Trans-Siberian Orchestra - The Lost Christmas Eve
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Free Music Notes for The Lost Christmas Eve
Free Music Review: Christmas Found
Hit: 5 Stars
It is not unusual for a musical group that has had two or three successful releases, to become complacent by their fourth release. The band can get mired in its own hype or simply run out of creative ideas.
With that in mind, I did not have high expectations for The Lost Christmas Eve, the fourth offering from The Trans-Siberian Orchestra. As it turns out, my low expectations were completely misplaced, considering that this release may be the group’s finest effort to date.
In The Lost Christmas Eve, the angel from Christmas Eve and Other Things ,the band’s first release, returns to earth on another mission from his Creator.
I will not retell the story, but I will say this – it is a modern classic Christmas story that ranks right up there with a Charles Dickens tale. As a matter of fact, I challenge anyone to read the entire story of The Lost Christmas Eve that is enclosed with the CD, without shedding tears. The song lyrics do a good job of telling the story, but it is pretty hard to grab hold of the story’s true meaning without reading the enclosed booklet and lyrics.
Once the listener fully understands what the storyteller is trying to convey, The Lost Christmas Eve begins to come alive. The arrangements are a near perfect blend of traditional Christmas carols, classical infusions, and the 70’s-style guitar laden rock sound that is The Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
You can tell that Paul O’Neill and the band are having a good time on The Lost Christmas Eve and nowhere is it more evident than in Christmas Jam, an all out rockin’ piece of guitar screaming thunder. The earth shaking continues with the following track, Siberian Sleigh Ride.
On the traditional Christmas standard, O Come All Ye faithful, we hear the familiar raspy rhythm and blues voice of Daryl Pediford, who is best known for the standout number, Music Box Blues, which closes out The Christmas Attic, the second release in The Trans-Siberian Orchestra Christmas trilogy.
Unfortunately, this turned out to be Daryl’s last contribution to the orchestra. Daryl died on October 30th, 2004, just as the bands (there are two touring orchestras) were hitting the road for the Christmas 2004 tour. This is a tremendous loss. Daryl was a great singer and performer and will be greatly missed.
The Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s remake of Christmas Canon, from The Christmas Attic, now titled Christmas Canon Rock, is a fiery reworking of this gentle song, which was originally paced perfectly by a children’s choir. A powerful single female vocalist surrounded by soaring guitars has replaced the choir and classical strings.
The Lost Christmas Eve closes with what will likely become a modern classic, Different Wings:
And so it’s here our story ends
Exactly where it did start
In that labyrinth of mystery
We call the human heart
For they say that without it
No one can truly live
And it also has been rumored
That without it, we cannot forgive.
If you don’t mind your traditional holiday music sprinkled with a great deal of passion and a lot of fire, then this CD is for you. As a matter of fact, if you have not experienced The Trans-Siberian Orchestra, then you are missing out on some of the best Christmas music currently available. The Trans-Siberian Orchestra does not reproduce carbon copies of traditional Christmas fare, like so many of today’s popular performers, but instead infuses our old favorites with a healthy and welcome dose of meaning and creativity. The music is an eclectic mix of styles that blend together very, very well.
If you are one of those unfortunate souls that has completely given up on Christmas, altogether, due to the commercialism and the hectic non-stop buying frenzy and if the following verses, from What Is Christmas? describes who you have come to be:
Every year it returns here
And every year it’s waiting for me
Why can’t Christmas disappear?
And just pretend it never saw me
then The Lost Christmas Eve, The Christmas Attic, and Christmas Eve and Other Things are all must-haves for you. Through these modern glimpses of musical hope in the human spirit, you will once again, come to believe.
Free Music Review: I have mixed feelings about this album
Hit: 5 Stars
On a whole I'd say this album is worth a 5 star rating, but I have some mixed feelings about what is on the CD. This year, as I have for the last 4 years, I went to see TSO live in concert. I had hoped they'd do this new story as their main part of the show, but they didn't. They did however play several songs from this album in the 2nd half. I had not heard the CD before going to the show and as I listened to these new "Christmas" songs I felt like the songs were more classical re-hashes rather than Christmas style songs. I thought "Shouldn't this be on a Beethoven's Last Night Round 2 type of CD instead of Christmas album?"
Well I bought the CD after the show and got a chance to listen to the whole thing and I noticed that my first impressions were correct. There are a lot of songs on this CD that are vocals and are definitely a holiday theme because of the words, but the instrumentals had classical music undertones and the only thing "Christmassy" about some of them was the title. "Wish Liszt" is a perfect example. It's an awesome song, but a total take off of Franz Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody #2, or from Bugs Bunny for the less musically educated! :)
At first I felt a little duped because I felt they threw a lot of non-Christmas music onto this "Christmas" album. But then I thought, "If I had to write a brand new Christmas song without lyrics and without re-hashing an old Christmas song how would I do it?" Besides Christmas bells (which some songs use) I really couldn't think of anything, so I guess I really can't complain about the instrumentals not feeling Christmas-like.
As for the rest of the album, some of the vocals went a little too far "Broadway." But there are some great jazz pieces in there too. Darly Pediford, wherever you are, you're still the man; I only wished you had more than the one short song on this album. There are also some remakes of songs on previous albums, but I like them all the same. You'll also notice alot of "variations on a theme" like the use of bits of "O Come All Ye Faithfull" in several pieces, but to me, that's a common Broadway musical tactic, so it didn't phase me.
If you like rock opera, upbeat jazz, tricked out classical tunes, Broadway show tunes, Manheim steamroller Christmas music, or anything else TSO ever made then you'll certainly find something on this album for you. My eclectic music taste says "yes" to all of those so I had to give it 5 stars. And if you haven't been to a concert..GO...I can't verbally express how much seeing them live has enhanced my enjoyment of their CDs. Their light show and stage energy stays with you long after seeing the concert.
