The Life and Times of Scrooge

If you're expecting something akin to Nightwish, you'll be sorely disappointed. I heard some samples and knew what I was getting into but even so, I had to take a bit to adjust. I admit on my first listen, there wasn't much that stood out. The songs with lyrics stood out the most so I would replay those ones first. Eventually I just let the album play and accept it for what it was. The more I listened to it, the more I grew to appreciate each track. There really does feel like a story is being told here in music. You just sit and relax and this is actually a pretty brilliant album.At first I thought many tracks repeated themselves too much.... like they'd go on for what seemed like two minutes of just the same music before the music went anywhere. But it's like a movie soundtrack only better. It's bringing you in, ya just got to let it take you. I don't know the story and I've never read it (I want to, maybe when the price drops), but even so, by the end, it does feel like I went on this musical journey. From wonder and excitement, grand adventures, to dreams dashed, disappointments and regrets, and the cold hard reality of the passing of time and childhood lost. Sounds a little deep for a story about Scrooge McDuck, but that's just what I got from listening to the album... (I'm curious about the comic more than ever after listening to this because... it's Scrooge... Duck Tails... Great show but wasn't anything on this kind of emotional level I got from listening to the album).This really is an outstanding and beautiful album. I highly recommend it. You really just have to go into a quiet room, put this on, turn down the lights, lay back in a comfy chair and close your eyes. Relax and let the music take you. If you don't know the story like I don't, your mind will create one. Just don't go in expecting Nightwish or any kind of power metal vibe.I really have to get my hands on the book someday.

The first solo venture of Tuomas Holopainen, is what you might expect from the man behind the powerful Nightwish. But having said that, I feel I need to echo the statement of some of my fellow reviewers and say that the solo work is decidedly NOT Nightwish. It presents instead an exploration of music reminiscent of a movie score, moving characters and scenes along, though this work has dispensed with actors and takes up the mantle of telling the story itself. It is a brave approach which definitely works for me and my sense of imagination. It is challenging to explain this album in a way that makes total sense. In many ways, it is a departure from Nightwish in it seems to focus on telling a story, with less words than you might expect. The music certainly speaks for itself and though I have never read the 'source material' upon which this concept was based, I'm pretty sure that I can imagine what it involves after hearing the music. But it is also familiar to those who have been along for the journey of Nightwish. The stunning power of the music remains the same, the obvious essence of Tuomas himself within the tones. There is a range here that I have always enjoyed from Tuomas, though it feels more pronounced, readily on display in this form. Here, Tuomas speaks, and he does so more eloquently with music than most people can do with words.I do confess that I did not love all the songs right away, but I find myself now humming them all as they grow more poignant each time I listen to them. If I have any complaints about the album, it would only be the familiar grumble that it needed to be a little longer.So, is this album for you? If you want symphonic metal, then no, probably not. If you are looking to listen to the sounds of a wonderful, imaginative journey, then consider allowing Tuomas' music to take you along for the ride.

The Life and Times of Scrooge is a very personal piece of music for people like myself who own and grew up reading the Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck. The album is really a musical narrative telling the story of the trials and eventual triumph of Unca Scrooge. there are several different musical instruments presented to tell young Scrooges story. Bagpipes play for Scotland, banjo's wale for the old west and there is a didgeridoo to represent Australia in Scrooges personal dreamtime. After dreamtime comes the music representing his time in the Klondike gold rush where he finally strikes it rich. the Last sled is a good representation of Scrooge moving on from his time in the Yukon to the next part of his story. My favorite track is a lifetime of adventure. This song is culmination of the entire album summing up the albums various elements with a rousing crescendo representing the triumph of Scrooge. The last song is a melancholic look at scrooge on his deathbed telling his family what he has learned. I not only got this album for my self but also as a gift to a friend who was at first expecting funny animal songs like alvin and the chipmunks and instead was completely blown away by an epic soundtrack about a duck who in the end turns as metal as his money. the soundtrack is completely classical music except for an electric guitar riff at the end and it is better that way. After listening to the album my mother is currently reading the Life and Times of Scrooge Mcduck and is starting to hear the stories she is reading being told through the music. For any fan of good music you cannot go wrong with The life and Times of Scrooge. (PS They are reprinting the comics now in two different book series. IDW and Fantagraphics books).

You won't hear this played on the lame radio here in the US. Don't know how to categorize the style but it is unique. It is a shame it doesn't get the play it deserves. I discovered it because I am a fan of Nightwish and watched an interview on YouTube with Tuomas where he spoke about it briefly. I've listened to this album dozens of time and usually play it along with my 2 Auri CDs also by Tuomas. All excelent.One note: The plastic case was cracked with a piece missing. The CD was ok so I just replaced the case with a spare one I had. I guess it had a rough ride coming directly from the UK. The cardboard pouch it came in was flimsy and probably got crushed.

Ok

This is an amazing albums, plays very much like a soundtrack, don't expect a Nightwish experience and just let Tuomas take you on a magical journey. One of the best composers out there, but sadly overlooked due to his metal connection.

Buena calidad de sonido.

Con questa opera Tuomas Holopainen raggiunge vette compositive alte come non mai. E' un lavoro visionario e assolutamente coinvolgente, musicalmente impeccabile. Coniuga diveri stili musicali (si sente molto l'influsso della musica popolare scozzese) in un amalgama fantastica, creando un'opera unica nel suo genere. Assolutamente da avere!

ゲーム音楽のようなかっこよさケルト民謡とアンクルスクルージが好きな方はおすすめ