Trans-Siberian Orchestra has a well-deserved reputation for blending hard-driving metal rock and symphonic classical music into something glorious for the holidays.
As a fan, I count The Christmas Attic as one of my favorite CDs. The first thing I had to do however, when reviewing this double CD was to overcome the disappointment that this wasn't that long-anticipated and hoped-for (five years) Christmas album from a group that knows how to make the holidays, well… magnificent.
If you’re looking for the perfect gift for a heavy metal/acid rock fan; this is it. I should warn you ahead of time however, that it is very hard for a great musical group to top themselves once they’ve released something incredible. The best example of this would be Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 album Rumours, which made them superstars. In an attempt to keep their fans happy and top themselves, the band released an over-bulked double album entitled Tusk, in 1979, which promptly fell on its face.
In an attempt to avoid FM’s example, Trans-Siberian Orchestra has become afraid of losing or not living up to its own notoriety. In the process of trying to top themselves, TSO has become guilty of over-producing, over-repeating, over-creating, and over-performing.
Perhaps worst of all, is TSO forsaking the format that made them famous to begin with.
Band leader Paul O’Neil apparently has never been told that too much of a good thing will sometimes give you a stomach ache. The net effect is that the instrumentals, vocals, and story here are over-perfected and extended to such a point they may have become too sterile to be touched by human hands.
The simple, yet beautiful tale of a young girl and her grandfather’s castle on the beach has been bulked up into a mini-novel. The 66-page booklet is required reading if you have any hope of understanding the plot. The tale is extended across two CDs that are full of lead vocals drenched and saturated with anguish, pain, anger, resentment and righteous indignation.
In other words, opera on a triple overdose of steroids. Some songs are extended long after their usefulness, by screaming guitar riffs competing with drum solos competing with the sort of vocal yodeling appropriate for live albums…but not here.
Article comments
1 - Jet Gardner
it's not that I didn't like the CD-I did-it's just the disappointment that it wasn't a long awaited Christmas album.
Also the thing is so over produced as to be like a huge artificially made diamond from a lump of coal. it looks nice, it's a real diamond, but it's just not natural to be so perfect.
2 - Jet Gardner
A word of warning to my fellow writers. When a publisher only gives you 5 tracks in order to review a 26-track double-cd by a major group, there's probably a good reason that they're hiding something.
I found this out after getting the final version.
3 - Glen Boyd
...and you also might've just pissed off a contact by saying so publically rather than in private. Word to the wise...best notto bite the hand that feeds.
-Glen
4 - Glen Boyd
Trust me, I've done it too and learned the hard way.
-Glen
5 - Christopher Rose
There are so many hands that feed so if they give you crap, give 'em crap back.
Too many PR sources think it is okay to pull this stuff. Off with their heads I say!
6 - Jet Gardner
I calls them as I sees them... Thanks Chris
7 - Jet Gardner
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The comment?
Happy Thanksgiving everyone :)
8 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
No Offense, Jet...
BUT, TSO has always been an overly polished gimmick. They are like the Mannheim Steamroller of generic Hard Rock/Metal. Honestly, I think the musicians are talented but they use all the cliches & tricks which makes their music sound cheap no matter what studio magic the engineers use.
9 - Jet Gardner
Non taken Brian, and I agree. This CD personifies their stage show where you can't see the band because the laser show takes over with smoke and fog. Every member of the band is trying to outplay every other member of the band and the net result is an overload.
Their christmas cds are done much better and with a much more thorough blending of clasical with rock.
10 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
I can definitely understand why people like TSO's Christmas cds. They put their own spin on it. Still, I have a hard time listening to them. It's way too homogenized and the human factor is missing. Ultimately, I think TSO is really just about entertainment and their CDs don't hold up to any critical listening. It's background music for "get-togethers" and cellphone calls.
11 - Mark
It sucks, period!
12 - Jet Gardner
Well... basically that's what I was saying, but I was trying to be diplomatic about it.