RPGamers Network > Reviews > Game Music Reviews > Gran Turismo OGS
Reviewed by: Ersatz Sobriquet
One of the smoothest albums you'll hear.
Now, when I say smooth, I mean smooth jazz smooth. I'm talking about the soft rhythmic tune a sexy sax can have on a girl. I'm talking about the funkdafied slap of a fretless bass. I'm talking about the playful carrying on with a xylophone. I'm talking about smoothness to the extreme here.
I know you might be thinking that with all this smoothness here, you might as well put some lotion on and call it a day, but there are some ripping tracks on here as well. Going to Extremes stutters between the brink of pure rock and the old style jazz feel, while tracks like Get Closer, Nobody, Kiss You Good-bye and Green Monster tease you with what this album would have sounded like on a full rock inspired theme.
The artists here, a man by the name of Masahiro Andoh, Ted Namba and Isamu Ohira (Ohira did tracks 13-21), go for a more modern jazz style, with some elements of rock here and there, albeit the tracks I already mentioned. Now, this isn't fusion per se. Salamander Pro Fusion IS what Fusion is/should sound like. But, the artists here aren't scared of ripping it up on the electric now and then, either.
Moon Over The Castle is the first, and probably one of the best tracks on the album. Starts off with a nice symphonic arrangement on the strings and then shifts into high gear as a lead guitar takes center stage and drives the song all the way home. An organ in the background helps it along all the while, as well.
Like The Wind is one of the first soft tracks on the album, and what a fine track it is. A sax leads the way on this one, with synths backing it up all the while. Another set of horn arrangements helps complete the main melody as well. The vocal version of this song is just as good as this one. The singing matches how the sax would play as well. Only gripe I have with the vocal version is the artist doing the singing sometimes sounds like she's forcing her voice to reverb. Other than that, though, both are wonderful pieces.
Going To Extreme is truly one of those teasers between classic rock and classic funk. The wah-wah used in this track is sorely missed in most of today's music, and I gladly welcome it back with open arms. The organ used once more, accompanied by the fretless bass (I believe it's fretless) helps round this very, very solid track out. One of my most played songs, tying with Moon Over The Castle easily.
Songs thirteen to twenty-one are the shortest ones featured here, rounding out to being about a minute and a half each. I don't have the Japanese version of the game, but I'm assuming that these songs accompany such things like the car selection, game over screen and such. Except for Take Your Dream On, Turning Point and Mr. 4WD, there isn't anything really exciting here.
Probably one of the smoothest, jazziest albums you'll hear in a long time from the fellows from across the sea. Defiantly a must hear if you love jazz, funk or classic rock.
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| Album Information | Reviewer Rank |
|---|---|
|
Gran Turismo OGS Published by: Sony Records Release Date: May 21st 1998 Composed by: Masahiro Andoh, Isamu Ohira Arranged by: Ted Namba, Isamu Ohira 1 Disc, 21 Tracks Catalog: SRCL-4269 |
95 |
Reviewed by: Ersatz Sobriquet
One of the smoothest albums you'll hear.
Now, when I say smooth, I mean smooth jazz smooth. I'm talking about the soft rhythmic tune a sexy sax can have on a girl. I'm talking about the funkdafied slap of a fretless bass. I'm talking about the playful carrying on with a xylophone. I'm talking about smoothness to the extreme here.
I know you might be thinking that with all this smoothness here, you might as well put some lotion on and call it a day, but there are some ripping tracks on here as well. Going to Extremes stutters between the brink of pure rock and the old style jazz feel, while tracks like Get Closer, Nobody, Kiss You Good-bye and Green Monster tease you with what this album would have sounded like on a full rock inspired theme.
The artists here, a man by the name of Masahiro Andoh, Ted Namba and Isamu Ohira (Ohira did tracks 13-21), go for a more modern jazz style, with some elements of rock here and there, albeit the tracks I already mentioned. Now, this isn't fusion per se. Salamander Pro Fusion IS what Fusion is/should sound like. But, the artists here aren't scared of ripping it up on the electric now and then, either.
Moon Over The Castle is the first, and probably one of the best tracks on the album. Starts off with a nice symphonic arrangement on the strings and then shifts into high gear as a lead guitar takes center stage and drives the song all the way home. An organ in the background helps it along all the while, as well.
Like The Wind is one of the first soft tracks on the album, and what a fine track it is. A sax leads the way on this one, with synths backing it up all the while. Another set of horn arrangements helps complete the main melody as well. The vocal version of this song is just as good as this one. The singing matches how the sax would play as well. Only gripe I have with the vocal version is the artist doing the singing sometimes sounds like she's forcing her voice to reverb. Other than that, though, both are wonderful pieces.
Going To Extreme is truly one of those teasers between classic rock and classic funk. The wah-wah used in this track is sorely missed in most of today's music, and I gladly welcome it back with open arms. The organ used once more, accompanied by the fretless bass (I believe it's fretless) helps round this very, very solid track out. One of my most played songs, tying with Moon Over The Castle easily.
Songs thirteen to twenty-one are the shortest ones featured here, rounding out to being about a minute and a half each. I don't have the Japanese version of the game, but I'm assuming that these songs accompany such things like the car selection, game over screen and such. Except for Take Your Dream On, Turning Point and Mr. 4WD, there isn't anything really exciting here.
Probably one of the smoothest, jazziest albums you'll hear in a long time from the fellows from across the sea. Defiantly a must hear if you love jazz, funk or classic rock.
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