Customer Reviews

Tear The World Down

5 star:		(59)
4 star:		(24)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I was a little iffy on Ben Moody's new project at first. Upon first listen there's no doubt that they sound a LOT like Evanescence, down to Carly's voice. However, I decided to change the way I listen to the album and look at it this way... Ben helped with the music of Evansecence's first album, so of course he's going to sound the same in his new band... that's his sound.

Secondly, I loved "Fallen," it was a brilliant album, but Evanescence is growing in a different direction, and if I give "We Are The Fallen," a chance, I can have the best of both worlds. Ben's sound with WATF and Amy's lyrics and voice with Evanescence.

Finally, it's about the music. If the music is good, then listen to it. This album carries on the sound that was introduced to the world with "Fallen," but into a new decade, with a new singer, and attitude. I think WATF has a lot of potential, and "Tear The World Down," is a good start and worth the money.

My sister said it all. I was listening to this album on my iPod, and she walked into the room. "Listen," I said, "it's this new band called We Are The Fallen." "Oh," she said, "I thought it was Evanescence."

Subtle differences between the two? Creative evolution? Sure, there's some of that, but really, listen to the sound clips, and essentially you hear "Evanescence Part Two." The good news is that if you adore the old "Fallen" sound, and if you're not holding an artistic grudge against the Ben Moody/Amy Lee split (of which I know no details, so I can't comment), you're going to enjoy this album. This is not just hard rock, but the hard rock that Ben Moody makes beautiful, magnified by strings and softened by piano. The lyrics haven't changed much, either, still dramatizing the darker side of relationships ("The nightmares I find here/All my tears pull me through hell again," "When the moonlight sings the darkness brings me back to die with you," etc.). Eh, whatever. I always listened to them for their music, anyway.

The one real drawback for me is something I almost hate to say, but here it is: Carly Smithson is not Amy Lee. I don't dislike her voice; in fact, she's quite good. But her style feels like an attempt to *be* Amy, so of course she falls short just as anyone else would. (Particularly, Carly's highest notes sometimes sound a bit shrill, more hollered than belted.) Even when striving to emulate someone else, though, her talent shines through. I hope that, in the future, she will emerge with her own vocal identity.

Personal favorite moments: the sweetly loyal, power-ballad-esque "I Will Stay," the pop-style percussion in the verses of "Without You," the lovely strings-laden outro of "Bury Me Alive," and the simplicity and tender vocal harmonies of "Sleep Well, My Angel." Personal creepiest moment: the perfectly rendered, chaotic mood of "St. John."

All in all, if you're an Evanescence fan and know what you're buying, you won't be disappointed. Probably a more accurate band name would be Still Fallen. This "new" band of Ben Moody's doesn't sound all that new, but I liked the old band just fine, so I have no trouble enjoying "Tear The World Down."

On my third listen now (EDIT: Since this review, I must have heard this over 30 times now, I can't stop listening to it!) as I'm typing this and there's one thing I wanted to mention before getting to the review.

First, before the review I want to say, in my opinion that is, that Amy Lee should just recruit the rest of Evanescence back! This album would be so much better if Amy Lee were singing. What should happen is Evanescence get back all the original members. No one can replace the two people who began Evanescence in the first place. I just want the original band back. Until that happens, that magic that made me a fan of Evanescence, I'll never hear again. BUT, I am going to just review this album for what it is.

I have to also mention that I absolutely LOVE the album cover!! One of the best album covers!!


Bury Me Alive is awesome, it was the first track I heard prior to this release and I like the music itself.

Burn is really awesome and really makes me think of some of the pre-Fallen and Fallen songs. I actually really love this song. It's really awesome musically. I love the middle of the song, the bridge part the most. It sounds like a child singing in the background. It also sounds a little gothic as well. It's a definite favorite on the album!

Paradigm has these keys I really love in it. Another awesome song and makes me think of the heavier songs from Fallen! I love it!

Don't Leave Me Behind really makes me think of pre-Fallen and Fallen again, especially Imaginary with the mention of monsters, or at least I could have sworn I heard the mention of monsters in here somewhere. I love the solo and the music itself. Another favorite!

Sleep Well, My Angel is a ballad. I really love this song. I think this is my favorite track on the whole album. I love these lyrics:

Watching you sleep for so long,
Knowing I can't turn the rain into sun any more
I've given you all that I have,
Now I stand here, too scared to hold your hand.

