Yoko Kanno - Escaflowne Original Soundtrack 3 [1996]

Crappy first track, but then things take a leap into an amazing world of perfection. If things keep going like "Arcadia" and "Epistle", this OST will easily outshine the first two. Well, the unfortunate reality is that, in the middle of this OST, the tone and style changes drastically. There are more songs that are based on more modern band-style music with some instruments added. I can almost see the animé go by as I listen. This OST is at a point in the animé when things are getting ever-more epic and the series is beginning to wrap itself up. The problem is that there is a section towards the second third of the animé when there is a last push for the status quo before all hell breaks loose, and that is reflected in the use of more pop singers and a slightly more upbeat tone in the middle of this album. Songs like "Perfect World" and "I Recommend Instincts", while not BAD, are mostly throwaways. The end of the album feels a little better, but the absolute darkness and epic feel that I loved about the beginning is predictably replaced by songs that mark the end of the animé. Overall, it's still a damn good album, but it really got my hopes up for something even more amazing in the beginning.

Rating: 8

http://www.kannoyoko.net/

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Yoko Kanno - Escaflowne Original Soundtrack 2 [1996]

I have pretty high expectations after the first soundtrack... hope this wont disappoint. I'm halfway through and this is shaping up to be equally as good as the first soundtrack. Plenty of variation between the songs; Gregorian, fantasy, orchestra, and whimsical cuteness. I had forgotten how many great songs were in the animé that weren't included in the first OST. This one is certainly as good as the previous OST.

Rating: 8.5

http://www.kannoyoko.net/

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Yoko Kanno - Escaflowne: Over the Sky [1996]

First impression is GREAT. I've gone from a wonderful fantasy song ("Flying Dragon") to the epic chorus-filled god-sized masterpiece of "Dance of Curse". Now, let's hope she keeps it up... it's a long way to the end of this album. God damn, she really did it; the album is fucking great all the way through. When there is a drop-off in excitement, melancholy and beauty take over. When the excitement comes back, it slams you in the face with grand writing. There are probably only two tracks that were iffy, but that's hardly a distraction. Also, the chorus in multiple songs sings the same phrase over and over again, making it feel a bit contrived by the end.

Rating: 8.5

http://www.kannoyoko.net/

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Yoko Kanno - Sharon Apple: The Cream P-U-F [1995]

Only two new songs, with the two others being from MPOS I and II.

Rating: 6

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Yoko Kanno - Macross Plus Original Soundtrack II [1995]

A bit of an abrupt change from the first one. There's a much different sound to this album. More non-classical songs and Pop. There's much more variation in this album as well. It's not quite as powerful as the first one, but still good in its own right.

Rating: 7.5

http://www.kannoyoko.net/

All ratings are out of 10. Rating may not be a whole number.

Yoko Kanno - Macross Plus Original Soundtrack [1990]

There's no point to this review. Flawless soundtrack from start to finish. So much emotion is conveyed in the arrangements that the Animé doesn't even need to exist for this to be amazing. Beautiful, energetic, tense, and extremely organic. While it may not be the most ground-breaking songwriting in the world, there are more than enough blends to satisfy me.

Rating: 9

http://www.kannoyoko.net/

All ratings are out of 10. Rating may not be a whole number.