Site regulars will have probably have read my posts about Savatage, Jon Oliva’s Pain, Circle II Circle and maybe even some of the classical stuff. So they will understand why the most successful enterprise that involves Paul O’Neill or Jon Oliva also gets a feature here. Of course that would be Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
To me, it is kind of hard to explain why this thing really took off in the USA. I mean, it is not that different from what Savatage did. Yet somehow this seems to work a lot better in the public eye. Not that I care much about that, I just love that combination of classical themes with pompous rock music. Especially when I get to hear people like Jay Pierce, Jeff Scott Soto, Tom Hockenberry or Jennifer Cella singing. And with a cast of players like Paul and Jon, together with Al Pitrelli, Chris Caffery, Johnny Lee Middleton or Jeff Plate (read Savatage) amongst a whole bunch of other great musicians, choirs and orchestra and all, you will not hear me complain.
This, being the fifth release, is a continuation of what we have heard before. And I don’t mean that in a negative way. Yes, I like bands to develop, but I can understand why the concept that is Trans-Siberian Orchestra is carefully guarded. And as long as they deliver the goods, and all those people show up at the concerts, you can expect them to keep going at it. Man, they are even bringing it to Europe now. Grandiose, and if the styles mentioned are tingling your spine as well, you should give them a listen!