Free Music Review: Unforgettable
Hit: 5 Stars
There are many different types of Christmas music: light-hearted tunes in the vein of Alvin & the Chipmunks, classical tunes made popular by Bing Crosby or the Rat Pack, and sacred music as has been recorded by nearly every contemporary artist that releases a holiday album. And then there is the tradition of rock holiday instrumentals, made famous by Mannheim Steamroller and carried on by Trans-Siberian Orchestra. "The Lost Christmas Eve" is the third album of TSO's Christmas trilogy that began with 1996's "Christmas Eve and Other Stories". Once more, the album is a rock opera - a story told through rock music, not unlike the famed operas of old - but again, you don't have to be familiar with the story to appreciate the music.
TSO Christmas albums feature two kinds of music: songs related to the story of that particular opera, and familiar holiday sounds revved up by guitars. On "The Lost Christmas Eve", highlights of the former include 'Anno Domine', a song that would fit in well with a scene from Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" as Scrooge wakes up to a new tomorrow; 'For the Sake of Our Brother', which combines the classical hymn 'Adeste Fideles' and a tragic song about the birth of Christ into a gentle lullaby; 'Back to a Reason, Pt. 2', a Les Miserables-esque dark tale of hopelessness; and 'What Child is This?', a combination of the classic Greensleeves melody mixed with fresh lyrics and a rock anthem about forgiveness and realizing the truth of the holiday.
The instrumental hymns on this album are also exquisite. 'Wizards in Winter' is a Nutcracker-like playful tune that has been immortalized on holiday light displays throughout the country, while 'Queen of the Winter Night' is a rock version of Mozart's 'Queen of the Night'. 'Siberian Sleigh Ride' combines wailing guitars with a driving beat, and 'Wish Liszt' is a delightful re-working of a Franz Liszt melody. But perhaps the most potent instrumental on this one is 'Christmas Canon Rock', a re-make of TSO's 1998 song 'Christmas Canon' from the "Christmas in the Attic" album. This one rocks more, and manages to convey a sense of desperation that Pachelbel never hit upon.
Overall, while I wouldn't rate "The Lost Christmas Eve" as the best of the TSO holiday trilogy (that honor belongs to "Christmas Eve and Other Stories"), this one comes in a close second. It's not only delightful holiday listening, it's unforgettable.
Free Music Review: Great concept album about a lost soul.
Hit: 5 Stars
This album is wonderfully done. It's a concept album about an angel looking to spread Christmas cheer. The songs follow his quest, and that of a business man who finds Christmas in his long lost son. The full synopsis of the album can be found in the jacket.
The songs are very moving, thought provoking, and all blend very well together. There's barely a pause between songs. The whole story is well presented, and easy to follow.
This album is very haunting, and rather dark. My favorite songs are Wizards In Winter, Wish Liszt(Hungarian Rhapsody, some might recognize this from the famous Bugs Bunny cartoon with the mouse on a piano in a concert hall),Back To Reason(a follow up to a song on Poets & Madmen by Savatage), and What Child Is This(A rewrite on what has happened in life).
In Wish Liszt I find it stupendous that they could take a classical piece for a solo piano and turn it into such a resounding smash hit with drums, guitars, strings, and of course keyboards.
The members of Savatage, Jon Oliva, Al Pitrelli, Chris Caffery, Johnny Lee Middleton, and Jeff Plate jam on Christmas Canon Rock. They, and song writer Paul O'Neil, get together with 15 other members to create the band. Also included are three choirs, violins, violas, cellos, and 10 soloists, including two children.
It's the ultimate creshendo to the Christmas trilogy. This album combines Christmas carols, classical music by Mozart, Liszt, Pachabel, blues, jazz, and of course a great measure of metal.
This, like so much else by T.S.O, is a great way for people who may not be big fans of classical, metal, jazz, or blues to get into other styles of music.
This is a must buy for anyone who loves passionate, heartfelt music.
Also recommended for those who like this are: Wake Of Magellan, Poets & Madmen, Hall Of The Mountian King, Gutter Ballet, and Dead Winter Dead, all by Savatage.
Free Music Review: TSO: the Lost Christmas Eve
Hit: 5 Stars
First of all i'm 15 but the dang thing wont let me type a review because i havent purcased an item yet. I got this cd for christmas this year and now its early feb. and i'm still listening to it RIGHT NOW. Ive a seen the comercials on the tv(around christmas) for the last few years and i finaly decided i wanted it. this is unargueably my FAVORITE cd i have not gone through one day after christmas with out listening to it.
Now to the album high lights:
"Wizards in Winter" is absolutely aweinspiring and my favorite. its fairly fast-paced and i like the way the classical music and rock are mixed...Very well done :)
"Queen of winter night" is another great track. its not slow and the rock and classical are equaly balenced and blended.
"Christmas Nights in Blue" is the best non-instrumental of them all! not so much classicalinthis one,its mostly rock. its nice and rythmic and thelyrics are some of the best.
"Christmas Jam" is realy heavy on the rock butstill has the classical feel. its one of the faster tracks and has great guitar lines mixed in. on the case it doesnt say its a instrumental but it might as well be only 2 words are said literaly .
"Siberian Sleigh ride" is a great track with more rock than classical. this has to be my second favorite on the cd.
"Wish Liszt" is most likely third it has classical mixed with rock in the best way. it stars with a slow piano solo then adds guitar and another. teh classical ond rock are put back to back and seem to never end.
even some one who is not in to classical or rock will like this cd. hopefully next year i can go see thier concert in Syracuse Ny in november :)