Customer Reviews

Samurai X Ova

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I really, really like this cd. The music really accents the story and gets you really into it! My favorite songs on here are "One of these Nights"-the flute is so pretty, "Wars of the Last Wolves", and "Shades of Revolution"-the Battousai's Theme! Some great music. It's neat to close your eyes when you listen to it because you can remember the parts where the music was played. Kind of gets you excited and makes you want to watch it again! On the inside of the cover is a little information on the guy who composed the music, Taku Iwasaki, and he tells how he wanted the music to be like and what kinds of feelings he wanted to portray in it. Very interesting. A great cd to ad to any collection, and a great OVA too!!

Of course, all music is beyond words. It's a language in and of itself, so that goes without saying...but I needed a title, so yeah ;D

Right now I'm 20 years old. I bought this CD at a local Media Play when I was about 13; I was very, very into Rurouni Kenshin, and I was very excited to get this CD.

However, I wasn't expecting this. I had only seen the show, and was thinking it was going to have that "J-pop" music, more along the lines of "Heart Of Sword" and other songs I'd remembered and loved from the show.

I don't believe in coincidences. And thank God I found this album; it's been a continuous source of comfort, inspiration, and 'heart opening' and spiritual livelihood -- for lack of a better phrase -- for all these years.

I mentioned that little anecdote about not expecting this music because the fact that I'd never seen the OVA before hearing this soundtrack is relevant. At least I think so...in relation to the liner notes:

"Aside from the practices and duties of my profession, I really can't say that I like listening to Japanese movie or stage music all that much. If I do listen to a soundtrack and don't get anything out of it more than a vicarious experience of the original, then I don't think I should be listening to the music at all. The scenes in a film establish an image clearly, and music works in a far more vague fashion. Along the lines of the old saying 'A picture is worth a thousand words,' hearing something requires much more imagination than just seeing something. Therefore, since it lacks the concrete reality of a visual image, it becomes very easy to subordinate the music to the pictures.

This is generally known as music 'that goes with something.' When I listen to music that is just a slave to a corresponding image, I get the feeling that doing so is indulging in a form of mental masturbation and I don't get much enjoyment out of it.

With that said, I wanted this score to be both connected and unconnected to the scenes. While it would by necessity be bound to the story and scenes in a somewhat mechanical fashion at points, I refused to let it all revolve around the bland surface pleasantness of most scores and tried to weave threads of imagination between the images and the story. Not so much describing concentric circles of meaning as trying to give the feeling of the chaos of conflicting memories of the past with occasional flashes of light-heartedness. If people follow this awkward path to its end and are listening to the music with their hearts, I wonder if they'll excuse these little philosophical quibbles of mine?"

-Taku Iwasaki

I remember listening to this album; I had no images to attach to it, because I'd never seen the movie before hearing it. I remember at that point in time, I didn't even know what a soundtrack was. I didn't know it was music that "went with something." All I could do was listen.

I listened to this alone in my room all the time growing up. I have a history of relatively severe psychological problems, and I've always had trouble with friends and family, never quite feeling like I had the support I wanted, much less the support I needed. It's very lonely when you have no one to connect to and your emotional and tenderer sides are restricted to your own personal sphere. That can drag you down to 'hell on earth' pretty quickly, especially considering how devastating prolonged isolation can be.

This album has been my friend for all these years. Iwasaki's music here...well, I have to thank him. I would've lost my heart if it weren't for this music; I have listened to a LOT of music, but this album is so rife with emotion and tenderness -- many times, I thought that the more compassionate, open, and loving side of me had died, choosing hatred and resentment and hostility at a world full of malicious and abusive people over believing in the meaning of love and togetherness.

"Shades Of Revolution" captures hostility and inspiration in a single track. It's actually been therapeutic to me just to listen to it: first it vents all the rage and hostility, "letting the demons out," so to speak -- but without dragging that into an oblivion of negativity, it changes the pace into somewhat of a 'march' -- it's very inspiring, to say the least.

"In Memories" (both tracks) always make me feel slightly resigned and satisfyingly peaceful. I used to talk to the moon because of that track "Talk To The Moon"; I heard it, and that's what I did. I did that for a long time. The moon is great company. I'd have this album playing softly at night behind a locked door, and there the moon would be.

