It seems like forever since I’ve written up anything related to the MALKeionbu (alternatively known as the MyAnimeList Music Piece of the Week Club), but I figured now that we’ve entered our 25th week of voting, there’s something special to be had in this moment. 25 represents a pretty significant psychological barrier, for me at least, because, let’s face it, keeping a weekly event running for 25 consecutive weeks with few hiccups along the way is a pretty huge feat. And for that, I’d like to thank all of those who’ve directly participated whether it’s in track nomination or voting, in making this such an awesome event.

This milestone also offers an excellent opportunity to look back on all the tracks that have come and gone. The weekly process of nominating 7-10 tracks for 25 consecutive weeks yields a whole hell of a lot of anime music of all styles and rhythms. We’ve gone from simple emotions like Love and Despair, scene depictions like Action and Cityscapes, works from a single composer, to examining music covering various styles (Funky/Groovy) and instruments used (Piano, Electric Guitar). The thing that blows my mind the most is the club members’ ability to come up with a pretty good set of tracks week after week and I’ve yet to go through a week where I didn’t learn something new or find some album or composer to check out. Then there are the discussions that result during the voting phase that have been enjoyable to take part in, because through that, you get a better understanding for people’s tastes and opinions which in turn, helps you appreciate the music more. So it’s been a great learning process through and through!

With that in mind, let’s turn to some of the pieces that really struck a chord with me in some way or other. For the purposes of this list, neither tracks that I’ve nominated nor tracks that I’ve heard extensively are eligible since a big part of what makes this club fun is the process of discovering new pieces. So here are my picks:

Week 2 – Love
Anime Title: Giniro no Kami no Agito
Track Title: Ai no Melody
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
Comments: Man, even after all this time, this piece refuses to get out of my playlist and the funny thing is that I didn’t even give it points when I had the opportunity to vote for it! And yet, this piece continues to grow on me. The more I listen, the more I notice the little things, like the way she sings the line, “Ai no melodyyyyy” (thanks to Omisyth for getting me to pay close attention to that part) that enhance the track and make it as beautiful as it is. It also got me to take a look at the soundtrack (composed by Taku Iwasaki) and that too, was a very nice experience all around.

Week 3 – Lost
Anime Title: Pokemon Heroes
Track Title: Search for the Girl
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
Comments: “Search for the Girl” grabbed me with a sense of energy and purpose that you can definitely hear through the music. Furthermore, the music makes for a good picker-upper because the the violin and accordion parts play really well together to create that sense of the grand adventure that works well on its own. What this piece manages to show is that Pokemon music need not suck and its quality virtually assures it a place in my playlist for a good long while.

Week 4 – Legendary
Anime Title: Gigantic Formula
Track Title: Main theme v.0
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
Comments: MAJESTIC! That’s what this track is. The way the track just crescendos in still leaves me in a state of awe every time I hear it, as it instills within me a sense of the story’s epic scope filled with struggles, tragedies, and triumphs. This piece also served as my first introduction to Hiroyuki Sawano and this introduction has been rewarding. The music from Gigantic Formula is gorgeous and I really liked his versatility in moving into rock in his compositions for Sengoku Basara.

Week 5 – Pop Vocals
Anime Title: Top wo Nerae! 2 Diebuster
Track Title: Groovin’ Magic
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
Comments: It’s really too catchy for its own good. I mean, ROUND TABLE’s music has always had this sweetness to it like the ARIA EDs, but this one just takes the cake. I’ll just blame the melody for having that catchiness that ingrains itself in so well in my head and never quite lets go. I’ve often found myself humming this song and not realizing that I am until about halfway through.

Oddly enough, half of the list comes from the first 5 weeks. I think a part of it has to do with the time span because these tracks have had more plays compared to some of the more recent stuff. Or maybe actually blogging it helps my memory a bit more than just posting my thoughts in the voting thread itself. Anyhow, let’s skip past a few weeks where we hit

Week 11 – Discovery
Anime Title: Someday’s Dreamers
Track Title: Where the Sky and the Earth Meet
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
Comment: The piece starts off quietly enough before it comes forth with a very beautiful piano melody. In listening to this, I just can’t help but be drawn in by its sweetness and the feeling of childhood innocence that it depicts through a very whimsical atmosphere that’s just somehow perfect in its execution. The fact that the melody carries a Celtic/Irish flavor is an added bonus since that’s not a quality that I see often in anime soundtracks and variety, in my book, is always a good thing. Also, this track opened my eyes to composer Takefumi Haketa whose compositions have been impressive overall.

