My Winter Storm - Tarja Turunen > Reviews > Not even a valiant effort!

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Lacking inspiration
Lyrics	Standard
Quality and consistency of tracks	One hit and lots of B-sides
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Weak
Value for Money	Poor

Advantages:	A couple of listenable tracks
Disadvantages:	Nothing recognisable of the formerly wonderful Tarja

Recommend to potential buyers:

no

Full review

"My Winter Storm" the album calls itself. I'm not hugely impressed though - its more like an autumn shower, in my opinion.
I wanted to fall in love with this album, I really did. It just doesn't grab my ears and assault them with what I know Tarja Turunen is capable of, and its a crying shame!
So, lets start with a tracklisting. I'm not going to comment on them all, just the three worth paying attention to.
1. Ite, Missa Est
2. I Walk Alone [DVD]
3. Lost Northern Star
4. Seeking for the Reign
5. Reign
6. Escape of the Doll
7. My Little Phoenix
8. Die Alive
9. Boy and the Ghost
10. Sing for Me
11. Oasis
12. Poison
13. Our Great Divide
14. Sunset
15. Damned and Divine
16. Ciarán's Well
17. Minor Heaven
18. Calling Grace
19. Damned Vampire & Gothic Divine [*]
20. I Walk Alone [Artist Version]
21. I Walk Alone [In Extremo Remix]

Ok, so, you know whats on there. The first half of the album seems to be mostly a repeat of the same theme through every track, and, frankly, a little bit boring. Despite Tarja being an operatic singer, her phenomenal voice just isn't used at all, its barely a warmup exercise really.
But, Still, the first track to make you notice the album is in this humdrum start. I walk Alone.
Now, I walk alone is almost a power ballad, as far as i'm concerned. The track is... confusing. She's trying, so hard, and coming so close to succeeding, without going near what I call the Nightwish formula. I quite like this track, though it needs polishing somewhat.

The second track to pay attention to is Poison. Now, this is a remarkably brave move, and, honestly, a remarkably silly one too! The track just doesn't work - Tarja Turunen, a woman widely known for her massive vocal power, enormous energy and impressive range, who SHOULD be able to make this work... sings it limply, far too slowly for the song, and with a very weak backing track. In all honesty, I've heard drunken karaoki singers do this better!

And the final track, the soul destroying Ciarán's Well. I think, when writing this, the nightwish formula had become inescapable. Right from the opening chord to the final note, this song SCREAMS nightwish through its guitar, bass and drumlines. In fact, it screams it through everything except the singing. Once again, a track that should work, but Ms Turunens lacklustre efforts just let it down.

Overall, the album just lacks everything that made Tarja great. There's no heart in it, no pouring out of the soul in even one track. Its repetative, boring and a really half arsed effort. If i was a teacher grading this as an essay, she'd have a "See Me" Written all over the page - it's rediculous just how badly she's done this album, when everyone is well aware she's capable of so much more.

Please, Tarja, don't do this to us! Put together a decent album, for the love of your career!