Music: Information and Reviews

Music

[OST 1] [Kenshin Songs 1] [OST 2] [Kenshin Songs 2] [OST 3] [Directors Collection]
[OST 4] [Best Themes] [Brilliant Collection] [Movie Soundtrack]

All Cds that booklet scans are available for have three stars (***) by their name. CD booklet scans can be found here.

Rurouni Kenshin Original Soundtrack 1***

Track List:
1. Kimi wa Dare wo Mamotte Iru (strings version)
2. Sobakasu by Judy and Mary
3. Kimi wa Dare wo Mamotte Iru (original mix)
4. Himura Kenshin (original mix)
5. Himura Kenshin (gut guitar)
6. Hitenmitsurugiryu (Kenshin's fighting music)
7. Tsuyoku Naritai (Yahiko's Theme)
8. Aku Ichimonji (Sanosuke's Theme)
9. Kamiya Kasshinryu (Kaoru's fighting music)
10. Kamiya Kaoru (Kaoru's love theme--gut guitar)
11. Omoi: Odorenai Warutsu (gut guitar)
12. Aku no Ichi--Shinjirugayueni (theme of the Oniwa Banshu)
13. Aku no Ni--Mouhitotsu no Ishin (Shishi O Makoto's theme)
14. Aku no San--Satsui no uragawa (A theme for the dark side of your heart)
15. Kamiyadoujou (the theme of Kenshin's family)
16. Ayame to Suzume (the kids' theme)
17. Gyuunabe de Paatto! (theme of the Akabeko)
18. Demo ne! Honto wa ne!
19. Kenjutsukomachi (Kaoru's theme)
20. Kimi wa Dare wo Mamotte Iru (acoustic)
21. Omoi: Odorenai Warutsu (strings version)
22. Kamiya Kaoru (Kaoru's love theme--original mix)
23. Kimi wa Dare wo Mamotte Iru (electric guitar)

Review:
This is the original Rurouni Kenshin background music. I was a little disappointed that Tactics (the first ending theme) wasn't on it...but Sobakasu was. If you ignore the high pitched, tortured wailing of Judy and Mary and just concentrate on the wholly instrumental pieces, this is a great CD. (Thank god that there's only ONE track like Sobakasu--this is the song that has the CSU anime watchers cowering in their seats.) I especially like the electric guitar version of Kimi wa Dare wo Mamotte Iru. I just want to listen to it over and over again...it's so cool!


Rurouni Kenshin Original Soundtrack 2: Departure

Track List:
1. Unmei no Hagaruma--Kyoto e no Prologue
2. The Last Wolf Suite
3. Hoeru Miburo (Saitoh Hajime's theme)
4. Departure (piano and acoustic guitar)
5. Nihon Meisoh--Ishin no Yami
6. March of Ghost--Bourei no Koushin
7. Run To You (Sanosuke's theme)
8. Frozen Flare--Shura no Fuuin
9. Welcome To My Nightmare
10. Dancing With Devils
11. Battousai Futatabi...
12. Starless--Tsuki mo Naku, Hoshi mo Naku (acoustic guitar)
13. Departure (master mix)
14. Starless--Tsuki mo Naku, Hoshi mo Naku (master mix)
15. Kimi wa Dare wo Mamotte Iru... (hard version)

Review:
This is background music from Departure and the first bit of Kyoto Hen...and OOH what music it is. The first time I heard this, I found myself thinking, "Wow, some of these would make good band music..." I really like listening to this, especially when I'm studying. The only song on here that I really despise is "Welcome to my Nightmare". Why god, why?