Week 16 – Yoko Kanno
Anime Title: Brain Powered
Track Title: Spark
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
Comments: When I decided upon our first featured composer, Yoko Kanno was a natural pick since her works span many different types of shows and in general, they’ve been quite excellent. The tracks picked for that week were pretty good, but this gem proved to be a little different, starting with that discordant bit in the beginning which might very well have been a turn-off if one were to stop there. Listening further though, would yield quite a musical treat that mixes dissonance with the epic to really keep one off-guard in terms of what to expect, at least, until halfway through the track where it starts showing its true colors as a piece depicting some sort of an epic finale. It’s the unconventional Kanno that I really like here and this effort shows why she’s pretty much at the top of most people’s lists when they have to name anime composers.

Week 23 – Electric Guitar
Anime Title: Geneshaft
Track Title: IDENTIFICATION
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
Comments: Omonomono had blogged about this particular week with the note that as far as anime soundtracks go, rock music doesn’t actually feature prominently in the BGM. Needless does manage to fill that gap (and I’m working on giving that soundtrack my full attention), but before Needless, there was Geneshaft. In “Identification,” no time is wasted as the piece dives into the melody while delivering on the action that this piece depicts. Through it, you can hear some pretty awesome riffs and distortions that really hold your attention and lend an air of intensity. If this is representative of what the rest of the soundtrack has to offer, I’ll certainly have to look into it!

So as we start the nomination process for Week 26 (dealing in badassery), I’ve also put up a survey to better gauge people’s backgrounds and how well the club is serving its purposes. We also have a slew of year-end activities to look forward to, mostly in putting together a compilation of the best tracks nominated this year, so definitely keep an eye out for that. Either way, here’s to another 6 months of awesome anime music!

Voting Thread

One of the best things about the MAL Keionbu (as Smankh so affectionately nicknamed it) is the voyage of discovery that one gets by listening to a plethora of anime music that revolves around a common theme and delving, even if it’s just a little bit, into what we all love so much about the medium and the music that powers the emotions on screen. We’re no strangers to this week’s theme and from my standpoint, there’s no end to the number of stellar pieces that describe love, whether it’s the one shared between individuals, places, or ideals. So with lelangir leading the way on the blog front (and many others leading the way on the thread post front), here are my thoughts on the ten tracks nominated this week:

5 Centimeters Per Second – Sora to Umi no Shi
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
The piece starts out timidly and the soft piano melody gives me an image of someone acknowledging their feelings and in that moment, contemplating how to reveal them. As the piece continues, one can hear a certain amount of confidence settling in, indicating that they have an idea as to how to proceed and by the time you reach the climax at 1:01, the piece blooms wonderfully as it kicks into high gear with its expressiveness. The sort of emotional journey that this piece conveys along with “One More Time, One More Chance’s” heartbreaking poignancy, are what made 5 Centimeters Per Second such an unforgettable experience and it definitely makes for a strong track overall.

Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight – Seioh Gakuen Kouka
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
The imagery revolving around Manabi’s performance in the face of apathy is what makes this song particularly powerful and that pretty much lies in the presentation. It’s difficult to forget that moment as Manabi stood there like a beacon of light that pierced the cloak of apathy as she brought her emotions to bear and professed her love for Seioh. The way Yui Horie is able to impart Manabi’s feelings through the song is just spectacular. Everything about it flows naturally and convincingly, especially during the “ah ahhh seioh wo” moment that is nothing short of inspiring.

End of Evangelion – THANATOS ~if I can’t be yours~
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
I do like the blues lounge singing atmosphere but wow, the part around 1:57 really threw me for a loop and the only thought I was left with after that moment was how inconsistent this track is. I’ll pass on the weird chantings because they feel a bit too out of place and this track would have done better to remove them outright.

Rurouni Kenshin – Tsuiokuhen – In Memories “KO・TO・WA・RI”
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
This piece works wonders at complementing Rurouni Kenshin Tsuiokuhen’s grim atmosphere by mixing melancholy and tragedy together really well. The lonely vibe brings forth an image of the solitary swordsmen taking determined steps to overcome the obstacles in his path while reflecting upon his life choices. While my hazy memories do not allow me to recall whether he was reeling from his tragic relationship with Tomoe when this piece plays (it is pretty damn melancholic after all), this piece stands as a testament to Taku Iwasaki’s ability to bring out the strong emotions within that OVA. The amount of emotion it packs marks this one as my favorite piece this week, both in terms of its nostalgic value as well as its tragic beauty.

Bokura ga Ita – Fuan
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
Bokura ga Ita is subtle in its use of music and the pieces that I’ve listened to focus on creating that romantic atmosphere as well as the accompanying feelings like anxiety and comfort that arise from such a situation. Still, this piece is just a bit too subtle and while it does get better after each listen, in the field of strong picks that are available this week, this one just falls a bit outside the range of receiving any points.

