'Red' vs. 'White'
keonie | Melbourne, FL, US | 08/26/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Here on Amazon.com, there are two versions of Over the Hills and Far Away, by Nightwish. This one, the 'red' version, is superior to the 'white' version -- which features snowcapped mountains on the cover.First of all, the CD being reviewed is cheaper than the 'white' version. Perhaps this will change by the time you read this review, but by getting this version you have a better deal. (The price difference is, however, declining). Secondly, the tracks on the CD are different.Both CDs have 3 completely new songs -- the cover Over the Hills and Far Away, 10th Man Down, and Away. All three songs are good, although the first, a Gary Moore cover, is definitely the star of the CD. Astral Romance as well is included on the CD -- an in-studio remake version of one of the band's earliest songs. Astral Romance was not an exceptional song on Angels Fall First, where it was first released, but is an amazing song on OTHAFA. These four songs make either mini-CD definitely worth buying.However, the difference is in the later songs -- the live ones.I didn't -really- like most of the live songs. I own every full Nightwish CD, and none of the live songs -- with one exception -- compared at all to the on-CD ones. However, the very last song was different. This was Deep Silent Complete, an awesome song and one of the best tracks on the CD. Deep Silent Complete was great on Wishmaster, but is even better here on OTHAFA! Tarja's voice sounds haunting in the very beginning, and does credit, and more, to this wonderful song. It's the only worthwhile live track on the CD.The 'white' version substitutes Deep Silent Complete with Beauty and the Beast -- not at all my favorite Nightwish song. Making the 'red' version definitely preferable.Overall, this is a great CD (like any Nightwish album, really). The band is easily the best female-vocalist metal band out there. Highly recommended!"
I can't stop listening to this....
dismaleuphony | Massachusetts, USA | 11/20/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"this cd has so much energy into its ten tracks that even my own mind becomes easily taken in by it. "over the hills and far away," a cover of Gary Moore's 80s song, improves so immensely on the original that hearing Moore's version makes you think that his is a poor version of the Nightwish song. The most important element of that song, the drumline, is done as good as it can be.the next 2 tracks are both original Nightwish songs and provide a great foundation for which to anticipate the upcoming 6 song live set. "10th Man Down" is my personal favorite of the two tracks, but then again, "away" is often more along my mood when i need to listen to this cd to escape.track 4 is a remake of the song "astral romance," which appeared on their first disc. i prefer this version over the original; it's interesting to see how Nightwish's interpretation of their own songs has evolved in 4 years.as someone who lives in the USA, and has never had the chance to see Nightwish live, and knowing that perhaps this may never happen due to the current fashion of nu-metal that has taken over the hard rock industry, hearing the final 6 live tracks makes me feel as close to a live concert as i can get.with the first 4 tracks like an opening band for Nightwish, the band starts off with the intense song "Kinslayer" (a tribute to the Columbine massacre), and once you have heard the passionate voice of Tarja in just one song live, i guarantee you will not stop the cd until the last note of the disc!"She is my Sin" is done just as well as the studio version too, and one cannot help but love the live version of "Sacrament of Wilderness," the most inspirational song i feel keyboardist Tuomas (who writes nearly all their stuff) has written."Walking on Air" i feel sounds much more real live than the studio version, especially if you consider the subject matter of the song... something done with the freeness of a live performance feels much more in tune with how one would feel if they literally were walking in the air."Wishmaster" is just an epic in itself, and provides one of the most unique vocal styles in metal perhaps ever. The final track is actually the only thing different from the more common version of "Over the Hills and Far Away". This disc contains a live version of the single "Deep Silent Complete," which i prefer over the song "Beauty and the Beast," which can be found on the disc with the snow covered mountains as the cover. Tarja's voice at the beginning of "Deep Silent Complete" in this live version is enough to make chills through many a body, and the energy of the song is even higher than the studio version.I have recommended this disc (or the other version) to each person i've had the chance to, and not one has told me they cannot appreciate one of the few bands that has mastered traditional metal techniques, without ever overdoing it. ...Buy this disc! Support Nightwish and the growing metal underground, especially if you are from the USA. Just remember that this disc topped the charts in Finland and Germany--where nu-metal has not controlled airwaves. 5 stars!!~eternal fear nov.19.2001~"
