Something that has been bugging me for awhile. The band Evanescence.

[FatherG]

I'm sure most of you have heard of the band Evanescence, who has recently gained fame from two songs they do on the Daredevil soundtrack. Yes they're a halfway decent band, I'm not saying they aren't. What I am saying is that they don't deserve their success. Why? I'm glad you asked.

Enter Lacuna Coil.


Formed in the early 90's, this Italian group released two EPs and three full albums of gothic metal (tinged with power) to date, all of them impressive. The first release was a self-titled EP in 1998 that met with critical acceptance immediately. The group followed with the full-length In A Reverie in 1999. The album highlighted the remarkable chemistry between vocalists Ferro and Cristina Scabbia, who complemented each other perfectly, reflecting heavy and light emotional tones. A heavier effort, it also saw the band achieve a bigger, fuller sound which did credit to its considerable talents. The Halflife EP came next, and was repackaged soon thereafter with 2001's Unleashed Memories.

The reason I mention Lacuna Coil, is that Evanescence is exactly like Lacuna Coil in almost everyway save that IMO, Evanescence's music is missing the emotion and just plain talent of Lacuna Coil. "So what?" you're probably thinking, two bands that sound exactly alike. There's nothing wrong with that right?

The problem I have with the band is this. Just a few months after releasing their debut album Evanescence is now enjoying quite a bit of mainstream commercial success, while the much better band Lacuna Coil (who have been making albums for awhile now) toil in relative obscurity. It can't be a language barrier as LC sings in English with a few Italian tracks. It can't be the quality of the music as the lead singer of LC could sing circles around the singer of Evanescence. The only reason that I can see for this, is that Evanescence is a band from US (Arkansas) while Lacuna Coil is from Italy. This pisses me off as both a fan of great music, and as an American that is tired of MTV telling the masses what music we should be listening to. If Lacuna Coil only had the exposure they deserve then maybe, just maybe we never would have heard of Evanescence in the first place.

Thoughts?

[Troll King]

The Beatles had plenty of explosure but we still heard about Oasis. Assuming that one group's success comes because another was overlooked is a very haphazard leap of logic.

[ÆNIMA]

Not every talented band out there wants to be mainstream.

Just because one group works harder doesn't mean they'll get paid off, nothing's fair.

"A much better band" is a matter of opinion and not an actual fact.

Leave credit to who actually wrote this, plagiarism is a crime.

[CrvenBan]

Beatles and Oasis are not easily compared as are Evanescence and Lacuna Coil, and reason is, among other things that there is 30 years apart between those two bands. How about comparing Beatles to a band like The Move, which was the best and most important band of late '60s in UK but never made it in the US. Not to mention other late '60s early '70s that were making music as good as the Beatles yet remained totally unknown other than locally.
With that being said, lets move on. I'm not fan of goth type of music so I didn't listen too much for LC but I've heard some stuff, and they're original and talented band. Not to say Evanescence isn't but it's all this hype-media-marketing shit thing. For every band in last 5 years, that made it big through MTV, I can name at least 10 other bands that are still unknown and making better music than that crap MTV serves us (better music to me).
But I am pretty sure the kids today would eat alive every band served at them, telling them: this is cool to listen to (but music that these MTV promoted bands make is: less complex, and lyrics are not provocative - you can't argue that, it's the way it is). You won't see an MTV promoted, new band make a 15mins long epic song (which does not have to be good, but it will have ambition).
And that is the truth, in order to get big through tv, you have to 'sell out' - make radio friendly songs, be featured in big movies, have shows done about you. Bands that keep riding on their integrity keep getting shit, ie:
Sell outs, comercial fucks, in it for the money:
Metallica
Limp Bizkit
Korn
Kid rock
Linkin Park
Sum 41, blink 182, good charlotte - omfg
Godsmack (REASON to why thier latest album is called Faceless is, in words of their frontman: "We have had 3 albums out, and are still unknown, and faceless in the eyes of MTV and its audience) FUCK THAT

In order to do good without tv, a band has to tour a lot, and gather following like that, then the MTV maybe picks on them, makes them even bigger (grunge movement, Tool, RATM...) and then, if a band has integrity, they will not change their sound in which case they will be basically dropped from MTV, yet selling millions, going big ie grunge movement, Tool, RATM... (when was it last time you heard anything from Tool on MTV....plus they had like 10secs news bit when Layne died....fucking corporative assholes).

Too bad for the artist, they don't earn well desereved cash, but I like my bands to stay in shadows, making good, meaningful music, and I hope they win lottery.
FUCK MTV, FUCK TV, FUCK RADIOPLAY, FUCK THEM ALL.

[FatherG]

Another "haphazard leap of logic" is to compare a band that is arguably the best rock & roll band ever, to one that doesn't have nearly as much success. It's like comparing Black Sabbath to Linkin Park.

