Ranking the Discography: Nightwish Part VII: Imaginaerum (2011)

Imaginaerum is Nightwish’s only concept album to date. Ir was the final album to feature Anette Olzon on vocals and Jukka Nevalainen on drums. A movie was also released in conjunction with the album, directed by Stobe Harju, who previously directed the video for “The Islander”. The album and movie tell the story of a composer on his deathbed who is taken to a fantastical realm while he is on his deathbed.

Members:

Anette Olzon: vocals

Empuu Vuorinen: guitar

Marko Hietala: bass, vocals

Tuomas Holopainen: keyboards, piano

Jukka Nevalainen: drums, percussion

The Tracks:

1. “Taikatalvi”: The title of this song means “magic winter”, and it’s the only song not sung in English. It serves as the album’s overture.
2. ” Storytime”: This song was inspired by “The Snowman” , which the band had covered on Oceanborn. Tuomas felt this song was a pretty good representation of the album, and imagery from it is in the movie.
3. “Ghost River”: Tuomas describes this song as a battle between the devil and Mother Earth.
4. “Slow Love Slow”: This has a driving keyboard and orchestral rhythm.
5. “I Want My Tears Back”: The pipes on this song are the best feature, as well as Empuu’s riffs.
6. ” Scaretale”: This song evokes imagery of Disney’s Haunted Mansion.
7. “Arabesque”: This is one of only two instrumentals, feeling like it comes from a ballet.
8. “Turn Loose the Mermaids “: This song has some excellent instrumentation as the tempo increases.
9. ” Rest Calm”: There’s nothing calm about this. It feels more like a storm-tossed boat.
10. “The Crow, the Owl, and the Dove”: Marko’s vocals have an evil sound to them.
11. “Last Ride of the Day”: I love the chaotic feel of this song. I don’t really want to pick out favorites since this is a concept album, but I do enjoy this one.
12. “Song of Myself”: the longest song on the album, divided into 4 parts, making it similar to “The Poet and the Pendulum” .
13. “Imaginaerum”: The closing song is an instrumental coda.

Final Verdict: Of the two albums featuring Olzon, this is the best. I found her vocals matched the music better, and the movie was excellent. While the movie might not be as necessary in order to enjoy it, I loved it. It was like a dark fairy tale, and I was so glad to find it on YouTube for free.

Grade: A-

Ranking the Discography: Nightwish Part VI: Dark Passion Play

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In 2004, Tarja Turunen informed the band that she no longer wanted to work with them anymore, as the relationship between Holopainen and her husband and manager Marcelo Cabuli had deteriorated. After their Once Upon a Tour ended, the members of Nightwish signed an open letter, accusing her of being a diva. She was replaced by Anette Olzon, formerly a member of Alyson Avenue. Holopainen considers this album the one “that saved [his] life”.

Members:

Anette Olzon: vocals

Tuomas Holopainen: keyboards, backing vocals

Empuu Vuorinen: guitars

Marko Hietala: bass, male vocals

Jukka Nevalainen: drums, percussion

The Tracks:

1. “The Poet and the Pendulum” : This is a five-part suite, and was used by the Minnesota Wild in their 2014 season trailer. While I think the music on the album is fine, I’m having trouble getting into Olzon’s vocals. They’re not bad, but they lack the energy Tarja had. Even so, this is a great opener.
2. “Bye Bye Beautiful “: This song is an attack on Tarja’s behavior, and has not been played live since 2009. I’m not a fan of songs like this.
3. ” Amaranth”: This is the band’s most successful single, reaching #1 in Spain, Hungary, and Finland. This is another good song.
4. “Cadence of Her Breath” : This song is okay.
5. “Master Passion Greed”: Not only does this album attack Tarja, but also her husband. Not a fan of this one either.
6. ” Eva”: This was the first song Nightwish recorded with Olzon. It’s about an abused child. Anette actually does sound good on it.
7. “Sahara”: I like this song’s references to the Arabian Nights.
8. ” Whoever Brings the Night “: The instrumental version of this song was used in the Little Big Planet 2 video game.
9. ” For the Heart I Once Had”: The guitars and percussion are good.
10. “The Islander”: This song only has acoustic guitar. Marko’s vocals are fine, but that’s it.
11. ” 7 Days to the Wolves “: This was the best song, but maybe that’s because I was glad the album was almost over.
12. ” Meadows of Heaven “: This was okay.

