CD Review: Shine by Anette Olzon

'Shine' is the first solo album of former Nightwish singer Anette Olzon. Although, the album was release in  March, the composing and recording of some of the songs date back to 2009. It was after DPP world tour when Anette announced, that she's working on her solo album. But due to her second pregnancy, the release of the album was postponed.
Prior to the album release, we got a tease in form of lyric video of 'Falling', followed by first single 'Lies'. Although 'Lies' and 'Falling' have rock sound, don't be fooled. 'Shine' mostly consists of ballads and slow songs. Songs that definitely let Anette 'shine' and you can tell, that this is her comfort zone.

One thing that was a big surprise and a let down for me was the fact, that five out of ten songs were already played live or shared as demos. 'Floating', 'Invincible' and 'Falling' were shared with us on Anette's Myspace page. Although in form of demos, I dare to say that very little has change since 2009 when it comes to these three songs.  Other two 'Watching Me From Afar' and 'Like A Show Inside My Head' were performed live shortly after Anette's departure from Nightwish. 'One Million Faces' was written by Martijn Spierenburg known as a keyboard player in Within Temptation.

My second complain, and this is only my personal opinion, is a lack of challenging songs. Yes, Anette sounds very good on all of the songs, but most of them are just plain, sometimes boring songs, that you know right from the beginning what you're getting. An element of surprise is missing. I personally call 'Shine' a chill out album. Nice enough but not something I would expect after so many years of 'making' it.

Bye Bye Anette!

Another chapter of the Nightwish story has ended today. Nightwish and Anette Olzon have decided to part company, in mutual understanding, for the good of all parties involved.

In recent times it has become increasingly obvious that the direction and the needs of the band were in conflict, and this has led to a division from which we cannot recover.

Nightwish has no intention of cancelling any upcoming shows, and as a result we have decided to bring in a substitute vocalist starting in Seattle 1.10.2012. Her name is Floor Jansen from The Netherlands (ex-After Forever, ReVamp), and she has graciously stepped in to help us complete the Imaginaerum world tour.

We are all strongly committed to this journey, this vehicle of spirit, and we are sure that this will lead to a brighter future for everyone.
We forever remain excited about the adventures to come, and we are extremely proud of the two beautiful albums and the wonderful shows we shared together.

- NIGHTWISH & Anette Olzon

Swallow the Sun Feat. Anette Olzon

I do remember this project being announced somewhere, probably on Blabbermouth, perhaps on Anette's blog, but yesterday the song "Cathedral Walls" by Finnish doom metalers, Swallow the Sun, was released.  It features Nightwish singer Anette Olzon in a duet.

Not really a fan of doom myself, I have to say I really like this song.  It has great atmosphere and emotion, and Anette sounds positively divine.  Her vox sounds ethereal and is key to the atmosphere created in the song.

The video, however, is a bit odd.  Anette herself isn't in it, so I don't know who that dark-haired, veiled lady is, but my big question is, WTF is up with those...dancers...doing sort of yoga poses or weird interpretive dance movements?  With black flags?!  Very strange!

Anette Olzon's Ever Dream demo

So Anette gave us another demo song today. It is not a song from her unreleased solo album, but her version of "Ever Dream" which she sent to Tuomas while NW was looking for new singer.

Check the song here.

What do you think?

Anette Olzon's demo songs

In April, Anette announced, that she's not going to release a solo album. Today, she launched 2 raw demo songs "Floating" and "Invincible" on her official MySpace page. Later on, Anette will add another song. Read Anette's description of the songs.

So, what do you think about the songs?

I like them. It's nice too hear "other" musical side of Anette.

Anette Olzon and her solo album

Some of you will be very happy and some of you very disappointed. Today Anette announced on her blog that the solo album won't be released due to several reasons. One of them concerns the producer of her album. For more info click

Imaginaerum by Nightwish

According to Anette's blog click the mixing of Imaginaerum began on Wednesday. Yay! Can't wait to hear it! Still there are some months of waiting in front of us...sadly.

