The CD Collection--Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger Shudaika Limited Edition

Welcome back to my CD Collection series and a post about the brand new Super Sentai. Yes, Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger only premiered last week but the CD single is out already. It is unusual for a Sentai series to have such a late start, but it is worth noting for a very important reason that I'll get to later in the review.

While my interest in new Super Sentai shows has reduced to nothing, I still can't shake the annual theme song CD single for my collection. Amazon is great about getting CDs out on or just after release date despite being on the other side of the globe, so I was able to check out this release on Thursday night. Yeah...all that effort and I couldn't really be bothered with the show...I know...

Let's get into this brand new CD Single which...has more going for it than you may expect...

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Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger Shudaika Limited Edition
COCC-17600
2019.03.20

01. Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger / Tomohiro Hatano [Ryusoulger Opening Theme Song]

Honestly, this sounds almost like every Super Sentai theme song since like Hurricaneger. Bland and predictably safe. This is a song that you know will be on a constant loop in Bandai's museum for the next eleven months, so it has to be.

There isn't much to say about this one. I remember the Lupinranger vs Patranger song being more unique, but that was a year ago that I listened to that...and I'm struggling to even remember why I thought it was unique. Didn't it have two singers??

02. Keboon! Ryusoulger / Sister Mayo [Ryusoulger Ending Theme Song]

Dammit, I said HOLD THE MAYO!

Yeah, this song sucks. It's a lousy samba type deal with the same shrill vocals we've been subjected to for a decade plus. Did you know Masayo Sawada is in her mid-40s? I sure didn't. Why the squeaky vocals?

03. Saikyo saiko SUPER STARS! / NoB [Super Sentai Saikyo Battle Opening Theme Song]

Seriously...this sounds like any number of other Music by Committee (© D3rachi) theme songs we've been subjected to in recent years. This is for a miniseries...it didn't have to be this bland crap that a year-long Sentai theme song has to be. We should have gotten something wild or at least different in some type of capacity. I fear that this is the only type of music the ProjectR dunderheads know how to make at this point.

The track following this is the Karaoke version of the Ryusoulger theme song. It might as well be the same goddamn song. I can't tell the difference.

04. Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger [Original Karaoke]

05. Keboon! Ryusoulger [Original Karaoke]

06. Saikyo saiko SUPER STARS! [Original Karaoke]

BONUS 07~18 4shuu renzoku special Super Sentai Saikyo Battle BGM

So instead of jumping right into the next Super Sentai following Lupinranger VS Patranger, Toei produced a four episode miniseries that had some kind of plot with something happening and some kind of resolution that no doubt brought in the next Sentai series. I'm sure it was spectacular...

Since it was a short production, this version of the CD single features the BGM collection by Takeshi Sakebe made for the miniseries. That's right, if you buy the regular edition of this CD Single, you will only get the Ryusoulger Opening and Ending theme songs and that's it.

It starts off with a brief title track and then breaks into the TV size version of Saikyo saiko SUPER STARS! From there, it gets into Sakebe's score. I tend to cut composers much more slack for their music collections than I do for vocal songs...so I don't know how to grade this one.

There isn't a whole lot of music (each track hovers near the one minute mark) and it is all kinda generic. Considering the miniseries used some music from previous Sentai series, this new stuff didn't need to do a lot of heavy lifting. It's definitely the highlight of the CD, even if it isn't particularly memorable.

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BONUS Red Ryu Soul Song Version!

This is where I would drop a video in if I weren't kinda in Youtube jail at the moment...

As far as "feelers" go with Super Sentai CD Singles, this one is pretty solid. I haven't been able to try it out in my DX Ryusoul Changer yet, but I'm sure it has some kind of underwhelming, but unique sound to go along with it.

It's a neat little thing that is on par with Ranger Keys included in past CDs. There were some duds like the Kyoryuger egg shaker thing and ToQger's lenticular card. The first (and best) feelers being the Engine Souls included in the Go-onger single and song collection--those were cool.

This isn't a bad addition at all...

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OVERALL: When it comes to bang for your buck, this CD is quite the deal. $18 gets you the Limited Edition with these copious extras versus the $12 four-track edition. On one hand, it's great that Columbia really went all out with the loaded 38 minute disc AND the Song Ryusoul instead of doing something bogus like included the Ryusoul in the regular edition and leaving the limited edition only as the extended disc. I believe they pulled that stunt with the Kyoryuger singles...

On the otherhand, it all seems a little desperate. Granted, I don't like the music...but I'm sure there are people out there that love the shit out of this. Japan and Germany are the last bastion for the CD collector and this just makes it look like they're coming on a little strong to make sure you buy the CD versus paying 250 yen per track.

It's a bargain, though! Getting an entire soundtrack, CD single, and a unique toy for CD Single money is something that can't be overlooked. I like this a lot as an overall package...even if I didn't care for the songs at all.

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Another Super Sentai CD single enters the history books...and my collection. What are your thoughts on it? Are they trying too hard, or is this the type of thing they should be doing more often?

I've been writing way too much about CDs and Tokusatsu music recently. Next time...I promise something a little more thought provoking. Until then...

See ya!

-CC

Lupinranger VS Patranger Shudaika
The CD Collection