This week I take a look at a few game singles coming out, namely the Op’s and Ed’s for both the new Mai-Otome and ARIA games, and the song everyone wants, Mysterous Girl Purupuru Pururin. Keep in mind that my music tastes are weird and varied, and these reviews are hardly objective.

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First up is the new PS2 Mai-Otome Op and Ed single release. The opening is Valkyrja (god bless engrish. I mean where the hell did they get the J from?) by Yousei Teikoku, and the ending is Michibiki no Ao, also by Yousei. First Valkyrja. This is one those vaguely operatic epic techno tracks that I have to love, as it’s rare to find good orchestral techno. At first I thought it sounded like an Ali Project rip-off, only better than Ali Project as the vocals aren’t as grating. Then I realized that Yousei also did a couple of insert songs for the Mai-hime game, Fortuna and Last Moment, both of which also kicked much ass, cementing my love for this song. Coincidently Ali Project did the Op for that game, Ashura Hime. This song is also pretty long for an Op, clocking in at 6:33. The Ed is a slightly slower paced piece which feels a lot like Valkyrja, as they both have the whole techno qualities, though Michibiki no Ao ends up feeling more generic than the unique Valkyrja (it also vaguely reminds me of one of the Shana openings). Still both are good singles for Mai-Otome fans to add to their collection. I still wonder why such a shitty show as Otome gets such great music. Also I just realized that Yousei Teikoku is one hot pop singer.

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Goth-loli Yousei Teikoku

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Next is the new ARIA’s game Op and Ed’s (I’m still surprised ARIA has gotten so popular as to get a game) Blue Blue Wave and Sono Chiisana Chiisana Hohoemi de, both by Kaori. First of all I have to say I find these songs boring as hell. These song’s feel like the genericist of generic J-pop. I don’t see why they couldn’t get Makino Yui to do another ethereally beautiful song or Round Table one of their catchy pop tracks. Compared to all the other great music ARIA has put out these songs feel terribly out of place to me. Even on their own I don’t think their any good. Maybe more hardcore ARIA fans will disagree with me (*cough Impz cough*) but these songs are only for completionist who needs to hear every ARIA song ever.

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Now for a couple of special treats. First about everybody and their mother have been clamoring for a Pururin single since NHK came out, and if you weren’t on 4chan this week you may have not seen it yet. I have no idea where it was released but the Pururin single has been circulating for awhile now on 4chan and I wanted to give my readers who choose not to visit that darker abyss of the internet a chance to hear it, so I’ve uploaded it at megaupload here (limited time only). Needless to say the song’s still catchy as hell and great to just loop for hours.

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Second I downloaded the Demonbane OST recently, purely to get one song. Anyone who stayed with Demonbane long enough should remember the insanely awesome insert song around ep. 8 I think. Also as a gift to my readers I’ve uploaded it at megaupload here. The song is In Cry of Vengeance by Ono Masatoshi and is a fucking amazing rock track. Also amazing is the whole thing is in almost flawless english, bar some weird phrasing here and there. Ok I’ll end by Demonbane fanboying now.

Other releases this week from Nipponsei are:

Demashitaa! Powerpuff Girls Z OP Single - Kibou no Kakera [Kitade Nana]
Hanoka OP Single - Dual Love on the Planet ~Hanoka~ [Nogawa Sakura]
Zegapain Original Soundtrack 2
Galaxy Angel 2 Character CD Vol. 1 - Apricot Sakurabe [Inamura Yuna et al]
Galaxy Angel 2 Character CD Vol. 2 - Anise Azeat [Hanamura Satomi et al]
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Original Soundtrack Vol. 2
The Third ~Aoi Hitomi no Shoujo~ ED2 Single - Late Show [Chou Hikou Shounen]

Now I’m off to watch me some deliciously sad girls in snow Kanon.