Ashes and Sparks

First things first, something to get you good and hungry...

It seems that these days that it always seems to look like I'm the only one at work who knows just exactly what the hell he's doing.  See, I go in every morning, usually around 3am, sometimes as early as 2am, and I go in with the mindset of, "OK, let's get our shit done, clean up, and get the hell out of here.  Of course, 9 times out of 10 my team leader has different things in mind.  Boneheaded decisions, a lack of orginizational skills, and an apparent desire to crush morale within my entire department, and I'm usually there one, two, sometimes up to four hours later than I am supposed to.  Then my manager will come in, ask us all why things aren't done yet (it's usually around 9 or 10am at this point), and all I can say is, "Sorry, team leader's too busy having us just doing stupid shit."  I even told my department manager last Wednesday, that I get a lot more done when no one else was there to help me.  See, last Wednesday, I was the only one in my department scheduled, and no shit, I got a hell of a lot more done.  My manager laughs and says he understands perfectly.  It's pretty sad when I get a lot more done at work when I have no one to help.  Speaks volumes, as a matter of fact.  I think they need a new person leading my department, and I think it's not much of a guess as to who that should be.  I mean come on, seems like I'm doing everything myself anyway.  Goddamn awe-inspiring.  I barely sleep, I work harder than anyone else in that place, and I have close to nothing to show for it.  Something's gotta give, BROTHERS!



2nd Chance CD of the Week
Nightwish
Imaginaerum (2011)

Tracklist
Taikatalvi
Storytime
Ghost River
Slow, Love, Slow
I Want My Tears Back
Scaretale
Arabesque
Turn Loose the Mermaids
Rest Calm
The Crow, the Owl, and the Dove
Last Ride of the Day
Song of Myself
Imaginaerum

     In 2007, I first caught wind of the Finnish band Nightwish.  There was an ad on TV promoting their then-new album, Dark Passion Play, with a short clip of the single "Ameranth" playing in the background.  I was morbidly curious, and decided that the next time I got the chance to hit the mall, that I was gonna pick it up.  A few weeks later, I did, and became a fan almost immediately.  Since then , I've been trying to hear various songs from them, from the era of their original singer, the opera-trained Tarja Turunen, to current vocalist Anette Olzen.  Since Dark Passion Play, I had been chomping at the bit to hear some new materail.  Then I caught wind of the album Imaginaerum being recorded.  I was already chomping at the bit as it is.  Finally, the symphonic metal band from Finland were finally coming back, but little did I know that the end result would end up being their true masterpiece.  Then, even months later, I hear that the new album was going to be a concept album, which I'm a sucker for anyway.  On top of all THAT, come to find out that it's currently in the process of being turned into a movie as well.  Trust me, opeining day, I will be all over that.  I even hear that the members of Nightwish are going to make a cameo appearance in the film as well.

The "concept" of this concept album tells the story of an aging writer on his deathbed, riddled with dementia, the best memories of his life leaving his memory long ago.  He slips into a coma, and while in his coma, begins the search for his memories so that he can take them with him when he dies.  The album starts off with "Taikatalvi," which is sung in Finnish by bass player Marco Hietala.  I looked up the translation and the gist of it is basically, "This is my story," and elaborates on that thought.  Once the track ends, while sounding almost like a nursery rhyme in the process, the floodgates open with the first single from the album, "Storytime."  From then on, Anette Olzen and Marco Hietala trade vocal duties and even duet a couple of songs as well.  Notable tracks depicting this would be "Ghost River," "I Want My Tears Back," and "Last Ride of the Day."  My favorite song on this album has to be "Rest Calm," a seven minute epic, and, in my view, the centerpiece of the entire 75-minute album.  Imaginaerum has quickly been put on my list of my 10 favorite albums of all time, which is a rarity.  To further attest to the album's greatness, it won the Album of the Year award in Finland after only FOUR WEEKS on the charts.  That's insane, and it's certainly gotten my notice.  It should get yours too.

Miller.