2008 Holiday Shopping List Part 1
Despite the title of this post, there will not be a part 2. I think. I’ve done this in previous years but sometimes it’s hard to come up with a full list, and it may be hard to follow up to a partial list. I guess I’m just going to link to some interesting items (mostly just CDs) I’m buying. [CD Japan affiliate links incoming.]
Like the last Masami Okui single. Guh. Why do I still not have it…oh because it’s bundled to ship with other items.
If you didn’t live in a cave, you may have found out about the third Macross Frontier full album, which is just a vocal collection album. It’s all you need. Like, Maaya’s Aimo, Sheryl’s Aimo, Ranka’s Mom x Ranka’s Aimo, and other new stuff that has nothing to do with Aimo. Yes, there are songs that is not Aimo on this CD. Imagine that! Like Enka. It also has stuff from the singles, like My BF Is a Pilot and Neko Nikki (With Cheezeburger). It doesn’t have everything, natch, but it’s not going to get a whole lot better than this.
Oh, May’n’s Aimo is like, a national anthem. I blame it on those creative takes of the Star-Spangled Banner from soulful church-choir types at big events. It’s R&B in Japan rips off of, for the most part.
I recently saw The Sky Crawlers, and the music was as sublime as the visuals to the film. Really dig Adler Tag (track 15) on the soundtracks. It’s a safe pickup and a must buy if you dig Kenji Kawai. The huge-ass music box arrangement to the main theme isn’t bad either, but I found that about half of the tracks on the soundtrack that has nothing to do with the main theme are the real winners. Also, the movie comes out on DVD and BRD (limited version and regular version) in Japan in a couple months.
If you didn’t notice, Halko Momoi recently just let loose two cover albums. One is full of self-covers from her UNDER17 days (white), and the other is all anisong covers and some more (red). I’m just waiting for the Red one to come in the mail now…oh right, it’s in a bundle.
There’s an interesting item that I’m NOT buying–Card Captors Sakura on BRD. I’ll probably wait and see if Fumoffu on BRD is any good to decide if I’m going to pick that up. That show still busts my chops even today.
An item that I’m going to buy is the new Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei “image album.” The first one that came out earlier a year ago was rather decent…by image album standards. This new one, called “Kakurenboka Onigokkoyo,” is about the same except with a twist. The twist being Mr. Otsuki, the rocking voice behind the recent wave of Shaft OP/ED’s, interweaving and arranging otherwise pedestrian seiyuu image songs. I can’t say the idea is bad, even if in the end the final product was still generally not worthy of most people’s attention. Actually, the last track on the CD, a new version of Kuusou Roomba, is one of my two favorites. It kept the best parts of Marina’s singing, the creepy Roomba^5 chanting, and added better male vocals. Sorry Kenji Otsuki.:3 The other favorite for me was the first track. The really nicely done creepy intro stuff makes the best of our “zetsubo shoujotachi.” I guess another thing to mention is that it’s really odd hearing voice actresses screaming like rocking out. Makes me laugh when Ai Nonaka tries to do it. Sorta. Or does it make me cry? Reminds me of Yuko Miyamura… Anyways, this CD also has a non-special edition, that sells for cheaper, and doesn’t have the extra DVD.
Come to think of it, if you’re a King Record artist, can’t you get your record label to pawn off some voice acting labor to do awesome voice boxing like this? All you have to do is make some anisong in exchange. What a deal.
One more soundtrack I am going to pick up is the second set of Tenmon music that I think I heard last season, which is also known as ef-a tale of melodies OST. I’m hoping there’s a few more tricks up his sleeves for the last couple episodes to the show.
Looking at my CD list… that’s it for the year in terms of what I’m missing. Rest are Janurary preorders XD. The only wild card left is Enson2, which is the next Masaaki Endo cover album…and the track list is a riot. God Knows? Eternal Blaze? Tori no Uta? Go Tight!??! Yuzurenai Negai? I think I’m going to cry for reals.
PS. You might know that I dig Eminence Symphony Orchestra. This holiday season they’ve teamed up with Blizzard Entertainment (Or Activision-Blizzard? Whatever) and made an orchestra album, featuring both American and Japanese composers. It’s called Echoes of War, and it comes in a deluxe (and alternatively, legendary) box set made and shipped from Japan. I am pimping it because, frankly, Eminence sucks at marketing outside of Australia, and this is one very nice orchestra album. Multiple discs. I’m buying it and telling people about it despite the lack of anime connections (Ko Otani is as far as it gets). You can hear some samples here, read the reviews linked from their site, make your own decision.
Those are interesting cd choices you are going to purchase.. Mostly my idea of holiday shopping, is trying to pay off credit card bills or purchasing more books or presents for friends.. I actually have on a mental wishlist to go out and get that Studio Ghibli two disc album.
Still have a wonderful holiday Omo.
:) Merry Christmas