Afraid you might wake to see
The monster that had to leave

'Cause you see the shelter as the storm
Holding wind to keep you on,
You are everything to me, this is why I have to leave,
So sleep well my angel.

It starts out kind of quiet but then gets louder and I love the part when you hear "I'm sorry." This really moves me actually, I can relate to the lyrics and I love the melody. Please listen to this track, it's a masterpiece and what I wouldn't give to hear Amy Lee sing this!! A total masterpiece!!

Through Hell reminds me yet again of some of the heavier pre-Fallen and Fallen tracks. I love this! Another favorite on here and I love how it's about nightmares.

I Will Stay has an amazing melody. You will also hear Carly sing in another tone and register in the verses. It's a more mid-tempo track and I really love this one too! Another one I would love to hear Amy Lee sing!! Another winner here!!

Without You has amazing keys or piano that I really love. It's awesome!

Oh, God, I LOVE how the music itself is in St. John with the keys or piano you hear! This is another favorite here!! The chorus is amazing too with the lyrics "All my Questions have no answers, I can feel the fear inside me, mommy come get me out tonight" and this sounds so gothic, it's the most, real gothic sounding song on here, I totally love it!! I love the part in the song also with the lyrics "Forgive me, with wings adorn me, so I can fly." The guitar solo is another reason I love it. Must hear and definitely my favorite non-ballad on this album!! TOTAL masterpiece!! Please, please hear this track!!!

I Am Only One is another ballad, another awesome track! A favorite once again.

Tear The World Down, the last track on the album, another song that reminds me of some Fallen songs like Imaginary. This is definitely another favorite on here, it has some gothic sounds in it as well, another gothic sounding song. I love this part in the middle with the lyrics "All my love is lost, all my hope is gone ..." since I can totally relate. There's a solo at the end with just the music, especially the piano or keys. It's the perfect album closer. So epic and must hear!!!

I love how I can also really relate to the lyrics on here. Especially on Sleep Well, My Angel and Tear The World Down.

I am actually quite impressed with this album, even though Amy Lee isn't singing. Carly isn't bad, she did very good on vocals on here and I am in no way dissing her or thinking less of her, even if some songs I would love to hear Amy sing as well. So please don't think I'm putting down Carly and as I said above, I'm reviewing this album for what it is. Of course my dream is for all original members of Evanescence to get back together but this album, as a stand alone album, is a very epic album and I do love Carly's vocals. I do feel it to be a masterpiece and hope it does well on Billboard. The musicianship goes without saying, it's flawless!! I highly recommend this album, even if you do prefer Amy Lee like I do overall. Please, please buy and listen to this whole album, it's an amazing work of art!!

I flat out love this album. It's got the drive, the pain, the passion that just touches the soul. Every single track is good. I've listened to it over and over again since I bought it. It is so good.

I found this after being frustrated with the direction of Evanescence after "Fallen." Listening to this album, it has everything that Evanescence has missed since Ben Moody and the others left. Unfortunately, though, they are not completely "Fallen" (as their name suggests). They are missing Amy Lee, who I think also played a big part in composing "Fallen." Now, "Tear the World Down" is doing just fine without her vocals. Carly Smithson is fantastic. But Amy Lee's style is definitely missed here.

Pros: Great vocalist in Carly Smithson, great composition by Ben Moody and the others. This album actually manages to stay in key (which Evanescence obviously does not do anymore). The songs are beautiful, dark, and inspired, and solid all the way through. It also takes a step in its own direction, so it doesn't sound like a repeat of Fallen. It uses strings much more frequently, especially in the choruses, which I like.

Cons: They're not quite the "Fallen." Amy Lee seems to remain the source for that heart and soul of the music which made it appeal to so many people in "Fallen." Even in in the new Evanescence, as hesitant as I am to accept that chaos they like to call "guitar" filling up every song, I have to admit they have remained true to the core of the band. That's where "Tear the World Down" comes up somewhat short.

All in all, this is basically the other half of the old Evanescence. I have really enjoyed this album; it's one of my favorites. Listen to this alongside the new Evanescence, and you can have the best of both worlds.

