Origin (Evanescence demo album)

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Origin is a demo album by American rock band Evanescence. A compilation of home-recorded demos from 1996 to 1999, the CD was self-released and sold at local shows, and then packaged to showcase to record labels. It contains demos written and recorded by co-founders Amy Lee and Ben Moody for their earlier independent EPs in the 1990s, including "Whisper", "Imaginary", and "My Immortal", which appear on their debut album Fallen (2003). A total of 2,000 copies of the CD were made and sold by the website of a local company, Bigwig Enterprises, from November 4, 2000 to 2003.

Background

As Evanescence, Lee and Moody had composed and home-recorded demos, including two EPs, Evanescence (1998) and Sound Asleep (1999), which they sold at their live shows.Template:Refn Their early demos got them airplay on the local modern rock station in Little Rock, which helped them develop a local fanbase, allowing them to play a couple of bigger shows a year and hire other musicians to perform other instruments live.<ref name="Harrington"/> Although they played with guest musicians, Evanescence remained a duo. "It was more because that's what we did and how we worked rather than not wanting any other input", Lee recalled;<ref name="smh">Template:Cite news</ref> "The idea of a full band playing these songs was something that only came along later."<ref name="symphonic">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Moody said that at the time Lee and he were focused on writing music over playing live shows, and they did not want to have a band join their writing process; "we just wanted it to be the two of us and so we'd play once or twice a year."<ref name="PP"/> In 2003, Moody stated that he did not remember how many EPs they released, and he viewed their EPs as "really just a means"; CDs "we could sell ourselves at our shows so we could go out and buy pizza. They really weren't official releases".<ref name="PP"/>

They sold the home-made demo CD Origin at local shows. After driving to Memphis, Tennessee to get it mastered at Ardent Studios,<ref name="Paul"/><ref name="Scuzz">Template:Cite interview</ref><ref name="Harrington"/> they packaged the CD, wanting to shop it to record labels.<ref name="PP"/><ref name="deo"/> It was self-released in 2000,<ref name="nytimes">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Sam"/> with 500 copies initially pressed.<ref name="deo"/> A total of 2000 copies were made,<ref name="deo"/><ref name="Sam"/> and sold on November 4, 2000, by the website of a local company, Bigwig Enterprises,<ref name="date"/> which marketed it as Evanescence's "debut CD".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Refn According to the Bigwig website, "Whisper" was the lead single from Origin, receiving airplay on local radio in Little Rock.<ref name="date">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Bigwig stated that the CD was out of print by early February 2003,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> before Evanescence's debut single "Bring Me to Life" was released on the Daredevil soundtrack album. Immediately after the release of their debut album Fallen (2003), the demo CD was sold for Template:US$ on eBay.<ref name="spinreview">Template:Cite magazine</ref>Template:Refn In 2003, Lee and Moody encouraged fans who were interested in their demos to download it rather than purchase it for such high prices online.<ref name="USAT">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="EvRef-mp3">Template:Cite interview</ref> When Lee was asked about a company acquiring their demos to sell them, she stated: "It has happened. There is a very dodgy company ... There's a guy that's ripping people off all over the Internet selling our demos; and he's selling it like it's Evanescence's first CD. [...] If you want to hear our old stuff, if you must, download it please. Don't try to spend your dollars and buy that CD; it has gone for that much before."<ref name="PP"/>

Origin contains tracks from Lee and Moody's earlier EPs, including "Whisper", "Imaginary", "My Immortal", and "Where Will You Go", the first three later appearing on Fallen (2003).<ref name="Paul">Template:Cite magazine</ref> "Imaginary" and "Where Will You Go" first appeared on the duo's 1998 Evanescence EP, and "My Immortal" was an outtake from that EP.Template:Refn "Whisper" is originally from their 1999 EP Sound Asleep.<ref name="Sound EP">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> The track "Even in Death" is from 1996, and is one of the songs Lee wanted on Fallen.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> They recorded the demos with an 8-track recorder at Moody's apartment and Lee's family's attic.<ref name="deo"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> They re-recorded "Whisper" and "Imaginary" for Fallen, while "My Immortal"'s demo recording from Origin was used by their label Wind-up Records on Fallen.Template:Refn As with other releases since the start of Evanescence, Lee was the core writer.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Although initially considered their debut album, Origin is a collection of demos.<ref name="Sam"/> Lee confirmed it was a dressed up demo CD,<ref name="PP">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="Scuzz"/> and stated in 2003:

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Lee said in 2007 that they were still finding themselves back then, and "it's hard to listen to the really old stuff without laughing at myself a little. But of course those songs will always be special to me, and remind me of a time in my life that was both wonderful and terrible." She stated that she's "always liked the idea of one day putting out a b-sides and rarities CD."<ref name="ewLeeInt">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Release

Origin was released commercially in February 2017 as a part of Evanescence's The Ultimate Collection vinyl box set.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="loudwire20161011">Template:Cite news</ref> Deeming it to be "like an embarrassing old diary" for herself,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web

}}</ref><ref name="stories">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Lee explained why she included it in the box set:

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Lee re-recorded the track "Even in Death" for the 2016 compilation album Lost Whispers, which was included in the box set.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She stated that re-recording it felt "like that song was truly redeemed because the early recording we have is not an enjoyable recording, but I really love that song."<ref name="TUC"/>

Critical reception

Sam Law of Kerrang! said that "there's limited reason for anyone other than die-hards to seek it out", deeming "Lies" the stand out track for Lee's "towering classical soprano delivery – the peak nu-metal synth/guitar interplay and additional death growls courtesy of Living Sacrifice vocalist Bruce Fitzhugh".<ref name="Sam"/>

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Origin.<ref name="credits">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>

Evanescence

• Amy Lee – vocals, piano, keyboards, arrangements
• Ben Moody – guitar, programming
• David Hodges – keyboards, backing vocals

Production

• Ben Moody – engineering
• Soundforge – recording technology
• Mastered at Ardent Studios in Memphis, Tennessee

Additional musicians

• Will Boyd – bass on "Away From Me"
• Bruce Fitzhugh and Stephanie Pierce – vocals on "Lies"
• Suvi Petrajajrvi, Sara Moore, Catherine Harris, and Samantha Strong – female vocal ensemble on "Field of Innocence"

Additional personnel

• Adrian James – package design
• Amy Bennett – site photography
• Rocky Gray – cover photo
• Ben Moody Sr. – band photography