Band:	Tuomas Holopainen
Album:	The Life And Times Of Scrooge
Style:	Folk rock, Symphonic rock
Release date:	April 2014

01. Glasgow 1877
02. Into The West
03. Duel & Cloudscapes
04. Dreamtime
05. Cold Heart Of The Klondike
06. The Last Sled
07. Goodbye, Papa
08. To Be Rich
09. A Lifetime Of Adventure
10. Go Slowly Now, Sands Of Time
11. A Lifetime Of Adventure [Alternative version] [bonus]

In light of the last 10-15 years of Nightwish releases, one would be easily forgiven for thinking that Tuomas Holopainen has lost it as a songwriter. Mr. Holopainen's 2014 solo album, The Life And Times Of Scrooge McDuck, however, is a genuinely great album that refutes that notion to a large extent.

It is safe to say that with cover art by the great Don Rosa himself and with the help of The London Philharmonic Orchestra, the angel-voiced Johanna Kurkela, Tony Kakko of Sonata Arctica, and many others, Tuomas has succeeded in creating a most fitting and worthy soundtrack to a classic graphic novel. At its worst moments, this album does sound like some leftover pieces from the soft and somber moments of previously released Nightwish songs, but those moments are scarce and are scattered amongst truly inspired and beautiful music that demonstrates how Tuomas can still deliver when he cares enough.

The music on this long-titled album is a truly excellent combination of cinematic melodies and compositions, Tuomas's signature keyboards, and folk elements. Also, Mr. Holopainen's admirable ability to tell stories with his music has perhaps never been put to as good a use as on "The Life And Times...", not even on Nightwish's most epic tracks. From the moment that the upbeat and hopeful "Glasgow 1877" captures the listener's imagination to the potentially tear-inducing wailing of "To Be Rich", the album is an emotional roller coaster of epic proportions.

As it appears that Nightwish are doomed never to even come close to their late-'90s and early-2000s glory, Tuomas Holopainen (whose musical approach and style have always been heavily inspired by film scores) should perhaps consider abandoning metal altogether and becoming a legitimate film composer. Music Inspired By The Life And Times Of Scrooge McDuck is a truly beautiful album and a clear sign that he has what it takes to move into that field with success.