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| Once | 
 enlarge | Artist: Nightwish
Label: Roadrunner Records
Category: Music
List Price: $18.98
Buy New: $9.76
You Save: $9.22 (49%)
New (37) Used (8) from $8.49
Avg. Customer Rating:  176 reviews
Sales Rank: 2530
Format: Extra Tracks
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 618217
UPC: 016861821722
EAN: 0016861821722
ASIN: B0002ZYE1Y
Release Date: October 5, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand new Item. CD, DVD, Book, VHS more than 400 000 titles to choose from. ALL days Low Price !
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| Customer Reviews:
 Another Beautiful Nightwish Masterpiece August 23, 2005
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
(Please be warned that this is a very long review. I evaluate each song, but after that are the flaws and a quick list of what's nice if you just want to hear about that)
I've been a fan of Nightwish for only one year, yet I've managed to pick up all of their "main" albums but Angels Fall First. I've listened to Oceanborn, Wishmaster, Century Child, Over the Hills and Far Away, and now Once. I was a bit nervous to try out Once, because when I first heard it, it was on a site with close to no quality in their audio (oops on my part). However, after hearing Nemo and Wish I Had an Angel over and over again, I gave it a try.
Two days later, I feel I have listened to the songs over and over again to evaluate it enough. While on my first listen I was blown away, I have cooled down and can meet the flaws of the album. Mind you, it IS beautiful, and will probably shortly replace Century Child in my CD Player, but it is not perfect.
I think I will review each song separately, then summarize my feelings at the end.
Dark Chest of Wonders - 5/5 - Just... Wow. I was blown away when I first heard it. It's hard and heavy. It's just gorgeous. The orchestra sounds lovely. This is also one of the few songs on the album that makes good use of the choir; they are not used for most of the song, but a rather interesting beginning to each verse. Tarja actually sings the chorus, which is nice. Everything just blends beautifully in this beginning song. It's one of my favorites.
Wish I Had an Angel - 3/5 - While this was the song that made me buy the album, it is not the best. In fact, it is very mediocre compared to the others. I like the guitars and general melody, but Tarja doesn't sound as great as she normally does, and Marco's voice does not sound nice. It is catchy, and it is nice and heavy, but it's not Nightwish's best. And watch out for the video. You get a bunch of head banging and Tarja doing "Victoria Secret" poses as Ceido pointed out earlier. It's good enough to make me listen to it once in a while, but not so great that I can listen to it over and over anymore.
Nemo - 4/5 - A pretty song with a nice mix of the band and a pretty piano. Tarja sounds nice in the chorus, as always. It's not as heavy as the first two songs, which is a nice break (though I like things nice and heavy). However, it is not my favorite; unfortunately, I can't quite say what it is. It is in general a very pretty song, but not the best in the album, and just something about it doesn't seem quite right. Perhaps I just listened to it too many times.
Planet Hell - 4.5/5 - The male choir is a really cool beginning, but somehow the full choir coming in loses its feeling. However, the song makes up for it. Marko actually sounds RIGHT in this song! He really helps the song instead of worsening it, and actually sounds nice against Tarja's vocals (which sound best in the chorus. Uh, again). The choir really wasn't necessary during the chorus, but it doesn't detract too much.
Creek Mary's Blood - 5/5 - I really like this song. While some may not like the intermingling of Native American themes with metal, I really think it gives it a very nice touch. The chanting is very pretty, as is the flute (I think it's a flute?). Of course, Tarja sounds great, and surprisingly she sounds great in both the chorus and normal verses! This is one of those rare songs that I liked most when it was quiet and not too heavy, though the heavy chorus was still pretty. Generally a very sad song, but beautiful nonetheless.
The Siren - 3/5 - I don't like this song all that much. The beginning is cool, but once everyone starts singing... Eh. It goes downhill. Tarja doesn't sound as nice as she normally does, and really, the best singing comes from the "Oh, Oh, Oh, Oooooh" after Tarja sings a bit, and near the middle. Marko doesn't sound wonderful once again. Honestly, the song has a gorgeous melody and may have been best as an instrumental; the singing is poor.
Dead Gardens - 2/5 - The Siren at least had a good melody. Dead Gardens doesn't even manage that one. It is very repetitive, in melody and singing. Tarja shouldn't have repeated/dragged out (I can't tell which one she's doing; maybe both) the words of some songs; it makes her sound very silly. The whispering near the middle isn't bad, but unnecessary, and the chorus is probably the best part (even that isn't too great).
Romanticide - 3/5 - "Aie! Dead Gardens repeated?!" was my first thought. The beginning sounds nearly identical to Dead Gardens, and the "Oh!"'ing is silly in this song. Tarja sounds better than she did before, but I am not overly fond of the melody... Until the chorus comes (yeah, yet again). After the first chorus comes (around 2min 32s), though, things improve considerably. The melody picks up, Tarja sounds better, and the drumming becomes really nice. The whispering and screaming near the end really ruin it, however; it sounds like Nightwish decided to try being truly metal, and it didn't work.