Also according to Troy Donockley's update (the guy with bagpipes) he's going on the tour with them and is singing backing vocals. For more info click

Suicide Tribute

Say what you want about Anette (many do), I think the girl has a good voice. I don't believe it's the right voice for Nightwish at all, and I have issues with the band's choice to hire her, but she can sing. And you certainly cannot fault anyone for wanting to create a tribute song to someone they loved and who died in a tragic way.

Before joining Nightwish in 2007, Anette sang for the Swedish rock band Alyson Avenue. One year ago, a long-time friend of Anette's and a friend of Alyson Avenue's committed suicide.

Suicide is an issue very close to my heart for reasons I won't get into here, and this morning I saw on Anette's blog that Alyson Avenue and Anette wrote and recorded a tribute song to this friend, and I have to say it was very moving and touched upon many of the questions those left behind after a suicide feel.

This is not a metal song, obviously. But one of the things I like about it is the thoughtful way in which it treats this issue. There is no anger in it, just questions - and common, valid ones at that.

The song is currently streaming on Alyson Avenue's web site and you can read the lyrics there, too. Here it is.

Come Cover Me: Bring Me To Life

I found this video for Katherine Jenkins's verions of Evanescene's "Bring Me to Life" on Anette Olzon's blog and gave it a listen. Here it is:



My first impression was "interesting." Knowing nothing about Katherine Jenkins, I was stunned, however, at the end of the song, that the sang out in full on classical mode, which was quite a pleasant surprise. Since then, I've learned that Katherine is a classically trained mezzo-soprano from Wales. I am currently dowloading some of her music so I can check her out a bit more, because her voice really is beautiful.

As for the cover, it's OK. I miss the angst, and the imagery in the video is a bit ho-hum given the subject matter of the song. I still prefer the original, but I am looking forward to hearing more of Katherine Jenkins's stuff.

Here is Evanescence's original.

Fake Tuomas

Although I was one zillion percent sure it was a fake, I sent a friend request into "Tuomas Holopainen's" Facebook profile. What ensued has been quite amusing, and rather sad.

Amusing because this Tuomas A) has really bad English, B) he takes photos any idiot can find off the internet & posts them on his page (including pictures Anette Olzon posted on her blog, taken by Anette herself) and C) he appears to be successfully posing as Tuomas and getting all kinds of fangirls hot under the collar.

What's sad about this is said fangirls and the deception this Fake Tuomas is perpetuating. I knew this was fake from the start and had no fantasies that this was anything other than some duplicitous personage with a lot of time on his/her hands. Tuomas has said in various interviews how much he hates the internet and even, if memory serves, that he does not have Facebook or any other social networking profile. Anette has said more than once on her blog that no Nightwish members have Facebook profiles, and she reiterated this again today, here.

It's pretty pathetic - and actually mean-spirited, too, IMO - to do something like this, especially where fangirls are concerned. You lead them on, they get all hot & bothered, you get your ego stroked and your entertainment - all off the backs of legitimate fans who believe they are getting something real from you.

You also make the band look bad (which I realize for some people isn't a problem).

It also violates the terms of service, which is why I have reported Fake Tuomas to Facebook, but alas, in typical FB fashion, the reporting interface was vague and probably ineffectual, and I doubt this will have any real results. Ironically, Real Tuomas has to report this person himself, and of course, in order to do that, he has to have a FB account.

So consider this my little public service announcement and my good deed for the day, for the whole 4 people who read this humble blog: the Tuomas Holopainen you see on Facebook is a poser, not the real Tuomas. (I have to say, however, that if the picture this Fake Tuomas has posted of the Real Tuomas's new house is the real new house, I am in awe of it's architechture & gorgeousness, and, yes, even expressed this in a comment under the picture of the house on Fake Tuomas's FB profile. It is a legitimately beautiful house.)

Sorry to burst your bubble fangirls!