Album review: TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA – Tales Of Winter Selections From The TSO Rock Operas

Decca [Release date 02.12.13]

A timely ‘best of’ from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, who embark on a European tour in January after their traditional US pre-Christmas tour (the band are so popular they run two versions of the band in the US at the same time, an east and west coast version). The creative team feature Paul O’Neill, the Savatage duo of Jon Oliva and guitarist Al Pitrelli along with co-producer Robert Kinkel.

The collection features fifteen songs drawn from their five albums to date and includes their Christmas single ‘Sarajevo 12/24’, a song originally recorded by Savatage. Not a bad song on here and it’s the seasonal songs that really amaze like ‘Christmas Canon’ which features some amazing choral arrangements and ‘A Last Illusion’.

TSO do the slow reflective songs so well too like ‘Old City Bar’. Classical instrumentals with a rock flavour are another speciality of TSO from ‘Dreams Of Fireflies’ through to ‘Night Enchanted’.

TSO are very Broadway/West End and that can put some rock fans off, their loss as this draws in many listeners who wouldn’t normally watch a rock based band like this. Add in an amazing stage show and you have a band who can entertain both musically and visually. This album is a perfect starting point for new listeners to warm-up for the band’s European tour. *****

Review by Jason Ritchie

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)