Pirates of the Seven Sounds: March 2010

Monday 29 March 2010

Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy VI - Grand Finale

I only slept 1,5 hours this night, I'm too tired to write about the same thoughts I had with the previous two posts.. Please understand.. -_-

Released: NTT Publishing, 1994.

01. Omen ~ Terra's Theme
02. Kefka
03. Phantom Forest
04. Gau's Theme
05. Milan de Chocobo
06. Troops March On
07. Kids Run Through the City
08. The Airship Blackjack
09. Relm's Theme
10. Phantom Train
11. Aria di Mezzo Carattere

Sunday 28 March 2010

Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy VI Piano Collections

This has about the same value for me as the original soundtrack of the game, same "been there, done that" feeling. And even though I just read that Nobuo Uematsu himself was very pleased with the soundtrack and this piano collection, I still don't like it that much. It's not that it isn't good, it's just not outstanding. I expect more from Uematsu and from a Final Fantasy score.

Released: NTT Publishing, 1995.

01. Terra's Theme
02. Gau's Theme
03. Kefka
04. Spinach Rag
05. Stragos's Theme
06. Phantom Forest
07. Kids Run Through the City
08. Johnny C. Bad
09. Phantom Train
10. The Decisive Battle
11. Coin of Fate
12. Celes's Theme
13. Waltz de Chocobo

Saturday 27 March 2010

Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy VI

I can't really review this soundtrack from the gamer point of view, because I haven't played this game yet. I did buy the psone remake a while ago, but I'm too busy right with too many rpg's: Mystic Quest, Breath of Fire III, Dragon Quest VIII, Digimon World 2003 and Final Fantasy X-2. But after I defeated the last boss of the last rpg in this list, I will play Final Fantasy VI..

Since Episode V, the amount of discs never returns to just one, so be prepared for long blog posts, with long tracklistings and long hours of Final Fantasy-ismic Music.
I thought this soundtrack felt like a megamix of previous Final Fantasy melodies, same structure, same build up, same lightheartedness where necessary, but all very well played out over the three discs. I did think a few times that it was time for Nobuo Uematsu to get out of his lazy chair and show us some new tricks, instead of playing by the same old rules in the book.
This doesn't mean there aren't new compositions here, it just felt a bit "same old, same old" some times.

Released: NTT Publishing, 1994.

Disc 1

01. Omen
02. The Mines of Narshe
03. Awakening
04. Locke's Theme
05. Battle
06. Victory Fanfare
07. Edgar & Sabin's Theme
08. Kefka
09. Mt. Koltz
10. The Returners
11. Shadow's Theme
12. Troops March On
13. Cyan's Theme
14. The Unforgiven
15. Phantom Forest
16. Phantom Train
17. The Veldt
18. Gau's Theme
19. The Serpent Trench
20. Kids Run Through the City
21. Under Martial Law
22. Celes's Theme
23. Protect the Espers!
24. The Decisive Battle
25. Metamorphosis

Disc 2

01. Terra's Theme
02. Coin of Fate
03. Techno de Chocobo
04. Forever Rachel
05. Slam Shuffle
06. Spinach Rag
07. Overture
08. Aria di Mezzo Carattere
09. Wedding Waltz ~ Duel
10. Grand Finale
11. Setzer's Theme
12. Johnny C. Bad
13. The Gestahl Empire
14. Magitek Research Facility
15. The Airship Blackjack
16. What?
17. Mog's Theme
18. Strago's Theme
19. Relm's Theme
20. Esper World

Disc 3

01. Floating Continent
02. Catastrophe
03. Battle to the Death
04. Rest in Peace
05. Dark World
06. From that Day On...
07. Searching for Friends
08. Gogo's Theme
09. Epitaph
10. The Magic House
11. Umaro's Theme
12. The Fanatics
13. Kefka's Tower
14. Dancing Mad
15. Balance Is Restored
16. The Prelude

Finger Disc 1
Finger Disc 2
Finger Disc 3

Previously posted:
1987: Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy I
1988: Tsuyoshi Sekito - Final Fantasy II
1990: Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy III
1991: Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy IV
1991: Máire Breatnach - Final Fantasy IV Celtic Moon
1992: Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy IV Piano Collections
1992: Ryuji Sasai & Yasuhiro Kawakami - Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
1992: Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy V - Disc 1
1992: Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy V - Disc 2
1993: Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy V Piano Collections

Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy V Piano Collections

In contrast to what I wrote about the original soundtrack, the Final Fantasy 5 piano version is actually my favourite piano version of any Final Fantasy episode. It's got everything, something lighthearted, something serious and somber and something exciting and with a faster tempo. I love it.
What bugs me though, is that the tracklist uses different translations for the titles. I almost hesitated and wanted to use the Japanese kanji, but I went with English as I don't understand Japanese (yet...).