ARIA the NATURAL – Itsuka Kita Michi
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
The Choro Club’s work on the Aria trilogy just manages to amaze me because I’ve yet to find any mediocre tracks in any of the three soundtracks. This piece in particular really fits the series’ serene mood and TheBigN’s writeup for this song in the nomination thread is spot-on when he says:

Though it can get schmaltzy at times, whenever I hear it, I think of Neo Venezia and Aqua in general. As the home planet is as much a character as the inhabitants that live on it (at least for the first two seasons), I’d to think that this is the “theme song” for the area. And I’d also like to think that this music goes though Akari’s head as she explores and enjoys her training to be an undine.

Beauty? Check. Serenity? Check. Love? Definitely! Hazukashii serifu kinshi!

Love Hina – Yakusoku
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
The nostalgia value that I derive from this track is really high since this was my introduction to the romance harem genre way back in the day and even after all this time, this song still has not lost its touch. Yui Horie delivers yet another strong, heartfelt performance that becomes even more poignant within the context of the anime. While it’s been a long time since I’ve seen that series, I can never forget this melancholy piece because its emotional impact is so strong. In light of some comments I’ve made about a recent single, this piece would be a wonderful example of a piece that can and has withstood the test of time.

Cowboy Bebop – Call Me Call Me
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
“Call Me Call Me” really does sound a bit too rough to fit in with my image of love and it’s also not quite as solid as some of the pieces we’ve heard so far, so I’ll be passing on this one.

Romeo X Juliet – Touch / Fureai
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
OK, I admit it, I’m a sucker for Sakimoto and have been since I first heard his music from Final Fantasy Tactics. Because of that, it shouldn’t be a surprise that I love this soundtrack to bits, especially when Sakimoto brings out the sweeping, epic, orchestral melodies such as this. “Touch” starts out quietly, but it builds up oh so wonderfully, giving me goosebumps as it progresses by adding instruments to that motive until the song comes to life around 1:44. Here, the various parts of the orchestra work well together to create the graceful melodic fabric that would serve as a lead-in into the clarion trumpet call at 2:13 where it makes way for a dazzling melody that leaves me in awe. It’s definitely one of the stronger pieces on the soundtrack and one that definitely earns points for this week.

Giniro no Kami no Agito – Ai no Melody
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
My experience with KOKIA isn’t as high as I’d like it to be, but between her performance in Gunslinger Girl -Il Teatrino-’s OP and Red Garden’s last few tracks, my opinion of her has been positive. The way KOKIA performs this song is closer to the intonation she uses in Gunslinger Girl -Il Teatrino-’s OP and it works pretty well in conveying her feelings towards the listener. For example, that wavering voice carries with it a sense of longing mixed in with serenity as she tries to reconcile her feelings in general. It should also be noted that there is a weird chanting bit that manages to succeed where “THANATOS’s” did not. Anyhow, this track has a certain sort lightness to it that carries strong, genuine emotions and makes it enjoyable through and through. The only regret I have is that I don’t have points to spare since this song is very deserving of a listen.

So there you have it! My point distribution can be found below. If I had a major gripe this week, it’s that the selections for the point distribution were really hard to make since many of the tracks were so enjoyable. Fortunately, that’s a good problem to have on one’s hands and I definitely look forwards to listening to people’s nominations for Week 3 where we’ll look into the theme of being “lost.”

(+2) Rurouni Kenshin – Tsuiokuhen – In Memories “KO・TO・WA・RI”
(+1) 5 Centimeters Per Second – Sora to Umi no Shi
(+1) Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight – Seioh Gakuen Kouka
(+1) ARIA the NATURAL – Itsuka Kita Michi
(+1) Romeo X Juliet – Touch

[[Visit blog to check out this spoiler]]

Review: One of the hallmarks of an extraordinary soundtrack is its timelessness and ability to convey unto the listener the full spectrum of emotions that the series has to offer and doing so in such a way that it leaves a deep impression. Depthcharge101, despite not having seen the series (and correct me if I’m wrong on this :p) has already written his favorable impressions of Red Garden’s soundtrack and in case his words and the samples he posted weren’t convincing enough, I will confirm that this album is stunningly good, especially when it comes to engaging one’s emotions.

For those who have not seen it, Red Garden’s plot revolves around four high schoolers who discover that they’ve already died, but that they still exist due to their enhanced bodies and to maintain this existence, they must fight an unknown enemy. This turn of events turns their lives upside down; each night may very well be their last and faced with this prospect, each of the girls are forced to come to terms with this situation so that the girls may leave this world with few regrets. As one might expect, this sort of plot is heavily depressing since the subject of impending doom isn’t one to be taken lightly. Thankfully, Akira Senju takes great care to reflect this general mood of despair through music that can be disheartening at times as it instills within the listener the tragedy that has befallen the characters.

