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| Once | 
 enlarge | Artist: Nightwish
Label: Roadrunner Records
Category: Music
List Price: $18.98
Buy New: $9.78
You Save: $9.20 (48%)
New (38) Used (8) from $8.49
Avg. Customer Rating:  176 reviews
Sales Rank: 3966
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:
 One of the Most Impressive Albums of All Time February 14, 2005
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
Music lovers, prepare to meet your match - it is hard to find any album that boasts to be as large as this one. While this album takes back from the more metal approach of previous albums and boasts of the outstanding production value brought on by the Phoenix Orchestra (which was used by Pip Williams for the Lord of the Rings movie scores), the album still is an engrossing listen on repeat for time on end. The lushous mix of Tarja's vocals, when combined with the masterful arrangements of Tuomas and unity of the bands playing helps make this an album to remember for any music fan.
As for the songs, Dark Chest of Wonders is an example of the superb arrangement - the mix of the orchestra with choirs, gorgeous vocals by Tarja, and impressive sound overall is to die for. The album doesn't stop right there though, as most would, with the introduction of the second surprise, Wish I Had an Angel. For those who love electronica & industrial will love this song easily, as it is a genre breaker with Marco's & Tarja's duet, a steady beat characteristic of techno, great guitar riffs & use of the background orchestra, and excellent panning. Music lovers might expect more of the same variety from the first two songs, but are misled with the third song, a slower song featuring an amazing arrangement - Nemo surprises deeply with its use of primarily Tarja's vocals in a dispassionate way throughout most of the songs to set the mood, and to bring the piece to fruition through the second half in drawing that lack of passion into a yearning for more with a "fuller" voice. The fourth song, Planet Hell, is also a nice song of the metal variety. However, another bombshell is dropped with Creek Mary's Blood, and epic song that makes full use of the orchestra and Tarja's vocals. Dead Gardens is another delightful song, and Romanticide is more candy for those who like Planet Hell, except featuring Tarja's voice in her full range of skill in singing and shifting styles within the song. However, the ninth song, Ghost Love Score, is not to be dismissed - it is a full-blown song, pulling no stops in its over the top arrangement, orchestration, choirs, and band's playing ability. The album winds down with the Finnish song Kuolema Tekee Taijteilijan, a very nice and melancholy song...but then the (original release) album ends with a bang with the choral assault of Higher Than Hope, which boasts of great use of the acoustic guitar, choir, and of course, the band.
The bonus two songs, Live to Tell the Tale and White Night Fantasy are not bad in themselves, but in an album in which the orchestration helps define most of the songs, these just sound underwhelming. However, they are nice listens, and Live to Tell the Tale has a catchy melody. They are different from the previous songs though, and enjoyable on their own merits.
Overall, this is easily one of the most addicting albums of all time - my music collection boasts of around 30,000 songs, and this album gets a listen several times a week because it is that good. For those who love music in general, and don't confine their tastes/preferences to just one genre should appreciate this album greatly, because it is a musical dream that is seldom realized.
Nightwish found it January 18, 2005
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
First off, I must respond to the other reviewers... this album IS metal. Saying it isn't leads people to believe that there is NOTHING but the orchestra on here, and that's simply not true. The guitars are actually supported by the orchestra in this one... they work together better than on Century Child, despite actually being heavier.
I'll now proceed to give my two cents on each track.
Dark Chest of Wonders- 9/10 The track itself is a superb opening for the album, with hard guitars and the choir... but Tarja's spoken intro makes me cringe every time.
Wish I Had An Angel- 10/10 I admit that it's radio ready, but that's not a bad thing... Marco and Tarja's chorus duet makes this song a memory.
Nemo- 9/10- Couldn't quite give it 10, but this is a SOLID track, the first single, and the way Ocean Soul from Century Child should have sounded, in my opinion.
Planet Hell- 10/10 Welcome to the hard side, folks. This is one of Nightwish's most crushing songs, with Marco doing his metal bit, Tarja showing off her operatic voice a bit more, and some massive guitar work. If you've had a bad day... :)
Creek Mary's Blood- 10/10 Rating for completely different reasons. Native Americans deserve a great many more tributes like this. Ballad. That's all I can say... grab a tissue.
