Carly Smithson: The New Amy Lee?

noah | June 18, 2009 11:30 am

Carly Smithson–the 2008 American Idol contestant who was also the poster child for the record industry’s problems in a 2002 Wall Street Journal piece–is joining forces with all the dudes fired from Evanescence to form a new band called The Fallen, according to USA Today. (Any resemblance between the band’s name and the title of Evanescence’s 2003 breakthrough album is probably coincidental.) It’s probably a good fit, all around–the tattooed, world-weary Smithson sang the band’s big hit “Bring Me To Life” on last year’s Idols Live tour, and she can certainly belt out a tune or two. Her journey along the Idol path last year ended too soon in my opinion; while I was certainly skeptical about her major-label past when she first was announced as a finalist, her puppy-like demeanor and undeniable pipes gradually won me over, and I was kind of sad when she got the boot instead of the irritating Syesha Mercado two Aprils ago. Plus, check out this quote she gave to USA Today Idol reporter Brian Mansfield: “The first time we rehearsed, everybody started in on this jam of Iron Maiden. I was like, ‘I’m in a band! I love this!’ ” How can you not like that enthusiasm? The Fallen [Official site] “Idol” belter Carly Smithson’s band falls into place [USA Today]