ADVENT CHILDREN!!!
Ok, because I'm bored...Im going to write up a quick (or...not) review of the Advent Children OST which I got today!!! So, here we go...post comments...I wanna know who agrees with me...
Advent Children...what a movie...is the perfect sequal to a masterpiece of a game...and the soundtrack is no exception...every bit of it oozes class and talent, as well as that FF7 feel...There are a number of tracks from the original game that have been beefed up or redone to fit the film, as well as a number of new tracks...the whole ost covers 2 discs, so I shall go through each song starting from track 1, disc 1:
DISC ONE:
1. Opening - Everyone who has played Final Fantasy 7 knows this...It (combined with the bombing mission music) was my favourite track on the original OST...This version is essentially the same song with a few elements that differ...It's still a great song, but there isnt really anything new here...
2. The Promised Land - Mostly just a vocal piece here...As it is played when Marlene is explaining the events of FF7, it obviously only serves as an atmospheric piece...and it pulls this off nicely...whenever I hear it, I feel a sort of foreboding...it really works...however, as a song to just listen to, I cant say its the best...
3. Beyond the Wasteland - Now, we start getting into the meat of the soundtrack...Starts off really mysterious, with slow piano and a very jaws like bass effect...then about half way through we enter a more upbeat section...I wouldnt say its the peak of action packed music on the discs, but it serves as a sampler for the rest of the OST...
4. Sign - Following this appetiser comes a slower, piano piece...this one is a bit similar in terms of mood to Track 2...It's a well put together song, but I wouldnt say its the best one to listen to just generally...
5. Tifa's Theme [Piano Version] - A timeless classic from the original game...EVERYONE WHO HAS PLAYED FF7 KNOWS THIS SONG...and quite frankly, I could listen to this all day...it's a lovely song, and the piano playing just makes it that more soothing and easy to listen to...In my opinion, the easiest track to listen to so far...
6. For the Reunion - This is an interesting song...some nice piano to start, but then has a few weirdish sound effects throughout...this is one that might put off some people, but that doesnt mean its not bad to listen to...seems to build a bit of tension as well as staying reletively calm throughout...
7. Those Who Fight [Piano Version] - Interesting this one...It's a fighting theme...but doesnt quite have the beef of others on the discs...not that Im saying its bad...it really makes a nice song...the piano gives it a sort of calmness, but the song is very action packed...so its an interesting mix...
8. Water - Another slowish song...this one also is intended to add atmosphere...another song that you can listen to for ages...a very calming song that adds a nice feel to the disc...
9. Materia - Time for a change in direction...This one is dark...and I mean that...I could possibly say that it doesnt really feel right on this disc...and personally, although its still good, I wouldnt rate it high up when comparing all the songs...its there to build mood...nothing else basically...
10. Black Water - Very nice song here...take Materia, and give it some energy and life...and add in a few chainsaw guitar riffs and you have black water...this one is also alot longer than Materia...but this serves it's purpose very well in the movie, and it's a good song here too...
11. Aeris' Theme [Piano Version] - Back to the piano...but here is arguably one of the most recognisable themes in game history...Like Tifa's Theme, the piano does this song wonders and it just means you can listen to it for days...I dont think I can say anything else about this...perfection...
12. Battle in the Forgotten City - Some more action music now...Rather steady beat gives it a high intensity...Very nice, but it doesnt seem to deviate much...still havent reached the pinacle of action music, but this is very nice taster for what is to come...
13. Violator - A rather dark title preceeds a rather dramatic song...guitar a plenty here, with a very theme like feel to the song...very nice work, although one would think it belongs more on Disc 2...
14. The Great Nothern Cave [FFVII AC Version] - To the first of the songs that have been beefed up for AC...yes I mean beefed up...Aeris' and Tifa's Themes weren't beefed up...anyway, this song stays very true to the original...although perhaps its a bit darker than the original...this doesnt deter from its quality though...ONTO DISC 2!!!
DISC 2:
1. Divinity 1 - What a start we have here...if disc 1 was the slow cd, then we definately have the fast cd here...and boy, does it start with a bang...I challenge anyone to not feel excited by this song...Orchestration makes this piece, and Nobuo did another great job with it...but, this is only the start...
2. Those Who Fight [FFVII AC Version] - One of my personal favourites, this is the peak of action music in this OST...Fast, frantic drums combined with shredding guitar riffs...coupled with the odd techno element in there as well...this is fighting music perfection right here...
