Jam of the Day: Close to the End by Masato Koda (Rockman 10 Image Soundtrack)

The arrange albums for Mega Man 9 & 10 have some very mixed reception. I personally enjoy both quite a bit. While there are definitely some odd instrumentation choices in the albums, “Close to the End” is a track that’s hard not to love.

Masato Koda’s take on the theme utilizes a wide variety of sounds, combining electronic and acoustic instruments brilliantly. The track seamlessly goes back and forth between electronica, industrial, and jazz to name a few of the genres represented. It’s really a fantastic arrangement.

Oh, and for the super nerdy: there are several accepted spelling variations of Masato Koda’s name, so sorry if I didn’t pick the one you use.

Jam of the Day: The Sanctuary of Zi’Tah by The Star Onions (THE STAR ONIONS FINAL FANTASY XI- Music from the Other Side of Vana’diel)

It’s not uncommon for Japanese game composers to form together into bands. We’ve seen it happen with The Black Mages, The S.S.T. Band, and jdk Band just to name a few. The Star Onions are a bit different, though.

In their first album, The Star Onions cover a variety of styles with each track. Part of this is probably due to the fact that each track is done by a different group or individual. In the case of “The Sanctuary of Zi’Tah”, the arrangement of Naoshi Mizuta’s original track is done solo by Masato Koda.

I’d recommend checking out the whole album. Familiar artists such as guitarist Tsuyoshi Sekito and even Kumi Tanioka (one of the composers of Final Fantasy XI) contribute their talent to make a really versatile album.