The Open Door
by Evanescence
  • Record Label: Wind-Up
  • Release Date: Oct 3, 2006
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 231 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 195 out of 231
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 231
  3. Negative: 20 out of 231

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  1. ShankarG
    Oct 5, 2006
    10
    Dark, teasing, gothic delights ~ Amy Lee is a goddess who is just exploring her own inner world of goth. Her voice is the voice of a gothic angel -- my god, the girl even looks goth wearing blue jeans and no make up -- and she is crying about love one thinks but she is also crying about the fallen nature of the human condition. Her lyrical and musical nuances in the beautiful subtle Dark, teasing, gothic delights ~ Amy Lee is a goddess who is just exploring her own inner world of goth. Her voice is the voice of a gothic angel -- my god, the girl even looks goth wearing blue jeans and no make up -- and she is crying about love one thinks but she is also crying about the fallen nature of the human condition. Her lyrical and musical nuances in the beautiful subtle "ballads" are detected only by those who are true fans of goth music -- the kind that we have forgotten about such as Lycia, Black Tape for a Blue Girl, and Switchbalde Symphony. Of course "The Open Door" won't sell as many as "Fallen" did, but so what. So what if many will think that "The Open Door" is not as "good" as "Fallen." It's different ~ the young lady has not gone out and made another "Fallen." She has turned the gothic dial, and this is the one she is singing now and is also the one which will retain the true fans of Amy Lee and of true goth music, and lose the idiots. Having said all of this, "The Open Door" is simply beautiful! Simply majestic! Amy is a great great young artist.… Expand
  2. BrianP
    Oct 5, 2006
    10
    this cd is everything i expexted and more
  3. jyo_tirmayad
    Oct 5, 2006
    5
    Amy Lee should have waited it out until more good songs came to surface in her emotionally ridden writer's world. There is nothing on "...Door" which is as good as "Bring Me to Life" or "My Immortal" from the album Fallen album. "Call Me When Your Sober" would have been only one of the good songs on "Fallen" but not a song for which it would have been immortalized by. Saying that, Amy Lee should have waited it out until more good songs came to surface in her emotionally ridden writer's world. There is nothing on "...Door" which is as good as "Bring Me to Life" or "My Immortal" from the album Fallen album. "Call Me When Your Sober" would have been only one of the good songs on "Fallen" but not a song for which it would have been immortalized by. Saying that, there are a few saving graces: Amy Lee has a fantastic voice; she is still young and can make it better the 3rd time around -- let's face it, coming close to the grand majesty of "Fallen" would have been hard for ANY band; and she is inherently talented and rocks, plain and simple. I bought this CD and will listent to it a lot, because there are some beautiful moments on it and because of Amy Lee's personal charisma and beautiful voice. It is a beautiful instrument, and too bad they couldn't find nearly enough material to match it. And yes, Ben Moody's presence, as expected, has shown us that Amy Lee's voice was only half of Evanescence's brilliance. At least on "Fallen."… Expand
  4. AyonF
    Oct 5, 2006
    10
    BACK WITH MATURITY, DIVERSITY AND MAYBE ANOTHER MULTI PLATINUM RECORD After 3 years of absence, the gothic band that sold about 14 million copies last time has come back with more a new different style
  5. C.J.Ferguson
    Oct 4, 2006
    9
    I loved Fallen, Open Door is equal on all fronts. Great buy for $10 from wally world
  6. sarab
    Oct 4, 2006
    10
    This is one of the most original albums I have ever heard. Every song has it's own musical theme and how she uses her voice is amazing!! well worth the wait, thankfully!!!
  7. DREFromCharlotte
    Oct 4, 2006
    6
    Heavy metal with a womanly spin? Or just Tori Amos turned Goth? I like Evanescence a lot, and there is a lot to like here. The music can be thrilling. But this seems repetitive and dark. Guitarist Ben Moody is missed -- the guitar hooks are way too predictable and pedestrian. Singer Amy Lee is a mightly talent, and in one out of every three songs, we get to really enjoy her talent.
  8. AnthonyJ
    Oct 4, 2006
    7
    I really wanted to like this CD...Fallen was a classic; innovative, emotional, and musically respectable. No other artists have been able to blend rock-goth-and positive energy. It was dark and moody, but still uplifting and energizing. The new CD has two, maybe three songs that are creative, confident, and catchy. The rest of the album is predictable; lacking innovative vocal and I really wanted to like this CD...Fallen was a classic; innovative, emotional, and musically respectable. No other artists have been able to blend rock-goth-and positive energy. It was dark and moody, but still uplifting and energizing. The new CD has two, maybe three songs that are creative, confident, and catchy. The rest of the album is predictable; lacking innovative vocal and instrumental harmonies and sounding scripted/redundant. Overall, its a good album compared to everything else out there, but the search for a female-led true rock and roll band still continues.… Expand
  9. JoeC
    Oct 4, 2006
    10
    I can't believe what these critics are saying, they must have been just skipping the songs because their in a rush or something. This is my favorite album of the year. WOW! You just can't count on critics anymore.
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Awards & Rankings

20
#20 Most Discussed Album of 2006
46
#46 Most Shared Album of 2006

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
61

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 12
  3. Negative: 1 out of 12
  1. Blender
    70
    Denser and more scuzzed-up than Fallen, the album amps everything up to gloriously epic, over-the-top proportions. [Oct 2006, p.129]
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  2. Billboard
    70
    Those who embraced "Fallen" will doubtlessly fall even harder into "The Open Door."
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  3. The New York Times
    50
    Many of these theatrical, midtempo songs run together.
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