Your (current) favorite composer?

Well, it seems very natural that taste of our interest will be definitely changed as we listen and explore more VGM albums. I remember that I was Uematsu fanboy long-long time ago, afterward, I was crazed by Sakimoto's composition on FFT, and then blown off by Hamauzu's classical style on Saga Frontier II. I also had moment when there were nothing but tracks composed by Sugiyama in my playlist.

At the moment, I dont have much favorite composer, at least specifically. Nowadays I only listen albums two or three times, identifying my most favorite tracks, and then creating a private compilation afterward.

Right now I enjoy compilation of jazz pieces mainly consist of Shoji Meguro and Isamu Ohira (and other game tracks with unknown composer). How about you? Do you have some specific composer you are currently in favour with? Or perhaps, you dont really care which composer compose the tracks you are listening at the moment?

(this is very general discussion, and for some reason, I suggest it being sticky-ed, to avoid creation similar topics arise. Just for your consideration though)

How ya doing, buddy?

I don't usually go in for this sort of thread, but what the hell, I'll bite.

In terms of Japanese game music, I started out as an Uematsu nut, as I suspect many, if not most, of us did. I then moved through the Square pantheon, going through periods of admiration for most of the major composers (except Hamauzu, who's always left me cold). Right now, I look forward to Sakimoto and Shimomura the most, so I suppose that makes them my favorites, but a lot of composers that I enjoy (like Sasai and Kikuta) aren't working anymore.

As far as Western game music goes, Jeremy Soule was my gateway drug; I really enjoyed his early work and (to an extent) that continues today, though I fear that he's working into a rut. Chance Thomas has done some wonderful stuff as well (loved King Kong), and I wish that Steve Burke would get more work.

That's just a rough guesstimate; it's really easier to say who I don't like now than who I do.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I've been a Shimomura's fan for a long time now. And I've been listening to Pink Sweets music lately and Natsuko Naitou's work is incredible. I would have said SSH too, but he's more an arranger than a composer. Lost Child is pretty much his only original stuff I know him for. I was browsing his website the other day and because I don't know japanese, I didn't recognize most of the tracks, I thought there were all SSH originals..... hehe..

My tastes might change someday. But those are the composers I'm digging more lately.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I've got a somewhat lesser-known composer as my current favourite: Yasuhisa Watanabe AKA Yack. His compositions are always full of enjoyment, and I haven't come across a soundtrack by him which I didn't like/love. His style is unrivaled <3.

Also at the top of my list of favourite composers are:
- Nobuo Uematsu (=O shock)
- Gust Sound Team (Akira Tsuchiya, Ken Nakagawa, Daisuke Achiwa, Miyoko Kobayashi)
- Yasunori Mitsuda
- Yoko Shimomura
- Konami Kukeiha Club (especially Miki Higashino)
- Leaf Sound Team (Kazuhide Nakagami, Shinya Ishikawa, Naoya Shimokawa)
- Tenpei Sato
- (Falcom) Sound Team JDK

*cough* Well, that's quite a list there.

How ya doing, buddy?

That's a really hard question

I guess, if you're one of those FF-music types, you'll probably be able to say Uematsu.

But I'd say the composers I've had the consistent most respect for over the years (as opposed to say, a flash in the pan or once-off great score) would be the Falcom musicians (Sound Team JDK). It may sound like a copout, but they've covered nearly every genre with their arranges, and shown (for my money) that VGM doesn't have to fit any stereotype or particular genre. I love that.

At the moment, I've been listening to some once-off's, like Inca 1/2 (Gilles Douieb), Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure (David Kneupper), and others. Those guys are scary talented. Sadly they didn't do much game music.

Oh, of course, Motoi Sakuraba deserves a mention. Geez, I've played so many games he's worked on. Even if I don't like the game (Star Ocean), I love the music!

Regards,
- Spike

I was speaking idiomatically.

