Here's an embarrassing confession: I've listened to Carly Smithson's American Idol performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Superstar" so many times, you'll find it in the Top 10 Most Played list on my iTunes. So you won't be surprised to discover that I positively freaked when I found out that the Irish songbird who spent Idol's seventh season getting treated by Simon Cowell like a rawhide chew in the mouth of a Rottweiler is finally taking her first post-show steps toward success.
Yes indeedy, USA Today reports that Smithson is teaming up with three of the four original members of multiplatinum-selling rockers Evanescence — guitarists Ben Moody and John LeCompt and drummer Rocky Gray — plus bassist Marty O'Brien to form a new band, The Fallen, and that their first single, "Bury Me Alive," will be available for free download starting Monday at wearethefallen.com.
Apparently, the band will start touring in September and release songs in small batches, "so there's always new music and new reasons to come to another show," according to Moody.This intense, world-altering news should result in several important changes in my life:
Upshot #1: Now that Smithson's got herself a legit band, my iPod suddenly outs me as an "early adopter" instead of a tragique fanboy. (After the jump, check out the sadness video Idolatry exec producer Jason Averett and I posted on EW.com the night of Carly's Idol ouster.)
Upshot #2: Looks like Carly's going to be rocking a helluva lot harder than she did on Ultimate High, her 2001 major-label solo disc released under the name Carly Hennessy. (True confessions: That disc's lead single, "I'm Gonna Blow Your Mind," can be found on my 100 Most Played List, too. Okay, so I'm back to tragique fanboy.)
Upshot #3: Simon Cowell can suck it!
What do you think of Smithson's deal? Will teaming up with Moody & Co. give her a shot at becoming the next Daughtry-like success to rise from the Idol ashes? Or would she have been better off going solo? And paired with successful major-label discs from Davids Cook and Archuleta, an upcoming Atlantic set from Jason Castro, and anticipated indie releases from Michael Johns and Brooke White this summer, are the season 7 alumni rocking harder than any other?
Comments (1-30) of 68 Add your comment
Awesome!
But I, uh, never knew Evanescence broke up. Or did they break up?
Slezak you are the best thanks for the scoop! I think this is a great move for Carly. Remember she performed “Bring Me To Life” on the idol tour and was amazing. Also Kelly Clarkson had success teaming up with Moody. I’ve concluded season 7 is the best idol season ever and will soon wipe out all talk of the success of various season 5 alumni.
Finally! Any carly is good Carly, and it sounds like a great fit. She is so likable and castable, it’s really hard for me to believe that no one in the new model of today’s music is punpming out records with her one them. I think the ashes of Evanescence are more phoenix than fizzle!
This is awesome! just awesome! suck it Simon!!
Kath, they did not break up, the band left, and Amy Lee herself (with other band people i guess) still performs under the name Evanescence.
I think if Carly keeps thinking that she is a hard rocker, it is a bad move! Lame! Allison=rocker, Carly=not a rocker. Sorry Slezak!
CM: Amy Lee got a big head and fired the rest of the band because she wanted to do something different which royally sucked.
I never realized Carly Hennessy and Carly Smithson were one and the same. I bought Carly’s single I’m Gonna Blow Your Mind and listened to it repeatedly back then.
This is seriously the best news I’ve gotten all day. Ben just released a solo album (Amazon/iTunes) last week. Now this? Carly was awesome on “Bring Me to Life” during the AI tour last summer. John and Rocky are incredibly skilled musicians.
Yeah, this is good news.
I read this on mjsbigblog earlier, I think this is the most *amazing* news. I love Carly and her voice, and I was a bit worried about her totally being swallowed up in the music industry as a solo artist, so I’m really glad she’s doing the band thing, and Evanescence-y type music is definitely her thing.
As for Season 7, at the time I thought it was the best Idol season in terms of talent, and my initial beliefs seem to be being slowly confirmed by the industry.
Also, Slezak, you’re not alone…I’ll join you in tragique fanboy/girl land with my 115 songs from AI7. Yes, you read that right. 115. And it’s the most listened to playlist on my iPod by far.
“Superstar” is in my Most Played, too!
I saw her do an acoustic set at the HDC on British night and told her about the Superstar joining my most played ranks, and she laughed. But that version is really good. Sorry, Ben Vereen.
