Search - Tarja :: My Winter Storm (U.S Version)

Wow.... Absolutely beautiful! A musical journey!

David Falzano | Boston, MA USA | 03/03/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'll be up front & say that I'm not not a huge operatic metal/rock fan, but I am pleasantly surprised by this CD. Back when I first listened to Nightwish years ago, I didn't get into them as much at that time, but years later after hearing Tarja Turunen was going solo I was actually curious to see what direction she would go into musically. Well here we are & it seems that she went a little more into the operatic side of rock but I surprisingly really dig this sound. Normally I would want more metallic sounding songs & less operatic vocals, but here Tarja actually delivers less metallic songs but her vocals aren't as intense like when she was in Nightwish so I think the music is more pleasing to the ear. This is definitely one of those CDs to listen to if you just want to float away from the craziness in your mind & let the music sooth you. Give it a listen, you might actually like it."

Tarja's Back

Ocean_villa | 07/10/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Pros: Some very beautiful pieces of music complimented by Tarja's vocals.



Con: It feels like she's holding back musically at times.



"My Winter Storm" is the debut album of Tarja Turunen's solo career. For those who don't know, Tarja rose to fame as the lead singer of the Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. Considered to be a powerhouse singer, she was looked at as one of the factors defining the band's sound. In 2005, she was fired via open letter and - although she had planned a solo career for some time - revealed that this came as a surprise for her. Tarja wasn't really in the spotlight for little while after that, leaving some fans worried and hoping for a solo album. Switch to 2007, where she released "My Winter Storm" much to the joy of those long waiting fans.



"My Winter Storm" is a concept album, comprised of both songs and characters. Each piece runs much like a theatrical act and tells a different story. I find this to be a very interesting idea for an album. Looking closer, it may also be due to the group of people (along with Tarja) who aided in creating the music. Though the concept of the album was created by Tarja, she had help with writing the music. As a result, the variety of ideas makes the album unique among most.



Now for the songs themselves. Tarja's voice is as strong as ever. It's obvious that she's not going to disappear anytime soon. Tarja mentions on the bonus disc of the Deluxe Edition that her main goal is to sing with power and hopefully envoke emotion in the listener. She does just that. "My Little Phoenix," for instance, is classically trained Heaven for the listener. Play that song in your stereo (not through headphones) and you'll feel the full effect of it. "Lost Northern Star" and "The Reign" are two other such gems that are emotively sung, sweeping the listener along with them. Tarja even does a cover of the song "Poison" on the album. While it seems a little out of place given the concept songs before it, I think she does a good job - the song itself packs a punch.



The musical compositions are very nice. Throughout the album, there are also little musical pieces that lead into a new section. "Ite Missa Est" is a nice short intro to the album; it was written by the same composers who sent Tarja the first single "I Walk Alone". Tarja also helped write two other interludes "Seeking For the Reign" and "Sunset" which are also very nicely done. The only thing is, I just wish they were longer so I could enjoy those classical pieces.



When it comes to the sung songs, several of them balance the symphonic, classically trained element, and infusion of metal/rock influences. "Ciaran's Well", for instance, is a balanced barrel of energy, a throwback to the old days. And, if you get the 2009 edition of "My Winter Storm" you'll get a bonus song called "Enough" which is one of Tarja's best composed songs to date. It's energizing and engaging.



But, there are also softer pieces: "Sing For Me" is reminiscent of a movie piece. The song could work as a soundtrack and the instrumentals mixed with Tarja's vocals are a delight to the ears.



Negatives: Yes, there are always some negatives. There are several songs that lack a punch to them: "Damned and Divine", "Minor Heaven", and even some songs that I like - "Calling Grace", "Our Great Divide", and several others. It feels like Tarja was unsure so she held back or told the composers to when it came to pieces she didsn't help write. As a result, the songs feel like they have an emptiness to them. It's a real shame because we all know what Tarja is capable of.



If there's any indication of taking a chance and succeeding, it would be the masterpiece that is "Oasis". This song is found mid-way through the album and it was written entirely by Tarja. It's almost all classically composed. The instrumentals are so beautiful that I can't tear myself away from listening to it. I'm taken to another world. About 3 or 4 minutes in, Tarja sings in Finnish, just adding more to the highlight. Brilliance.



I'm hoping that Tarja's next album "What Lies Beneath" with do just that: take chances and not hold back. But, while I wait for that one: I'll be enjoying "My Winter Storm".



Recommended: If you are a fan of Tarja's vocals or enjoy classically trained vocalists, you should check this out. You might be surprised."

Not Bad At All

Kirby C. Eckert | 02/09/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Except for the cover of Alice Cooper's "Poison," I found this disc to be very listenable. Tarja's voice is at it's peak. I'd like to hear her stretch her voice a bit more, as she sometimes gets a little too relaxed. Overall, though, this is definitely a good disc and I look forward to hearing more from this amazing artist."