Rurouni Kenshin Original Soundtrack 3: Kyoto Hen

Track List:
1. Hitenmitsurugiryu Amakakeruryunohirameki (Seijuuro Hiko's theme)
2. Fallen Angel--Haiiro no Tenshi
3. Kaoru to Misao [I] (gut guitar)
4. Ishin Tenpuku Keikaku
5. Sakura no Ki no Shita ni--Shisha no Shi
6. Kaoru to Misao [II] (pf version)
7. Reppuu (Seijuuro Hiko's theme...another one)
8. Oniwa Banshu--Kyoto Tansakugata
9. Warriors Blue (Aoshi's theme)
10. Kaoru to Misao [III] (full mix)
11. Warriors Suite
12. NA-GO-MI
13. Heart of Sword--T.M. Revolution

Review:
If OST2 made me toy with the idea that the Rurouni Kenshin music would make excellent band music...this smacked me in the back of the head with the idea. Out of all the Original Soundtracks, OST3 has the best instrumental music. If I can ever find the composer, I'll give him (her?) a big ol' sloppy hug and kiss. This would make some of the best marching band music I've ever heard, especially Warriors Suite (track 11)--because it has--THE PSYCHO XYLOPHONE MUSIC! If my drum instructer heard those psycho xylophones, he'd probably wet his pants. Ahem. Anyways, to sum it up, this is wonderful music. Not only does it have the instrumental music...but it has the GOD among ending themes as the last track--Heart of the Sword. A MUST.


Rurouni Kenshin Original Soundtrack 4: Let It Burn***

Track List:
1. Welcome to my Nightmare
2. Curved Air
3. Dancing Madly Backwards
4. Lunatic
5. Preacher
6. Justice
7. Let it Burn
8. Shades of Cloud
9. Lightning
10. Typhoon
11. Let it Rain
12. Little Wing

Review:
While I'd have to say that I don't like this Soundtrack as much as OST3, it's still VERY good. The music is mostly of a very different style then then OST3 and OST2. However, track 7 and track 12 make it ALL worth it, trust me. Even if the rest of the tracks sucked (which they don't), tracks 7 and 12 are awesome. In fact, I'm listening to the CD as I write this. It's great music, and definitely worth having.


Directors Collection

Track List: [Important note: This is not the official track list. I listened to the CD, wrote down what the piece was a variation on (because there are no original versions on this one) or just plain described what it sounds like. If you have any porblems/additions, let me know.]
1. Rhythmic selection
2. Rhythmic selection
3. (The creepy crescendo thingy)
4. Rhythmic selection
5. Sekihou Tai/Souzou Sagara theme
6. Unmei no Hagaruma--Kyoto e no Prologue
7. Nihon Meisoh--Ishin no Yami
8. March of Ghost--Bourei no Koushin
9. Hoeru Miburo (Saitoh Hajime's theme)
10. Run to You (Sanosuke's theme)
11. Frozen Flare--Shura no Fuuin
12. Battousai Futatabi...
13. Starless
14. Starless
15. Starless--piano
16. Departure--Piano
17. The Last Wolf Suite
18. Departure--Brass
19. (woah...fun house music)
20. (bar on the sea shore music? Steel drums? Jamaicans in Japan)
21. (rodeo! Japanese harmonica? aroo?)
22. Misao's theme music
23. Promenade--Over the Horizon
24. Fallen Angel--Haiiro no Tenshi
25. Warriors Blue (Aoshi's theme)
26. String selection
27. Same selection, with organ instead
28. Same selection, synthesizer this time
29. Hitenmitsurugiryu Amakakeruryunohirameki (Seijuuro Hiko's theme)
30. NA-GO-MI

Review:
There's actually not much to say about this CD. It's a collection of background music that was not on any of the OSTs. A lot of the songs are similar to what WAS on the OSTs, but the arrangement is different, and mostly, IMO, not as good. The only two pieces on there that I really like that I DON'T have on my other CDs is the Sekihou Tai piano piece, and Misao's little cute piece of music. I'd probably skip buying this unless you are so devoted that you HAVE to have it...and then only get it if you can buy it for cheap.


