Chobits – Character Song Collection

Run Time        45:18 minutes

Street Date      2/17/2004

SPR:                $14.98

The low down,

Based on the popular anime series from the superstar artist group CLAMP, Chobits Character Song Collection features six breezy character theme instrumentals and seven exuberant vocal songs. This 13 track CD includes the bouncy duet version of “Love Babble,” composed by “Pizzicato Five” master K-taro Takanami and sung by Tomokazu Sugita, the original voice actor of Hideki and popular voice actress and singer Rie Tanaka (Chi).

Additional Tracks included on the CD are:

 

1.      I hear you everywhere.

2.      In undertones – Chi’s theme

3.      Sing a song

4.      A wild Fancy –Motosuwa’s Theme

5.      Beyond

6.      Mix-Zone –Minoru’s Theme

7.      The Door of Remembrance

8.      Make my day –Hibiya’s Theme

9.      Groove Master

10.  A storm in a teacup

11.  Because I’m Human

12.  I beg your pudding? –Yumi’s Theme

<Bonus Track>

13.  Love of Babble (Duet Version)

The first time I saw Chobits, I felt that it was more a childish series with no serious undertones to it. However, after watching a few more episodes and getting more of a feeling for it, the undertones of the series became aware. The association that people would rather spend time with a persicon (a synthetic human) then developing relationships with other human beings. The acceptance that man can fall in love with a perscon, and not have society shun them.

My impression of the CD was a good blend of both vocal and instrumental music, as one track ended it flowed nicely into the next track. Not being a big fan of instrumental music I would have to say, the themes were very mellow with a good flow. Very enjoyable to listen to.

Now for the facts, the CD comes with a lovely 13 page booklet (noticeably 1 page per track). Within the booklet is a picture of the lead character and the theme tracks for their character. For example, in the first section is a picture of Chi, and the page beside it is the lyrics for the track. Pleasantly the lyrics are offered written in both English and with Japanese phonetics (The English spelling of the Japanese word). Each character has two songs one being a vocal arrangement and their instrumental theme, the page contains information for their songs. A disappointing feature about this soundtrack is that it's not mastered in Dolby Digital, DTS, Pro Logic 1 or 2, or any other surround sound format. That doesn't mean the sound is bad but I still prefer to see surround sound on a soundtrack. The soundtrack features 13 tracks that consist of an equal mixture of both vocals arrangements and instrumentals.

Rating 8.5/10 

Fruits Basket Original Sound Track – Memory for you.

Run Time        45:28 minutes

Street Date      2/17/2004

SPR:                $14.98

Based on the popular and long running manga series by artists Natsuki Takya, the addictive 25 track Fruits Basket Original Soundtrack – Memory for you features soft, gentle vocals and the affectionately crafted instrumental tracks. Experience the hardships, loneliness, and homelessness of Fruit Baskets’ Tohru Honda in each heart warming track. Favorites sure to entrance any anime fan include the opening song “For Fruits Basket,” “Teru-Teru-Momiji,” and ending song “A Small Prayer.”

Additional Tracks included on the CD are:

1.      For Fruits Basket                            15.Theme for the landlady

2.      Memory ~for you~             16.Theme for the landlady (so hard)

3.      Secret                                            17.I’m “hardworking fellow”

4.      Solitude                                          18. Black and white (normal)

5.      Both styles                                      19. Black and white (hard)

6.      I’m “drummer”                               20. Teru-teru0momiji

7.      Memory ~in daily life~                    21. Mogeta’s ~on vacation~

8.      On the stage                                   22. Memory ~on vacation~

9.      I’m “chin-don-ya”                           23. A hot blooded man

10.  Going my own way             24. So gorgeous!

11.  I’m “fairy”                                      25. Forward looking attitude

12.  psycho-doctor                                26. Reason of quibble

13.  Mysterious Family              27. “Fruit Baskets” in waltz

14.  Memory ~at home                          28. A Small Prayer

To be honest I’m not too familiar with the Fruits Basket series, I’ve only seen a little here and there, so to be asked to review the sound track for the series is a little daunting. But nonetheless, when I’m asked to do something, I try my best to do it.

I found the sound track to be a little stale, not in a bad sense, it just seems that when a good track would play, it’s only a few minutes long, not enough to enjoy. Most of the tracks with the exception of a few are instrumental. The instrumental music follows a pattern of soft, very mellow melody’s, putting the listener into a state of rest, that are soon followed by perky up lifting tracks that bring the listener to their feet. However, there were a few songs that I wasn’t too keen on, a few that I found slightly annoying to listen to.

What else can you expect from the CD, well other then the music. Included with the CD is a colorful 9 page booklet. With in the booklet, there is a list of the tracks that are on the CD, notes from the album staff members Jun Abe and Seiji Muto, also the lyrics for “For Fruit’s Basket (on air version)”, and “A small prayer”. Within the booklet there are bright stills of the characters within the series. A disappointing feature about this soundtrack is that it's not mastered in Dolby Digital, DTS, Pro Logic 1 or 2, or any other surround sound format. That doesn't mean the sound is bad but I still prefer to see surround sound on a soundtrack. The soundtrack features 24 tracks that consist of the themes and sounds of the fruits basket series.

Rating 7.0/10

In conclusion,

For those who are familiar with the Chobits and Fruits Baskets series, and are interest in adding to great sound tracks to their collection by all means go out and get them. For those who have yet to view Chobits or Fruits baskets, what are you waiting for get out there and watch them now. I know I’m starting the Fruits Basket series tonight.