What are you listening to right now?

More than a week ago, on Monday, I listened to the latest album by my favorite band, Nightwish - Imaginaerum, which I had been putting off for two and a half months because I wasn't in the mood to listen to it. And I don't want to listen to music that could become very dear to me without being in the right mood. I promised myself that I would finish writing and post this, so here it is, finished and posted :) The first impression is more important than all other impressions.

I listened to it completely only once, but later I played some songs separately several times.
At first, I was going to write brief comments about each song individually, but I decided that it wasn't necessary; I will limit myself to describing the overall impression. And the overall impression is positive. However, the pop sound that appeared on the previous album and seemed specifically designed for Anette's vocals remains. I was also a little afraid of the children's choir – before this, I had heard it on two songs by different bands, and I didn't like it. But everything turned out well; the children's choir harmonizes perfectly with the music, making it unusual and interesting. What else? I liked Anette's vocals more than on the previous album; she has changed her singing style somewhat. Just a little bit, maybe not noticeable at all to some :) Well, and of course, I enjoyed the guitar solos; I love them, they are one of my favorite elements of the band's work, their signature style. Give me a solo, and I can tell if Tuomas wrote it or not :) I headbanged fiercely to them.

I especially want to note the song Scaretale. The intro immediately blew me away: the chorus of children's voices sounds like a curse being read. Then comes the orchestral part with the children's choir, brilliant Nightwish-style riffs as always. And then Anette's "witchy" vocals. The word "witchy" is used here in a positive sense - it evokes images of witches, and the vocal part itself is performed excellently. And then comes the most brilliant part of the song. I won't try to describe it, but I will say that it evoked associations with old cartoons for children, when some kind of villain appears and begins to sing his dark songs cheerfully. Imaginaerum works, indeed. Scaretale! A scary tale! In short, a masterpiece.

Among the other songs, I can mention Ghost River, I Want My Tears Back (a cheerful folk tune with an Irish bagpipe), Turn Loose The Mermaids (it reminded me of Blackmore's Night: a pleasant, fairy-tale, good folk song).