Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) "The Christmas Attic"

The Christmas Attic is the second album by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, a rock opera, and the second installment of their Christmas Trilogy. The cover art was created by Edgar Jerins.

The story is about a young child exploring the attic in an old house on Christmas Eve. The opening poetry sets up the story;

In this room where shadows live

And ghost that fail learn time forgives

Welcome friends please stay a while

Our story starts with one small child

Who spend her nights in attics dark

Where dreams are stored like sleeping hearts

This album contains a mix of vocal and instrumental songs but as usual with TSO the story is the core of the album.

The track "Christmas Canon," one of the orchestra's most well-known songs, is a variation of Johann Pachelbel's famous Canon in D Major, with lyrics and new music added.

The album was performed live for the first time during the band's 2014 Winter Tour.

The album was re-released in 2002 with a companion track to "The World That She Sees" (which was shortened from 6 minutes to just 3) called "The World That He Sees" inserted into the track listing directly after "She Sees" and having a length of 4:45. The last track "Music Box Blues" was also truncated to 4:57; this version was previously used in their film "The Ghosts of Christmas Eve."

On November 18, 2004, The Christmas Attic was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Track listing

1. "The Ghosts of Christmas Eve" Robert Kinkel/Paul O'Neill 2:15
2. "Boughs of Holly" (instrumental) Traditional 4:24
3. "The World That She Sees" O'Neill/Jon Oliva 6:00
4. "Midnight Christmas Eve" (instrumental) O'Neill/Oliva 4:21
5. "The March of the Kings/Hark the Herald Angel" (instrumental) Georges Bizet/Charles Wesley 3:52
6. "The Three Kings and I (What Really Happened)" Kinkel/O'Neill 6:29
7. "Christmas Canon" O'Neill/Johann Pachelbel 4:19
8. "Joy/Angels We Have Heard on High" J.S. Bach/James Chadwick/Kinkel/O'Neill 3:55
9. "Find Our Way Home" O'Neill/Oliva 3:45
10. "Appalachian Snowfall" (instrumental) Kinkel/O'Neill 4:12
11. "The Music Box" O'Neill 3:00
12. "The Snow Came Down" Kinkel/O'Neill 5:43
13. "Christmas in the Air" O'Neill/Oliva 4:12
14. "Dream Child (A Christmas Dream)" O'Neill/Oliva 7:04
15. "An Angel's Share" Kinkel/O'Neill 3:05
16. "Music Box Blues" O'Neill 5:36

The album was re-released in 2002 with a companion track to "The World That She Sees" (which was shortened from 6 minutes to just 3) called "The World That He Sees" inserted into the track listing directly after "She Sees" and having a length of 4:45. The last track "Music Box Blues" was also truncated to 4:57; this version was previously used in the TSO film The Ghosts of Christmas Eve.

Recording information:
Recorded and mixed at Soundtrack, New York City. Overdubs - Studio 900, Stellar Productions - New York City. Mastered at The Cutting Room.