1. Frontier 2059
2. Welcome To My FanClub’s Night! (Sheryl On Stage)
3. What ‘bout my star? (Sheryl On Stage)
4. Iteza - Gogo 9ji - Don’t be late (Sheryl On Stage)
5. Vital Force
6. Triangular
7. Zero Hour
8. What ‘bout my star?@Formo
9. Innocent green
10. Aimo
11. Big Boys
12. Private Army
13. SMS Shoutai no Uta ~ Ano Musume wa Alian
14. Ninji-n Loves you yeah!
15. “Chou Jikuu Hanten Nyan Nyan” CM Song (Ranka Version)
16. Alto’s Theme
17. TALLYHO!
18. The Target
19. Bajura
20. Kira Kira
21. Aimo ~ Tori no Hito
22. Take Off
23. Infinity
24. Diamond Crevasse
The Review
What word to define this soundtrack album? Grandeur. Every insert song, beautifully mixed with either May’n (Sheryl) or Megumi Nakajima (Ranka) is just stunning to listen to. Particularly each of Sheryl’s On Stage versions, with it’s little stage and live details added in, make for an even grander atmospheric sound. So much, I am actually liking them more than the cleaner studio versions. I really love ‘How bout my Star?’ - both Sheryl’s dancebeat centric rendition and Ranka’s J-pop version.
It is easy to tell that this is Kanno Yoko’s work, spectacularly done. From some tracks like Vital Force and Zero Hour being grand swellings of music, gripping and thrilling. I can’t help but be reminded of Pirate of the Caribbean for some reason during Big Boys and Tally Ho! Then again, maybe I am getting the wrong image, more so it should be that of a naval battle, considering that space fights are somewhat a mix between nautical and aero fights. With the introduction of the Macross battleship, it is looking more so like this image.
Alto’s theme and Aimo are quite slow but powerful really, at times haunting. I particularly like the longer version of Aimo - Tori no Hito with it’s orchestral accompaniment. Even these slower pieces are as captivating and enticing.
All in all, this has turned out to be one of the best OSTs I have ever listened to ever and it was almost expected considering how heavy the concentration on music is in Macross. I was actually expecting separate albums for Ranka’s songs but it has been bunched here and are all excellent in full. A few extras as well, along with the Nyan-Nyan comercial song, the one Rana sang as a carrot and a roaringly hilarious choral SMS theme. Definately, one of the Best OSTs ever.
1. still doll
2. Kuroi Torikago
3. still doll (Orgel Version)
The Review
I absolutely love the ED for Vampire Knight so I had to pick up this single. The song is such a departure from the usual j-pop-ness that is the norm, being a dark haunting classical ballad with strong emphasis on the srings particularly on the deeper cello. And amazingly it is in 3/4, such a demented feel of beat for us being so used to 4/4.
This was a rare occasion that I really wanted a karaoke version on the singles, as the instrumental alone would have been a great atmospheric track. Instead we get an orgel arrangement of the ED which is extremely haunting. There is even a small section that the key is rewound and the song continues with heightened energy, which I thought was a lovely detail to add.
The other song, Kuroi Torikago is a fast paced gothic piece with more classical influences, pulling in a creepy feel which I loved. Perfectly compliments the slower paced march of still doll. I absolutely loved this single and my last.fm account will obviously reflect that. XD
I haven’t had a chance to look into Wakeshima Kanon’s other works but I hope it is more like this single, and this wondrous musical style was not done specifically for the anime alone. The OP comes out soon which I look forward to, being the song I always sing along to. Vampire Knight has truly caught me as I continue watching the whole times from OP to ED without skipping any credits.
So marks the first MusicRun (tm) ranking. As an music lover, I pretty much pick up anything as it turns up, especially if it is anime. A few days back, I got a damn huge chunk of Music from Nipponsei and noting how long ago I did a music post, I think I will do one now. In a monthly segment or something similar. So rankings and quick review of the new music pumped out this week.
