Customer Reviews

Final Fantasy: The Hollywood Symphony Orchestra and Chorus Perform The Music of Nobuo Uematsu

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

Unlike most other items I've bought from Amazon, I failed to read the reviews for this particular CD before purchasing. Being a fan of the Final Fantasy series, I think I fell into a bit of the "fanboy" (well in my case, "fangirl" I guess) syndrome. Also I didn't do my homework at all and thought this was an orchestrated recording, which it most certainly is not.

I own most of the Final Fantasy OST's (and heartily endorse them for fans of the games) and this particular CD does nothing new or compelling to the music. Tracks 1-7 are pretty much carbon copies of their OST counterparts. Track 8, the opening theme of FFVIII (Liberi Fatali) has a very odd synth-solo vocal mix covering what is in the original a very moving choral section. Tracks 9-11 again are basically copies of the OST. Track 12, "Alexandria (Vivi's Theme)" is the only somewhat-original track, as it seems to put together several pieces from the FFIX soundtrack in a medley of sorts.

Unless you are a rabid fan who must have everything FF, I recommend saving up and purchasing the real OST's instead of this disc. While I don't see non-fans flocking to purchase this disc, it might be worthwile if you're only slightly interested in the series and want a taste. Even in that event I'd be worried this disc would turn those people off from the series entirely.

Pros:
Cheap (I paid $6, new)
Track 12 is worth a listen

Cons:
Tracks 1-7, 9-11 offer nothing much new or different
Track 8 has creepy (in a bad way) synth/voice mixes

I saw this title in a local music store this morning. "Music Inspired by Final Fantasy," it said. "The Hollywood Symhony Orchestra and Chorus Perform the Music of Nobuo Uematsu," it said.
Apparently, the Hollywood Sympony Orchestra lives in the computer of some 15 year old MIDI music enthusiast.
That's right, it's a CD full of worthless computer-generated MIDI music. It's not even decent MIDI music.
It's an insult to fans of the Final Fantasy series and Nobuo Uematsu's great compositions. This is music that would sound better coming out of a 6 year old Soundblaster 16 on somebody's decrepit 486. The instruments are poorly sampled and the "chorus" is laughable with its single syllable. That's right, "Liberi Fatali" no longer consists of the chorus of "Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec," it is now "wwooooohhh oohhhhh. . . wwoooohhh oohhhh. . ."
Pathetic.
I have been a long time fan of the series and of Nobuo Uematsu's work. His game compositions and orchestrated (with a real orchestra, mind you) renditions are stunning. . . but this CD outright enrages me. Whoever dreamed this CD up should be ashamed for taking advantage of fans with this worthless music and for having the gall to include Mr. Uematsu's name so prominently on the front.
At least they had the courtesy to free him of blame - the back of the jewel case states, "THIS RECORDING IS NEITHER SPONSORED NOR ENDORSED BY THE ORIGINAL ARTISTS OR OWNERS."

It's a good thing they didn't endorse it.

I'm not sure how the makers of this CD got away with claiming that this music was performed by the Hollywood Symphony "Orchestra" and "Chorus." In reality, what this package presents as an orchestra is merely a collection of synthesized/sampled instruments playing a smattering of tracks from the series in a not-so-musical way.

Not all of the tracks are horrible, mind you; apart from the Final Fantasy VIII tracks (8-11), most of the songs on this disc are worth a listen. The problem is that this CD feels more like an emulation than an elaboration. Lacking both live instruments and any truly inspired arrangements, it fails to deliver anything beyond the original music.

It's cheap price is it's one saving feature. For avid fans, it's worth checking out. Just don't expect anything beyond what you're paying for.

Wow.

Hollywood Symphony Orchestra MY BEHIND!!

This was the crappiest 4 bucks I've ever spent... Immediately after reading the following from the back of the CD...

"Earth has been decimated by a meteor... The beautiful and capable Dr. Aki Ross is Earth's last hope against extinction. This new recording, featuring the world-renowned Nobuo Uematsu, captures the excitement and drama of this popular videogame-turned blockbuster movie."

a few things...
1) to the right of the above paragraph was this message: "THIS RECORDING IS NEITHER SPONSORED OR ENDORSED BY THE ORIGINAL ARTISTS OR OWNERS."
2) The writer for the CD cover has clearly not ever played any of the FF games--he fails to notice that any of the FF games are continuations.
3) The FF film was not "a blockbuster movie".