Released: 1993, NTT Publishing.

01. A Presentiment
02. Tenderness in the Air
03. Harvest
04. Ahead on Our Way
05. Critter Tripper Fritter!?
06. My Home, Sweet Home
07. Mambo de Chocobo
08. Lenna's Theme
09. Music Box
10. Battle with Gilgamesh
11. Waltz Clavier
12. Dear Friends
13. The New Origin

Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy V

This is the fifth installement in the main Final Fantasy series. And the first one to come with more than one disc as a soundtrack. So needless to say, it's requires longer listening time than previous posts. The problem with longer soundtracks is that it becomes harder to make sure all the tracks work together, to make it convincing that the two discs are a whole, not a collection of tracks. And I thought it didn't quite work out that way. It didn't get to be one feeling, it felt quite unhinged and sometimes even out of place. Especially during the actual game, it was very noticeable that you went from one seen to the next, because of the soundtrack lying underneath.
It's also supposed to be one of the classics, one of the most reverred Final Fantas soundtracks out there, focusing around the "Dear Friends" track. But even after 20 gazillion listening sessions, I still don't get what the big fuss is all about. I thought it was nothing special. There were some good tracks though, like "Mambo De Chocobo" and "Harvest", but you could just as well listen to the piano versions of those tracks.
Still, if you're a fan or if you've played it once, you should get it, just for the nostalgic feel to it.

Released: NTT Publishing, 1992.

CD 1

01. Main Theme of FINAL FANTASY V
02. Opening Theme
03. Four Hearts
04. Hurry! Hurry!!
05. Lenna's Theme
06. Dungeon
07. Battle 1
08. Victory Fanfare
09. Requiem
10. Pirates Ahoy
11. Town Theme
12. Good Night
13. Sealed Away
14. Cursed Lands
15. Deception
16. Harvest
17. To the North Mountain
18. Close Call
19. Battle 2
20. Spreading Grand Wings
21. Royal Palace
22. Fire Ship
23. Run!
24. Sorrows of Parting
25. Library of Ancients
26. Reminiscence
27. Musica Machina
28. The Day Will Come
29. What?
30. Mambo de Chocobo
31. Home, Sweet Home
32. Music Box
33. The Airship
34. The Evil Lord Exdeath

CD 2

01. Exdeath's Castle
02. The Dawn Warriors
03. Clash On the Big Bridge
04. Unknown Lands
05. Moogles' Theme
06. The Castle of Dawn
07. Beyond the Deep Blue Sea
08. Legend of the Deep Forest
09. Tycoon Waltz
10. Boko's Theme
11. A New World
12. Sealed Book
13. Slumber of Ancient Earth
14. Prelude to the Void
15. In Search of Light
16. The Decisive Battle
17. The Final Battle
18. The Silent Beyond
19. Dear Friends
20. FINAL FANTASY
21. Ending Theme
22. The Prelude
23. Fanfare 1
24. Fanfare 2
25. I'm a Dancer
26. Piano Lesson 1
27. Piano Lesson 2
28. Piano Lesson 3
29. Piano Lesson 4
30. Piano Lesson 5
31. Piano Lesson 6
32. Piano Lesson 7
33. Piano Lesson 8

Finger Disc 1
Finger Disc 2

Previously posted:
1987: Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy I
1988: Tsuyoshi Sekito - Final Fantasy II
1990: Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy III
1991: Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy IV
1991: Máire Breatnach - Final Fantasy IV Celtic Moon
1992: Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy IV Piano Collections
1992: Ryuji Sasai & Yasuhiro Kawakami - Final Fantasy Mystic Quest

Friday 19 March 2010

Julia LaDense - Fucks Like A Soccer Mom

After this one I'm getting back to the Final Fantasy posting. I just wanted to take a break so that no one thinks I've lost my way.
This is supposed to be her sophomore album, and I thought it was along the same line as her first album. Whilst listening to this album, I realized she had her own brand of noisemaking and decided to post these two albums.

Released: Afternoons Modeling, 2009, limited to 16.

01. Boys
02. Respirator
03. Fuck A!
04. Slits Man Next Door
05. Jimi And J Kwon Hinght Tripping
06. Sampleruff
07. Pizza Hut
08. Breathin The Boxer Shorts
09. digitalhardsore1unfinished

For fingering

For buying

Previously posted:
2009: Julia LaDense - Pussy Willow
2009: Earth Incubator + Julia LaDense - Mother-Russia

Julia LaDense - Pussy Willow

Some time ago, I posted a split with Earth Incubator and I gave it a pretty bad review. I seriously wasn't happy with that split, I thought the use of samples was distasteful and on top of that I had already heard the Earth Incubator track on another split.
But I decided to give Julia another chance and got the next two albums in my posession. If I got it right, this one's her premiere album in the noiseworld, and I thought it had much more quality than that split, so I was pleased enough to post it on here. Give it a try.

