I don't usually write reviews but I'm so disappointed and angry with myself for believing the marketing, that I just have to vent my spleen. The advertising overemphasis on DG's cover of a "Metallica" song implies that this is an album with an edge. Or a genuinely new approach. Or a vision. It isn't. I should have looked at the tracks more carefully, or been warned off by the soft-focus Michael-Ball-esqe cover picture. There is no doubting his technical ability, he is impressive in a rather flashy, "look-at-me-look-at-me" way, but he hasn't yet learned that sometimes less is more. And do we really, really need yet another cover of "flight of the bumble bee"? or "Carmen - Fantasie"...again (Anne-Sophie Mutter's version is much more impassioned anyway)? or (oh puhleease!) "You Raise Me Up"? or "Somewhere"? The orchestral arrangements are okay but the Opera Babes did it first, and better. What offends me most is the sheer lack of ambition, and imagination, in this dreary, lazy middle-of-the-road populist pap. Come on man, get a grip, ditch the marketing drones and produce something genuinely worthy of your talent. I'm sure it will do very well but my advice is "move along now, nothing to see here".
(Thanks all - I feel better now)