Innocence: Ghost in the Shell 2 [Import, Soundtrack]

Kenji Kawai (Artist), Kimiko Itoh (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 15, 2004)
• Original Release Date: 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Soundtrack
• Label: Jvc Victor
• ASIN: B000197M56
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109,171 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Dungeon

2. The Ballade of Puppets: Flowers Grieve and Fall

3. Type 2052 Hadaly

4. River Of Crystals

5. Attack Of The Wakabayashi

6. Etorofu

7. The Ballade of Puppets: In a New World Gods Will Descend

8. Doll House 1

9. Doll House 2

10. The Ballade of Puppets: The Ghost Awaits in the World Beyond

11. Toh Kami Emi Tame

12. Follow Me

Editorial Reviews

Brand New and manufacture sealed. First class shipping from New York. Customer satisfaction is guaranteed.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An enchanting album, October 21, 2004

By 

Erica Anderson (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Innocence: Ghost in the Shell 2 (Audio CD)

I recently caught an exclusive showing of "Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence" at my local art house theater. I hadn't seen the original "Ghost in the Shell" movie. I saw the sequel after seeing the trailer for it and the incredible manga animation made me want to see it. I immediately loved "Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence". I bought the dvd of the first film which I loved. To be honest I thought the animation in the sequel was even better. The film was confusing at times but I pretty understood what was happening overall. Very engaging film to watch. I especially loved the music, namely the Japanese vocal tracks which just sent chills down my spine while I watched the film. I also enjoyed the pop standards that were sung in english "River of Crystals" and especially "Follow Me" which closes out the movie. Kimiko Itoh who sings on both songs has a lovely voice. She almost reminded me of Diana Krall on "River of Crystals". "The Dollhouse I" and "II" were riveting. Just listening to the songs takes me back to the movie when Batou and his new partner were investigating the source of the murders by various cyborgs created as sexual play toys. My only issue with the cd is that it isn't released here in the stateside and I had to pay and arm and a leg for the cd but in the end, it was worth the money. The music is just as incredible as the film was.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fitting music for the sequel ..., December 31, 2005

By 

Enrique M. Alvarez (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Innocence: Ghost in the Shell 2 (Audio CD)

Dark, ethereal, and evolutionary, Kenji Kawai serves up a signature aural landscape for the sequel to Ghost in the Shell (GITS). For "Innocence" he reassembles many of the elements that made his original GITS soundtrack so unique: taiko percussion, female Japanese chorus, brooding electronica, while adding two original western Jazz-oriented tracks sung in English: "River of Crystals" and "Follow Me."

With a nod to twentieth century classical music, "Follow Me" takes its motif from the second movement of Joaquin Rodrigro's "Concierto de Aranjuez" for guitar and orchestra. Usually, this sort of practice is disastrous but Kawai's arrangement and Kimiko Itoh's lush vocals make it work here.

In a departure from the original GITS soundtrack, Kawai includes several high-energy tracks which make use of percussion and electronic riffs ("Attack the Wakabayashi") along with more dark, familiar brooding tracks such as "Etorofu."

However it is on track #9, "Ballad of Puppets: The Ghost Waits in the World Beyond" that Kawai masterfully blends all his signature elements: female chorus, high energy taiko percussion, smart electronic riffs. During the movie, this track plays while Section 9 Operative Batou assaults the Gynoid Factory Ship. Kawai culminates the track by weaving in a choral theme from the original GITS Soundtrack associated with Major Motoko Kusanagi -- Batou's long lost partner. Highly recommended!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kenji Kawai rocks the Innocence, November 27, 2004

By 

Denzil N. Brown (N.Y. USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Innocence: Ghost in the Shell 2 (Audio CD)

Track two of this soundtrack is what grabbed me in the movie. I've searched for the cd in the states for a long time now and finally found it online. This soundtrack rocks. The music is very dark, wondefully composed and engages you with powerful peace and momentum. Both the english and japanese soundtracks are amazing and even the cd cover is just wonderfully designed. I'm very happy to finally have this cd in my posession. Kenji Kawai just did an absolutely great job on this soundtrack.