Call me crazy (please don’t, it hurts my feelings somewhat) but I have only recently watched the new Death Note OP, and since then, I fell in love with it. My first time hearing something so close to heavy metal used as an OP for an animé and I loved the sound so I went to get the album it went with, Buiiki Kaesu. From it, I actually found that What’s Up People!? was actually one of the only pure rock tracks from Maximum the Hormone for their new single. The rest was a smooth fusion of pop mixing with metal, and I loved every minute of it. XD
Yeah, you read that right. A 1500 play count which is my personal best now beating my old for the Air Gear OP which I reached 400 with once. It might be conceivable to believe that I am so behind in checking out some new music because I’ve been wasting (read: enjoying) 1500 plays of this one track, being the Opening for the H-Game, Nursery Rhyme (both words I find difficult to spell >_< ) which I had discovered on watch a Code Geass MAD, which I pointed out before.
I have let my friends listen to this track at one point and one got violent headaches and swore that he was quite close to bleeding out his ears, and the general consensus is just that it feels so happy. Maybe it is just because all my friends seem to be rockers but I find that weird, as I love a huge range of music from Apocalyptica to Yui. Although, maybe it is only the fact I am weird that way that the only reason I don’t bleed out of my ears at the sheer happiness of this song, repeated 1500 fold, well 1504 now as I finish writing this post.
Here is the track to try for yourself. Handle with care =P
So, it’s finally out. Quite likely the last 2 character CDs unless there’s a second series, Koizumi and Kyon hit it big with their own singles. Talk and speculation have been flung around ever since the anime comunity were alerted of these were about to come out and who can blame them. And on finally coming out, there has been some mixed reviews from Youko’s amused (and quite attentive, I had trouble myself picking up some of those points and totally missed the cover alignment thing) post to some shameless but hilarious parodying to just the outright show of dislike for it so really, you gotta check it out to really find out how it is…. But then, here’s my thoughts on it…
Alright, today I went out and dropped down into a store picking up my first iPod… for the last few years Ive been running on Creative Zen and since I sort of crashed my old one I thought I would check out the iPod… my model being the black iPod nano 8 GB… I have to say, its shiney, sleek and looks great. Very easy to use I just synced it with one of my itunes playlists… now, 8GB is an alright size but I definately won’t be able to keep every single piece of music I have on there… (which i was having trouble doing so with my old mp3 player), so I thought to myself of actually going through and checking to see what I should have on my ipod… so i came up with a quick essentials anime music list of the important stuff I am going to add… I hope this helps to speed reference some good lesser known albums and such from jpop to BGM to character CDs… Alright begin the lists of albums!
Air Gear OP - Chain
Superb, one of my favourite OPs and the rest of the single is just pure brilliance as well… best jrap/jrock Ive ever listened to…
AVALON -Fate-stay night Arrange Sound Album-
Brilliant album with beautiful BGM tracks, i especially love Unlimited Blade works, techno version of Emiya theme…
One Piece Insert Song - From the New World
Antonin Drovak. Remember when Crocodile was being totally anihilated by Luffy, gomu gomu no storm? Well, I thought the music choice for it was absolutely spectacular bring such a powerful and emotional drive. This is the whole thing from first to fourth movement
Ichigo 100% ED - Ike Ike
Haven’t watch the anime actually though have read through the manga a bit but I was linked the first track and loved it getting the rest soon afterwards. For anyone who would like some beat heavy dance trance.
FLCLOST
The Pillows!! ‘nuff said… and if you don’t what that all meant, for shame… for shame!
