The 20020220 album is indeed a great album for those who enjoy FF music.

Cool, now give me your Etrian Odyssey for DS

You should check out the Tour de Japon videos on youtube

Paul: Sorry bro, but I'm not done with it yet! I recommend it if you like old school RPGs and mapping out dungeons.

killeer: Yes, I've been watching those, they're great! Also, check out the Eminence Symphony videos on YouTube too. They perform game music (Shadow of the Colossus, etc.) and anime soundtracks (Princess Mononoke, etc.). Killer stuff!

Yeah Eminence Symphony is great.

20020220 is nice as a compilation album. Many of the songs can be found on other albums (ie. FF8 on Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec). The music is of a high quality and there is a very nice assortment of tracks. "The Place I'll Return to Someday - Melodies of Life" is my favorite track on the album. And you have to give props to the full orchestral "One Winged Angel" even though this is the umpteenth time it has been releasted. Because this was a live performance (on February 20, 2002 hence the name), there are quite a few tracks of the MC speaking (in Japanese of course). They're annoying, so I deleted them upon ripping the tracks. It's a good album to start on for someone who liked the music in the Final Fantasy games.

When the first Black Mages ablum was released in 2003, I nearly died. It was exactly what I wanted from a game music album. Already high energy battle themes done in a hard rock style. Favorites from their first 2 albums include "Battle on the Big Bridge", "Force Your Way", "Those Who Fight Further", & "The Rocking Grounds". The third album is nice, though the track list is not as expected. "Darkness & Starlight", the FF6 opera is nice, but a bit out of place. I had to do some research to even find out where "Assault of the White Dragons" appered in FF9, and that's my favorite FF game! Regardless, it comes as highly reccomended as the first two, "Grand Cross" and "KURAYAMINOKUMO" being my favorite tracks.

I saw Eminence when they came to Otakon last summer with Hitoshi Sakimoto. It was an amazing experience. Particularly moving to hear the main theme from Odin Sphere and the all powerful "Scars of Time" from Chrono Cross. Hehe, got their ablum signed too.

When your done then

venus, I see that my recent sugestion of 20020220 in your blog was unecessary as you are clearly already quite familiar with it! I can't wait to get the third Black Mages album, even if the FF6 opera seems out of place. I was really hoping that opera was going to appear on the 20020220 concert as it is a favorite of mine, but alas, it did not. Would you happen to know if it has been performed by any orchestras and available on CD? Oh yes, and I'm jealous that you got to see Eminence! Lucky dog!

Kind of. The main part of the opera appeared on Final Fantasy VI Grand Finale under the title "Aria de Mezzo Caraterre". It's a much better rendition as the the instrumentation fits better. The music sounds better as a traditional opera as opposed to a rock opera. I especially liked the harpsichord work. Still, the Black Mages version is more complete so pick which one you prefer. Grand Finale is an older album so I'd expect it would be harder to find.

Silly me! I own Grand Finale already! I forgot it was on there. I'm listening to it right now to help me remember I have it. Yeah, this version of the opera is nice (agree on harpsichord), but I wouldn't mind another version as well. There's a great vid on youtube (or rather two, as it had to be split up) of the opera performed for the Tour de Japon. If you could buy that performance on an album, I'd be happy to do so. I've also got "Piano Collections: Final Fantasy VI" which is great too. ^_^