Faro - Angelost
A proggy AOR album that has just enough unique spice to make it different. Smooth, harder than expected and quite tasty. Review to come soon.

Nightwish - Angels Fall First
I had to replace a few Nightwish discs in my collection and this one probably remains my favorite. It is hard to argue with such great tracks as Elvenpath, Astral Romance, and Know Why the Nightingale Sings. Those that just recently discovered the band (and think they are *new* HA! whatever) should give this a looksee.

Nightwish - Oceanborn
My second fav Nightwish disc, and another that the Nightwish newbies need to check out before proclaiming themselves *the biggest Nightwish fan EVAH!!!* just because they heard Wish I Had an Angel somewhere. Passion and the Opera, Walking in the Air, Moondance, Swanheart... so many great songs...

Swedish Erotica - Too Daze Gone
Wow, I really need to get around to reviewing this. In and out of my CD player over the past few months, its still a pleasant collection of unreleased Swedish Erotica..and no its not porn.

Edguy - Rocket Ride
How can you not love these guys? Power metal at some of its best. The songs here recklessly ride on the cheesy side, but Tobi pulls it off somehow anyway. An enjoyable disc, but I still prefer Theater of Salvation...

Tony O'Hora - Escape Into the Sun
Just another glorious album from the creative imagination of Magnus Karlsson. Tony does a great job as vocalist and its great to hear him back. I would have preferred this to be Allen/Lande Part II but will accept this as a second best consolation prize.

Ten - The Essential Collection
After getting a little flack for my review, I have gone back and revisited this. Yeh it still sucks. So you are thinking WHY? because: these songs were *great* originally. Everything was perfect. Even the production sounded better. Then they dived in and just mucked it all up with heartless out of place guitar solos, a crummy overall sound and the vibrancy just sucked right out of the music. Sad but true.

Ten - Far Beyond the World
The unloved disc of the Ten collection, it rarely gets mention and was even totally shut out from being a part of the Essential Collection lackluster remakes. Why? I wonder. It has a some clunkers, but other songs such as Glimmer of Evil, Heart Like a Lion and Who Do You Want to Love are just spellbinding. Gary Hughes has one sensual voice, that is for sure.

Written by Alanna
Wednesday, February 15, 2006