Best Themes Collection

Track List:
1. Sobakasu
2. Tactics
3. Namida wa Shitteiru
4. Heart of Sword
5. 1/2
6. Its Gonna Rain
7. 1/3 no Junjou na Kanjou
8. Forever Future
9. Encounter with the strongest enemy
10. The Ten Sword

Review:
This is, obviously, a collection of the beginning and ending themes of Rurouni Kenshin, as well as 3 extra songs that go along with Kyoto Hen. While this does have some VERY nice songs (Tactics, Heart of the sword, 1/3, the other godly themes) is also has a lot to detract from it. Namely, the childish wailing in Sobakasu and 1/2. Then, there are the last 3 tracks...which have AWESOME guitar in them...but they also have a vocalist that sounds like he's being murdered while he's singing. And the worst part is...he WON'T DIE! So, if you ignore half the tracks...and play the other half over and over, this is a great CD. Actually, it's also good for introducing people to RK. That's how my brother did it. He gave some friends a copy, told them what tracks were good, gave them translations for the good tracks...and *poof* 3 new Rurouni Kenshin maniacs were born.


Rurouni Kenshin Songs 1***

Track List: (Some of the titles are in English. Gomen.)
1. Overture
2. Aisuru Hito Mamoru Tameni (Kenshin)
3. Sukitoka Janakute (Kaoru)
4. Kokoro no Hadeka (Sanosuke)
5. Half the World Which Is Me (Yahiko)
6. Promenade--Over the Horizon
7. Natsu no E (Kenshin and Kaoru)
8. 2 of A Kind! (Sanosuke and Megumi)
9. White Strawberry (Ayume and Suzame)
10. Kono Sekai no Katasumi De (Everyone)
11. Namida wa Shitteiru (Kenshin)
12. Sobakasu

Review:
This CD is GREAT! I listen to it all the time when I'm driving home on the highway. The Overture is quite...interesting. I like the combination of quasi-classical sounding music with quasi-techno music. Aisuru Hito Mamoru Tameni is ok, but I LOVE Kaoru's song! Sukitoka Janakute is WONDERFUL! It makes me want to get up and dance. Natsu no E is kawaii...and I love the Sano and Megumi duet. Just the right amount of bad assness. Kokoro no Hadeka and Kono Sekai no Katasumi De tie as far as best track on the album go. The Ayume and Suzame duet is ok, except for the parts where they are singing...and once more, Sabakasu, the evil song (rivaled only in horror by 1/2) is on this CD. But if you skip 9 and 12, everything else is good. Definitely worth buying.


Rurouni Kenshin Songs 2***

Track List: (Unfortunately, I couldn't translate some of the titles because my kanji is bad.)
1. Innocence (Soujiro)
2. Ice Blue Eyes (Misao)
3. Ippatsu Yarrou (Sanosuke)
4. Journey (Soujiro)
5. Innocence [remix] (Soujiro)
6. Kanashimi ni Tamesaretemo (Magdaria)
7. Sono Mama (????)
8. The End of the Day (Ninja Chick)
9. Ashita no Kakera (Gentatsu)
10.
Natsu no E '98 (Kenshin and Kaoru)

Review:
This CD is GREAT! It's not quite as good as Songs 1, IMO, but still, well worth the money you spend on it. Let's hear it for the filler chicks and the supporting characters! The less said about Innocence (both mixes) (why, Soujiro, why? Journey is so good! Then...there's Innocence. *shudder*) and The End of the Day, the better. Then again, Misao's lovely "Ice Blue Eyes" just make me want to stand up and dance. Ippatsu Yarrou is...well...a very stereotypical Sanosuke-type track...not as good as Kokoro no Hadeka in my opinion. Journey is well worth listening to. Magdaria's song is fairly mediocre in my opinion. Natsu no E '98...I wasn't so sure about this one the first time I heard it, because it is VERY different from the original mix...but it grows on you, and I'm quite taken with it now. Then...the two tracks that would make the CD worth it even if it didn't have a bunch of other great songs. First, there's Sono Mama. Everyone should bask in its beauty. And then...Ashita no Kakera...oooh, I think I need to lie down. Gentatsu sings VERY well for a dead guy, I must say. And the feeling of listening to this soaring, wonderful song while you're cruising down the highway is just indescribable. Frankly, I think this song is as close as a modern piece of music is going to get to flying. It's GREAT! A wonderful CD. Do not pass go, do not collect 200 dollars...just go buy it.


