Hedley and Evanescence CD Reviews

Hedley has released its self-titled debut album.

Courtesy of Universal Music

Hedley is trying to make the leap from Canadian Idol to American rock stardom and Evanescence is trying to rise again in their second studio release. Find out if either disc is worth your hard-earned allowance cash.

Kidzworld reviews Evanescence's second studio album, The Open Door.

Courtesy of Wind-Up Records

Hedley - Hedley

Hedley is a small town in British Columbia, Canada that reportedly once went up for sale for the price of a small closet in New York. It's also a band from the Great White North that's trying to break away from its small town roots and find success State-side. This alt-rock quartet plays clever power pop songs punctuated by the occasional ballad (Gunnin, Saturday) and hard-rock anthem (Villain). Sure, Hedley is a little rough around the edges but it's sort of refreshing to hear a band that is about more than hair gel and studio effects. Definitely worth a listen.

Hedley - Hedley Fun Facts

Hedley's self-titled debut was released a year earlier in Canada than it was in the US.

The album was recently certified Platinum in Canada.

Lead singer Jacob Hoggard was once the third-place contestant on Canadian Idol.

Hedley - Hedley Hot Tracks

Villain; Saturday

Hedley - Hedley Rating:

Evanescence - The Open Door

Has the moody, sullen, goth-lite band had its day? Evanescence is about to find out. Its second studio release stays true to the formula that made the band successful in the first place - moodiness, moodiness and more moodiness. Of course some things have changed - like the fact that the moodiest component of Evanescence, Ben Moody, has left the band and that front-woman Amy Lee has become a bone fide rock star. She broods over this fact in Weight of the World (If you love me, then let go of me/ I won't be held down by who I used to be). The Open Door isn't a terribly interesting new album but it does stay true to Evanescence's roots. If you were a fan of Evanescence's earlier work, you're bound to dig The Open Door.

Evanescence - The Open Door Fun Facts

A song Amy Lee wrote for The Chronicles of Narnia (which didn't make it into the film in the end) is not included on the album but part of it has been used as the intro to Good Enough.

Amy Lee has gone on record as saying that if Ben Moody hadn't left Evanescence, a second album would never have been made.

Amy Lee's sisters, Carrie and Lorrie, are credited with singing background vocals on the first single, Call Me When You're Sober.