“Main Theme ~ Sou de Aru to Negau Kara” starts out in an appropriate manner in bringing out that mournful atmosphere through its slow, deliberate melody. Senju crafts this piece beautifully by blending in many instruments, starting with the bassoon and bass clarinets which provide a depressing backdrop before the flute part comes in with a melody that adds a layer of hopelessness on top of the despairing tone. Because of this, “Main Theme” sets the mood for what is to come by stripping away the trappings of comfort and leaving only a stark sense of tragedy behind. The mournful mood continues in “Kojin no Shi” where the strings section crescendos slowly as to emphasize the sense of fear that the characters feel through its tension-filled melody. This fear is justified since danger can appear just about anywhere and “Ayumi .. Yamerare Zuni” serves as a firm reminder of this through its menacing aura. The violins, combined with the harpsichord in the background, furthers the feelings a person gets when they are trapped and isolated from others as the haunting oboe and flute melody heightens the perception of danger.

Main Theme ~ Sou de Aru to Negau Kara:
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]

This feeling becomes more pronounced in “Eirei” which uses a staccato cello part that emphasizes every note to build up a sense of anxiety which climaxes when “Miete Kuru Mono he” makes its entrance, inflicting the listener with a very dissonant, high pitched violin chord as though it were recreating the sound of someone screaming in fear. This introduction makes the danger feel even more imminent until it materializes in the next few tracks. “Tsunagari no Houkai” has a rhythm that depicts a battle as the girls and their foes engage in combat. Its bombastic introduction brings forth the intensity rather well and around 0:25, the violins, along with the piano, instill a sense of urgency within the listener through a melody that moves quickly and frantically.

Tsunagari no Houkai:
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]

After all those intense moments, it’s evident that one needs to relax and Senju treats us to “Hai iro no Shiawase” which goes at a much slower tempo, yielding a track that’s really calm and soothing. The way the piece evokes a slice of life feel helps remind us that though these girls have been put in extraordinary circumstances, they’re still normal people. As one watches these girls go to school and share their hopes and fears with one another while this track plays in the background, one cannot help but empathize with their plight. There’s even an upwelling of hope in “Konnichiwa Owari Dakara” which has a lofty, grandiose feel, as though to say that the odds are against them, but the girls can prevail. As the piece draws to a close, it leaves the listener feeling bittersweet; whether the girls can succeed, no one will know, but this piece, overflowing with the yearning desire for normalcy, makes us want to root for their success because they’ve suffered so much.

Konnichiwa Owari Dakara:
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]

After a few more mournful tracks go by, “Te no Kasanari” is where the album makes a turnaround as the fears begin to dissipate as the melody’s warmth optimistically suggests that all will be well in the end. But “Akai Niwa” is what really drives this feeling home by bringing with it a sense of finality. The way the melody flows in this piece makes it sound as though the girls are able to overcome their struggles and achieve happiness in the end. Though the road was littered with tragedy, this piece sounds the most hopeful of all. The overflowing sense of relief indicates that this ordeal is over, and one cannot ask for a better conclusion.

Akai Niwa:
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]

But while the girls’ ordeals are over, this soundtrack isn’t finished yet as it treats you to five beautiful tracks, all of which are sung by KOKIA. Up until I listened to this soundtrack, I had never heard of her and had no idea what to expect, but these tracks erased any traces of doubt that existed up to that point. KOKIA’s performance in “Katsu ~ Mabara na Hikari” is noteworthy in the way she was able to vocalize “Ayumi .. Yamerare Zuni’s” overall depressing tone, especially through that trembling tone that brings out the fears and anxiety rather well. From here on, KOKIA only gets better and better, especially with her rendition of “Akai Niwa” in “Sumire ~ You to Tomoni.” However, her crowning delivery is “Shiro ~ Watashi Tachi no Hibiki” which left me completely in awe. Words simply cannot describe how I felt as KOKIA’s performance washed over me, and relieved my anxieties because the way she sings affirms the sense of finality that we get towards the end of the soundtrack, leaving me feeling confident that the girls have succeeded.

Shiro ~ Watashi Tachi no Hibiki:
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]

Red Garden is underrated in every sense of word, but those who have seen the series and heard the music can attest to its ability to not only convey the tragedy inherent in the characters’ situation, but also to bring forth the hope of a better tomorrow. To call this album beautiful is a sheer understatement; while it might not have the grandiosity of some other anime soundtracks, Akira Senju’s compositions manage to engage my emotions in ways that few soundtracks have ever succeeded in doing by writing quite a few tracks that left me in tears. The praises this album gets cannot be emphasized enough and the lingering feelings that Red Garden’s soundtrack leaves behind are poignant so as to be an unforgettable experience.

Rating: Masterpiece