[.ca] Dark Passion Play (Coll Ed)

Worst 2007 Rock/Metal album:
First, here are the reasons why the album lost 4 stars in my rating: 1: Songs are too popish and the melodies are cheap 2: Overall the album is really too slow 3: The singing is horrible 4: It just dosen't sound as big as many expected it to sound. They hired a huge orchestra and the album sounds even less symphonic than the albums they recorded with keyboards only. 5: Most of the songs are fillers 6: The instrumental song sounds so unoriginal. Compared to Moondance (see Oceanborn), it's a beginner's song. 7: The guitar riffs are more and more boring. In Once, they already began to put apart the guitar sections. The riffs in Once are the only and the main big problem in the album. In metal music, the guitar riffs are really important. Secondly, here are the reasons why I give this album 1 star and not less than that: 1: Marco's singing is kind of good. This man has it's own style of singing. 2: Some of the intros are interesting. Unfortunately, there are just the intros of the songs. 3: Even if I wanted, I can't give it less than 1 star. (just kidding) To resume, Nightwish has gone too sold-out. It used to be one of the only Power Metal/Symphonic Metal bands that I really liked. Now, I can't even call this metal. It sounds for me like stupid pop with a little bit of distorted power cords (from time to time).

WOW! DARK PASSION PLAY is one of the best metal albums of 2007.:
Wow!! This album is amazing. It's great. Bye Bye Beautiful is an amazing song. It has to be considered one of the best metal songs to be released in 2007. Amartine and Eva are two more of my favorite songs on this album. The first time I heard of Nightwish was on Much Loud and I was very impressed with Nightwish. Evanescence can step aside because Nightwish is amazing. The Last of the Wilds is the best instrumental metal performance in a long time. Dark Passion Play delivers!! Nightwish ROCKS!!!

So, what was everyone complaining about?:
Seriously, I want to know. I have heard so many complaints about this album, the new singer, etc. since it came out, that they were hard to avoid. I bought the album despite all that because I would rather judge for myself. After purchasing DDP, I fail to understand what people deem so horrible about it. It's actually a very well done album. Let's start with the vocals: Now, it's typical for a large group of fans to be upset when the original lead singer is ousted from a band and replaced. But, the complaints leveled at Annette Olzon, the new lead, are without merit, in my opinion. (And believe me, there are many cruel insults) In this album, she not only proves she can sing, but also has a great degree of control over her voice. She sings with power, emotion, and doesn't strain her vocal limits. Unlike other replacement singers in bands (take a hint Sirenia), she still fits the mold of the band and adds strength to the songs. Is she Tarja? No, of course not. I'm glad of this because a Tarja clone would be boring to listen to. Yes, Tarja will be missed; but Annette proves herself just as capable of handling the lead singing position. She brings a fresh sound to the band as a whole. She has talent. As such, I'm beginning to think that some fans wouldn't like any singer other then Tarja in Nightwish, even if they have talent (as Annette proves). What I'm saying here is, give Annette a chance, if you decide to buy this album. If you don't like her singing after giving her a fair chance then that's fine. But don't judge based on the complaints. Marco has consequently improved in his vocal ability on this album this time around, many of the songs compliment his voice, rather then contrast it (The Poet, Bye Bye Beautiful, 7 Days, etc.) Instrumentals: Nightwish is still here - switching things up a bit several times in a song with dually layered instrumentals. This is always a treasure because you discover new things about a song each time you listen to it. So a song doesn't get old. The Songs: For the most part the songs are great. I will disagree (for the most part) with the amazon review which states "mid-album tracks such as "Sahara," "For the Heart I Once Had," and the limpid closer, "Meadows of Heaven," retread familiar ground that reminds us of epic metal's more disappointing tendencies--faux pop, bombastic bombast, anemic anthems, and a penchant for the maudlin". Now, "Sahara" isn't the best song on the album; but it's still pretty great in it's own right. The beat and the vocals are dead on and enjoyable. "For the Heart I Once Had" isn't a bad song; however, I must say that it just doesn't feel like Nightwish, so it shouldn't be included on the album. It doesn't hold the general feeling of the band. But, I will disagree with "Meadows of Heaven" being bad. It's a nice soothing song and finishes the album off well. "The Poet And the Pendulum", is an amazing song. It has some of the best vocals and choruses I've heard in a long time. I love the constant switch of rhythmn and sound throughout the song. "Bye Bye Beautiful" and "7 Days to the Wolves" carry over their own sense of masterwork. Both songs will get your blood going. The latter, I feel, is potential movie material (in the nice sense) because it shines. "Amaranth" is a combo of rock, metal, classical, and a little bit of pop influence mixed to create a catchy single. Opposite this "Eva" and "The Islander" are the slower songs on the album. They compliment the heavier songs well by creating a slower atmosphere. There's a balance here that works. The only downside to this album, from what I can see, is that there are a couple songs (such as Cadence of Her Last Breath) that are missing that powerful sound Nightwish is attributed with. It makes the said song sound a little, how should I put it, hollow or mellow. Aside from that minor downside, DPP is still a great album in it's own right. The bottom line: Nightwish - or Tuomas - still knows how to make a great album. So, don't let the complaints discourage you. If you give the album a fair chance, you shouldn't be disappointed with the end result. Happy listening...

I love Anette:
At first, I was not too sure if Nightwish could really have a new vocalist. Tarja is a hell of a singer and Anette had to step into really big shoes. And she did it. The album is fantastic, particularly The Poet and the Pendulum, which is a chef d'oeuvre. Nightwish is still Nightwish with a different vocal style. Stop thinking about Tarja if you hear this album, consider it as if it was made by a new band....and you'll love. After seeing them twice live with Anette on vocals, I can honesly say she totally rock!! Cute girl by the way. For all Anette haters and Tarja lovers...listen to Tarja's new album...not really good...and live with it until Tarja returns to Nightwish. This could happen in a few years. Dark Passion Play is really excellent. FFM lovers, you'll love this.

HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT!:
Judging by the quality of the singing in this cd, I would give it a -10 but that is not an option here. There is no comparison with Tarja Turunen's beautiful operatic voice. However, My Winter Storm is very impressive and I'm satisfied with Nightwish's legacy continuing with Tarja's voice elsewhere.

• Poet and the Pendulum
• Bye Bye Beautiful
• Amaranth
• Cadence of Her Last Breath
• Master Passion Greed
• Eva
• Sahara
• Whoever Brings the Night
• For the Heart I Once Had
• Islander
• Last of the Wilds
• 7 Days to the Wolves
• Meadows of Heaven
• Reach \oAmaranth Demo Version\c\o*\c
• Poet and the Pendulum \oOrchestral Version\c
• Bye Bye Beautiful \oOrchestral Version\c
• Amaranth \oOrchestral Version\c
• Cadence of Her Last Breath \oOrchestral Version\c
• Master Passion Greed \oOrchestral Version\c
• Eva \oOrchestral Version\c
• Sahara \oOrchestral Version\c
• Whoever Brings the Night \oOrchestral Version\c
• For the Heart I Once Had \oOrchestral Version\c
• Islander \oOrchestral Version\c
• Last of the Wilds \oOrchestral Version\c
• 7 Days to the Wolves \oOrchestral Version\c
• Meadows of Heaven \oOrchestral Version\c