3. Those Who Fight Further [FFVII AC Version] - Follows along the same lines as Track 2, and continues well...although it doesnt quite follow from the original song, who cares? This is action music at it's frantic best...
4. Divinity 2 - The second part of Nobuo's new song takes the first part and adds a bit of finality to it...this is where Bahumut is fought, and it does the job nicely...excitement in music form...
5. Encounter - Equal shortest song...This is a nice techno song that plays when Rufus and Kadaj fall from the window...cool feel, but a bit short...but it does keep the mood of the disc going so I guess its one of the better tracks...
6. The Chase of Highway - In my opinion, the best song on the whole compilation...fast paced, frantic drums and guitar, with the techno added in for good measure...possibly not everyone's cup of tea, but definately does the job as an action piece...also, special mention for the amped up turks theme towards the end...love that bit not only in the movie but also in the song...
7. Savior - Interesting one this...starts off slowish, but then moves into a real metal type song...definately keeps the intensity level of the disc up...but I would say it was anything special...
8. J-E-N-O-V-A [FFVII AC Version] - Another very recognisable song...I thought the Black Mages version of this was great, and this is also very well done...techno beat with guitar is good, although the end is a bit too sudden for my liking...but overall, great song...
9. Advent: One Winged Angel - Here it is...the song we all love to hate...with guitar! This is 6 minute monster of a song...but the pull it off so well that you feel like it's over in 2...the guitar really adds something to the song along with the oh so familiar vocals...an epic song...
10. Cloud Smiles - And now, after so much action has taken place...we return to where we started...calm...this is a nice soothing song to take us out with...This is the kind of song that helps you relax after listening to the rest of the disc...a great job by Nobuo here...
11. End Credits - A nice orchestrated number for the end credits...I doubt whether you'll watch the credits though so I'd listen to it here...its a good song...a bit of everything here...relaxing at the start, before going into a rather intense feeling middle section, with a touch of darkness thrown in, with the happy ending rounding it off...
12. Calling - Unfortunately, the worst song on the OST happens to be the last one...the only song with singing...a typical J-Rock number, really spoils it...really has no place on the cd...I'd stop the cd after track 11...
And there you have it...yes this is very long, but please note the effort I've put in here and I hope you will comment...
Advent Children...what a movie...is the perfect sequal to a masterpiece of a game...and the soundtrack is no exception...every bit of it oozes class and talent, as well as that FF7 feel...There are a number of tracks from the original game that have been beefed up or redone to fit the film, as well as a number of new tracks...the whole ost covers 2 discs, so I shall go through each song starting from track 1, disc 1:
DISC ONE:
1. Opening - Everyone who has played Final Fantasy 7 knows this...It (combined with the bombing mission music) was my favourite track on the original OST...This version is essentially the same song with a few elements that differ...It's still a great song, but there isnt really anything new here...
2. The Promised Land - Mostly just a vocal piece here...As it is played when Marlene is explaining the events of FF7, it obviously only serves as an atmospheric piece...and it pulls this off nicely...whenever I hear it, I feel a sort of foreboding...it really works...however, as a song to just listen to, I cant say its the best...
3. Beyond the Wasteland - Now, we start getting into the meat of the soundtrack...Starts off really mysterious, with slow piano and a very jaws like bass effect...then about half way through we enter a more upbeat section...I wouldnt say its the peak of action packed music on the discs, but it serves as a sampler for the rest of the OST...
4. Sign - Following this appetiser comes a slower, piano piece...this one is a bit similar in terms of mood to Track 2...It's a well put together song, but I wouldnt say its the best one to listen to just generally...
5. Tifa's Theme [Piano Version] - A timeless classic from the original game...EVERYONE WHO HAS PLAYED FF7 KNOWS THIS SONG...and quite frankly, I could listen to this all day...it's a lovely song, and the piano playing just makes it that more soothing and easy to listen to...In my opinion, the easiest track to listen to so far...
6. For the Reunion - This is an interesting song...some nice piano to start, but then has a few weirdish sound effects throughout...this is one that might put off some people, but that doesnt mean its not bad to listen to...seems to build a bit of tension as well as staying reletively calm throughout...
7. Those Who Fight [Piano Version] - Interesting this one...It's a fighting theme...but doesnt quite have the beef of others on the discs...not that Im saying its bad...it really makes a nice song...the piano gives it a sort of calmness, but the song is very action packed...so its an interesting mix...