Released: I had An Accident Records, 2009, limited to 20 copies.

01. () lie mission ()
02. Africlockstricecan ianMixnish
03. AVery Creative Ass Mutual
04. right on mega man a3
05. medal (al_)
06. lady now that i fondle you awake
07. incredit weeaz-edible
08. first track hank
09. second track #13
10. sawwar
11. don't drink
12. kids

For fingering

For buying

Previously posted:
2009: Earth Incubator + Julia LaDense - Mother-Russia

Monday 15 March 2010

Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy IV Piano Collections

Our first piano collection of Final Fantasy, a truly amazing series. As far as I know, tehre are no piano collections before this installement, but it's starts off wonderfully, if you liked the game soundtrack, you'll melt when you hear these piano arrangements. This is the ultimate proof that Nobuo Uematsu is a god.

Released: NTT Publishing, 1992.

01. The Prelude
02. Theme of Love
03. Prologue...
04. Welcome to Our Town!
05. Final Fantasy IV Main Theme
06. Chocobo-Chocobo
07. Into the Darkness
08. Rydia
09. Melody of Lute
10. Golbez, Clad in the Dark
11. Troian Beauty
12. The Battle
13. Epilogue
14. Theme of Love (Orchestral Version)

Máire Breatnach - Final Fantasy IV Celtic Moon

Final fantasy IV Celtically aranged.
'nuff said.

Released: NTT Publishing, 1991.

01. The Prelude
02. Prologue...
03. Chocobo-Chocobo
04. Into the Darkness
05. Main Theme of Final Fantasy IV
06. Welcome to Our Town
07. Theme of Love
08. Melody of Lute
09. Palom and Porom
10. Giotto the Great King
11. Dancing Calcobrena
12. Mystic Mysidia
13. Illusionary World
14. Rydia
15. Troian Beauty

Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy IV

This one's amazing, I think it's my third favourite final fantasy soundtrack, though it's hard to choose. I'm not exactly in the mood for write-ups, so just download the soundtrack and listen to it, damnit!

Released: NTT Publishing, 1991.

01. The Prelude
02. The Red Wings
03. Kingdom of Baron
04. Theme of Love
05. Prologue
06. Welcome to Our Town!
07. Main Theme of FINAL FANTASY IV
08. Battle 1
09. Fanfare
10. Enter Fat Chocobo
11. Chocobo Chocobo
12. Into the Darkness
13. Battle 2
14. Bomb Ring
15. Rydia
16. Damcyan Castle
17. Sorrow and Loss
18. Edward's Harp
19. Mt. Ordeals
20. Fabul
21. Run!
22. Suspicion
23. Golbez, Clad in Darkness
24. Hey Cid!
25. Mystic Mysidia
26. A Long Way to Go
27. Palom and Porom
28. Battle With the Four Fiends
29. The Airship
30. Troian Beauty
31. Samba de Chocobo!
32. Tower of Bab-il
33. Somewhere in the World...
34. Land of Dwarves
35. Giott, King of the Dwarves
36. Dancing Calbrena
37. Tower of Zot
38. The Land of Summons
39. Lunar Whale
40. Another Moon
41. The Lunarians
42. Within the Giant
43. The Final Battle
44. Epilogue

For fingering

Previously posted:
1987: Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy I
1988: Tsuyoshi Sekito - Final Fantasy II
1990: Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy III
1992: Ryuji Sasai & Yasuhiro Kawakami - Final Fantasy Mystic Quest

Ryuji Sasai & Yasuhiro Kawakami - Final Fantasy Mystic Quest

We all know that this game is a variation on the final fantasy theme, released as an introduction to the serious business. And it shows in the soundtrack as well. I'm playing this game right now, I bought it for my SNES, and even though it gets better after a while, it's still a bore regarding the other amazing titles in the series. I'm not saying this is a bad soundtrack, it has a few good earwurms, but they could have done a little more effort in my opinion.

Released: NTT Publishing, 1992.