NHKOP - Puzzle
A good jazzy piece of an OP to one of my favourite series. Twists and turns in the music with a light clashing of instrumental goodness and great vocals… the rest of the single is okay as well I guess…
Ouran High School Host Club OST
Over exposure of classical. I loved the series to bits because of its treatment and the mood was often set perfectly with its excellent orchestral pieces, found here, including full orchestra version of Sakura Kiss…
Ouran High School Host Club ED - Shissou
Good power ballad, I loved it and I remember always watching through the ED of Ouran, which i rarely do for most anime…
XXXHolic OP - 19sai
Good and unpredictable jazzy number heavy on the intonations with the vocals which just work…
School Rumble… Every single thing including all the drama CDs and Character ones…
Even though half of this is japanese speech, the multitude of music goodness mixed in sure makes up for it… any unicorn table work is a must listen as well…
Beats Crusaders (the whole discography and that failing, Pop on Arrival will satisfy all your needs)
First heard them in Bleach OP4 and then I saw the Beck OP. The band has a magnificent sound, their bad english grammar aside. You’re guaranteed for alot of enjoyment with any BC album
Asian Kung Fu Generation (again the whole disography)
This band is very notable from FMA to Naruto, I would suggest checking out all of their works, Kimi tu la Hana being a prime example of one of the lesser known greats of Asian Kung Fu Generation…
The Eureka Seven OSTs and infact, Complete Best for all the OPs and EDs as well…
What can I say? The whole thing is a music masterpiece, with good variety as well. Well worth checking out all this, as there are some real gems out there as whole tracks XD
Neon Genesis Evangelion Symphony Live
Loved the classical in Eva, well, relive it in performance taping of some of the best classical pieces ever… Pachebel’s cannon just wins all for me… unless you’re a celloist…
Escaflowne The Movie OST
Powerful stuff… it’s a classic really…
Melty Blood OST
Its damn good!!
Shuffle OP - You
Wonderful, reminded me of the style used for some visual novels Ive played…
and on that note, all the visual novel OPs you can find… which reminds me that recently actually (specifically from 6 am today and its 7 pm now Ive had the thing on repeat after getting the mp3 since then,….) its actually teh first thing I put on my iPod and the only thing at the moment… well, here’s where I first heard the song, thanks to LiL Donkey for the find. Code Geass fans may find this absolutely hillarious…
And now, to pull this mismatch of a music recommendation together to a finish: well, I’ve been kinda bad mouthing 1000% sparkling lately which may seem weird cause I gave it such a good review, but listening to that much of the near same music has an effect I guess. Well, in all honesty out of all the 1000% Sparklings, only two really stood out to being good to me, and I’m having trouble deciding on which one is the best now that Ive played them so many times… well, here they are, have a good listen and hopefully just vote on the poll at the end of this post on which one you think is the best… hope this post was helpful even though it was kinda rushed…
Big Band Mix
Recap on my review: Lovely collection of VAs here; Chachmaru, Evangaline and Satomi. Their mix was a big band mix, which i would better class as Jazz… Its rhythm is infective and i love the brass fill ins. One of my absolute favourites of the whole box set…
Eurobeat Mix
Recap on my Review: Sayo, Kazumi, Chao and Satsuki… EuroMix!!! Good heavy beat and stong chords blaring, this was my absolute favourite track of the whole Box Set… XD
Artist: Tainaka Sachi
Street Release Date: February 7, 2007
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Tracklist:
1. Aitaiyo.
2. Kimi to no Ashita
3. Aitaiyo. -instrumental-
4. Kimi to no Ashita -instrumental-
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
It has been utter ages since Fate/Stay Night the anime came out hasn’t it? Well, relatively…. almost a year has passed since the final episode, enough time in fact for the dubs to come out and only just recently has the Final ED single come out… I’m surprised cause honestly I wasn’t expecting it. Alright, to the tracks, Aitaiyo. is spectacularly good, especially in it full form here (which I have set up for your easy listening pleasure below) which just brings back great memories from a great show. Kimi to no Ashita is also very good being a much more upbeat number… and the instrumentals… normally, I won’t mention these as there isn’t much to note but since the songs were so instrumentally based to begin with, the instrumentals come out spectacularly on their own and I have no trouble seeing them used as interesting background music… Very strong emotional music in this single here… I give it a 9/10.
On a side note, this reminds me I haven’t gotten around to reviewing the Character CDs that came out as well. =P
*The About Section*
OMFG!? A Blog!? Here's where Deranged (obsessive otaku) and Benneh (coerced bystander) blog out some random (anime related) stuff...
