I simply love Christmas. I've always been that way about it. I love everything about Christmas time. I love the fact almost the entire world recognizes a holiday rooted in celebrating the birth of Jesus (whether they celebrate it that way or not.) I love the symbol of St. Nick (I'm thinking of putting up the real history of St. Nicholas so be looking for that soon) and I don't have a problem having Santa bring a few gifts for my little girl either. I love the focus on music this time of year, and this is probably one of the few let downs for me at the same time. While everyone thinks about and plays music more during Christmas time, usually I don't care for the music they are playing.
So with Trans-Siberian Orchestra, I get Christmas music for me! No it's not like the speed metal version of 'Silent Night' by Deliverance, but man I just can't listen to this CD enough! What do you get? Christmas music! Top notch musicianship with players who have performed on broadway in different productions and others who have been in music well over 20 years now. To put it simply this is Christmas Rock Opera material.
The vocals change from song to song. They range from children's choir vocals, to female operatic vocals, to male blues vocals to incredible male singing vocals. I can't help but compare this CD to Savatage, and I only just now found out that Paul O'Neill worked with Savatage on two of their later rock opera albums Streets and Dead Winter Dead, so that comparison seems pretty fair.
This album is on Lava/Atlantic records, a major secular label, but the story is what's so amazing! There is no denying the fact that the story (which I will print at the end of this review) is simply a Christian based, modern day Christmas story. Filled with the magic, warmth and spirituality we know and love this holiday for.
I have noticed that my local radio station will only play 'Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24' which is one of the many instrumentals on this CD and I figure it's because they are avoiding the lyrics. One song, 'Good King Joy' comes out and tells the full Christmas story.
This CD is something that must be heard to be believed! I can't stress to you enough that you need to at least find a copy and listen to it. It may not be for you, but if you're looking to hear some superb, quality, and powerful Christmas music that is not your usual fare, Christmas Eve and Other Stories delivers and more...
10/10
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 1998Reviewed by Shari LloydTrans-Siberian Orchestra is a side-project of Savatage and producer/songwriter Paul O'Neill. Part of the album is a reworking of Christmas classics into a symphonic prog rock format. The album effectively combines the impact of both an orchestra and a full chorus with the harder edge of a rock 'n' roll band. You'll find everything from the usual rock band instruments to French horns and cellos,…The Lighthouse December 1997Reviewed by Roger AppelinskiIf I hadn't heard this project last year, I'd say this is the freshest Christmas project I've ever heard (you see, this album released last Christmas but did not receive national distribution-so it was re-released this year with national distribution and promotion). It was fresh then and hasn't gone stale in the year since I heard it either. The reason I call it fresh is that I've never heard a…Dead Zine 1996Reviewed by NecRoSarXThis is probably the Mannheim Steamroller Christmas album Chip Davis would put out if he had too much Christmas cheer. As Christmas CDs go, I find this disc very inspirational, very well played and very different from the normal glut of Christmas muzak that seems to clog the overhead speakers in every department store in the country after Columbus Day. This is the first time I've heard an…Similar sounding releases
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