This is exciting news. I became a big Carly fan as season 7 went on, and I look forward to hearing this.
All of the people in this band are very deserving. I for one would like to see talented deserving people get a break. Its not often enough that good people get to suceed. Amy Lee fired the the origional members. I’d like to see those guys get so much sucess that it makes Amy Lees look like a flash in the pan, and take carly with them! She certainly is more deserving then Amy.
I am thrilled for Carly! On my Top Ten Most Played is her gorgeous rendition of Blackbird. I’m still so irritated at Simon for talking about his aversion to birds rather than her amazing vocal. I agree: suck it, Simon!!
I am thrilled for Carly! On my Most Played list is her gorgeous rendition of Blackbird–I’m still so irritated with Simon for going on about his bird aversion rather than recognizing her amazing vocal. I agree, Slezak–suck it, Simon!!
suck it Amy Lee
I’m glad Carly is doing this. I really like Evanescence and she reminded me of Amy Lee in a way with still being herself. I think the band will be good, but at the same time I’m glad Evanescence is still together and doing things.
Who’s Carly Smithson?
I’s so so happy! Carly was my favorite in season 7, she won me over with Crazy on you and Come together. Love her voice.
Simon eat that!!
This is a good time for female-fronted rock bands, too. With Lacuna Coil, Within Temptation, and Nightwish all having huge cult followings, and new bands like Halestorm getting good radio play right out of the box, The Fallen could do very, very well. Plus, Ben Moody has quietly gone about building a lot of cred in the music industry as a producer and songwriter since Amy Lee fired him from the band he co-founded. He even has co-writing credits on “Because of You” by Kelly Clarkson and “What About Now” by Daughtry, so he has some connections with RCA and 19E. This definitely has some potential.
Great time for chick bands! Another up and coming band I’ve notice start to rise is a band called Ellsbeth. They get a lot of plays and for an album they did independently, it’s all killer and no filler! http://www.myspace.com/ellsbethmusic
Great time for chick bands! I’m looking forward to checking out Fallen’s music. Way to go Carly! Another up and coming band that’s rising fast is a band called Ellsbeth out of Hollywood.
For an album they did independently, it’s all killer and no filler and damn do they get a lot of plays online!
http://www.myspace.com/ellsbethmusic
oops, scratch my last entry! I didn’t realize my comment posted lol
F*** YEAH!!!!!!! I’ve been wondering why the best season 7 contestant hasn’t gotten a deal yet! FINALLY!! WAY TO GO CARLY!!!!!
Michael,
1. You rock my world.
2. Carly & co are genius. This is a great move for her.
3. Better yet, it’s what she wants which makes #2 even sweeter.
4. Idolatry coined our fan site, Carly’s Angels, and now we get to be “The Fallen Angels” which is equally sweet and fitting. So #1 again.
http://www.carlysangels.net
brilliant move. i’ve listened to that little sample of “Let Me Fall” (one of the singles she’s been working on that we got to hear a bit of in an interview) about a million times and i’ve been checking up regularly to find out when i can get the full version. and my first impression of the song was that it sounded like evanessence, except with better vocals and less whine. she’ll be great.
I am so thrilled for Carly! I was beginning to get worried that we were going to hear nothing from her, so when I heard this news, it made my day. I hope this move brings her plenty of success because I think she deserves it. Best of luck to her and the band. I will be buying their cd when it comes out.
I didn’t mind the singer for Evanescence. I cannot imagine liking this new set-up because I could never stand Ms Smithson’s vocals. I never believed her emotionally for a second. But then I can’t stand Celine Dion for the same reason so what do I know?
i’m happy for Carly…because i watched season 7 of American Idol and she DOES have a great voice…but myself being a HARDCORE EVANESCENCE FAN, i honestly think Ben is trying to get back at Amy. It IS like another form of Evanescence. BOTH ex-guitarists and the Drummer for Evanescence are in this new band… and Carly resembles Amy, dont you all think that Ben is doing this on PURPOSE??! I really can’t wait to hear their music to see how much it sounds like Evanescence. this is horrible.
EVANESCENCE FOREVER.<3
I’m with Slezak on the playability of Carly’s Idol downloads: her heartbreaking version of “Here You Come Again” is one of my top 50 most played. Glad she’s finally taking a step towards making Simon Cowell suck it!