Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Exact, March 9, 2004
This is the exact same release as was released in Japan. The songs are fun to listen to and you remember them from the show (as all the instrumentals are played at one point or another.) If your looking for the English versions of the songs I wouldn't buy this and if you don't care overly for instrumentals I wouldn't buy it either. I liked it, its good for backround and relaxing music.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mostly heartfelt synth music from series, August 3, 2005
Part of the reason Fruits Basket (Furuba) became one of my favourite anime series was due to the music, both opening and ending theme songs and the instrumental music, done here by Seiji Muto and Jun Abe, billed here as Double Oats. It's the more heartwarming emotional stuff that really gets me and Memory For You, which is the standard soundtrack for Furuba.
Ritsuko Okazaki's heartmelting opening song, "For Fruits Basket" is present here in the TV-size version, as is "A Small Prayer," the ending theme. However, there is a brisk instrumental version of "FFB," the "In Waltz" version, which was used during the preview of the upcoming episodes on the DVD. If there is a constant melody in Furuba it's the series of "Memory" songs. The "For You" version is the most tearjerking with the swirling string synths and keyboard synths and piano, and was used when main character Tohru speaks to the portrait of her late mother on how she's doing and what delightful things she learned from the Sohma family whom she's staying with.
Slightly more uptempo is the "In Daily Life" version, featuring a flute, while the "On Vacation" is a brisk near-techno version. The "At Home" version is perhaps the simplest and quietest, done with a music box.
The resonant keyboard synths give off a mysterious yet reflective air in "Secret" and "Solitude," the latter which has a fiery electric guitar and fuzzy effects. "Both Styles" is a perky waltz type number also used in Yui Horie's Fruits Basket Corner segments, where she interviews her fellow voice actors. Airy synths come to play in "So Gorgeous" and "Forward Looking Attitude," which begins with some really right-hand keyboards
"On The Stage" is a sizzling and pulsating tense 80's hard-rock/metal guitar and keyboard number used when Kyo challenges his nemesis Yuki to a fight. Very energetic, I'll tell ya! Another high energy number is the brisk waltz-like "Going My Own Way," which might as well be retitled "Momiji's Theme," as it was frequently used whenever he appeared.
"I'm Drummer" is the ongoing and energetic drum solo used in certain segments of the programme. And the somewhat eclectic and amusing minimalist march "I'm Chin-Don-Ya" features a triangle, a Jew's Harp, a drum, and a cartoonish synth. A piccolo dominates in fingertapping melody "I'm `Fairy.'"
Other notable tracks include the Sousa-type martial rhythm of "A Hot-Blooded Man," used when the pompous class representative reprimands Momiji for wearing a girl's school uniform and Hatsuharu for having black and white hair. Speaking of Hatsuharu, "Black and White (normal)" is the lazy cool rock fuzz guitar theme used in his debut. The frantic rock rhythms of "Black and White (hard)" was used in his fight against Kyo.
In the episode where the precocious energetic Momiji invites Tohru to a hot spring, he sings a wacked out song about frogs and lizards entitled "Teru Teru Momiji." The instrumental version of the song is included here. And "Theme for the Landlady" refers to the traditional Japanese koto or shamisen number played at a relaxed normal pace for the normal, and then at an hyperactive adrenalized rate on the "So Hard" version. This was during the segment that she apologized so profusely, she could school the head waiter in Monty Python's "Dirty Fork sketch."
Another instrumental is the upbeat pop of "Mogeta's Theme," listened to by a child before the three members of the Prince Yuki fan club flee in terror from Hana-chan's house.
Both this and Four Seasons-Song For Ritsuko Okazaki are must-haves for Furuba fans, who will recognize certain pieces of music. All told, another superb anime soundtrack.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Pleasure to Listen To, July 22, 2006
A heartwarming, fun, at times heartbreaking, enchanting soundtrack. The music makes the show.
1.) For Fruits Basket-- Sung in Japanese (as it was when the show first aired), this song sets the mood for the show. Sweet, full of longing and dreams, yet sad and recalling the past, about moving on.
2.) Memory For You-- "Memory" is a major theme in Fruits Basket. If you want to be specific, it's Tohru's theme. Sweet yet perky, this song is overlaid with strings and tinkly synths.
3.) Secret-- I believe this song was played when Tohru first meets the Sohmas, but I am unsure. It has a questioning tone to it, mysterious and subdued. More synths.
4.) Solitude-- Similar to "Secret", but with electric guitar overlays and more synths, this song manages to be both subdued and yet not at the same time.
