The B-Fighter song collection is something of an odd duck. Not only was it released under two different labels, but the entire song collection has just one singer--Shinichi Ishihara.
For what essentially Shinichi Ishihara's fourth and final (to date) album...just how is it?
For this review I'll be listening via my trusty Super Hero Chronicle Metal Hero Shudaika Sonyuuka Daizenshuu III. I previously took a look at the entire CD series in this woefully incomplete post.
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01. Jukou B-Fighter / Shinichi Ishihara
Textbook definition of a great Tokusatsu theme song. It's action-packed, incredibly catchy, and really is a song that works as a fight song as well. It may not be my all-time favorite Metal Hero theme song, but there is no denying that this is really a perfect example of getting it right.
The only critique I think I have about this song is that it's just a little too sterile. Shinichi Ishihara is wonderful and as lively as you would expect him to be, but something is missing in the overall emotion of the song.
That said...awesome theme song. It's definitely the last of the Metal Hero greats.
02. Shutsugeki! Beet Machine / Shinichi Ishihara
The series mecha theme song...and it's a great little song. If Shinichi Ishihara is great at two things, it's theme songs and mecha theme songs. So far we're two for two!
I genuinely prefer this song over the Ohrangerrobo song of the same year. The only thing that sucks is probably the Beet Machines themselves. Don't get me wrong, they're cool...but I feel like they almost exclusively lived in stock footage.
Great song. It's the song that was chosen to represent the series in Toei Metal Hero Karaoke Collection Vol.2.
03. Kono hoshi no tame naraba / Shinichi Ishihara
Technically this is an ending song as it was used to close out the B-Fighter movie.
Of all of the songs here, I probably enjoy this one the most. While this isn't an action song, it certainly is lively. Shinichi Ishihara himself is closer to the sound that he would later have in his GoGo Five songs and less of the soulful schtick that he put on for his solo albums. I'll have to cover those albums of his someday...
The fact that this was used as the movie ending song and not the series ending song definitely plays to it's strengths.
04. Imakoso shouri o / Shinichi Ishihara
Here's where we hit a big slowdown.
This song is so weird. Ishihara's singing is incredibly out of place here. The music itself sounds like a slower, bizarro version of the previous track. I could never get into this one, but I never really skip it when I listen to this song collection. Possibly because it sounds like it could be a scratch take from his album Positive Groover.
05. Susume! Konchu senshi / Shinichi Ishihara
This song is an alright fight song. I think the thing that I don't like about it is that it sounds a little bit like something out of the largely awful BF Kabuto song collection. Yeah...I dread the day that I get to that one...
Again, this song is alright. I hate the spazzy percussion.
06. Shiawase wa itsumo okurete kurukara / Shinichi Ishihara
A ballad! A not-great ballad.
Ishihara has proven that he can handle this type of song with ease, but something is just off with his voice here. Everything is just a little bit off, to be honest. Let's listen to this Ishihara song instead...
07. Senshi tachi yo / Shinichi Ishihara
I really, really don't understand this song.
This is like a weird samba fever dream with upbeat singing. I almost want to say that this song is inappropriate for Ishihara, but I don't think this song is appropriate -fullstop-. What is this?
Yeah, I usually skip this one. It's just so weird...and bland...and it goes on for far too long.
08. Chikyuu Koukou / Shinichi Ishihara
The series ending song. While this is probably the slowest of slow ending songs out there, I actually enjoy it greatly. It's a great contrast to the fast-faced opening theme song.
Ishihara really nails this one. He is singing against the wispiest melody and really does a perfect job.
From experience I have heard some complaints that this song is a real snoozer, but I don't hear it. When you have a great singer coupled with a wonderful composition, it really can bring even the slowest tune to life.
09. Kurokishi BLACK BEET / Shinichi Ishihara
Ehhh. This song is alright.
Again, this song sounds like a proto-BF Kabuto song. It's about a bad guy, so let's make it a little spooky sounding. Feh. It doesn't even do sinister all that well.
Since Black Beet was the antithesis of the B-Fighters, why not do like they did in Carranger and play off the series theme song in some way? This is just bland.
10. Tatakae!! Mega Hercules / Shinichi Ishihara
I like 92% of this song.
It may not be as good as the Beet Machine theme, but it's definitely a solid, upbeat mecha theme. The only thing that absolutely sucks about this song is when it randomly breaks into carnival music toward the end. It's INCREDIBLY jarring and really screws up an otherwise competent mecha theme song.
So close...and yet so far...
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Before I get into my final judgement on this song collection, I want to talk about the original release of these songs. The song collection proper was released by Forte Music Entertainment and only contained the first eight tracks listed above. The final two tracks were released as a CD single by Columbia once the Forte name folded and the rights reverted back to Columbia. I hope this clears up why there are two tracks after the series ending song. I was more interested in listing them in chronological order.
Do I recommend this song collection? Meh. It's high points are definitely great, but a lot of it is just Forte being awful. Though the two Columbia songs aren't great either. The opening, ending, Beet Machine and movie ending themes are all spectacular, but the rest is just a waste of a great singer.
For the Ishihara completionist, this is a must. Otherwise just stick to the well-known tracks and you can't go wrong.
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Be sure to check out my look at the Ohranger Song Collection as well!
Bye now!
-CC
Previously...
The Toys That Made Us: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
Blue SWAT Song Collection
Ninja Sentai Kakuranger Song Collection
The CD Collection
The Beet Machines lived in stock footage since that was the Metal Heroes tradition -- have giant vehicles used in lieu of giant robots to balance the budget. At least Beetleborgs had the AVs rendered in US CGI sometimes (even if they suddenly shrunk way down, but they were magic, so it's possible they'd simply shrink and grow as needed).
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, for sure. Everything Metal Hero was second string and hand-me-down equipment. Hahaa.
ReplyDeleteThe ost in b-fighter is decent 6/10,
ReplyDeleteBUT the BGM is much better with the music of kawamura.
Oh for sure. Eiji Kawamura is my favorite. I have all of his work that's available.
Delete