Ghost Love Score - 5/5 - I love it. I can't describe it. People may say it's overrated, but damn it's GORGEOUS. The choir is actually used properly again. The orchestra is beautiful. Tarja sounds wonderful. Marko is out of the picture (poor guy; I may sound unkind, but I just don't like his voice). The band sounds great. Nightwish chose to grab everything (but Marko's voice) and pack it together, and it worked! Definitely one of Nightwish's best, and the chorus actually sounds beautiful having the choir sing it. I could (and do!) listen to this song many times in a row without pause. While most may not like the repeating of the chorus at the end, I really like it. The song may be long, but I personally love the long songs. Just beautiful...
Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan - 4/5 - At first, I didn't like this song, probably because Ghost Love Score was before it. I've listened to the native Finnish language in songs before, and thus hearing Tarja sing it wasn't strange for me. It was just so slow, and I'm not one for the slower songs. However, after a few more listens, the sad melody and Tarja complement each other well. It is rather pretty, as long as you don't mind how soft it is (I like the heavy songs. Can't help it; it can drown out my silly family well!). It's one of the Nightwish songs that need more than one listen to be really appreciated.
Higher than Hope - 4/5 - The beginning lacks a bit -- the strings just doesn't sound too great until 1min. Then the chorus comes in; while it isn't the best part (gasp!), it does help bring the song up a notch and get rid of the poor beginning. The strings blend together with the rest nicely, and while the song sounds VERY familiar to previous ones, it at least is not as bad as they are! At 3min 12s, what sounds like a radio newscast or something comes in; it sounds like it was added to the song, and while I can't quite tell what he's saying, it probably deals with the song's lyrics (or maybe it's the other way around). Another song that will most likely need more than one listen.
White Night Fantasy (Bonus Track) - 2/5 - I don't like this song. The beginning is rather pretty, but once Tarja comes in, it, surprisingly, goes downhill. I agree with many others; Tarja sounds silly here. Her voice is practically squeaky, and she sounds untrained. She sounds lovely during the chorus, but the melody seems generally cliched and it just isn't a good song.
Live to Tell the Tale - 4/5 - It starts off reminding me of Christmas music; thankfully, it goes away from that and becomes Nightwish. You can still hear the Christmas music in the background, but it's drowned out. It is a very pretty song, with Tarja sounding lovely in more than just the chorus. It's basically the same story as Higher than Hope - Sounds very similar to other songs, but does a better job.
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In general, seven of the eleven original songs are a good listen, which seems to be what I generally get from a good Nightwish track. Of the two bonus tracks, one is a good listen; again, Nightwish quality. Here are its flaws:
Chorus the best part: Notice how almost every time, the chorus was the best part? This isn't normal. Previous Nightwish albums had beautiful choruses, yes, but they weren't always the best part. Over the Hills and Far Away had a great chorus, but the normal verses were great too; Astral Romance didn't even NEED a chorus to be great. Here, you practically wait for the chorus for the song to get really good. If Nightwish makes another album, they should try to make the entire song memorable, not just the chorus.
Choir Overused: The choir was only truly awesome in two songs: Dark Chest of Wonders and Ghost Love Score. They appeared in plenty more, but it was overused and didn't sound right. Furthermore, they sounded best when actually SAYING something. After a few songs, I got tired of just hearing the choir sing "Oh". If that's all the room you have for them, leave them out; the song will be better.
Variety: Variety lacked. Dead Gardens, Romanticide, Higher than Hope, and Live to Tell the Tale sounded far too similar. If it weren't for their own unique additions, Dark Chest of Wonders, The Siren, and Planet Hell would probably sound similar to them as well. That's seven out of thirteen songs. Previous Nightwish albums have had good variety, with each song being unique; even Wishmaster, one of my least favorites, had some variety. Once lacks that variety; the songs are beautiful, but variety would make them unique and make them so easier to remember.
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There are other minor things, but I won't mention them. Now, what's good about this album? Well, the orchestra is beautiful in nearly every song, Tarja sounds great, Marco doesn't sound silly all the time, the songs that are epic ARE exceptional, and the band sounds good when they actually try a bit of variety.
Ultimately, it's Nightwish material. It has its flaws, but it is beautiful regardless. While I would not recommend you start off with it if you're new to Nightwish, if you're a Nightwish fan like me, I think you can appreciate it.
Have fun, and happy listening!