Final Verdict: Anette Olzon is the worst of the three vocalists in the band’s history. While the instrumentation is fine, I couldn’t enjoy the album because of the attacks and her vocals.

Grade: C

Ranking the Discography: Nightwish Part V: Once (2004)

Once had three singles (four if you count “Kuolema Tekee Taitellijan”, which was only released in Finland and Japan.): “Nemo”, “Wish I Had an Angel”, and “The Siren”. This was the last album to feature Tarja Turunen on vocals.

Members:

Tarja Turunen: vocals

Empuu Vuorinen: guitar

Marko Hietala: bass, vocals

Tuomas Holopainen: keyboards

Jukka Nevalainen: drums, percussion

The Tracks:

1. “Dark Chest of Wonders”: This song gets its title from Stephen King’s dedication in The Stand to his wife Tabitha. It makes me think of the Greek myth of Pandora. It’s an excellent opener.
2. ” Wish I Had an Angel “: This song seems to imply a loss of purity, and makes references to both the Virgin Mary and Judas’s betrayal. It’s my favorite of the singles.
3. ” Nemo”: Tuomas’s keyboard is beautifully haunting on this. It’s one of my favorite Nightwish songs.
4. “Planet Hell”: This song was used by the San Antonio Spurs during their 2005 season. Marko’s vocals are excellent.
5. ” Creek Mary’s Blood”: This gets its title and inspiration from a book by Dee Brown. It has a beautiful flute.
6. “The Siren”: Tarja is beautiful on this one. One of the best songs on the album.
7. ” Dead Gardens “: I don’t care for the growly vocals on this.
8. ” Romanticide”: Marko has good vocals, and the orchestra is great.
9. “Ghost Love Score”: This is the longest song on the album, at 10 minutes. It’s the best song on the album.
10. ” Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan”: This is the second song to be sung in Finnish. The title means “Death of an Artist” .
11. “Higher Than Hope” : This song is dedicated to the memory of Marc Brueland, who narrates the song. He died soon after the album was released.

Final Verdict: This is probably my favorite Nightwish album so far. It’s an excellent album for Tarja to go out on.

Grade: A+

Ranking the Discography: Nightwish Part 4: Century Child (2002)

I started getting into Nightwish around the time this album was released, thanks to hearing “Bless the Child” and their cover of Gary Moore’s “Over the Hills and Far Away” on Pandora. This was the first album to feature Marko Hietala on bass and vocals. It was also the first album to feature an orchestra.

Members:

Tarja Turunen: vocals

Empuu Vuorinen: guitar

Marko Hietala: bass, backing vocals

Tuomas Holopainen: keyboards

Jukka Nevalainen: drums, percussion

The Tracks:

1. ” Bless the Child”: The opening song contains a quote from Sir Walter Raleigh’s poem “Even Such is Time”. It’s one of my favorite songs from the band.
2. ” End of All Hope”: This song quotes an Emily Dickinson poem, “A Wounded Deer”. The keyboards are great.
3. ” Dead to the World”: The title is a reference to the Edgar Allan Poe poem “William Wilson “. It’s the first song on the album to feature Marko’s vocals.
4. ” Ever Dream”: This song was written specifically for Tarja’s vocals, and is arranged differently in concerts, with only the keyboards and vocals at the start, before the band joins in. One of the best songs on the album.
5. “Slaying the Dreamer”: Tuomas wrote this in response to those who criticize his lyrics.
6. ” Forever Yours”: This song quotes “Fare Thee Well” by Lord Byron.
7. “Ocean Soul”: This song represents Tuomas’s love and fascination with the ocean. It has never been performed live because he feels the song is too personal. I love the imagery of the lyrics.
8. ” Feel For You “: This is not one of my favorite songs, but I don’t hate it.
9. ” Phantom of the Opera “: Tarja and Marko sing a cover of the main theme of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical based on thw classic movie.
10. ” Beauty of the Beast “: Tuomas feels this is the most ambitious part of the album, closing the loop started by the opener.
11. ” Lagoon”: This song references Eden, and was originally only on the Japanese release of the album.
12. ” The Wayfarer”: This is another song referencing Walt Whitman.

Final Verdict: Marko is a great replacement, and his vocals complement Tarja’s well. This is a great new direction.

Grade: A