Gatekeepers Spirits
Basically, Gatekeepers Spirits is a collection of image songs of the main characters of the series. Added bonus are the Opening and Ending themes -- and there are 2 variations of the Opening theme (Asu no Egao no Tameni).
Hashire Yotahachi [Shun's image song ]- Smooth engine roar, wild wheel friction, and speed effects can be heard. These added effects just suits the song since it's about Shun's sports car. If someone can translate the lyrics word-for-word correctly, I think the song does not only focus on describing how Yotahachi drives --- I think the song is about how Yotahachi's engine works, how it conquers the road and how it is compared to running towards one's path with a goal.
Koi wa DAN DAN [Kaoru and Reiko] - combination of fast and slow tune. Kaoru is equals speed and Reiko equals slow paced. The song captures these two characters, so overall it's a nice song!
Kageboushi [Megumi]- slow tune, just right for our fave antisocial character, Megumi. it has a mysterious tone...i think. What I like about this song is that it has a japanese instrument in the background. This song captures the character of megumi.
Fen Feiring ??? [Fei] - A kawaiiiiii song! Compare to Fei's image song in the GK Vocal Album this is better! Compared to Fei's image song in the Vocal Album, this is more Chinese and the accent of Fei here is kawaii just like in the TV series.
Shikkoku no Sekai he [Reiji Kageyama] - Reiji and the girl troops sing like they dominate the world. it's upbeat, and it's one of my favorite song! Seki Tomokazu did an excellent job portraying Kageyama-kun's character.
Mottoosobani [Shirei and Ochiai-hisho]- funny tune like Shirei and Ochiai are flirting with each other ^^;. Ochiai-hisho is singing here with a bit of Shirei's macho talking. NOTE:: This was the song sung in episode 20 in the Red and White Song wars!
AEGIS [AEGIS Soldiers] - I like this song because of its uniqueness compared to others. It is sort of listening to an orchestra! Listen to the AEGIS Soldiers chorale and feel the readiness to fight for and protect the earth!
Neru Mae no Ohanashi [Saemi Ukiya and Kazuko Ukiya] - a mother and child song maybe also a lullaby. It's like Kazuko Ukiya (mother) is assuring Saemi that everything will be all right. I think it speaks of a mother and daughter communication before bedtime.
Asu no Egao no Tameni SPECIAL ENDING THEME [Yumi Matsusawa] - wondering what's with the "SPECIAL ENDING THEME" phrase doing beside Asu no Egao no Tameni which happens to be the opening theme? Well, it's because it was the ending theme of the last episode of Gatekeepers. This one is longer than the Opening theme.
Asu no Egao no Tameni [Yumi Matsusawa] - everyone knows this song, and every GateKeepers fan knows that this is their favorite. It's my favorite too. It's upbeat and you can dance along with the tune.
Kyou Kara Asu e [Yumi Matsusawa] - the ending theme in full version.
Asu no Egao no Tameni
[Karaoke/Minus 1] - the same as Asu no Egao no Tameni MINUS Yumi Matsusawa's voice! If you have lyrics there, then sing a long with this music.
Gatekeepers TV Original Soundtrack 2
GateKeepers Original Soundtrack 2 is the second volume of background music collection of the TV series. The BGMs in the near end episodes dominate this album, however some early BGMs are also included. This album has a whooping 30 tracks! Well since the average length of each song is about a minute and a half. I will not anymore review each track in detail. GK OST 2 does not fully contain mellow/ballad tracks, there is techno (Invader for example), gloomy and somewhat scary (Kurogumo Hirogaru, Yami no Mono, and Shikkoku no Kado to name a few), classical ("Hyuusetsu no Shoujo" - classic Japanese), exciting or rather thrilling (Kagayakashiki Ikusa, Gate Engine and Ashita he no Hangeki), and comic (Megane to Bancho, Megane to Bancho part II, and Sekken te wo Araimashiyou). My favorite track is Sora ni Mau Giniro no Ubasa which means "To Fly in the Sky with Silver Wings". Try listening to it and feel the music --- you will feel that you are really floating.
I think GateKeepers Original Soundtrack 2 is worth the buy, but if you are not into instrumental music or BGMs --- well, it is still worth the buy! My rating for this album is Excellent!
Gatekeepers Vocal Album (Game)
Gatekeepers Vocal Album is the first vocal album of GateKeepers. Gatekeepers started as a game for the PlayStation and this album is focused on the game characters.
GateKeepers 1970 - I like this song, this is my favorite. I don't know if this is the opening song of the game -- heck how should I, I don't own the game!
Eien no Shounen [Ruriko Ikusawa] - The first time I heard this song, I thought it was a lullaby. But as I kept on listening I learned to appreciate it. Anyway, I think this song is about Ruriko's love for Shun.
Koi no Voltage*Infinity [Kaoru Konoe] - it sounds like a cheering squad song ^_^;. I don't have any personal thoughts in this song, but anyways it's ok.
Banshuu no Tolstoy [Misao Sakimori] - wow Misao Sakimori didn't sound an introvert nor boring here. I don't know what this is about - maybe Tolstoy? Heh... This is a nice song but I can't relate to Misao's character. Does she have a different personality in the game? I don't know though...
Koi wa Fuusen no Youni [Reiko Asagiri] - An image song that does sound Reiko a *little* bit. Reiko is supposed to be a slow speaker and so does her singing but she is not so slow sounding here. Compare it to Koi wa DAN DAN (GK SPirits) and see what I mean. Well at least the title has the word "Fuusen" which means "Balloon" -- now that's really Reiko!
Nagai kami no KOMANDO [Jun Thunders] - this song has a lot of stress in every word ^_^; but it's ok. Maybe it's about Jun commanding her comrades as the title hints it (Long Hair's Command), but it does not sound like she's commanding. Anyway, I have no idea what this song is about ^.^;
Yume ga Tou Daichi ~ OH AMERICA! [Francine Allumage] - Francine Allumage is a character in the game only. Francine is a French who is an American fanatic. The background music of this song is somewhat cowboyish or maybe American country music.
??? [Fen Feiring] - At least I can call this song as Fei's. It's a mixture of Fei's cuteness and Chinese background. Fei's vocal in GateKeepers Spirits is better though.
Ouse Yumemi Shi [Yukino Houjo] - A calm Yukino image song. I like it, Masami Suzuki's (Yukino Houjo's seiyuu) voice is very light to the ears and she sounds like an angel or maybe a goddess.
To be frank, if you are choosing among the three albums that I had just reviewed -- buy this one last! It's funny this was the first album I owned and I owned two (CD and casette ^_^;). I'm stupid to buy casette when the CD was better. Anyway, since this is a game album, maybe you will appreciate this a little bit. The upside here is that you will get to hear songs from Ruriko Ikusawa (she had no song from Spirits right? Asu no Egao no Tameni was considered her image song there...), Jun Thunders, Misao Sakimori, and Yukino Houjo.
I like every album of GateKeepers, but this is my least favorite. It captures little of the Gatekeepers characters. I think it is understandable, since I'm more familiar with the characters of TV Series and I have little idea of the characters of the game. To conclude my review, I'll give GateKeepers Vocal Album a rating of Very Good ~ Good.