...And that is that Ben Moody was just as responsible for the original sound as Amy Lee. Histories of the original band (see Wikipedia for example) report that the original Lee/Moody partnership's first four songs were two from each, with each partner editing the other's songs and sharing equal credit. So it should be no surprise that any Moody band will sound similar to the original Evanescence. His guitar was a huge part of the Fallen CD sound, as was LeCompt's (recall that John LeCompt was commended for fulfilling tour dates on a single guitar after Moody's abrupt departure).

Nor should it be a surprise that Evanescence, with different guitarists/bassists/drummers etc., will evolve differently in subsequent albums, while the new Moody band will sound much more like the Fallen CD, not because it's a "copycat," but because that's Ben's style as much as it was Amy's.

However, most reviews do make another point that seems valid. It certainly sounds as if Carly is consciously trying to sound like Amy. Whether that is because she was coached that way by Moody, or she's doing so on her own, or she or the band feel it fits the musical style best, we cannot know. Whatever the reason, I tend to agree with those who say free Carly to be Carly.

For this reason, I am giving this CD four stars. I like it better than all of Evanescence's work other than Fallen. To my ears (and to most of the world's) Fallen was a unique phenomenon. All of Evanescence's work since has blended them back into the heavy pop/rock masses (goth/metal/whatever. Let's not quibble over labels. The point is, whatever made them unique has all but dissipated, except that Lee's voice is still exceptional).

We Are the Fallen has recaptured a hint of what made Moody's original band special. I only wish they weren't SOOO similar that they sound like they haven't progressed at all in seven years.

Here's hoping they continue not only working, but growing and innovating in years to come.

I listened to every song and I like all of it. It sounds like evanescence though.... except for a singer's voice. I don't know how this group is formed but lyrics sounds like something that male could write and that is why I would think that it may be better if a male singer sings this album.

I have listened to the singer's voice before on American Idol and she sounded 100 times better in that show. Is she forced to sing like Amy Lee in this group? I wonder.....

My advice to listeners is that "Do not compare this singer with Amy Lee".

Again, album sounds awesome and I am listening to it many many times.

I recently acquired a copy of the debut album Tear the World Down by We Are the Fallen out of curiosity. I must say I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoy the album. I can certainly hear the Evanescence comparisons in the melodies, Carly's vocals, and the music. While the music and lyrics aren't terribly inventive or original but they are good and that is all that really matters. Without a shadow of a doubt my favorite song on the album is the beautiful piano ballad "Sleep Well, My Angel". My other favorite song on the album is "I Will Stay". I really dug the pop hooks on that particular song as well as Carly's vocals. My only quibble with We Are the Fallen is that the band's sound. I hope that in the future they will develop their own identity and will make people not compare them to Ben Moody's previous band. Overall Tear the World Down is a solid debut album. I certainly look forward to hearing more from them in years to come.

I purchased this CD the day it became available. I can't stop listening to it. Every track rocks. The lyrics are incredible. Carly Smithson is a tremendous singer. For those of you comparing her to Amy Lee, there really is no comparison. I love Amy and Evanescence BUT have you ever heard Amy sing live? She has no power in her voice live. Carly became famous on Idol singing live. This girl can sing! Can't wait for more!!!

After looking up news on Evanescence two weeks ago, I stumbled across an article talking about how Ben Moody started We Are The Fallen and instantly had to watch the music video for "Bury Me Alive." Merely going by that song, and the preview clips here on Amazon, I knew I had to buy the album. Just yesterday, I purchased it and began to listen to it as soon as I returned home. Of course, I loved "Bury Me Alive" but made myself go on and not repeat the opening track. As I went on, every song I would stop and think to myself "I like this song the best" only to find that I really liked all of the songs. The two that stand out the most, for me alone, are "Sleep Well, My Angel" and "I Am Only One." Of course, everyone's tastes vary, and I found lyrics from those the most meaningful to me. But, this album is everything I like, musically. It has great lyrics, great haunting--for lack of a better word--music that has power behind it.

Years ago, I would have sneered at this CD because it's fronted by a former American Idol contestant, and that it is very reminiscent of Evanescence's previous sound (and, rightly so with most all of the original band reborn, here). But, I cannot stress how happy I am to have been willing to listen to the CD because I feel I would have been cheating myself something grand. Again, everyone has their own opinions, and I think everyone should check out the samples here or check out snippets of the songs on youtube to see if it's a CD he/she is interested in buying. Keep other people's opinions in mind, but don't let someone else sway you one way or the other--choose for yourself what to think of this album.