Customer Reviews

Akira: Original Soundtrack

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The question is not whether you should own the soundtrack to the film -- the answer to that is a resounding YES. The question is, "Why would you purchase the import?"
I bought both the import and the domestic version to make sure that I wasn't missing out on something; the import - at least the edition that I just got from an Amazon seller - lacks the same booklet that comes with the domestic version. The domestic version includes several pages explaining the music behind the motion:

1) "The movie AKIRA and the background music the AKIRA OS," written by Katsuhiro Otomo, the director of the film.

2) "The path to producing the AKIRA Original Soundtrack."

3) "A few words on the music," which is more than a few words; it explains the culture behind the music of each track, and how this also fits in with the images on the screen.

4) "The Synopsis of Akira"

5) "Profile of the Yamashirogumi" -- about the voices that make this unlike any other OS.

The domestic version is also cheaper, so this decision is a no-brainer. The sound quality is equal in either release.
While it may be true that the opening track is probably the best (the masterpiece of the soundtrack), those who call this CD "half-good" need to open their minds up a little wider.

Hoo boy. How do you review a CD like this? It's the kind of thing that you force every friend you have to listen to, hoping that they'll become just as addicted as you (usually they don't). Here's the review, track by track... Kaneda is a fun little percussion-and-choir piece, somewhat similar to a synthed-up KODO. Battle Against Clown is a mix of some VERY unusual vocal work and the Kaneda theme. Winds Over Neo-Tokyo is probably the worst track... think of a synth version of "landscape" music. Tetsuo is scary, and easily one of the best and most varied tracks. Doll's Polyphony sounds bloody awesome with headphones. Shohmyoh is a personal favorite of mine... it's a choral chanting piece in four movements with some synth thrown in, getting progressively more ominous. Mutation isn't quite as listenable as Tetsuo, but is scarier. EftUF is a fun guitar version of Kaneda. Illusion is a cool (if nearly unlistenable) Noh performance. Requiem is... beautiful. And sad. In short, pick up this CD so you can place it proudly beside that 5th Element soundtrack that everyone else hates.

Geinoh Yamashirogumi apparently have a reputation in their native Japan for being a highly creative musical and artistic force. This soundtrack album they produced for the groundbreaking animated equivalent of "Blade Runner," Katsuhiro Otomo's "AKIRA," is truly in a class by itself. COmbining traditional Japanese musical techniques and instrumentations with modern equipment and technology, Yamashirogumi manages to create a sound that is ethnic in origin, but also mesmerizing and appealing to the foreign ear. This music can not be classified into any genre other than its own.

The opening track "Kaneda" is an upbeat opener to the album, the song that both introduced us to the violent cityscape of Neo-Tokyo in the film and gave us the exit to which the world enters into a new surreal destiny. Something to dance to, full of power and emotion, and above all my favorite track on the album.

"Battle Against Crown" is one of the more unique pieces, filled with heavy breathing and a pounding rhythm that captures the violence of the film. "Winds over the Neo-Tokyo" is a nice soothing piece that brings a sense of peace amidst the anarchy.

"Tetsuo" is truly a symphony unto itself. A violent, dark epic that portrays the chaos of the title character and the situations that surround him. Truly a great piece of music.

"Doll's Polyphony" is nothing to speak of. Like "Winds over the Neo-Tokyo" only with more vocalization, and certainly very serial. "Shohmyoh" is an erratic series of chanting that leaves the listener both confused and hypnotized. "Mutation" begins as a continuation of "Shohmyoh," but ends on a peaceful note, almost indicating the calm before the storm.

"Exodus from the Underground Fortress" is my second favorite track. Like "Kaneda," this is a very upbeat and danceable song with a screeching guitar that gives the exciting sensation of a battle in progress and the franticness of attempted escape. "Illusion" is probably the most out-of-place track. It begins as a newage synthesizer backdrop that makes good background music for a dream, but becomes a Japanese Noh theater piece that has seemingly little to do with either the film or the rest of the album.

Finally, "Requiem," a piece that captures all of the emotions and energy of the album and the film, and ending with a sad, but peaceful note that brings an excellent close to the album.

The music captures the film flawlessly. Reminiscent of Vangelis' score for "Blade Runner," this is truly an album for the ages. One of the great soundtrack albums of all time.

me and my friend are huge fans of this movie. on occassion we plan events with lots of people in it and sing(breath) along with the music and do so after it is over(for a few days) it is insanly sweet. you gotta be into different stuff to like this music and by diferent i don't mean along the lines of radiohead i mean ravenous soundtrack different

Excellent OST of the Masterpiece AKIRA, Starting with Kaneda and ending with requirem, Hard to Soft music seperated by 10 tracks.