I was never crazy for Uematsu as much as I was just crazy for all things Square at one point, though I do think that SNES era Uematsu is as good as anything else, especially with Final Fantasy VI (my all time favorite game score) in the mix. Right now I don't really have any "current" favorites. Just my all time favorites. Those being Sakimoto followed by Sakuraba. Who would come third and so forth is something I'd have to think about for a while. Anyways, I have a lot of favored soundtracks that aren't by the aforementioned composers and that can't usually be grouped together under any one composer. Stuff like Tenchu, Soul Edge, Gate of Thunder, Castlevania IV, DKC2, SoR2, Grandia, Suikoden, etc. As for current listening, I'm surely behind on that, as my interest in gaming has dwindled over the past few years.

Most amazing jew boots

First strike is Uematsu. He brought me to VGM world (from Liberi Fatali).
Then Yasunori Mitsuda hit me with greatest VGM (at that time) in Xenogears.
At last, it is Yuki Hajiura with my most favorite VGM,"Xenosaga EP3 - Also Sprach Zarathustra", until these day I insanly search for every album of her work.

FELIPE NO

I'd just like to agree with Megavolt about this:

Quote:

As for current listening, I'm surely behind on that, as my interest in gaming has dwindled over the past few years.

I still haven't heard the latest Ys albums

- Spike

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Some of my top CURRENT favorite composers include:

Hidenori Shoji
I've been wearing out the soundtrack for Ryu ga Gotoku & Ryu ga Gotoku 2 like an old slipper. It's one of my top 3 soundtracks of the year so far. I don't know what the rest of the year holds in store, but I don't see this gem falling out of the top 5 regardless of whatelse comes out.

Kow Otani
It's been almost 2 years since the OST for Shadow of the Colossus came out but I still love it. It still continues to get frequent plays on my computer and mp3 player. I'm chopping at the bit for a new game composed by this guy.

Yasumasa Sato
Without MASA being involved less, there was a huge dropoff between the soundtracks for Shin Sangokumusou 3 (Dynasty Warriors 4) and Shin Sangokumusou 4 (Dynasty Warriors 5). When the next installment was announced, Shin Sangokumusou BB, I was excited but feared the worst if MASA didn't have a major role. Well, MASA's involvment was sparse, but I still loved the album! Why? Because, Yasumasa Sato did a hell of a job as a substitute. If I hadn't known the guy's name beforehand, I would have thought it was MASA himself. This guy better be back for the next Shin Sangokumusou installment.

Namco Sound Team (Keiki Kobayashi, Tetsukazu Nakanishi, Junichi Nakatsuru, Hiroshi Okubo)
I can't get enough of this group. These guys have done amazing work on both the Ace Combat and Soul Calibur franchises. They've also put out a couple non-vgm albums that have been great. Also, Okubo's on the Ridge Racer games is fantastic.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I'm a hopeless case: I still adore music by Uematsu and Mitsuda. And I'm very much in love with Sakimoto's FF XII soundtrack right now, but that's no doubt due to the fact that I'm hooked on the game. I find his music really difficult to appreciate if I haven't played the game.

How ya doing, buddy?

Last year I was really impressed with Toshikazu Tanaka's KOF MI, Rage of Dragons and the latest Metal Slugs, but nowadays I think that I like Motoaki Furukawa the most. In the past I've loved Uematsu, Mitsuda and Iwadare as well.

How ya doing, buddy?

Yuzo Koshiro is my new favorite with his Etrian Odessey score ^_^

But Sakimoto and Hamauzu would still remain as my favorite vgm composers.

If other soundtrack composers are included then it would be Sakimoto + Goldenthal + Elfman. ^_^

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

For me it would have to be Jim Dooley (for his work on the SOCOM series) or Harry Gregson-Williams (Metal Gear Solid series) mainly because I listen to film scores from the school of Hans Zimmer.

Michael Giacchino and Bill Brown would be up there too and are well played on my iPod but both have found Movie and TV land in recent years which I suppose will always be a problem when composers are as brilliant as they are.

Thankfully Jermy Seoule still does games he'd be my #5.

I was speaking idiomatically.

I'm hopeless for any of Junya Nakano's work, mainly Dew Prism and Musashiden II Blademaster. Other composers that I follow are:

• Kenji Ito
• Michiru Yamane
• Yasunori Mitsuda
• Shoji Meguro
• Motoi Sakuraba

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by bishop743

Namco Sound Team (Keiki Kobayashi, Tetsukazu Nakanishi, Junichi Nakatsuru, Hiroshi Okubo)
I can't get enough of this group. These guys have done amazing work on both the Ace Combat and Soul Calibur franchises. They've also put out a couple non-vgm albums that have been great. Also, Okubo's on the Ridge Racer games is fantastic.