You have to admit it is a bit messed up though. Evanescence seems to have directly ripped off Lacuna Coil's "style" and yet hardly a soul even knows who the hell LC is. It just pisses me off to see a vastly superior band not get the recognition they deserve. LC toils for years touring, putting out albums and making a name for themself when along comes Evanescence. They get put on one movie soundtrack and now they've legions of fans all over the world, radio airplay, videos on TV, etc, etc...

Does that honestly seem right to you?

[FatherG]

I'm not sure what the hell you're smoking ÆNIMA but I want some. The part of my post I lifted from the website you'll notice, is linked. Everything else "I" wrote.
This is called "Citing your sources". Would you like me to rewrite the post, as I was submitting this for an english class? I'm more than capable of doing so.

[Spybreak!]

Well since they are from Italy like you said, chances are they are already 10x better than any current US "rock" band...

The FM station I hate most that plays exactly what I dislike: K-rock/K-roq.

Best station around my area: Radio Disney

[FatherG]

By the by, the only reason they got on the DD soundtrack was due to them being friends with the band 12 Steps, who work with a major label and producer. It wasn't a question of talent or hard work, they just knew the right people which is bullshit. Unfortunatly that's the way the world works :/


Last post, I swear.

[Sufficient]

Don't get your panties in a knot ... =/ ... this is nothing to get overly angry/upset over.

[Exotic]

12 steps = 12 stones?
Anyway,Evanescence is getting played out with that shit song they have out now. Also,Good Charlotte sucks so much..they have a guitarist who comes to TRL and dresses like a goth and sings pop,wich is sad.Although i LLLOOOOOVVVVEEEE pop.

Devo - Pop Music

[Heatha]

(Wake me up.)
Wake me up inside.
(I can't wake up.)
Wake me up inside.
(Save me. )
Call my name and save me from the dark.
(Wake me up. )
Bid my blood to run.
(I can't wake up. )
Before I come undone.
(Save me. )
Save me from the nothing I've become.

[Reepicheep]

Oh that's cool, you like music that sucks.

[FatherG]

Yea, 12 Stones. Had a brainfart when I wrote that post.

It occured to me that not everyone has heard LC's music, where everyone has heard Evanescences' so I went ahead and uploaded one of their songs to my webspace. Take a listen and draw your own conclusions.

Click. Lacuna Coil - Comalies

[ÆNIMA]

I'll believe that "you" wrote it, it just seemed a little too sophisticated for a forum junkie at the time I was reading it.

Crven, good post. Although you can't deny the fact that if something sounds good to your ears, it's still good, even if it has been compressed and processed by the marketting machine.

FatherG, has LC spoken out against Evanescance? Have the spoken out about wanting to be known, or becoming mainstream?
Do you think they WANT to be as famous and succesful as Evanescance? That could have a lot to do with their lack of fame and fortune.

When Green Day first signed a deal, they lost many fans that thought they had "sold out". The underground scene typically doesn't like mainstream, at least they pretend like they don't. But the truth about Green Day is that they signed the contract so they could put out music that they liked better, with the better equipment and studio time. It's not always what you think it is.

If you want to know what selling out is really about read these lyrics by Tool - Hooker with a Penis:

I met a boy wearing Vans, 501s, and a
Dope Beastie t, nipple rings, and
New tattoos that claimed that he
Was OGT,
From '92,
The first EP.

And in between
Sips of Coke
He told me that
He thought
We were sellin' out,
Layin' down,
Suckin' up
To the man.

Well now I've got some
A-dvice for you, little buddy.
Before you point the finger
You should know that
I'm the man,

And if I'm the man,

Then you're the man, and
He's the man as well so you can
Point that fuckin' finger up your ass.

All you know about me is what I've sold you,
Dumb fuck.
I sold out long before you ever heard my name.

I sold my soul to make a record,
Dip shit,
And you bought one.

So I've got some
Advice for you, little buddy.
Before you point your finger
You should know that
I'm the man,

If I'm the fuckin' man
Then you're the fuckin' man as well
So you can
Point that fuckin' finger up your ass.

All you know about me is what I've sold you,
Dumb fuck.
I sold out long before you ever heard my name.

I sold my soul to make a record,
Dip shit,
And you bought one.

All you read and
Wear or see and
Hear on TV
Is a product
Begging for your
Fatass dirty
Dollar

So...Shut up and

Buy my new record
Send more money
----

You can still make good music, even if you've "sold out".

[Verthanthi]

I heard Evanescence. They sound like 99% of the nu-metal out there. Oh wait, the difference is their singer is female. Their sound isn't anything new, and I doubt the band you mentioned invented the sound either.

As far as sellouts go, almost everyone sells out. XBOX hosts lollapalooza, Ozzy Osbourne drinks Pepsi, you can find commercials with The Clash or the Ramones in the background, Pallies wouldn't be caught dead in anything but Depends, and Iron Maiden has released four greatest hits collections in a row. The only people who haven't sold out aren't popular enough to.