HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR – HOT LIMIT September 9, 2008

Track Listing

1. HOT LIMIT
2. Kirakira Summer
3. Mirror
4. HOT LIMIT -Instrumental-

1. HOT LIMIT

We start out the final era with the Maaki at the forefront with a cover of a T.M.Revolution track.  The original was definitly pop and so HandMC decided, Hey let’s rock things up.  It starts with an engine revving itself up.  Then the familiar sounds of the original filter through before Maaki comes in for the chorus.  I felt she lacked interest in the song and somehow the song sounded weaker.  Yuusuke is featured with his signature yelps, as I love to call them.  I kind of wished there was more to the song though.  Can you agree that this version was weak?

2. Kirakira Summer

Uhm, so we have a summer rock track?  Well this was a bit more unusual since Yuusuke is rapping more and sounds monotone, but Maaki sounds lively here.  Other than that, this is a typical rock track based for the summer.  I’m thinking Orange Range and that’s not always a good thing. 

3. Mirror

Now this is what I wanted, Mirror is the best one on the single.  Maaki taking a higher range for singing and the song has a nice dark sound to it.  Yuusuke sings along with Maaki this time and they don’t sound totally off.  Yuusuke does his yelping/growling shtick here and it sounds friggin awesome.  There’s some awesome moments in the song.  Sad that this was better than both of the other tracks

 

 

Starting with the final era as the current members.  It wasn’t all that good.  HOT LIMIT was a hot failure becuase it didn’t really bring anything new to the old favorite.  Kirakira Summer was just so obvious and somewhat lame for me.  Mirror however was really good and I hope it’s on their album. 

Nami Tamaki – Believe Reproduction ~GUNDAM SEED EDITION~ September 9, 2008

Track Listing

1.  Believe -Evidence01 Mix-
2. Believe -FREEDOM G CONTROL MIX-
3. Final Memory
4. Final Memory -happy hardcore mix-

1. Believe -Evidence01 Mix-

Piano starts off with this interesting remix.  While the original is a dance powerhouse, this is more soft and ballad-like.  I actually like the changes made to the song.  Then again it’s a total change as well.  There’s somewhat of a wintry feeling added to it also.  I thought it was a good remix until I heard the next track.

2. Believe -FREEDOM G CONTROL MIX-

It’s fair that this song is more for clubbing and more ethereal than either the original or the ballad remix, but this beats out both IMO.  The beats are quite catchy and Nami sounds better with her voice being layered.  It’s another song the screams imagery at me.  Probably her best remix in her career.

3. Final Memory

I wouldn’t classify this as a B-side but it hasn’t been on any major singles or albums.  Sounds like she made this before “Believe” because the song is just a little on the boring side and she’s yelling in the chorus.  It’s a safe dance track with easy beats and Nami comfortable.  Though, it’s one of the least favorite moments of the “greeting” era.  Though I totally like the line ~Now I can’t stop~

4. Final Memory -happy hardcore mix-

Why did they speed up the song?  As well with the vocals?  I do like the instrumentals of the synths ascending and descending.  This actually sound like something GUNDAM would use with some small ethereal moments.  Though I don’t like how she sounds here…all sped up and and sloppy.  Yea…it’s one of those song I can stand sometimes.

 

 

Nami’s 1st remix single wasn’t all that special.  The new track was a little on the boring side, but Believe’s remixes were great and the Evidence01 mix made it on “greeting”.  Personally I would have put the other one on instead.

Utada Hikaru – traveling September 9, 2008

Track Listing

1. traveling
2. traveling -PLANITb Mix-
3. traveling -Bahiatronic Mix-
4. traveling -Original Karaoke-

1. traveling

I didn’t know what to expect from Hikki in this era and then this came out.  Its like so fantastically made.  Utada really put some energy and fun into the making of this track.  It doesn’t sound R&B more like synth-pop which was such a nice change.  Though she sounds thin some places, overall she’s in a great position.  I do get a little annoyed at the ~ta ta ru~ part, but everything is golden, and the PV = best ever in that year.

2. traveling -PLANITb Mix-

Another offering from the PLANITb group.  This was one long song.  Clocking over 10 minutes.  They gave the song a more club-friendly vibe which was an interesting take.  They also gave Hikki echoed properties which was smooth.  The bridge sound like she was on auto-tune which was damn nifty.  The ending was just so long though……x.x

3. traveling -Bahiatronic Mix-

Wow….once again they made traveling club friendly again, but somehow it’s calmer and a little more organic I guess?  There’s acoustic guitar playing through the verses which was surprising.  The percussion to me however sounds a bit messy and strange.  I’ll take the other remix over this….Just wasn’t my kind of remix.