With the use of some techo, drums and Bamboo instruments this cd contains Genious music for the Genious AKIRA.

One of the best tracks in this cd is Tetsuo, Doll`s Plyphony and The Great ending music, Requiem.

I'm a big anime fan, and I loved the Akira soundtrack. When I found it here at Amazon for just $14, and shipping in 24 hours, I was overjoyed! Although I wasn't as happy then as when I actually received the album in the mail, and listened to it. WOW! All the songs are so unique. Kind of a japanese techno, with a little bit of symphony type stuff in there. It almost can't be explained. I agree with another reviewer when he was talking about how most things to do with Akira are very hard to find, and it's true! I don't actually have a copy of Akira myself, but my brother bought his back in 1996, and they were all over the place. Now I guess they've stopped making them, and they're very hard to find. I do think it should be released on DVD--I'd definitely buy it! Anyway, more about the soundtrack... There is a certain quality on this soundtrack that I've found on only a few other music CD's ever. It has variety, and is extremely unique. I urge everyone to listen to the samples, and if you like those, buy the CD expecting a lot more! Also great for anyone who enjoyed the movie.

I bought this album in 1994, when I was in 7th grade. When it was the most impossible thing to find. I can't really explain in words what this soundtrack means to me and how good it is artistically. Akira was my life from about 6th to 9th grade. It just filled me with such ideas. Every time I listen to this it brings back such nostalgia that I have to turn it off and do something else. That said, is anyone else frustrated that almost everything AKIRA is hard to get? The brilliant graphic novels, the MOVIE ITSELF! I wish it would come out on DVD and I'm sure a LOT of other people would. Lets start a petition!

This is one of the most interesting and intriguing CD's in existence, let alone that you well ever listen to. It is captivating, energetic, emotional, and in many ways spiritual. If you loved the movie Akira, you NEED this CD. Even if you haven't seen this movie, if you have an open mind and an eclectic taste in music, this is something you absolutely need to listen to at least once.

I am certain that a lot of people will (after the first hearing) fall in love with this CD and listen to it over and over again. It is a fabulous collection of music from a wonderful group. It is unfortunate that this is the only CD from Geinoh Yamashirogumi that is easily obtainable in the US.

This is one of the weirdest and most beautiful soundtracks I've encountered. A really staggering amount of the music on this disc, perhaps as much as 80% of it, isn't even used in the film, but that doesn't mean it's one of those dumb "Music inspired by the motion picture" fake soundtracks. This is more like a collection of musical works, each with a different style and flavor, from which brief excerpts have been taken and inserted into the movie. The track "Tetsuo," for instance, includes the "DA DA" chanting that occurs whenever Tetsuo does something really awful with his powers, but the majority of the ten-minute composition consists of soft chime percussion like when the scientist and the colonel look at the animation of Tetsuo's brainwaves. I realize how awful a ten-minute piece consisting of bell chimes and people yelling "DA DA" must sound, and indeed it takes a bit of patience to get used to this kind of music, but once you understand it you'll realize how perfectly it suits the film. Many of the pieces, "Requiem" in particular, are so varied and strange and wonderful that you could find a way to work it into almost any movie, but somehow they just work for Akira better than anything else would have. I really wouldn't have thought it possible to capture the excitement, anger, and tragedy of a movie like Akira on a music CD, but that's precisely what this disc does. Once you get used to it, you'll come back to it again and again.

I first saw Akira in college, and was immediately blown away. Shortly afterward, I went to Napster and downloaded the entire Soundtrack. This was back in 1998. Akira was the first CD I bought after using Napster, I shortly saw it at a local used CD store for 13 bucks. I listen to it occasionally and I'm always amazed. "Tetsuo", "Requiem", "Kaneda", "Illusion", and "Shohmyoh" are my top 5 favorite tracks, although I enjoy the entire soundtrack. The music is just amazing in texture, depth and some places are emotionally stirring, evoking sadness and tears. "Requiem" is among the most moving music I've ever heard. The Soundtrack stands by itself as great music, even if only from a Movie. The music still stays in my memory years after first hearing it, even during a recent re-read of the Akria Manga, I could hear the Soundtrack playing in my mind, even if not currently playing on my Stereo, or even with it off. Highly recommended to fans of the Akira Anime and Manga, collectors of Soundtracks, listeners of Japanese Music, and students and instructors of Music.