 Awe inspiring November 2, 2005
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
Do not listen to the kid below, jusdging by his "must buy" albums, he has very little knowledge of good music. This album is Nightwish's best thus far. I think many people (including myself) were left wanting a bit more from preivous releases. They were no doubt good, but not really as heavy as I would have liked. I think things started to change when Marco joined the band as Century Child is much closer to the sound of this album than the other ones. It's probably that he's just a more dynamic bass player than the other guy. The addition of the full orchestra really takes the atmosphere and epicness to a new level. Every song is just a wall of sound although my absolute faves would be Nemo, The Siren, and Dead Gardens. All in all this album is a masterpiece truly showcasing the talent of this great band from Finland. This is a must buy
 Not their best album.... November 7, 2005
7 out of 12 found this review helpful
I highly anticipated this album and now after all this time that I own it I have to say that its not that much. 3 stars is the maximum that I give it and maybe too much
My opinion is that maybe this is their worst album compared to all of the rest the only reason being that in terms of composing the songs are weak. Besides "ghost love score" which is one of the best songs they have written and "I wish I had an angel" and maybe "planet hell" and "dead gardens" the rest of the songs don't say much. They don't get my as much excited as listening to their previous albums and to me they sound as fill ins!!
I don't mind the fact that they sound a bit more heavy and more straightforward, it could be a nice development through the years.
I do mind though the bad and low production of the album.
Compared to "OCEANBORN" for example its like comparing"the number of the beast" with Iron's last album!!
When I listen to "oceanborn" i find no weak songs and they sound classic and fresh at they same time.
Even compared with the "angels fall first" album in terms of inspiration and composition the first sounds better to me!!!
I do not object to people liking this album (even though I object to the highly overclaimed reviews that it received and my mind starts to spin around here). My only objection is that maybe some people here are prejudiced towards the band being a good fan.
There isn't much more to say only that I still listen to their first albums each one being a jewel but I can't listen to "once".
Metal meets classical March 4, 2006
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
There is no question of whether this is a 'good' album or not. It is technically excellent in all facets, from the power of the lead singer's voices, the poignancy, beauty, and power of the lyrics, and the incredible mix of orchestra, chorus, and a five-or-six member metal band. In terms of objective musical standards, this album is flawless.
Now, that doesn't necessarily mean it's to everyone's taste. If you enjoyed Metallica's performance with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, you will probably love this entire album. If you preferred Metallica without the orchestra, you'll like half of the album. And if, like me, you had never listened to Metallica prior to their performance with the orchestra, then you'll like the other half of the album.
"Nemo" was the song that sucked me in to this CD, and it's the only one that's gotten radio play in the US. I love the build from the piano in the beginning to the orchestra at the end, the lyrics are lovely, and the lead singer is (was, sadly) just incredible.
"Ghost Love Score" is just a masterpiece for anyone that like big choirs, pounding drums, and an orchestra that covers the whole gamut, from soft and sweet to enormous and soaring. Again, the lead singer shines. The best word for this song is "sweeping." I loved every minute.
"Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan" will most likely not appeal to anyone who prefers heavy metal, but I'm a fan of Celtic and classical music, and the cello, the violins, and the flute in this song were just indescribably beautiful. I don't know what the lyrics translate to, and I don't want to. On an album like this, this song serves to round out the full range of their ability: Nightwish can do metal, they can throw a little electronica in there, and even some Native American woodwinds and drums, but in addition to all that they can play so softly and sweetly that's it's almost enough to bring tears to your eyes. This song is incredible.
And, for something completely different, "Creek Mary's Blood." It's politically interesting to see what a Finnish rock band makes of Native Americans, but the song itself is powerful and the Native American undercurrents and instruments are correctly and effectively inserted. I love the chorus on this song. Again, it's an expression of Nightwish's range, if nothing more.
All that said, it's pretty pointless to declare that a band "sucks" unless they're musically incompetent, because music more than almost anything else is a matter of personal preference. Nightwish is beyond competent into incredible talent, and if this mixture of genres is something you generally enjoy, you will love this CD.
Best album I have ever heard. Period January 18, 2007
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
Yes, I'm serious. It is the best album I have ever heard, ever. I don't just mean by Nightwish--I mean ever. Better than Carole King's Tapestry. Better than Elton's Goodbye Yellowbrick Road. Better than anything the Who has done (and they've done some amazing stuff). Better than...you get the point.
If you like the best singer ever, coupled to amazingly-arranged orchestral compositions tinged with metal and darkness, you'll like this. In fact, if you have no idea what I'm talking about, you'll like this.
Prepare yourself for a musical style that no one matches. At first, you might feel like the music lacks organization, or jumps around too much. As you listen, though, you'll realize that not only does Nightwish know what they're doing, they've created a musical style that is unique.
And if you want to hear the best line ever sung on popular music ever, check out Tarja's high note on "Planet Hell." It comes about 1:35 into the piece, as she sings "Behold this fair creation of God." Haunting, stunning, unbelievable.
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