ranking every song on Evanescence's "Fallen" album!!!

candy, letters, jelly beans...it's time to rank something different! something in a different flavor of cool! and that's just what i prepared for myself...because yesterday i was on a long, boring train ride so i figured i'd listen to (and jot down my thoughts on) Evanescence's debut album "Fallen!" note that all these are my opinion, and i wrote all these thoughts directly after listening to each song, just so they'd stay fresh in my mind. this might be like a guided tour through memory lane for some of ya...with a tour guide who is an alien who doesn't know what the hell they're talking about!! anyway here we go!

Track 1 - going under: I know we’re already at the first song but I really can’t think of a better way to open an album. it pulls you right into the action, with its deep, delicious riffs and slower pacing at the chorus. it’ll feel weird to compare this to what’s up ahead so I’ll rank this one a safe 7/10

Track 2 - bring me to life: well, folks, here we are. already here at the meme song. but mockery of the genre and dancing skeletons aside, this song’s iconic status is apparent! I like how unlike the first track we actually start on a quite simpler note, with the piano bookending the song. there’s some really nice backup vocals here, and what can I say but this song really brought me to life? :3 9/10

Track 3 - everybody’s fool: what a rollercoaster this one was! it hooked me instantly with that acoustic guitar and drum beats, but then it lost me for a while…until the part after the first chorus section with the choir in the background!!! it reminds me of the wedding theme from LittleBigPlanet in the best way, and the fact that said choir remains through to the end just tickles the mind! 7/10

Track 4 - my immortal: just when I think I know what I’m getting into with this album, it throws me curveball after curveball like a pitching machine in a batting cage! as much as I wish I could say this song made me cry, unfortunately it didn’t resonate with me THAT much…and yet, I have to give it a lot of credit solely for being very different. the piano takes center stage and we have a lovely strings section for a more somber song, and I feel like repeat listens is gonna give me chills at the least. 6/10 (for now, but I have a feeling this one’s going to grow on me)

Track 5 - haunted: BACK INTO THE ACTION!! the distorted guitar and reversed parts lead into the similar flavor as “going under,” with deeper riffs complimenting a super-catchy chorus. and then, just when I got used to the sound, BOOM! EPIC FUCKING GUITAR SOLO!!! I literally air-guitar’d to it out of nowhere…and that’s not even mentioning the occasional “beep” noises that are weird, and yet, fit so well. can’t tell if that’s supposed to invoke the sound of something (my guess would be those gauges they use to detect ghosts, given the name) but excellent song regardless :D 9/10

seeing as I’m about halfway through by now, I figured I’d take a moment just to reflect on something. Before listening to this I had always thought “fallen” was evanescence’s like 5th album, not their first! all I gotta say is what a way to make a first impression eh? i completely get why so many people love this album even nowadays…and I’m positive the amount of goth/emo ppl on friendrewind and the indie/web revival in general has something to do with my desire to check these songs out! music truly is an incredible thing, and I felt really liberated by crawling out of my comfort zone to do this. always a fantastic feeling to have your horizons broadened, second only to putting on clothes fresh out the dryer! okay, now back to the ranking…

Track 6 - tourniquet: honestly, I’m sure I’m gonna get some flak for this but this one didn’t exactly click. it sort of felt like a watered-down version of some of the earlier songs, and there’s not a whole lot else to be said for it. and yet! all of these songs have something good to be said for them, and “tourniquet” is no exception. we have another cool choice of instrument with the music box, and a neat extended strings outro. so this one goes no lower than a 5.5/10, out of respect.

Track 7 -imaginary: this one, much like “everybody’s fool” prominently features the acoustic, which sounds great here. we get more choir, synth and another virtuosic guitar solo!! you know we have another banger on our hands when I start using words like “virtuosic.” 8/10

Track 8 - taking over me: I really don’t have a whole lot to say about this song, but that doesn’t mean that’s because it’s bad; it’s anything but!! the guitar riffs here are among 
my favorite and it held me tight, refusing to let go… solid 7.5/10

Track 9 - hello: if I had a nickel for every song I love titled “hello,” I’d have three nickels, because this one joins that club. I think I prefer this simple piano + strings ballad over “my immortal,” as controversial an opinion as that may become. unlike the sadder, reflective sound of the former, “hello” is a bit more dark, in a way I like a little more than I should… 8.5/10

Track 10 - my last breath: this is the one, ppl! this is my FAVORITE! as soon as it opened up with those cool synth sounds and the AMAZEBALLS guitar, I knew it was destined to hop headfirst into my MP3 collection!!! it takes everything I loved about “going under,” but imo just makes it even better! 10/10!!

Track 11 - whisper: THIS. IS. HOW. YOU. END. AN. ALBUM. its name is probably there to trick you into thinking you’re getting another soft, mournful track…NOPE! EVERYTHING AMAZING FROM THE PAST 10 TRACKS comes back here. the choir chanting, the strings, the impeccable electric riffs, the pounding drumbeats…all leading into ANOTHER SOLO! and just when you think it’s all over, you get the chorus chanting and strings carrying for the last minute or so, leading you out of this amazing musical fever dream on a subdued high note. up there with the previous track but…up to eleven!! 11/10!!!

and there's my list! whaddaya think? as my first foray into a pretty much uncharted territory for me, this was an exciting list to put together!!! stay tuned for possibly another ranking involving owl city...and i'll TRY not to take as long of a break this time :D