Tarja - My Winter Storm

Well, probably it is almost superfluous to write this, but Tarja just has a world-class voice that will not be forgotten again when you have heard them. That was clear to Nightwish times, but when you listen to this album, you get the impression that it was at that time almost pushed back. Her voice comes out of here a lot better and they can put their skills still a lot more to prove. Some comments here who criticize that the instruments too function as accompaniment, I can not understand; Tarja is finally over everything else Sängerin- then is clear that a solo album focused on her voice.
Very nice on this album I feel that everything is as it were in spite of the various songwriters from a single source, everything fits, the album is not a collection of different songs, but very consistent. I also think that it was very brave of Tarja, take not just a few radio-friendly, catchy songs to attract fans, on the contrary, they developed their own style here, and some songs are very unusual and almost deliberately uneingängig. I also like the peculiar use of background noise, the transitions between songs and various small gadgets (eg. The most music box-like background melody to "I Walk Alone" and "My Little Phoenix") very good, of which stand out a lot only after repeated listening ,

My comments on the individual songs:
#I Walk alone: ​​beautiful rock ballad, something catchier than the other pieces, in that suitable as a single well.
#Lost Northern Star: one of the harder pieces, includes Rammstein elements, to operatic singing - great song!
#The Reign: a wonderful ballad that very reminiscent of a soundtrack, and a beautiful clear soprano to. is about to leave and move on sclechte times behind itself.
#My LittlePhoenix: Very interesting, because it is a metal song in waltz (3/4) clock, I really like.
#Boy And the Ghost: Sad ballad about a lonely child, increases towards the end of more and more at a great finale.
#Sing For me: like "Boy and the Ghost", the atmosphere is a little less sad, but gloomy.
#Oasis: Great original composition by Tarja, a ballad in Finnish, almost an instrumental piece, because apart from a few lines Tarja sings no text. On me personally this song seems a lot more like a winter-soundtrack than the others: fantastisch.Ein absolutely unique song.
#Poison: Ahem. Let's say gewöhnungsbedürfig. The only song that somehow there does not fit so right and I do not like so much. At first I could not hear him, then I came across a live version of Tarja, where he comes across much better, and since then I skip it on CD is no longer, but still: this would not necessarily have to be.
#Our Great Divide: Wow, just a beautiful ballad. Perfect. I did not know anything else to say about it: just sit back, close your eyes, listen :-)
#Damned And Divine: rather dark, for me one of the weaker songs, also the fact that there is neither a ballad is still a really rocking song.
#The Alive: A song about it, to enjoy life and not been "alive to die." One of the more rocking songs, catchy chorus.
#Minor Heaven: start slowly, then increases but increasingly it happen even electric guitar and orchestra. Beautiful melody. Also one of my favorites ;-)
# Ciaran's Well: well the song is used to, but only in a positive sense: it's worth it! Hard guitar riffs, a breakneck vocal line, the expectations of the listener is almost deliberately worked against. I have never heard such a song.
#Calling Grace: ballad with guitar accompaniment. Quite nice, and also quite suitable as a conclusion, but not outstanding.

Tips: Be sure to listen often, much opens up a not the first, not even necessarily in the second or third time to hear. In addition, under no circumstances casually listening, but the album is not suitable, but put and listen before the player.
One should probably rather hear sample before buying, because the plate is something very private and it's completely impossible to say "if you like xy, which is also like it here" - but this uniqueness is not a disadvantage. Apart from that, I can really fully recommend the album.