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Persona 3 Fes Original Soundtrack :: Review by FuryofFrog
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Album Title: | Persona 3 Fes Original Soundtrack |
| Record Label: | Aniplex | |
| Catalog No.: | SVWC-7464 | |
| Release Date: | May 2, 2007 | |
| Purchase: | Buy at CDJapan |
Overview
This album was very interesting to review. Persona 3 had been out for quite some time in both America and Japan then all of a sudden a brand new chapter for the series opened up. That chapter was called The Answer. In The Answer most of the tracks from the original Persona 3 were used but a handful of new ones were created mainly by Shoji Meguro. These new tracks sound little like its predecessor. Lets take a look...
Track-by-Track Reviews
1) P3 fes
The introduction to this song is a fusion of a few different themes from Persona 3. So many elements are melded together so well that the song easily survives through its strong constituent components. It starts out very J-Poppy but then goes into a more beefy and bombastic hip-hop section marked with plenty of trumpet. A surprise through and through. (10/10)
2) Brand New Days -The Beginning-
A fragilea nd beautiful piano plays throughout this one. The piece is short so there is little else to be added. Still, it is very serene and calming to listen to. Simplicity is the key here. (10/10)
3) Opening Act
Progressively loudening chimes ring in the air hair. The dynamics continue to swell until the chimes disappear. A characteristically Meguro-esque guitar subsequently takes the lead and gives the theme a rather hard edge. The sudden ending is disappointing and the theme is much too short overall. (6/10)
4) 3/31
This tune sounds more like a jingle rather than anything substantial. A keyboard is the only component here and it perpetuates a mood somewhere between a grocery store and mediocrity. There is no variation here and it can be quite a bore to listen to. (4/10)
5) Blind Alley
Breakbeat drums jam out here while a violin leads. An organ soon comes along to bring more jazziness to the table. The theme almost begs for some of the cheesy hip-hop lyrics heard elsewhere but they aren't delivered. Most of "Blind Alley" is just status quo fare for Meguro. (6/10)
6) Interval of Time
A fast steady beat rumbles in the background and the piano eventually takes the wheel here. There are only a good five chords played from the piano throughout so it starts to get boring, though an occasional jingle in the background greets the listener once in a while. The piece steadily builds upon itself the entire time with the addition of more prominent drum-line, warm strings, and electronica elements that really change the overall landscape. The theme ends with a shaker and piano on its own. (8/10)
7) Mass Destruction -P3 fes version-
Prominent trumpets ring in the air while very familiar distorted female voices blare out. A rapper tries to bust out a jam with nonsensical lyrics but it doesn't work. He is trying much to hard. When the female vocals finally rejoin, one cannot help but be very annoyed by the lack of lyrical and timbral substance offered. The instrumentation is sufficient but the song falls flat due to excessive repetition and annoying vocals. (4/10)
8) The Snow Queen
Quick beats and a completely synthesized melody are wrought through here. After a small amount of time, piano is added and completely takes over the melody. The electronica is fused very well with the piano and strings quietly come through the background to add a sort of epic scope to the track. An overdriven guitar is also added bringing an adrenaline pumping feeling. Everything meshes together very well here. (10/10)
9) Maya Theme
Piano takes the melody once again here with strings as support. Over a small amount of time, the strings get much louder and trade places with the piano. Almost a sort of big band flavor comes out of the woodwork at this point, but it doesn't last too long as the piano takes the lead once again. The theme loops once more and becomes sort of predictable. (7/10)
10) Between Doors
Hip-hop beats soar throughout "Between Doors" while ambient sounds are played in the background. Piano once again produces the melody here. Some creepy electronic sounds and vibrato strings also take a prominent role as the piece develops. (7/10)
11) Their Own Past
A highly distorted echo rings out at the beginning of this piece and invites the piano to play for a little while. When the piano disappears, a creepy humming appears and white noise is added. The pieces gets a tad bit more distorted and then loops again. It's not bad, but it's a bit too ambient not to skip over during the first 30 seconds. (6/10)
12) Heartful Cry
"Heartful Cry" starts out with a very sweet melody from the piano then quickly descends into more industrial styles. Overdriven guitars hammer away and electronica sounds swarm throughout. When the actual guitars take the lead, the piece gains a lot of strength. Soon after, the melody is passed back to piano and the theme returns to industrial electronica once again. This piece has a lot of funky rhythms to go around. (10/10)
13) Persona
A speedy piano grooves out here in a manner as if you were in a hurry. This is a track that sounds like it could be played in a grocery store but everyone in the store would be running all over the place. The energy and excitement of this piece really gets my heart going. The track feels like it is slowing down when the drums start to lighten up and the piano becomes prominent again, but the tempo is brought right back up to jam some more. (8/10)
14) Time Castle
A sinister guitar chugs along here and gives a feeling that someone is going to bust through your wall and attack you! The melody plays for a little bit and is lightened up with some piano, but it's not long before the guitar rejoins to slug people in the face. By the third time the loop comes around, the theme sounds a little stale and, by the time the piece ends, it's clear there is no payoff after all. (7/10)
15) Seal
Solitary snare drums and a bell ring start this one off. Strings jump in and steal the tune transforming the tone into a very sweet one. The piano soon chimes in and harmonises agreeably with the strings. The theme develops towards a conclusion tinged with sadness. (8/10)
16) Darkness
This track descends into madness with buzzing and descending piano chords. The guitar then leads the way supported by a backing guitar and breakbeat rhythms. When the guitar finally gets into the melody, strings accent every passage played. There is a fair amount of energy created with the driving guitar work and overriding electronic buzzing. It all creates a very unique feeling. (8/10)
17) Brand New Days
"Brand New Days" is a standard J-Pop song. There is a catchy melody line along with calm female vocals. The instrumentals are pretty standard fare with he piano sometimes stealing the melody from the vocalist. The whole song gives an air of being in a field just lying down and feeling the wind hit you. It's a really standard but good song. (7/10)
Summary
The tracks here were mostly a delight to listen to. I was expecting a lot more hip-hop influence but Meguro has nicely demonstrated that he is still capable of producing music without that kind of flair. Some themes were just retreads of ones from Persona 3 but the others really had a spirit all their own. There is a lot more consistency in this album, but then again, it is also shorter.
