Katamari wa Damacy November 13, 2008

Track Listing

1. Introduction
2. Katamari on the Rocks
3. Overture II
4. Katamari on the Swing
5. Kuru Kuru Rock
6. Everlasting Love
7. Bluff Spirit
8. Beautiful Star
9. Angel Rain
10. Houston
11. Blue Orb
12. Katamari Holiday
13. Baby Universe
14. DiscoxPrince
15. Sunbaked Savannah
16. The Royal Academy of Katamari
17. A Song for the King of Kings
18. I Love You (hidden track)

1. Introduction

Hard guitar opens up the OST up and it’s a really short track because c’mon 24 seconds?  Anyways, what is in those 24 secs. is about off-leading as one can think.  I actually thought of the Sonic series because of the chords hit.

2. Katamari on the Rocks

Since we are talking about a strange game, Katamari on the Rocks is pretty much the epitome of what the game is like.  Very random and yet also fun.  Anyways the music is actually acappella with the human voice doing everything in the song.  Down to the beats, lyrics and everything else.  Anyway the lyrics are a little off the wall and the famous tune pops up here and there.  Definitly a long track as well leading over 6 minutes with this going on.

3. Overture II

A nice song to hear, all it is is a bouncy piano solo which reminds me of the holiday Charlie Brown music.  If you know what I mean?  Definitly a nice opening to the game as well.

4. Katamari on the Swing

While “Overture II” might be the opening into the game, this is actually the opening sequence.  Definitly explosive on its entrance and the song gets into a swing style with lyrics as well.  I got to give props to the head guy singing because he just sounds awesome to hear.  The back-ups aren’t bad either.  There’s a long drum solo as well which was also as impressive. 

5. Kuru Kuru Rock

First of the theme songs, this song is pretty hectic.  The vocals seem to be pretty robotic and is covered a bit by the craziness of the music.  The other problem is that it doesn’t really lead anywhere else, so it kind of drags itself along…One of my least favorites from this OST.

6. Everlasting Love

Luckily after that, this song pops up and is my favorite of all the Katamari’s.  The simple guitar riff and free-form rock sounds are great.  Just like “LONELY ROLLING STAR” this features a lady singing named Alisa Durbrow and her voice is pretty good for her being mostly a seiyuu.  I think what made this song work the most was probably the music.  Why?  Well it stays in a safe beat and doesn’t try to force itself to differentiate itself from the other tracks.  The lyrics are so cute too, especially the ones in English.  ~I can sing a song for you and me~ awwwwww ^_^

7. Bluff Spirit

This time a guy sings the song.  I’m not sure why there’s so much flute in the song, but giving it do a beat.  The guy’s voice is somewhat good, but it’s not like uber-fantastic as the flute solos found throughout.  A little too strange for Katamari in my opinion, but it’s a good listen in the game.

8. Beautiful Star

Accordion is featured in this water-logged song.  What I mean is that this song is played in the underwater stage of the game and it’s overall ambience features captures the thought of being underwater right.  It isn’t as memorable as the other underwater track “Houston” but it did it’s job right and probably the nicest of the ambient pieces.

9. Angel Rain

To me, it seemed like a continuation of the last track because it continues to feature the accordion in the same fashion except the song features another female singer.  Her voice does kind of bother me because it sounds unsupported and pretty thin.  I’m sorry but the instrumental parts are so much better to me than listening to her.

10. Houston

Were they thinking of Texas when they names the title?  Anyways, the song still carries the underwater theme IMO opinion and is a much better vocal track.  Even though guys are leading it this time I quite like the serenity of the music and vocals.  Interesting to note, is that the chorus features a guy under major vocoder properties and makes the song a little mysterious as well.  I like it.

11. Blue Orb

Starts off as glitchy little opening which is hilarious.  Anyways as time goes by the song slowly gains another connective sound.  Then this girl comes in with words like she’s a robot or something, still the random blips of sound will probably disturb you, probably better left in the game.

12. Katamari Holiday

Yep, you guessed the damn game has a wintry stage as well, count two actually.  Katamari Holiday feature the least expressive verses ever.  The guys sound so bored and quite dumb hahaha.  I guess they were trying to be funny and let these guys make the holidays seem boooooring.  Oddly, I do find the song charming and quite a nice listen ^_^

13. Baby Universe

Another bouncy piano opening featuring female lyrics.  I actually like this one’s voice as well.  Her voice seems really pretty and nice and her English seems right.  If it was released as a single though, I doubt it wouldn’t get far on the Oricon charts because it can be taken as cheesy or just not packing enough punch like some of the other pop acts out there.  On here it’s pretty good.

14. DiscoxPrince

Definitly an upbeat track the enters next and what a loud song it is.  Being a 7-minute dance track, I was surprised to see this.  The guys singing are funny to listen to because they are either rapping/singing/talking.  I’m enjoying the synths though it’s got such a funky beat and is bery catchy to the ears.  It’s synth-heaven really. 

15. Sunbaked Savannah

Sadly, I don’t remember this song from the game.  The weirdest think of the song is the keyboarded dog sounds playing the main Katamari line.  It’s just so random and then there’s other animals like cows, cats, monkeys, and ducks….like what the hell am I listening to here????  Definitly wins the weirdest track award.

16. The Royal Academy of Katamari

Played even before “Katamari on the Swing” this is played to tell you what happened between the first game and what led into the sequel.  There’s an orchestra playing the track and it made it seem really serious and yet playful at the same time.  I actually enjoyed this sound and made a great opening to the game though why it’s put near the end beats me.

17. A Song for the King of Kings

If I’m correct this is the song that plays through the credits of the game.  As such it continues to feature the orchestra and it’s a lot more loud and march-like in sound.  Made much more of an impact on me than the last track.  Funny that the King of All Cosmos also talks a little bit in this as well before singing through the last half of the track.  His voice is hilarious to me. 

18. I Love You

I’m not entirely sure why, but the hidden track was so useless.  It was a short conversation between this robotic male voice and a robotic female voice.  It was nothing really special and has no reason to be on there.

Tracks Recommended

•  Everlasting Love
• Katamari on the Swing
• Houston
• Katamari Holiday
• Beautiful Star

Best of the Katamari series for sure.  All of the tracks seem to focus on one style of their own and it worked maybe except for a few tracks.  Most notably was how many people were singing this time arouns but it worked.  Also, there’s other songs that are in the game that isn’t on here which disappoints me “Tron the Grasslands” being the biggest offender.  Luckily this track and the other are in the “Katamari Original Soundtrack Damacy”  which is such a nice idea.