Look, if you want to have better covers of Final Fanatsy music, scrounge around in
ocremix.org or vgmix.com

Amateurish digital instrumentation, completely craptastic. I'd give it zero stars, but that wasn't an option...

Here is the biggest question: Is the Hollywood Symphony and Orchestra a fancy way of telling any listener that the majority of the CD is synthesized? Don't get me wrong, some tracks are well produced. Each theme, FF VI and FFVII, are composed well with various strings and brass parts that actually sound like brass instruments. However, to those who have experienced the games time and time again, the quality of most of these tracks remain quite similar in quality, or of worse quality, to the games themselves. Of course set aside FFVI's portion, the SNES is unable to contain a MIDI track that complex; hope you caught on to that joke. Congrats to Uematsu for composing the pieces that had been attempted to be recorded on to this CD. Well, look at it this way, I paid seven bucks for this from a friend and I think I got ripped off.

You Want A Good FF Representation, or just Uematsu? Look For:
Any of the Imported Soundtracks
FFVIII Piano Collections
Chrono Trigger Soundtrack- also done with Mitsuda

I purchased this cd thinking that I would be getting another interpretation of the FF concert series which went through the US these past couple of years. Boy was I wrong.

The music on this cd was nothing like what Final Fantasy fans have come to know and love. I am still trying to figure out how this cd ever got made since it is absolute crap. What makes me most curious is that the cd has a paragraph saying "This Recording is Neither Sponsored or Endoresed by the Orignal Arists or Owners." It is a good thing that the artists and owners are not connecting themselves with the cd, but someone still had to give the permission for this cd to be released. Honestly, do not buy this cd unless you must have every cd ever made with the name Final Fantasy on it.

FYI, regarding Track 12, this was orignally from a fan-based cd release called "Project Majestic Mix." I'm not sure how a song from the PMM cd became a part of this album, but its about the only good thing here.

This is positively awful. The first track is bearable, the rest is horrendous (can't comment on track 12, my copy is older and doesn't have it). The "instruments" aren't even properly blended. I use quotes because it sounds totally synthesized. Symphonic Suite, Grand Finale, Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec, these are the albums you should look for if you want to hear orchestral Final Fantasy.

i thought that i had found something good...when i listened to it i discovered it wasn't even worth that! most of the songs sound exactly like they did on the game (which is okay, if tahts what you want) or worse. In liberi fatali they didn't even sing the words, it just sounded like they used the chorus sound on an electric keyboard. there was hardly any time in the whole CD taht i actually thought a whole orchestra was playing this. the only good track was the last one, ViVi's theme. well, if you can get this CD for less than $[money]then if you have nothing better to do with your money, buy this. but i suggest you save up and buy another, better final fantasy CD.

These people "MajesticMix" or whatnot, need to be arrested under the charges of false advertisment, false identity, and for just plain sucking. Seriously, all they are doing with this CD is using the Final Fantasy name to make money. I could make better music with my Yamaha PSR 170 and a tape recorder. The so-called "Hollywood Symphony Orchestra" is nothing but a single guy sitting in his room with a synthesizer. This, and all of "Majestic Mix" people's works are a disgrace to Squaresoft. Seriously, I think Squaresoft should look into this and file a lawsuit or something.

Pitiful. This CD is pitiful. I saw this in the store and I was freaking out at it, especially for the low pricing on such great music. After I got it, I was extremely disappointed. This is mostly MIDI music, or so it sounds. The Hollywood Spoonplayers apparently can't interpret music. The only good tracks are the overworld theme for FF7 (which, I might mention, it does not play the complete song), Vivi's Theme (cause it has the TINIEST bit of spunk), and..... Well, that's actually it. Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinnosec has been transformed into a choirless woo wooing noise. DO NOT BUY THIS!!!! BUY PRAY OR ONE OF THE GENERATION FF CDS!!!!!