Can't get enough of this team neither. Hopefully AC6 turns out having a great album like AC5 if this team is composing the soundtrack.

My current favorites:

Jesper Kyd
He's done some excellent work on the Hitman series and "Freedom Fighters". Hitman: Contracts was somewhat lacking.

Michiko Naruke
Composed the Wild Arms series. Her music really fit the games well, but I really hope her illness doesn't stop her from composing more projects.

Ryo Yonemitsu
Composed a lot of Falcom arrange albums until Ys IV I believe and then came back and did 4 tracks in "Wild Arms Music the Best -rocking heart-" album. Hopefully he does some more composing and doesn't disappear again

Noriyuki Iwadare
Composed the Grandia series, Langrisser series, Growlanser 1 & 2, Lunar The Silver Star, etc. After Grandia III though, hopefully he improves....

Honorable Mentions: Harry Gregson-Williams, Tommy Tallarico, Nobuo Uematsu, Akira Yamaoka

FELIPE NO

Naturally Hitoshi Sakimoto is still my top fav - especially after hearing RomeoXJuliet - DO MORE ORCHESTRA!!

I have taken a liking to the re-recorded Chain of Memories OST (more battle themes than reprises from KH1) so Yoko Shimomura is a fav at the mo.

I am esgerly awaiting more sounds from Noriyasu Agematsu as his contribution to Wild Arms 5 was beyond expectation. Amazing work. Masato Koda is definatly worth his mention as well as it has revived a few devil may cry favs. Have to love the Voslung Battle Theme on WA5

I'll mention Motoi Sakuraba, though I'm patiently waiting for music from Eternal Sonata

For the sake of Nobuo Uematsu, I'm waiting for Lost Odessey

How ya doing, buddy?

Yasunori Mitsuda. Xenosaga is my favorite video game soundtrack, and his work on Chrono Cross, using the same themes with different arrangements for the parallel worlds is just genius.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I'm hopelessly addicted with Falcom Sound Team JDK. The Legend of Heroes albums are just beyond terrific

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Well I've been a sucker for Mitsuda since day one. I never grow tired of his wonderful mix of celtic hymns and soft guitar plucking.

Although recently I've been fairly into GUST Sound Team and their work on the Atelier Iris-games, which I do enjoy. I will probably check out some of their earlier work(any recommendations?).

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

At first there was Hiroki Kikuta (and Secret of Mana was my first VGM album I purchased yeeeears ago), afterward, during the time of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask Koji Kondo was on the top. Later, thanks to the Internet, I listened to pieces from Yasunori Mitsuda. And today? No special one is sitting on the throne because the throne is a wide couch. Hidenori Iwasaki (Front Mission 5!), Akira Yamaoka, Jeremy Soule, Frank Klepacki, Hitoshi Sakimoto and many more has taken place.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Tim Follin, without hesistation. Easily the most consistently good compositions I've ever heard across a body of VGM work, his compositions were not only well-written but often pushed the perceived creative and functional limits of the mediums he worked in. His next-gen work on material like Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future and Lemmings for the PSP only proved to me that he wasn't just a talent at the 8- and 16-bit systems.

My second favorite would easily be Yasuhisa "Yack" Watanabe. He's more hit-and-miss, but when he hits he knocks it out of the park. Song of the Week first exposed me to him with his work on the Metal Black arrange soundtrack.

Third is probably Yuzo Koshiro just for the Streets of Rage series. With more time, I'd be able to think of others.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Currently, Jamie Christopherson with his Golden Compass game soundtrack. The game is decent for a movie tie-in, but the soundtrack really stands out.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

david bergeaud of course

FELIPE NO

Kenji Ito - Really, nobody can do battle theme like him.
Toshikazu Tanaka - You can't go wrong with this guy. I loved all of his work!

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Hamauzu and Shimomura currently dominate my brain right now.

How ya doing, buddy?