The Siren- 10/10 I haven't figured out what key/mode this thing is in, but for weird tonalities, you can't beat this thing. Electric violin solo WILL give you chills, promise.
Dead Gardens- 8/10 A bit generic, although pleasant sounding. This one might have done better on Century Child, or even Wishmaster. For the record, I consider Century Child a stepping stone from Wishmaster to Once... it's the beginning of a new sound, and a great start, but not quite there YET.
Romanticide- 9/10 Excellent, but not as original as the others... really heavy guitars, and the customary reference to the Dead Boy.
Ghost Love Score- 10/10 HE CAN WRITE FOR CLASSICAL INSTRUMENTS! Let doubters repent, for this is the perfect song for a movie... where mediocrity won't be accepted.
Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan- 9/10 Just Tarja and Tuomas here, no guitar. Their first song in Finnish, wonderfully done, except not enough variation. Think "Forever Yours" with a bit more chords and about the same amount of melodic figures.
Higher Than Hope- 10/10 The second the chorus hits you, you are going to melt. Very hard chorus, very soft verses, and for the first listen, do not be driving. Wow.
White Night Fantasy- 6/10 Sorry, but this song shouldn't have been put on here. Tarja sings on pitch, but really cheesy melody and such. Not a fan, but since it's a bonus track, I leave the rating at 5 stars.
Live To Tell the Tale- 8/10 Sounds a bit like Dead Gardens to me, but more major key work, an awesome keyboard opening, and better singing than the previous track. Heavy guitars for the closer, a good choice for last bonus song.
The video, btw, is a performance style video, and worth a watch. I know this was long, but I didn't see any reviews giving a good run down on the tracks. Enjoy!
Just what the Industry needs February 4, 2005
9 out of 12 found this review helpful
Forty seconds into the first track, Dark Chest of Wonders, I knew this was going to be one of those bands I'd get hooked on now and forever more.
Tuomas Holapainen's music and lyrics are simply beautiful, not to mention their performance by Tarja Turnunen. She has to have one of the most talented voices I've ever heard. The orchestra they incorperated in all of their songs on this album fits well.
"Dark Chest of Wonders" - 4/5. It took me a while to realize that it was Tarja's voice speaking the first few words at the beginning. But after that, the guitar riffage kicks your ass to the ground, and seconds later, orchestrated sounds come in. I have to admit I haven't memorized this song yet... the downside is the lyrics. I find them quite corny.
"I Wish I Had An Angel" - 3/5. Seemed like it was one of those songs that was just meant to be a single.
"Nemo" - 4/5. Yet again another single. Yet the keyboard riff flos wonderfully with the rest of the chords and melody of the song. Beautiful lyrics.
"Planet Hell" - 4.5/5. Wonderful lyrics portraying the planet Earth, and a great drive. Still felt incomplete.
"Creek Mary's Blood" - 5/5. This song deserves 5 out of 5, especially for the great including of Native American Culture. The lyrics of Tuomas seem almost unreal. And then the orchestra kicks in, and it turns to a masterpiece.
"The Siren" - 4/5. Once again, one of the incomplete feelings. If not for Tarja's beautiful vocalization and the wonderful sounds of an electric violen, it would have gotten only but a 3.
"Dead Gardens" - 2/5. Felt a tad boring, even repetitive, I'm sad to say.
"Romanticide" - 5/5. The hard-driving guitars, emotional lyrics, and Tarja's operatic voice. As you climb towards the end, it goes into Marco's spoken word, and Tarja's breathy singing. Right after you hear Marco's growling "... and try to survive your stupidity..." Guitars knock you down again, and you hear an ear-piercing classic Metal howl.
"Ghost Love Score" - 6/5. AMAZING. I NEARLY DIED. In one word-- breathtaking. The chorus intergrated and mixing with Tarja's vocals, the sitar, and lyrics of longing. An orchestra could take up this song by itself and it would still be as amazing. As the song trails off, into a standing 10 minutes, the chorus repeats over and over alongside instrumental sounds.
"Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan" - 4/5. A song in their native language of Finnish. A little slow and trailing.
"Higher Than Hope" - 5/5. A powerfully amazing way of ending the (official) album. The acoustic guitar playing is in sync, and the spoken word by some other indivdual towards the end truly reveals the meaning of the song. After hearing, "...your Death saved me..." continue listening, and prepare for a key change into the conclusion of this record.
