General Information
Album Title: My Soul, Your Beats! / Brave Song
Artist: Lia, Toda Aoi, Maeda Jun
Catalog Number: KSLA-0054
Release Date: May 26, 2010
General Thoughts
When something gets animated, the theme song will get referred to as the national anthem.
– Ken from Seitokai no Ichizon
Typically, all the Key Anime Adaptations always had great opening and Eeding Themes (Tori no Uta, Last regrets, Megumeru, Toki wo Kizamu Uta, Light colors and others). Angel Beats is no exception to this, except the insert album songs from Girls Dead Monster since the vocals sound like they were amateurs. From hearing the songs over and over again, I think this is a pretty solid album overall with some tiny flaws (some minor screeches in a few areas in My Soul, Your Beats! and vocals being soft in Brave Song), but nothing that serious. Both songs have strong instrumentals and sound really beautiful, especially with Brave Song.
My Soul, Your Beats!
The intro of My Soul, Your Beats! has a simular feel to Toki wo Kizamu Uta (A Song Engraved in Time) from Clannad After Story… Heck, the vocals sound similar. From the song, I like how the piano and the guitar is played in the background as it gives this feeling of being blown away because of how powerful it is. Since it’s Lia, the vocals are solid. Nothing else to say about My Soul, Your Beats! as its a very good song. No need to recommend as most people will like this off the bat.
It’s worth noting that while I was listening to My Soul, Your Beats, I was comparing this song with Lia’s past opening themes with Key (Tori no Uta, Light colors, Toki wo Kizamu Uta). While My Soul, Your Beats is a good song, it lacks the emotional feel from these three songs. However, Brave Song conveys that feeling, which is the next song in the review.
Brave Song
Honestly, it took several listens for Brave Song to click in, but it has the feel of Chiisana Tenohira. It pretty much fits in with the whole premise of the show. The vocals from Toda Aoi seem to be a bit soft at first. After listening it a few times, it fits in well with the song although not as good as Lia. The strength of this song is the lyrics that can compare to Toki wo Kizamu Uta as it has emotions that’s not present in My Soul, Your Beats. Although most won’t get Brave Song from listening it to the first time, but after a few listens, it will click in. Maybe not like Go Go Maniac since I still can’t get over the screechy vocals from Toyosaki Aki.
By the way, Brave Song is the song that is played when the rocket goes off, which I found really strange.
Conclusion
From listening to both of these tracks, Jun Maeda should be proud that his Opening and Ending Themes are not ruined by mediocre vocals from marina and LiSA, but with more established singers. Lia delivered just like she alway do from all of her tracks I had listen to. Toda Aoi on the other hand isn’t as refined as Lia, but her performance of Brave Song turned out pretty good. Nevertheless, this is a solid single and is a recommended listen if you are watching Angel Beats or like Jun Maeda’s compositions.
Verdict
8.9/10, A-/B+, Outstanding
the first time i listen to the full OP , i was like meh to the middle part and then i was blown away at the final part.
I’m not 100% sold on Lia’s efforts here and that’s probably because I was expecting something really mind-blowing. For me, the ED theme is where it’s at since I think Aoi Tada puts in a more emotional rendition. Lia’s voice, while good, could use some bolstering from the instrumental end of things and Jun Maeda’s composition for the OP just isn’t as spectacular as Clannad AS’s OP.
.-= zzeroparticle´s last blog ..Hidamari Sketch x★★★ Original Sound Track: Hidamari • Day’s • Night – Review =-.
Yea, that. The ED song seems to be better, but while I was listening to the opening theme for Angel Beats, I was comparing the song with her past work such as Tori no Uta, Light colors (Tomoyo After OP) and Toki wo Kizamu Uta. The song fell short of that because it simply doesn’t have the emotions shown in the three songs I mentioned and yes, all of those songs are written by Jun Maeda… It’s not her singing that is the problem, but the lyrics and composition..
Light colors still remains the number one Key Opening Theme with Toki wo Kizamu Uta and Tori no Uta tied.