Rurouni Kenshin Theatrical Animation Original Soundtrack

Track List:
1. Until We Meet Again
2. Twist of Time
3. Troubled Memories
4. Painful Memories
5. Endlessly Dark Sky
6. Her Most Beautiful Smile
7. Power of Revolution
8. Her Most Beautiful Eyes
9. Futility
10. A Parting Eternal
11. No Way Out
12. Epitaph ~Hidden Shadow~
13. Light Shaded Dream
14. Days to Remember

Review:
This is an extremely good CD, and I recommend it VERY highly. It's a little different from the other CDs, because it's the movie soundtrack...and like all movie soundtracks, all of the pieces have a reccuring theme woven in to them. The pieces are all beautifully composed, fully orchestrated. A very relaxing thing to listen to. The entire theme is rather sad, but the composition is beautiful. Everyone should have this CD.


Rurouni Kenshin Brilliant Collection***

Track List: Just as a not, my Kanji's gotten better, but I'm still missing a few. Gomen.
Disk 1
1. Kimi wa Dare wo Mamotte Iru (electric guitar)
2. Unmei no Hagaruma--Kyoto e no Prologue
3. Nihon Meisoh--Ishin no Yami
4. The Last Wolf Suitet
5. Departure
6. Ishin Tenpuku Keikaku
7. Fallen Angel-Haiiro no Tenshi
8. Sakura no Ki no Shita ni--Shisha no Shi
9. Kaoru to Misao [III]
10. Warriors Suite
11. Hitenmitsurugiryu Amakakeruryunohirameki
12. Lunatic
13. Dancing Madly Backwards
14. Let It Burn
15. NA GO MI
Disk 2
1. Sukitoka Janakute (Kaoru)
2. Ice Blue Eyes (Misao)
3. Half the World Which Is Me (Yahiko)
4. Ippatsu Yarrou (Sanosuke)
5. 2 of a Kind! (Megumi and Sanosuke)
6. Kokoro no Hadeka (Sanosuke)
7. White Strawberry (Ayume and Suzame)
8. Natsu no E (Kenshin and Kaoru)
9. Kono Sekai no Katasumi De (Everyone)
Disk 3
1. Journey (Soujiro)
2. The End of the Day (Ninja Chick)
3. Innocence (Soujiro)
4. Sono Mama (????)
5. Kanashimi ni Tamesaretemo (Magdaria)
6. Blast (????)
7. Water Puzzle (????)
8. Ashita no Kakera (Gentatsu)
9. ????~In the Past~
10. Aisuru Hito Mamoru Tameni (Kenshin)

Review:
SUGOI! WAI! WAI! The producers have really outdone themselves this time. To start with, this is a great 3 CD collection...I got mine for 50 dollars, so for three CDs, not TOO bad. The front art is nice, and each CD has a cute picture on it, which is also in the booklet. The CD booklet is VERY complete. All the lyrics. This is great. On to the CDs.
CD 1 is all the good instrumental musical. While there is one piece I would have left out in favor of something better (#3--I would have included Little Wing instead, the last track of OST 4) all the rest were GREAT! All pieces that I enjoyed from the respective soundtracks.
CD 2 is a lot of songs from songs 1...which is just fine with me. I would have left off White Strawberry...since I really hate those kid's voices, and Ippatsou Yarrou is ok, but not the best...still, 7 out of 9 songs being enough to make me want to get up and dance is not bad at all.
CD 3 finally got to the bit where I was kind of going...eh. I dislike the Soujiro songs, and as far as I'm concerned, the Ninja Chick's song is as bad as her hairdo...but you've heard me say that before. Magdaria's is blah, as before. There were 3 totally new songs that I had never heard before on this CD, and they were all VERY good. I especially liked Water Puzzle, though Blast was great as well.
So all in all, this is a GREAT CD set. It could have gone without a few of the songs on it...perhaps it would have been better to put a few of the good openings/closings on the CDs, like Kimi, Dame, 1/3, or Heart of the Sword. But still, since I like more than 85% of the songs...I really can't complain too much. I would definitely recommend getting this one.


Oro?


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