8. Water - Another slowish song...this one also is intended to add atmosphere...another song that you can listen to for ages...a very calming song that adds a nice feel to the disc...
9. Materia - Time for a change in direction...This one is dark...and I mean that...I could possibly say that it doesnt really feel right on this disc...and personally, although its still good, I wouldnt rate it high up when comparing all the songs...its there to build mood...nothing else basically...
10. Black Water - Very nice song here...take Materia, and give it some energy and life...and add in a few chainsaw guitar riffs and you have black water...this one is also alot longer than Materia...but this serves it's purpose very well in the movie, and it's a good song here too...
11. Aeris' Theme [Piano Version] - Back to the piano...but here is arguably one of the most recognisable themes in game history...Like Tifa's Theme, the piano does this song wonders and it just means you can listen to it for days...I dont think I can say anything else about this...perfection...
12. Battle in the Forgotten City - Some more action music now...Rather steady beat gives it a high intensity...Very nice, but it doesnt seem to deviate much...still havent reached the pinacle of action music, but this is very nice taster for what is to come...
13. Violator - A rather dark title preceeds a rather dramatic song...guitar a plenty here, with a very theme like feel to the song...very nice work, although one would think it belongs more on Disc 2...
14. The Great Nothern Cave [FFVII AC Version] - To the first of the songs that have been beefed up for AC...yes I mean beefed up...Aeris' and Tifa's Themes weren't beefed up...anyway, this song stays very true to the original...although perhaps its a bit darker than the original...this doesnt deter from its quality though...ONTO DISC 2!!!
DISC 2:
1. Divinity 1 - What a start we have here...if disc 1 was the slow cd, then we definately have the fast cd here...and boy, does it start with a bang...I challenge anyone to not feel excited by this song...Orchestration makes this piece, and Nobuo did another great job with it...but, this is only the start...
2. Those Who Fight [FFVII AC Version] - One of my personal favourites, this is the peak of action music in this OST...Fast, frantic drums combined with shredding guitar riffs...coupled with the odd techno element in there as well...this is fighting music perfection right here...
3. Those Who Fight Further [FFVII AC Version] - Follows along the same lines as Track 2, and continues well...although it doesnt quite follow from the original song, who cares? This is action music at it's frantic best...
4. Divinity 2 - The second part of Nobuo's new song takes the first part and adds a bit of finality to it...this is where Bahumut is fought, and it does the job nicely...excitement in music form...
5. Encounter - Equal shortest song...This is a nice techno song that plays when Rufus and Kadaj fall from the window...cool feel, but a bit short...but it does keep the mood of the disc going so I guess its one of the better tracks...
6. The Chase of Highway - In my opinion, the best song on the whole compilation...fast paced, frantic drums and guitar, with the techno added in for good measure...possibly not everyone's cup of tea, but definately does the job as an action piece...also, special mention for the amped up turks theme towards the end...love that bit not only in the movie but also in the song...
7. Savior - Interesting one this...starts off slowish, but then moves into a real metal type song...definately keeps the intensity level of the disc up...but I would say it was anything special...
8. J-E-N-O-V-A [FFVII AC Version] - Another very recognisable song...I thought the Black Mages version of this was great, and this is also very well done...techno beat with guitar is good, although the end is a bit too sudden for my liking...but overall, great song...
9. Advent: One Winged Angel - Here it is...the song we all love to hate...with guitar! This is 6 minute monster of a song...but the pull it off so well that you feel like it's over in 2...the guitar really adds something to the song along with the oh so familiar vocals...an epic song...
10. Cloud Smiles - And now, after so much action has taken place...we return to where we started...calm...this is a nice soothing song to take us out with...This is the kind of song that helps you relax after listening to the rest of the disc...a great job by Nobuo here...
11. End Credits - A nice orchestrated number for the end credits...I doubt whether you'll watch the credits though so I'd listen to it here...its a good song...a bit of everything here...relaxing at the start, before going into a rather intense feeling middle section, with a touch of darkness thrown in, with the happy ending rounding it off...
12. Calling - Unfortunately, the worst song on the OST happens to be the last one...the only song with singing...a typical J-Rock number, really spoils it...really has no place on the cd...I'd stop the cd after track 11...
And there you have it...yes this is very long, but please note the effort I've put in here and I hope you will comment...