Song of the Week - WEEK 86 Voting/WEEK 87 Nominating

Ar tonelico ~The Girl Who Sings at the End of the World~ ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK - What My World Is Wishing For
Instantaneously it has reminded me of Yasunori Mitsuda's Xenogears Creid, an album which I love. I really like the ethnic instrumentation, the composition is also good but hackneyed. The only one that I can't stand is the singing, it sounds too artificial.

ATP Tour Championship Tennis (Game Rip) - Title Screen
Well, I can't say anything bad about it but neither I can say something good. Typical background music used for accompanying a screen. It's not quite noteworthy but it's solid enough, and has a catchy melody.

DARIUS II -G.S.M.TAITO 4- - BURNING ROAD (underground theme) ~ BOSS 6 (1 POINT)
This is Zuntata, I hope something more creative. The first half of the track is pretty standard shoot 'em up music, but fourtunately after the fade-out and the melody becomes a frenetic whirlwind of energy. It's a pity that the only interesting section is so brief.

Great Maho Daisakusen Original Soundtrack - THUNDER STORM ~ Stage 5
Great Maho Daisakusen? What's that, another shump? Anyway, this track is much more messy and busy than the previous one. Of course that is diverse, almost as much as chaotic. The structure of this one seems random, and the transitions between different sections are abrupts. Not my cup of tea.

Saiyuki Original Soundtrack - Fierce God (Battle BGM 7)
Hey, I watched an anime called Saiyuki, it was very mediocre. I remember nothing about the music in the anime so I can't compare. This track is the kind of battle music that tries to create tension and little more. The melodic content is scarce and uninteresting and I swear that the drum kit plays one of the more boring rhythms than I had listened.

Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne Original Soundtrack - Tokyo Conception
From what I have read the Shin Megami Tensei series distinguishes itself, musically speaking, by hard techno and rockin' music. The sad piano line, the crescendo strings and the ominous pipe organ isn't exactly what I expected to hear, but it is a good surprise. The closing techno beats are a bit out of place but I don't care.

Suikoden - The Divine Oath - Dreams Come True Someday (Orchestra Version) (2 POINTS)
Suikoden - The Divine Oath (aka Bandit Kings of Ancient China) is a quality album, an underrated gem. I think this track is the instrumental version of the vocal one of same title, and particularly not one of my favorite tracks. Even so, it's nicely done, excellently orchestrated and with a smooth development. Yeah, objectively, it's the best of the week but not my personal choice...

The Legend of Xanadu SUPER ARRANGE VERSION - A Bird Crossing the Desert (3 POINTS)
...Cause this is my personal choice, guess it, my nomination. The Legend of Xanadu SUPER ARRANGE VERSION is other of those underrated gems no one seems to mention anymore. ABCTD is a peculiar and distinctive piece of music with a palette of sounds really exquisite. Its vast and rich soundscape is the essence and raison d'etre (reason to be) of this wonderful arrangement.

Jam it back in, in the dark.