"Mystical Adventure! -2005-"
KDSD-73
¥1200
9 tracks
20 July 2005
Tracklisting:
( 01 ) Makafushigi Adobenchâ! (Mystical Adventure!)
( 02 ) Mezase Tenka-ichi (Aim to Be the Greatest on Earth)
( 03 ) Doragonbôru Densetsu (The Dragon Ball Legend)
( 04 ) Aoki Tabibito-tachi (The Blue Travelers)
( 05 ) Makafushigi Adobenchâ! (DJ Dr.Knob Remix) (Mystical Adventure! (DJ Dr.Knob Remix))
( 06 ) Makafushigi Adobenchâ! (Instrumental) (Mystical Adventure! (Instrumental))
( 07 ) Mezase Tenka-ichi (Instrumental) (Aim to Be the Greatest on Earth (Instrumental))
( 08 ) Doragonbôru Densetsu (Instrumental) (The Dragon Ball Legend (Instrumental))
( 09 ) Aoki Tabibito-tachi (Instrumental) (The Blue Travelers (Instrumental))
REVIEW:
For the most part, I wasn't looking forward to this CD. I had heard some of the samples before its release over on the official Team Entertainment website, and I was just flabbergasted. What WAS this? For something that was supposed to be a "2005 version," it sure didn't sound like it. Perhaps I've just been spoiled by the incredible production values of the two recent Budokai theme songs (DBZ2 & DBZ3 openings), but shouldn't I expect more...?
For those who don't know about this CD, it was originally hyped as containing "self-covers" of the popular DragonBall songs, all performed by their original artist (in this case, Hiroki Takahashi). Upon reading that initial statement, I went into fanboy shock/glee. How awesome would this be?!? Old favorite songs re-recorded (nearly 20 years later) with an updated style! Sweet!
So, back to the first paragraph... what WAS this?!
The songs are just... well... sub-standard. Hiroki Takahashi can't be all that young, anymore, and it certainly sounds like almost pure boredom in the vocal performances. There was so much energy in the original late-1980's versions, while these just feel abnormally flat. The "I GOT IT!" chants in the "Doragonbôru Densetsu" opening almost sound like they contain something resembling emotion, but not quite enough. Right before the "Let's try try try..." in the title track, on that elongated singing, it sounds like he's not quite sure where the song's going, how long to sing, or on what "beat" to change the note he's singing. It's almost sad.
The production values leave a lot to be desired. As stated, this is supposed to be a "2005 version," so what's with the low-budget, near-100%-computer-generated music? Seriously, "Computer Programming" is credited on all four of the songs. Sure, there's some "guitar" and "keyboard" credits, too... but the whole thing just sounds like a somewhat-higher-than-MIDI quality. I've heard MIDIs of these songs before... ten years ago.
So is there anything redeeming about the CD? Well, the cover art's fantastic. OK, seriously... the remix of the title track is pretty interesting. It's much more of a remix than what's passed off as one on DBZ Hit 5, etc. (the "New Remix Long Version"), so I'll at least give it that much credit. Which song do I like the most? Probably "Aoki Tabibito-tachi," and probably because it's the song I know the least, and therefore get the least upset over hearing it done so poorly.
Long story short, if I want to hear lackluster singing on top of MIDI files, I'll load up the MIDIs and sing the damn songs myself. Not an extremely recommended CD; it seems like nothing more than a "quick-buck" to be made, at the expense of fans like myself. At the same time, it's not entirely expensive, so if you're going to be ordering a bunch of other stuff online (and can therefore make the shipping worthwhile), or can pick it up at a convention (where there's no shipping charge)... eh... if you feel like it, go for it. Don't expect too much.
) but at least I know not now 
)
you could do that next april fool's and trick all of us into thinking they re-re-released it 