The tenderness of "Sound Of Snow Falling" is overwhelming. Talk about conflicting memories. This album, because of the quality and humanity of the music as well as my own personal memories attached to it, remind me of a lot of extremely painful events in my life -- but events that move me.

And the music moves me; and I would rather have my heart open and bleeding with humanity than closed and protected and full of coldness.

Maybe I'm biased, but I definitely think this is one of the best albums of all time. Words don't do it justice; and so I've learned a new reason for why I wrote that title!

I'd talk more at length about it, but I feel I've said enough -- rather, I've said all that words can suffice to say, which isn't much. And that's where music comes in.

P.S. Though I doubt Iwasaki or anyone who played on this album will ever read this, I'd like to thank all of them for being my friend for all this time. You never know who you're connecting with when you put your art out there; assuredly, nothing you put your heart and soul into ever goes to waste. I'm certain of this.

I love this soundtrack, the first track "in Memories" is a track that i can listen to over and over again. There is something about the part in the first track where at exactly 2mins 49 secs into it this "trumpet like sound" comes in and the mood of it is great. I love this music it clears my head. Please support the artist.

This is the type of music that has that depressed yet it has the 'blood rush' feeling...

When I first heard the OVA cd was at my friend's house. She told me it was really good so I listened. And boy..was it good. (I already seen the TV version but not the OVA yet :P) At first I listened to track 1 and that was REALLY GOOD! And after I listened to the whole thing I told my friend, that this was true music.

It gave depth, sorrow, and anticipation. And it made me wanna watch it too! But the REALLY REALLY good tracks are: 1,3,5,6, 13-16.

So if I were you..I would definatly get this. (Even if your not a fan :P)

After listening to this soundtrack, I was very impressed by it. The songs do a wonderful job capturing the mood of a scene. 'One of these Nights,' for example, has parts that perfectly convey a sense of urgency and anxiousness. (Parts of this song are used in other tracks as well.)

And then you have your beautiful, moving pieces. 'In Memories: A Boy Meets the Man' is a silently powerful piece that's also beautiful at the same time. 'In Memories: Ko-To-Wa-Ri' is yet another beautiful piece, and it's my favorite song on the CD, along with 'Wars of the Last Wolves,' which is a very exciting song.

This CD is definitely worth listening to! I highly recomnmend it if you're into orchestral music, especially since it stands alone very well outside of the movie. I had to listent to the album a couple times before I really started to appreciate it, but as soon as I began to like it, this soundtrack jumped right to the top of my favorites list. It also works well as background or homework music.

Taku Iwasaki, you're a genius.

This is the most amazing soundtrack I have ever heard. Its worth buying even if you arent a fan of Samurai X

This is one of the best CDs going with the anime show Rurouni Kenshin. My favorite tracks are Track 1- "The Boy Meets The Man", Track 5- "Day By Day", Track 9- "The Last War Of The Wolves", Track 14- "Shades of the Revolution", and Track 15- "KO-TO-WA-RI". I can't emphisize how good this CD is. Two words- BUY IT!!! ^-^x

This is one of the best CDs I own (and believe me I own lots of CDs)! My favorite tracks are number 9, "The Last War Of The Wolves" and number 14, "Shades Of The Revolution"- Battousai's theme! I can't empisize on how good this CD is! All I can say is two words, BUY IT!

The Rurouni Kenshin OVA (otherwise known as Samurai X) was one kickass movie, but it wouldn't have been as excellent without its beautiful soundtrack. Basically it is composed of orchestrated songs, with a couple that you will never forget. (one of my favorites is Last War of The Wolves)

I think that if you watch the OVA itself then listen to the soundtrack, you will enjoy it more because you are able to recall the scenes in which the music was played.

The Samurai X (whoever created that marketing name should be punished, it has nothing to realy do with the series)OVAs Trust/Betrayal soundtrack is excellent. Especailly if you've seen the series.

Each piece of music brings to mind a scene in the OVA. What's more, every track is beautiful on it's own. The beats and central tune is repeated in several tracks, but it doesn't detract but actually added to the soundtrack.

If you enjoyed the OVA, you'll want this.