Opinions on Pieces of Music - V2!

[Gonstead]

Here's an old topic I'm bringing back from the dead!

State your opinions on the piece of Dragon Ball music designated by the above poster.

Here's the starter - M1314

[jpdbzrulz4sure]

Cool, I loved that old thread.

As for the piece, definitely one of my favorite menacing tracks in DBZ. It's awesome in its original context (10 billion Coolas ), but I tend to associate it more with Cell, as it's played in so many of his scenes, and just works so well with him.

Next up: M1710 (the first piece in the video). It's actually the one I left on my last post in the original thread.

[SSj_Rambo]

Quite the lullaby! I love this slower version of this song, reminds me of an old lowered-tempo Dan Dan remix I was a huge fan of way back when.

Next up: M424 A song I have raved about for years, and my favorite true BGM piece, and arguably the most epic of the entire show.

[Shiyonasan]

SSj_Rambo, I have always loved that track. It has always reminded me of Carmina Burana. Very fitting for the death of Piccolo in the Saiyan arc and the death of Vegeta in the Freeza arc. Very dramatic and melancholy. It just might be the most epic soundtrack of the entire show.

Next up: Grand Finale ~Mysterious Power~. Definitely a different kind of track by Dragon Ball standards.

[jpdbzrulz4sure]

Yes, very different by DB's standards, but very dramatic and epic, with a lot of emotion, and it just worked so well when Goku obliterated Black after watching him destroy #8 in DB movie 4.

Next up: M1413, Vegeta's theme from DBZ movie 7.

[Lord Exor]

Interesting piece, although its particular usage of brass instruments makes it sound like the score of an old Hanna-Barbera cartoon. I don't know what it is about Kikuchi's music that makes it sound dated to me, but I'm fairly sure it has a lot to do with the arrangements. The uneven pitch on that guitar may also contribute.

Next up: The Makyo Star Always enjoyed this one.

[penguintruth]

At the beginning, it sounds like the score to a low-budget 80s action film where the hero is a loose cannon and his partner is killed one day before retirement and he's out for brutal revenge. And towards the end it sounds like the music of a straight-to-video Matrix ripoff. The very, very beginning has a nice build-up at least.

I don't know what it is about Faulconer's score that makes it seem like an insincere echo of bad action films scores. Must be the arrangements. The annoying pumping of electronic sounds doesn't help.

M1613 is a favorite of mine.

[jpdbzrulz4sure]

I like this one. Very menacing and you can tell by listening to it that some shit's about to go down. Man, movie 9's score is definitely some of Kikuchi's best work for DBZ.

Next up: M928.

[Gonstead]

Has a very harmonic, innocent sound to it. My only problem with it is that it's too short for it's own good.

Here's some Mark Menza GT - Episode Recap Theme

[Lord Exor]

Not a bad piece of music overall. My primary criticism of Menza's music is that it's even less ostentatious than both Kikuchi and Johnson. His music is mostly rhythm-based as opposed to melodic, and the BGM is consequently devoid of both distinctiveness and character. There's nothing wrong with the arrangement or the use of live guitar; this music merely has no ambition. One positive point I can draw attention to is its intermittent similarity to Spencer Nilsen's score for Sonic CD at certain points.

Namek Theme

[jpdbzrulz4sure]

Not a bad piece. Has nice atmosphere and works pretty nicely in peaceful moments.

Next: M1016

[Shiyonasan]

Good piece. I like the harmony in that song. It's also very calming. A nice piece to relax too.

Next: M802

[jpdbzrulz4sure]

Another track I really like. Suspenseful, and works fantastically when used towards the end of an episode, though it's also cool in its original usage in DBZ movie 1.

Next: M801

[Lord Exor]

Lukewarm and tense. Perhaps suited to a scene involving stealthy perambulation? I'm unsure as to the precise context, but that's what I envision while listening to the piece. Either way, it's suitably atmospheric.

This one is an arrangement from the fan game ZEQ2Lite. Spirit

[jpdbzrulz4sure]

Pretty cool. I like the composition and arrangement overall, but I think it'd be even better with orchestral elements (though perhaps with some clean guitar mixed in) for the melody, and just have the distorted guitars be used for the rhythm/chord progression, or something like that.

That's just me, though.

Next: M116

[Shiyonasan]

Classic example of a great piece from Dragon Ball. Very joyful and upbeat. I like how the song seems to get more upbeat as the song goes on. Fits the scenes involving Chi Chi as a kid during Dragon Ball.

Next: Off To A New World (GT BGM #62)

[kenisu3000]

Always loved that one. The intro really gets you pumped for what's coming, and the meat of the piece utilizes the GT Heroics Theme (at least, that's what I call that particular leitmotif) to awesome heroic effect.

People have been picking a lot of my favorites, but I guess this one's still up for grabs: M1614 (Enter Bojack)

[jpdbzrulz4sure]

Another great piece. Love how it starts really dark and creepy, and builds up into a more dramatic tone. Overall well suited for a main villain making his first appearance. To this day, I wonder why this piece never made it on any OST releases.

Next: M1023

[Lord Exor]

Not bad, honestly. The choir and melody coalesce to engender an atmospheric, almost mysterious landscape. I genuinely like it, so kudos to fans of the Japanese score.

Kid Buu

[jpdbzrulz4sure]

Composition-wise, it's okay overall, but I can't say I'm particularly fond of the synth guitar, or whatever that buzzing noise is. The choral parts were pretty nice though, especially at the end.

Next: M2026