As for ROD TV, at first, I was put off by how similar the music was to the ROD OVA, but as I delved deeper, it got easier to appreciate how well Iwasaki was able to arrange some of the tracks so you get a same-but-different effect. For what it’s worth, I really found the story to be enjoyable and thought it was a solid effort even if it got a bit convoluted at times.

And yes, you can never go wrong with Kanno when she helms anything!

Looking back, R.O.D The TV’s music kind of surprised me, I wasn’t very receptive to it when I watched the show so many years ago, but just last year I popped it in again and it’s become regular listen for me now. Having not watched the show in so long, the soundtrack gives me a different impression of the series (like, it fits, but I don’t recall how?), so I’m wondering if I should re-watch the series. (I’ve only watched the original airing, which had some terrible production in a few episodes that was cleared up upon R2 DVD release).

Regarding Wolf’s Rain, I’m suprised you didn’t mention Face On, it was this song that moved me so much in the first episode, I couldn’t wait to see where things went. It’s all Yoko’s doing, as usual..

Of course, that kind of judgment would be unfair and I think I need to give it a go once more to refresh my memory.

Best of the bunch would be Last Exile for me.

I also like the inclusion of some classical classics like Beethoven and Etude in E Major.

Of course, don’t forget about Bratja or Brothers. It would have to be my favorite “sad” song of the decade of anime.

That emphasis on orchestral (and background music for that matter) comes from my penchant for classical music that’s just grown and turned into a beast of its own. But yes, melancholy ones are great! That’s why I like Rachmaninoff so much :p

@Yi
That ethereal sound that merges into a sort of rock rhythm while maintaining that airy feel does have its attractions doesn’t it? Somehow, I still feel a bit more in touch with the background music, but both are definitely good listens.

@signorRossi
You don’t really seem to hear many adventuring anime pieces that also have that Irish bent to it and that’s what made Last Exile stand out when I listened to its music. Also, good catch on me taking most of the pieces from the first disc. :p

It’s also a sign that I need to 12 Kingdoms since I actually did not know that, so thanks for the heads up.

I agree with you on Ooshima since her works don’t really stand out a whole lot from her body of music as a whole. That’s sort of what I meant when I said that she’s consistent; the music is good, but stylistically, there aren’t that many changes.

I don’t mind Kanno’s tendency for exuberance since I do think that in doing so, it makes her songs enjoyable outside the context of the anime, but I suppose it makes sense if you’re looking for a more subtle approach to soundtrack composition.

Thanks for that lengthy reply!

@Yu
Haha, as I said, I could babble all day about why I love GSG. It also helps that the soundtrack packs a great deal of variety and so, I can never get bored while listening to it.

As for Ooshima, I do see what you mean by that since I wasn’t able to completely immerse myself into her soundtrack for Xam’d. That’s not to say it’s bad or anything, but that with her, context goes a long way towards making a piece more enjoyable than it otherwise would be.

@Reltair
It really is a shame I think, since those two shows were enjoyable. Might not be the best ever, but I had a lot of fun watching them.

And you fell asleep watching ARIA? We can no longer be friends! :< (Kidding, obviously :p )

I thought Someday’s Dreamers was a bit boring, but this is coming from someone that fell asleep watching Aria. Too much slice of life for me to handle.

Michiru Ooshima is definitely above average, but I find her works not as emotionally driving as other composers on average. I havn’t actually seen FMA, so I don’t have anything to relate her music to, and as a result, some of her tracks sound either slightly generic or aimless.