Bonus tracks...
"White Night Fantasy" - 2/5. The theme was interesting to follow and dream about, but just as the title suggests, it is a fantasy. Tarja's vocalizing in the beginning made me kind of tilt my head a bit.
"Live to Tell the Tale" - 4/5. A very fitting track to go onto the "Nemo" single. An upbeat song with a great indroductory keyboard part.
If you like Metal... If you like classical... either one... pick up this album. It does not deserve to be ignored.
Greatest album of all time March 3, 2006
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
Simply put, this is the greatest album I have ever heard, and will probably ever hear. Once was my first Nightwish album and is in my opinion definately the best, with the previous album, Century Child, coming in at a close 2nd. Many Nightwish fans argue that Wishmaster is better than Once, but I must disagree. As for Angels Fall First and Oceanborn, I have not yet heard them so I cannot compare.
The Opening track "Dark Chest of Wonders" gets things off to a rocking start, followed by the awesome singles "Wish I Had an Angel" and "Nemo". WIHaA is a very "different" song for Nightwish, almost touching on a techno-type beat, but still managing to come off sounding like an A-class metal song. "Nemo" is one of my favourite tracks of all time. The guitars cut out during the first few verses leaving Tarja singing with only drums and ominous bass guitar. Of course when the chorusses come around some of the heaviest melodic guitar you will ever hear punches in, and during the outro the orchestra even makes an appearance to give the song that extra power. Again, the extensive use of a full orchestra and choir on this album is something many traditional Nightwish fans feel was too much of a departure from the band's earlier sound, but in my opinion any time a metal band can mix in such exquisite orchestral arrangements it only helps to make songs infinitely more powerful and interesting.
"Planet Hell" and "Romanticide" are among the fastest tracks on the album and will bring out the headbanger in anyone's grandmother, while slower ballads such as the finnish "Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan", which features a beautiful cello interlude, serve to rouse the emotions and make the listener feel the music. Another slower song is "Creek Mary's Blood", which features a native american theme, even bringing in a flute solo not unlike that on "Forever Yours" (from the Century Chold album). This track also has beautiful oration and chanting performed by John Two-Hawks. The album's crowning acheivement and in fact, the best song of all time by any band, has to be the massive ballad "Ghost Love Score". This song is really long, but thanks to numerous shifts in pace is not tedious for even one second. The orchestra and choirs take center stage here and what results is the strongest piece of musical magic ever recorded. This is definately one to play loud and with your eyes closed. How Tuomas manages to write songs of this magnitude time and time again just amazes me. Greatest songwriter of our time anyone?
Included on this edition are bonus tracks "White Night Fantasy" and "Live to Tell the Tale". Both songs kick ass and fit in perfectly with the sound of the album. The CD also includes the video to "wish I had an Angel". It's a good video but personally I would've preferred the Nemo video to be on here. That is a brilliant video, and is in fact the one Nightwish song that I had ever heard prior to buying this album. Needless to say I've never looked back and progressive, operatic, symphonic or "whatever you want to call it" metal is now all I can listen to. I used to live in the dark thinking bands like Metallica (classic), Coal Chamber(nu) or Dimmu Borgir(black) were all metal had to offer, but this album is so good it has ruined all other kinds of music for me. I also recommend other prog-metal bands like Kamelot, Sonata Arctica, Lacuna Coil etc. I also can't wait to hear Epica and Leave's Eyes. Reviews on Amazon make them sound really interesting and i will order them as soon as i can afford to.
This album also marks an important landmark since we now know that it will have been singer Tarja's last studio album with the band. While this news is distressing, I can't wait to see who the new singer is and what the impact on the band's sound will be.
 GREAT album with serious FLAWS... September 7, 2005
8 out of 10 found this review helpful
When it's on, it's masterful, explosive, haunting and well executed. It can truly be brilliant. But....
When it's off? Trite, silly, overdone, repetitive and grating.
Unless you are a true fan of this style of music, you will find yourself skipping about half the tracks on the CD. You will also find yourself turning it up for the other half.
It's worth a buy, even with the bad tracks.
(Imagine this album as a fusion of Evanescence, Megadeth, The London Philharmonic Orchestra and a Lord of the Rings Soundtrack.)
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