on which I "like" all 11 tracks, and love 10 of them is quite rare to find these days. While at one point I could have sold my CD for around $300 on eBay, I just couldn't force myself to part with it. It remains one of my favorite discs in my collection, and I highly recommend you buy it (though, try not to get a ripped off copy, as they don't support the band, and are actually more illegal than downloading it would be).

I have to disagree the with one point on an earlier review of this item, and well as some other reviews.

As for this comment:

"5. Someone said there's a hidden track on the original version that wasn't on the reproduced version. Sorry, that is not true. There is no hidden track on the original version, Eternal, the last track, is just composed of the reproduced version of Eternal and demise. That's it."

YES THERE IS A HIDDEN TRACK IN THE ORIGINAL - it's just not at the END of the CD. It's at the BEGINNING. You can't do this on a computer and not all CD players but on some, if you start the CD and have a button that allows you to back up like a "rewind" button, press and hold that until AFTER the CD begins. I can't remember how many seconds it takes, but you will hear a different version of one of the albums's tracks and some talking by a guy [Ben?]. So it definitely is there - just not at the end like most other hidden tracks.

If you're a hardcore fan this is definitely worth having in your collection.

Also, the tracks which later appear on Fallen are very different. I don't own the reproduction, I wasn't interested in it, but this one because of it's rarity is definitely worth whatever you have to pay for it!