Search - Shiro Sagisu :: Refrain of Evangelion

Refrain of Evangelion

Miles Prower | MD | 04/23/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Iloved this album! Not only does it have the berserker and romance tunes from the show, but it has songs and themes from "Death and Rebirth" and "End of Evangelion"! No Evangelion of sci-fi anime collector would be complete without this perfect anime album!"

A Nearly Flawless Single Disc Eva Retrospective

Suzanne | Oklahoma City, OK United States | 06/20/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If one were to put together a single disc collection for Eva, it's hard to imagine a better track-listing than this. This collection contains all of the most famous cuts from the series and film. Throw in a song (Everything You've Ever Dreamed) that, as far as I know, is not featured on any other US released Eva CD and this album represents quite a value.



However, like most collections, this one falls short of perfection, and I will list my series of complaints about this particular collection:



1. TV Edit Version of "A Cruel Angel's Thesis"



Eva's signature song - and still one of the best theme songs of all time - is here in its TV edited, 1:30 version rather than the full version. After hearing the full length version it's hard to go back to the edited one. So this is a major blow to the album for my tastes.



2. Sequencing



Track sequencing is a bit strange and almost illogical. I can see the Cello Suite opening the album (that works well), but to have Cruel Angel and Thanatos-If I Can't Be Yours stuck in the middle is weird. Then, the song that doesn't even close the film is 2nd to last (Komm Susser Todd) and the new track closes the album (which WAS a good choice IMO). Further, they tend to shove similar pieces together. All of the "action/drama" pieces (Decisive Battle, Angel Attack, The Beast) are at the beginning. The two "comical" pieces (Misato, Asuka Strikes) are in the middle. While the two more trance-like pieces (Mother is the First Other, Borderline Case) are both together.



To me, any collection is supposed to flow logically. This one doesn't. Again, it may bother others less than me.



3. Too much Fly Me to the Moon!



We don't need 3 versions of this song all jammed together. IMO, the original is still the best, and I tend to think Eva collections use alternative versions as filler, more or less.





Nonetheless this is a great collection for those just wanting a single disc of Eva's best moments. I'd also recommend the 10th Anniversary disc as it has the Director's Cut (full) version of Cruel Angel, as well as an overall superb collection of songs and re-mixes dedicated to NGE."