A nice collection for my favorite FF game
J. Lee | Sunnyvale, CA | 12/09/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"First off, the Amazon track listing is incorrect. This album contains 13 tracks:
1. Tifa's Theme
2. Main Theme
3. Cinco de Chocobo
4. Ahead on our way
5. Fight Music
6. Cosmo Canyon
7. Gold Saucer
8. Farm boy
9. Rufus' Welcoming Ceremony
10. J-E-N-O-V-A
11. Aeris' Theme
12. One Winged Angel
13. Descendant of Shinobi
The album, as its title suggests, contains piano arrangements of all of these tracks which were present in the Final Fantasy VII game. Many are played at a slightly slower pace, and the tracks only contain piano, no other instruments.
As a result, some of the tracks really change either their sound or their impact. Others are very fitting for a piano, like Aeris' Theme.
Overall, this is an interesting collection. Chances are, if you're willing to shell out $40 for one CD, my opinion probably doesn't matter to you. I'd recommend other Nobuo Uematsu or Yasunori Mitsuda works before this one for the average person, but if you can't get enough FFVII music, this is a good addition to your collection."
Well, really it's about three-and-a-half
Andrew Jensen | Moses Lake, WA USA | 04/14/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I hadn't bought any Final Fantasy music for a fair while, and had been contemplating buying this. Eventually, I came through and bought it. It turned out so-so. It has only thirteen tracks, and the total time is not as impressive as it could be. These thirteen tracks contain some very impressive, excellent FFVII material, but then there are the drawbacks.
Tracks 4 and 8 are utterly dull, and so were their originals. I think these should have been left out of this collection, and substituted with such songs as the "Opening/Bombing Mission" or "Those Who Fight Further."
That aside, these are usually very enjoyable pieces. Sometimes they don't retain enough of the original song, as is the case with "J-E-N-O-V-A," but I don't count this as much.
The main piece a lot of people probably wonder about is "One-Winged Angel." Well, it still dominates! It is played at a rather slow tempo, which leaves one wondering what it's like at full speed, but it is still grandioso and evil, especially at the end. It sounds almost like a full orchestea and choir with its power and malevolence!
This collection is worth what it costs, but it certainly has drawbacks. I would still recommend buying it as a Final Fantasy devotee."
Amazingly Arranged, Played Like a Robot
C. Houvener | Seattle, WA | 12/07/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The FF7 Piano Collections are amazingly arranged! There is so much subtlety to them - it's really amazing how much of the originals come through in the piano, plus a bit.
However, many of the songs sound like a computer is playing them. The arrangements may be incredible, but the playing is dull and mechanical. Two that stand out are Ahead On Our Way and One Winged Angel (which is also played slowly - much of the energy is lost).
The disk is still lovely and I'm very appreciative for the arrangements that came out of this which OTHER more interpretive, emotional, or talented pianists have taken up and recorded (although often with poor audio quality) Sigh. Nothing's perfect."
Track Listings (2) - Disc #1