Otakuism

Another week, more music. Hataraki Man OP and NHK’s second OST reviews this time.

Hataraki Man’s OP is Hataraku Otoko by Puffy. In my opinion it’s a wonderful rock song, and another great song from this excellent music season. It’s a quirky song that fits Hataraki perfectly. Anyone who’s seen the subs knows the lyrics are an ode to the plights of the working woman. I really like Puffy’s voice. It’s very real sounding (unlike certain Jpop songs I’ve heard). Also included on the single are two other songs, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds and Don’t Bring me Down (Bruce!). Yes the later one is a cover of the awesome ELO song. Mad props for it being sung in fluent english. Same thing for Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (the english part, not the ELO part). It’s a nice alt-rock ballad. Reccomend this as another great OP release from this season.

Next is the second NHK OST Sunny Side ni Youkoso. Kind of odd for me to be reviewing this since I stopped watching NHK at ep. 12, but the first OST was so good I had to try it. Fortunately it met my expectations. Much like the first OST there’s an eclectic mix of styles, with rock, jazz, blues, pop, and other really random stuff. There’s at least one track you’ll like. Some of the stuff is new, while other pieces are remixes of old stuff. All really good though. And for good measure there’s the full pururin release (though I had that for download a month ago). Even if I don’t the the anime series that much, the music is always awesome. Pearl Kyodai has delivered another great soundtrack.

Favorite Tracks:
Modokashii Sekai no Ue de -piano ver.- nice piano instrumental obviously.
Nippon Bikikomori Kyoukai no Theme - Official theme for the NHK. Awesome hard rock track. Reminds me of Yakitake Japan for some reason.
Gosui ni Tarasu Tsuri Ito - slow remix of an old track. Feels very sad to me.
Fushigi Purupuru Pururin Rin! - Nothing to say here.
Happiness ni Youkoso! - Nice ballad between Otsuki Kenji and the seiyuu for Misaki.
Other releases this week (there’s a lot).

Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto ED Single - Ai no Tsurugi [TAKAKO AND THE CRAZY BOYS]
Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto OP Single - Kouya Ruten [FictionJunction YUUKA]
Black Blood Brothers OST
Busuo Renkin OP - Makka na Chikai [Fukuyama Yoshiki]
Chevelier OST
Galaxy Angel 2 Character CD Vol. 4 - Kahlua (Tequila) Marjoram [Hirano Aya et al]
Galaxy Angel 2 Character CD Vol. 5 - Lily C. Sherbert [Nakayama Erina et al]
Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex Solid State Society OST
Gift ~eternal rainbow~ ED Single - Kokoro Niji wo Kakete [Fujiya Misato]
Sumomo mo Momo mo ED Single - No Rock No Life [HoneyBee]
The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi SOS Dan Radio Shibu OP ED Single [Hirano Aya & Chihara Minori & Goto Yuko]
Yoake Mae Yori Ruriiro na Crescent Love ED Single - Crescent Love ~Tsuki no Namida~ [Nabatame Hitomi]
BLEACH Movie - MEMORIES OF NOBODY Main Theme Single - Sen no Yoru wo Koete [Aqua Timez]
Jyukai - Wild Flower
Happiness OST
Gintama ED3 Single - Yuki no Tsubasa [redballoon]
La Corda d’Oro ~primo passo~ OP Single - Brand New Breeze [Kanon]
Mamoru-kun ni Megami no Shukufuku wo! ED Single - Venus Dream [Satou Hiromi]
Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge OP Single - slow [Kiyoharu]
Gundam SEED~SEED DESTINY BEST ‘THE BRIDGE’ Across the Songs from GUNDAM SEED & GUNDAM SEED DESTINY
Yu-Gi-Oh! GX OP3 - Teardrop Karappo no Ryoute ni [BOWL]

As usual you can get all these releases and more at Nipponsei.