5.) Both Styles-- This is the music from the Japanese interviews with cast members from the DVDs. Cheery, fun, with mostly percussion sounds and a horn in the background, this song is silly. It just is.
6.) I'm "Drummer"-- Not sure where this song played in the series. Maybe I should watch their "wonderfullness" again. Anyway, as the title suggests, this entire track is nothing but drum beats and cymbals. Upbeat, but can be repetitious.
7.) Memory- In Daily Life--Frequently played at the opening of the show at the Sohma household, this song is the "Memory" theme played on a flute accompanied by a piano. Cute and perky.
8.) I'm On The Stage-- Enter Kyo, crashing through the ceiling. The music from his first "fight" with Yuki in the series, it's electric with guitars and drum. Upbeat with synthesized backgrounds, it's perfect battle scene music.
9.) I'm "Chin-Don-Ya"-- This is the music, I think, from when the Sohmas first transform in front of Tohru. I'm not sure. It can get pretty repetitious after hearing it a few times. Played on sounds that sound similar to bells or such.
10.) Going My Own Way-- Enter Momiji! This track is his theme song. It's fun and fantastic, and hearing it immediately conjures up images of the fun little rabbit in your mind.
11.) I'm "Fairy"--No idea where this song goes. It's played on a flute with strings and crystal synths in the background. Gets veeeery repetitious.
12.) Psycho-Doctor-- The theme for Hatori, and Kana story. Sweet, sorrowful, and wistful, this song is laden with string and piano in the background. Simply wonderful. Ear candy.
13.)Mysterious Family-- Hola, Akito. Just listening to this creepy song conjures up the fear Yuki feels for Akito, and the mystery and pain surrounding this unique family.
14.) Memory~ At Home-- Effectively communicates Yuki's personality. This is from the badminton scene. Soft, sad, played entirely on bell synths.
15.) Theme for the Landlady-- "Oriental" based. Very serene.
16.) Theme for the Landlady (hard)--This is played when Ritsu's mother and Ritsu go into "hyper apology mode". Makes you laugh every time.
17.) I'm "Hardworking Fellow"--Played when Tohru finds out Momiji is actually going to be in high school the following year, not middle school. This song needs no description. All I will say is that it makes me laugh and dance every time I hear it.
18.) Black-and-White (normal)--A hello to Hatsuharu, the punk on a bicycle. Slow rock.
19.) Black-and-White (hard)-- Hard rock, played when Haru and Kyo get into the fight and Haru goes black. Guitar all the way!
20.) Teru-Teru-Momiji-- The instrumental accompaniment to Momiji's song at the hot springs. If you remember the words, it'll make you laugh. If you don't...well, it's nice strings music anyway.
21.) Mogeta's Song (instrumental version)-- Remember when the girls from the Prince Yuki fan club go tearing out of Hana-chan's house, and that little kid watches them go? This is that song. The theme from the anime within the anime. Part rock, part soft rock.
22.) Memory~ On Vacation--- Upbeat song. Can't remember exactly when it was played. Bass guitar played majorly in the background, "memory" theme centered on strings.
23.) Hot-Blooded Man-- Remember when Momiji got berated by the Student Defense Force for wearing a girl's uniform and Haru for his hair color? This is the theme for the wondrous student council president. Effectively communicates the overbearing, glory-seeking personality.
24.) So Gorgeous!--"Momiji grown up and Yuki as a girl" theme. Makes you laugh if you know what it's from. Strings, entirely.
25.) Forward-Looking Attitude--I'm pretty sure this was played during and after Tohru brought Kyo back from the transformation scene. Mainly strings, with a piano playing quietly in the background, occasionally rising to the fore. Sweet, sad, and hopeful at the same time. Don't know how they managed that.
26.) Reason of Quibble-- I'm pretty sure this was played at the one scene where Kyo and Yuki were having an argument in front of the grocery store, but I'm not sure. Keyboard, bass, and drums in the background, not sure about the instrument in the fore. Laidback.
27.) "Fruits Basket" in Waltz--Often played at the end moments of the show at the Sohma house. Upbeat waltz, with a French air to it. Plenty of fun to listen to. I wish it had been longer.
28.) A Small Prayer (on air version)-- The thirty-second clip for the next show preview, and the end theme song. Need I say more? The theme is sung in Japanese, partially.
Overall, I love this album. I write to it, listen to it, drool over it, and love it. But buy it only if you loved the show. Otherwise, the fun bits will be lost on you.
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