by David Jeffries

The story of Trans-Siberian Orchestra's third Christmas CD deals with angels visiting New York City, which gives the rock group with orchestra and chorus a chance to draw upon a wide variety of modern music. The jaunty "Christmas Nights in Blue" sounds like Louis Jordan had some influence and is the coolest moment the orchestra has ever offered, while the driving "Christmas Jam" is Edgar Winter's "Frankenstein" with some sleigh bells. Not that the group was ever "traditional," but the songs here sound less influenced by the old Christmas standards, and they're generally more fun and uplifting. The quiet numbers are delicate and beautiful and there are a number of them in the album's fourth quarter. The problem with the album is it's nearly choked with too much material with a great number of the songs just here to move ahead the story. That's when the album gets too emotive, too forced, and too Electric Light Orchestra without Jeff Lynne. Good new is, whittle out the dreck and you've still have plenty left to enjoy. Even though it won't win them any new fans, The Lost Christmas Eve is rumored to be an "end of the trilogy" album. If so, the trilogy ends with a big, theatrical bang and Trans-Siberian Orchestra fans wouldn't have it any other way.