Hey guys this is my first review so be sure to tell me what you think
Okay so the album is the greatest hits and is a must for nightwish noobs.First a short bio of nightwish
The idea of Nightwish was "born" in July 1996 at midnight when Tuomas was spending a night with his friends around a campfire. The first three songs, which were acoustic mood music, were recorded between October and December 1996. At that time, the band had three members: Tuomas, Tarja and Emppu.In 2005 tarja was fired.
The Compilation is a good mix of songs from the album "angels fall first" to "Once" and a bonus track that is a cover of Pink Floyd's "high hopes" Which is sung by Marco.The grteatest hits deals with some huge hits and some songs that weren’t so big and after 6 albums this compilation goes from first to last of hits and after 12 released singles I was sadly surprised to see it did not contain the first release "The Carpenter”. A great thing about "Highest hopes" is the fact that it nicely spans out to end the era of Nightwish's first chapter as the final concert was played on 21 October for 11,500 people in Hartwell-Arena in Helsinki. The concert was also recorded to be released as an End of an Era live DVD.
After the last concert, Tuomas, Emppu, Marco and Jukka fired Tarja Turunen, and her manager Marcelo Cabuli. The reason for this was because during the Once Tour their attitude and actions had turned out to be against almost all that Nightwish represents. As one may guess, the news of the firing was followed by an incredible sensation and hullabaloo. Once the nearly ridiculous fuss was finally starting to calm down in the end of 2005, Nightwish was able to look to the future and wait for an adequate singer to be found.
By the end of 2005, "Once" has sold approx. 1,000 000 copies worldwide as well, it has sold triple platinum in Finland, platinum in Germany, and gold in Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Greece, and Austria. The "Highest Hopes" collection has sold double platinum in Finland and gold in Norway by the end of the year 2005.
Song reviews are as followed
Wish I Had An Angel--
So to me this wasn’t such a big hit and is one of the mainstream songs around but it starts of the compilation well and comes from the album "Once"-3/5
Stargazers--
Has a nice intro and soon bursts into a solo like riff with hats off (and pants off) to tarja after but I don’t understand why it’s a big hit, as it was never released in the first place. It comes off the album "Ocean born" -4/5
The Kinslayer--
Truly the best Nightwish intro I have heard Tuomas do and it shortly bursts out with vocals and contains a great insert of another’s vocals. It even sounds like it has explosions placed into it. It comes off the album "wishmaster" -4/5
Ever Dream--
A typical nightwish ballad but this is no ordinary ballad as it contains a lot more strength that Tarja was good for and comes off the album "Century child" 5/5
Elvenpath--
Acht it is de elvenpath. This track is about the lord of the rings and is catchy with very fast guitar riffs and is one of the best on the compilation. It comes off the album "Angels Fall First" 3/5
Bless The Child--
A slightly slower Nightwish song but has some good musical entry and some great backing vocals of somebody talking. It comes off the album "Century child" 3/5
Nemo--
One of the most famous Nightwish tracks. This song is guaranteed to grow on you and reach into your brain and get you addicted as it contains some haunting music and an orchestral need to be re-listened to. One of the best Nightwish songs off the album "Once" 5/5
Sleeping Sun--
This is the 2005 version and sounds a lot better than the original Ocean born track. I recommend that you listen to the original before you listen to this one as you will notice the Guitar solo is cleaner and less distorted 4/5
Dead To The World--
My favourite Nightwish song so far. It is sung by Marco and Tarja and is a lot different to how Marco usually sings. Off the album "Century child" 5/5
Over The Hills And Far Away--
The perfect cover. Originally by Gary Moore this song maintains a good reputation of telling a story of a prisoner accused of robbery 5/5
Deep Silent Complete--
Another slow track yet a great hit with huge power metal force. Tarja’s voice is a lot better in this track and she reaches some nice musical aspects though the song is not particularly repayable a million times, unlike most Nightwish songs off the album "Wishmaster" 2/5
Sacrament Of Wilderness--
A great song that has been arranged nicely with some synth behind the vocals but this track doesn’t convince you unless you listen to it more than 5 times. Off the album "Ocean born" -4/5
Walking In The Air--
A Nice cover of "the snowman" theme. The Track keeps up with a good force in the solo and then narrows down. Off the album "Ocean born" 4/5
Wishmaster--
Oh yeah! The Nightwish classic "wishmaster" blows your eyes out of you skull then pushes you off your chair. Truly a great song when the chorus is done the second time at the intro as it builds up and makes you dance and off the album "Wishmaster" 5/5
Dead Boy's Poem--
Once again another slow track...but a brilliant one too with a little boy speaking in the background off the album "Wishmaster" 3/5
High Hopes - Live--
A perfect cover of the Pink Floyd classic and it sounds better and especially with Marco singing it 4/5
A perfect compilation for all nightwish fans and Noobs
PROS-----
Has slow tracks merged with fast tracks
Exclusive cover
CONS------
Most tracks are from the two great albums "Ocean born" and "Century child"
Phantom of the opera isn’t on it
Overall I feel that the album contains all of the best hits needed but I dont believe that dead boy’s poem was a big hit for the band