01. MYSTIC RE-QUEST I
02. MYSTIC RE-QUEST II
03. Mystic Quest
04. Hill of Fate
05. World
06. Beautiful Forest
07. Battle 1
08. Victory Fanfare
09. City of Forest
10. Fossil Labyrinth
11. Battle 2
12. Middle Tower
13. Shrine of Light
14. Rock Theme
15. Fanfare of Friendship
16. Dungeon of Ice
17. Dungeon of Waterfall
18. City of Fire - Faeria
19. Rock 'n' Roll
20. Lava Dome
21. City of Wind - Windaria
22. Mountain Range of Whirlwinds
23. The Crystal
24. Last Castle
25. Battle 3
26. Mystic Ballad
27. Ending
28. RE-MIXTIC QUEST

For fingering

Previously posted:
1987: Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy I
1988: Tsuyoshi Sekito - Final Fantasy II
1990: Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy III

Sunday 7 March 2010

Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy III

I found this soundtrack to be some sort of misfit in the entire series (together with Mystic Quest). It features a variety of genres, all in midi format of course, but there seemed to be little coherence. It felt like like a collection of unrelated songs, not what I came to expect from Nobuo Uematsu.
Regardless, there are still some fine tracks among these, especially "Chocobos!", that track is an instant classic.
I haven't played this game yet, I have no idea what it's about. I will someday, but it'll have to be via some fanlation and an emulator, because the game was never released outside of Japan (if you don't consider the DS-remake).

Released: NTT Publishing, 1990.

01. The Prelude
02. Crystal Cave
03. Battle 1 ~ Fanfare
04. Crystal Room
05. Opening Theme
06. My Home Town
07. Eternal Wind
08. Jinn, the Fire
09. The Dungeon
10. Return of the Warrior
11. The Way to the Top
12. Cute Little Tozas
13. Shrine of Nept
14. Sailing Enterprise
15. Living Forest
16. Time Remains
17. Chocobos!
18. Big Chocobo!
19. Tower of Owen
20. Veggies of Geasal
21. Castle of Hain
22. Battle 2
23. The Requiem
24. Go Above the Clouds!
25. The Boundless Ocean
26. Elia, the Maiden of Water
27. Town of Water
28. Let's Play the Piano!
29. Let's Play the Piano Again!
30. Swift Twist
31. Good Ol' Fellows
32. In the Covert Town
33. Salonia
34. Deep Under the Water
35. Beneath the Horizon
36. Let Me Know the Truth
37. Lute of Noah
38. Good Morning!
39. The Invincible
40. Forbidden Land
41. The Crystal Tower
42. The Dark Crystals
43. This is the Last Battle
44. The Everlasting World

For fingering

Previously posted:
1987: Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy I
1988: Tsuyoshi Sekito - Final Fantasy II

Thursday 4 March 2010

Tsuyoshi Sekito - Final Fantasy II

The second Final Fantasy soundtrack isn't done by Nobuo Uematsu (series regular), but by Tsuyoshi Sekito. He's one of the guitar players in The Black Mages and he's in the virtual band The Star Onions. He's also one of the co-composers of Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep, so he ain't bad.. Download, you won't be disappointed.

Released: DataM/Polystar, 1988.

01. Opening Movie
02. Opening Movie + SE
03. Opening Theme
04. Prelude
05. Battle Scene 1
06. Time of Revival
07. Reunion
08. Rebel Army Theme
09. Town
10. Main Theme
11. Pandemonium Castle
12. Imperial Army Theme
13. Chocobo's Theme
14. Tower of Magic-users
15. Escape!
16. Ancient Castle
17. Dungeon
18. Emperor's Revival
19. Victory
20. Waltz
21. Temptation of the Princess
22. Dead Music
23. Fanfare
24. Include in the Group
25. Inn
26. Battle Scene A
27. Battle Scene B
28. Battle Scene 2
29. Finale

For fingering

Previously posted:
Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy I

Wednesday 3 March 2010

Nobuo Uematsu - Final Fantasy I

I'm going to do something bold and experimental.
I'm going to post every Final Fantasy soundtrack I have lying around here, starting with FFI to FFXIII. Even if you don't own the game, it has some of the best music I've ever heard composed. Especially Nobuo Uematsu's compositions are amazing (he's also the keyboard player in the progressive rock band The Black Mages).

Released: DataM/Polystar, 1987.

01. Opening Movie
02. Opening Movie + SE
03. Opening Demo
04. Prelude
05. Opening Theme
06. Corneria Castle
07. Main Theme
08. Temple of Chaos
09. Matoya's Cave
10. Town
11. Shop
12. Ship
13. Undersea Shrine
14. Dungeon
15. Menu Screen
16. Airship
17. Gurgu Volcano
18. Floating Castle
19. Battle Scene
20. Victory
21. Dead Music
22. Save Music
23. Church
24. Abandoned Castle
25. Lute
26. Cover the Bridge
27. To a Deep Place
28. Fanfare
29. Crystal Revival
30. Getting Something Important
31. Inn
32. Into a Boss Battle
33. Boss Battle A
34. Boss Battle B
35. Last Battle
36. Ending Theme

For fingering