Perfect Imperfection

I am a sucker for strings. It is my humble opinion that the addition of strings and other orchestral instruments can greatly improve any genre of music (look what it has done for the Boston Symphony Orchestra). I mean the jury is still out on Orchestral Polka, but we're talking about something that is an abomination of nature, not music.

Orchestration adds power to Rock (Red and Skillet anyone). Not power in volume, that is accomplished by simply turning up the amp. No I'm talking scale. Orchestration makes things Majestic (all apologies to Kari Jobe). Not all bands can be majestic. Strings will make no improvement to Southern Gospel. And a Pop band with Strings and Orchestration will just be silly. You can't really dance to it.

Just Like the aforementioned Red and Skillet, EVANESCENCE was born for this type of remake. The songs (Lost In Paradise, My Heart is Broken, Lithium, Imaginary), are majestic on their own, Orchestras pump up the majesty one hundred fold. And Amy Lee. Even without strings her voice sends shivers up your spine. Deceptively delicate, when the music crescendos  so does her voice above it all, as if daring the music to try to drown her out.

Synthesis is technically a best-of album, but there are two new originals in the mix, so we have a studio and compilation in one. I have tried to stay away from Best of albums, since you can cherry pick the best, it is kind of unfair. I usually stick with the multiple-artist variety, since the different artists allow for varied talent and better judging. The Album begins with Overture, the only instrumental track, which lasts only a minute, but sets the tone, this is not your average Evanescence album, as if one exists.

Full disclosure: I have been a fan from before Fallen, when Christian Industrial Radio on the web played Even In Death. Evanescence is AMY LEE. Her voice is what makes it special. You know those "would you listen to this artist sing the phone book" Hypothetical Questions, she tops the list. Worst Songs: NONE Favorites: ALL. I will attempt a few highlights.

• Secret Door (Lost Whispers) - Don't let the 2016 Release Date fool you. This is an album of Forgotten Tunes, B-Sides That weren't good enough for Fallen (You know, that 7x+ Platinum Album). The executive who thought that shouldn't be allowed near another artist in his or her life. Simply Haunting. It has only gotten better.
• Imaginary (Fallen) - One of My Two biggest Faves from the "debut" (the other being Tourniquet (which precedes it and makes a two-song rock opera megasong). The techno addition make it great for the dance floor, which can't be said of many Evanescence songs. The orchestra makes this one soar.
• Lacrymosa (The Open Door) - I Can't Change Who I Am. This is probably the most soaring song on the album. It builds to a blow you away end.
• Lost In Paradise (Evanescence) - Song of The Year anyone? I never thought that this song could get more majestic than it already was. The Original was 2012's Song Of The Year. The strings lift Amy as she sings "Run Away, Run Away. One Day We We Won't Feel This Pain Anymore." The bridge reaches a crescendo only to have a delicate crash lead into Your Star.
• Imperfection (Synthesis) - The song that caused this album to have an EXPLICIT label, because of 1 use of the F-Bomb (highly appropriate in context of the song). "Don't you dare surrender, don't leave me here without you, cause I could never replace your perfect imperfection." FYI surrender=suicide. Who needs a psychiatrist when you've got Amy Lee.

The World does not contain the amount of Emeralds that this album deserve. Fortunately for us I can only give 5 Emeralds.  While it is unlike the others, in one way it is alike. You cannot improve perfection. Get Synthesis. You will not be disappointed. Until Next time, I am  Awaiting Your Reply.