 

 

After “FINAL DISTANCE” I wasn’t expecting such a fun dance track.  Definitly pushed her limits 10-fold and really released a great single.  The remixed could have been more shorter, but other than that I was pleasantly content with this single. 

Final Fantasy Original Sountrack – Disc 4 September 9, 2008

Track Listing

1. Mods de Chocobo (feat. N’s Telecaster)
2. Ride On
3. Truth
4. Lunatic Pandora
5. Compression of Time
6. The Castle
7. The Legendary Beast
8. Maybe I’m a Lion
9. The Extreme
10. The Successor
11. Ending Theme
12. Overture

1. Mods de Chocobo (feat. N’s Telecaster)

We get another Chocobo tune and it’s used mainly when riding one across the world map of the game.  It’s got a pretty nifty surf flair to it and it sounds cute and catchy.  There’s some voicing in it, but all it is is just ~oooo’s~.  A nice start to the beginning of the last CD.

2. Ride On

I didn’t remember the 1st 20 seconds of the tune.  After that though it becomes one of the more memorable tracks because it’s overuse as the Ragnarok’s flight music.  It really does capture the sense of flying and the use of synths won me over pretty quickly.  Though in the game, one can get mildly annoyed from its repetitiveness

3. Trust

Harpischord takes over for this eerie track.  It’s kind of melancholic if you really think of all the instrumentation.  It is Edea’s theme if you really think about it.  Really infuses the Sorceress’s Theme well here and did its job.  Though its placing is a bit strange after the whole happy feeling tracks.

4. Lunatic Pandora

Definitly an important piece for an important area of the storyline.  Like “Silence and Motion” it’s mainly synth, but this time it’s a cold and menacing track.  The descending line really sounds freaky.  The chords can be a little strange to someone who isn’t used to Nobuo Uematsu’s work, but this really shined.  Nuthin like psychotic synth music put to a floating pillar…x.x

5. Compression of Time

Strange little tune.  I think sax is featured mostly, but these haunting voices and cold synths really put an emphasis to where this was featured.  During the battle of the various Sorceress’.  It’s another track that where the placing was perfect after.  The voices are so oddly soothing though…nice track.

6. The Castle

For being a castle practically in the middle of nowhere the beginning is happy and full of life before the pipe organ really introduces the castle.  It really brought the usual fare of how an evil castle is supposed to sound like.  With dissonance everywhere.  Then there’s a synth line which kind of was like WTF and the song got kind of cute for a little bit.  Definitly an outlandish song for me.

7. The Legendary Beast

Striking violing starts up the 1st of 3 final battle themes.  Another march style-like beat really makes the song have a purpose and beat.  The pulsing everywhere got your blood pumped up for this battle which isn’t as needed as the other two fights.  Somehow later in the song, I lose focus of the song as it really doesn’t do anything for me. 

8. Maybe I’m a Lion

A darker final battle tune shows up with tribal sounding drums and electric guitar.  Both are new to the factor in this game.  The main melody sounds pretty cool.  Funny how this song is slower than “The Legendary Beast”.  Really, this song made the 2nd part of the final battle so cool.  Why do I hear synths that sounded like “Under Her Control” as well.  Hahaha, so random, but it did its job pretty well.

9. The Extreme

WTF…with the beginning has a warped sounding “Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec” and then starts quietly with some acoustic guitar and piano.  As it is the last of the final battle themes, I thought it was a bit unorthodox at first, but eventually I’ve concluded that it makes a battle more calmer and less hectic.  Oh wait, then it starts getting fast with synths and piano/strings doing the melody.  By this time, I already like it more than the other two.  Longest track on this CD being almost 7 minutes.  Did a very good job as a final battle tune.

10. The Successor

Was this the song played when Ultimecia was trying to pass her powers onto Edea?  Well whatever, it’s just piano playing a melody which is the Sorceress’s theme.  After all the epic final battle themes, to get this track kind of seems like a downer, but it does complete the story.  Not the best but it did make more sense in the game.

11. Ending Theme

“Eyes On Me” gets featured again for the Ending Theme and I thought there was a more orchestral feel to it.  It did make the song seem more important and beautiful.  Faye once again proves to be a great artist and English is so well.  Smooth lyrics and strong vocals…No wonder this song was given so many awards.  Nice ending.

12. Overture

The start-up music is the final track?  Wow, I did find it’s forceful beat and militaristic sound a very sure way that the game would be good.  Loved the low notes at the start…very cool.  Really made the game so awesome and set up the awesomeness of the game.

Tracks Recommended

• Compression of Time
• Overture
• Ride On
• The Extreme

The final album only had 12 tracks but is just as long as the other 3 cds.  In the end it started out silly and free and ended on a serious not, nice move Square.  Still this is my favorite Soundtrack of the FF series.  Alot of memories caught on this one.