Trans-Siberian Orchestra Albums (5)
'Wizards in Winter'
Release Date 1/1/2007
Tracks 1
Label Lava/Atlantic
See Album Tracklist and Review
'The Lost Christmas Eve'
Release Date 10/12/2004
Tracks 23
Label Lava
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
The story of Trans-Siberian Orchestra's third Christmas CD deals with angels visiting New York City, which gives the rock group with orchestra and chorus a chance to draw upon a wide variety of modern music. The jaunty "Christmas Nights in Blue" sounds like Louis Jordan had some influence and is the coolest moment the orchestra has ever offered, while the driving "Christmas Jam" is Edgar Winter's "Frankenstein" with some sleigh bells. Not that the group was ever "traditional," but the songs here sound less influenced by the old Christmas standards, and they're generally more fun and uplifting. The quiet numbers are delicate and beautiful and there are a number of them in the album's fourth quarter. The problem with the album is it's nearly choked with too much material with a great number of the songs just here to move ahead the story. That's when the album gets too emotive, too forced, and too Electric Light Orchestra without Jeff Lynne. Good new is, whittle out the dreck and you've still have plenty left to enjoy. Even though it won't win them any new fans, The Lost Christmas Eve is rumored to be an "end of the trilogy" album. If so, the trilogy ends with a big, theatrical bang and Trans-Siberian Orchestra fans wouldn't have it any other way. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide
'Beethoven's Last Night'
Release Date 4/11/2000
Tracks 22
Label Atlantic
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
The Trans-Siberian Orchestra's first non-holiday-themed album, Beethoven's Last Night, incorporates some of the composer's most noted pieces with original ones that peer into Beethoven's psyche. Pieces like "What Is Eternal," "What Good This Deafness," and "Last Illusion" update Beethoven's dramatic, portentous style, while "Requiem (the Fifth)" and "Fur Elise" lend themselves surprisingly well to the orchestra's stylized fusion of classical and rock music. Fans of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's other work won't be disappointed by Beethoven's Last Night's theatrical, orchestral song cycle. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide
'The Christmas Attic'
Release Date 9/15/1998
Tracks 16
Label Atlantic
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Trans-Siberian Orchestra's second album, Christmas Attic, may not be as focused or serious as Christmas Eve, but it is just as enjoyable and maybe even more consistent, thanks to Paul O'Neill's increasingly impressive compositions and an improved musicality. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
'Christmas Eve and Other Stories'
Release Date 10/15/1996
Tracks 17
Label Lava
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
What would happen if members of Savatage decided to write some Christmas songs? Easy: Trans-Siberian Orchestra. This "supergroup" is the brainchild of Jon Oliva and Paul O'Neill (respectively the leader-keyboardist and the producer of Savatage). They hired Al Pitrelli (Asia, Savatage) to play guitars, Robert Kinkel to help with keyboards, John Middleton (also a member of Savatage) on bass, and Jeff Plate on drums. Lead vocals are shared by six vocalists, while some of the backing vocals are handled by Savatage lead singer Zachary Stevens. Christmas Eve and Other Stories is a concept album: all the songs are built as chapters of a book, each telling part of a larger story. The plot here is of a young angel sent down to Earth to find and bring back to the Lord "the one thing that best represents everything good that has been done in the name of this day." The angel's quest takes him all over the world, through Russia and Sarajevo, until he finally hears the prayer of a father. This last piece is the strongest moment on the album and makes for a miniature story within the larger story. It is basically told in a trilogy of songs: in the first, "Ornament," we hear the father's prayer, explaining how he hasn't seen his daughter in many years. In "Old City Bar," the angel finds the daughter, standing alone outside a bar, and talks to the bartender who, out of a random act of kindness, takes all the cash from his register drawer and gives it to the girl so she can go home. The third song, "This Christmas Day," has the father praising God, thanking him for bringing his daughter back to him on this night of all nights. It is a very touching story, pondering the thought that "If you want to arrange it/This world you can change it/If we could somehow make this/Christmas thing last/By helping a neighbor/Or even a stranger." Musically, the band has taken some traditional Christmas songs ("O Come All Ye Faithful," "O Holy Night," "The First Noel") and mixed in some modern rock music. The result is stunning and very impressive. It is filled with energy that simply blows you away. The already classic "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24" is a gripping instrumental based on "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" (although you might have to listen carefully to hear it). Fans of progressive music should like this one. And if you're into the more recent works of Savatage (like Handful of Rain or Dead Winter Dead) you'll really love this. ~ Alex S. Garcia, All Music Guide
