Search - Various Artists :: Samurai Champloo Music Record 2: Playlist

Video game music and leftovers

The Delite Rancher | Phoenix, Arizona | 10/07/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

""Playlist" is one of four Samurai Champloo soundtracks. Given the eclectic nature of the music, an exact genre or musical style is difficult to pin down. "Playlist" is a combination of instrumental music that combines jazz, dance, ambient and hip-hop esthetics. A significant issue with this album is that a good percentage of tracks sound like old skool video game music. Video game music fits video games, but the synthetic sound doesn't translate so well to CD. I suppose that there's a place for it in the world, but it caters to a very specific mind-frame. The songs that aren't inspired by video games just aren't that compelling. "Playlist" seems like a collection of leftovers that weren't good enough to make it onto the other three releases. While "Playlist" has issues, the true low is 'Fly,' a vocal track with flavors of Japanese hip-hop and pop. On the plus side, this effort features one sparkler. The first song is 'Thank You,' one the deepest and most beautiful pieces of music this listener has heard in a long time. It's easily one of the highlights in the series. Comparing "Playlist" with the other four Japanese soundtracks, I'd put it in last place. I'd rank them all in the following order: 1) "Departure," 2) "Impression," 3) "Masta" and 4) "Playlist." Samurai Champloo completists should make "Playlist" their final acquisition."