Hikari Sentai Maskman: Complete Song Collection
Nippon Columbia - 1987 (COCC-13977 )
Review by: Famous Mortimer
Review Formatted by: Kage

Introduction

Hello, I am Famous Mortimer. I am writing a review for a Song Collection to a television series from 1987 called "Hikari Sentai Maskman". Though I have not seen the show, I can imagine the series was excellent for all the reasons I wrote this review! What
you are about to read is my second trip into the world of Tokusatsu (my first being my directorial work on the Japan Hero film "Hero Flash IV: Ganbare! Frobalocon"). So please, read my review. Hopefully you will be inspired to buy this album. I know I will once I get paid my back pay for my work on the film "Souped up Soup can". -Famous Mortimer

CD Review

This is a great CD. Kage lent it to me recently and I am simply inspired by it. It has helped me work stronger and faster, while at the same time calming my soul. It even inspired me to type this review. So wherever you are out there, be sure to find this disc and listen to
it often. The overall serious, yet melodic tone will help you finish the task at hand, whatever that may be. By all means, check it out now! 5/5!

01. Hikari Sentai Maskman

>>This is a fine example of an opening song for a series of high caliber. Hironobu Kageyama does a fantastic job delivering a high energy vocal flow to match the music. Definitely a great song to open the weekly episode to!

02. Moeru ze Fire

>>Despite the title, this song isn't too "fiery". It's a cheerful way to get this Song Collection rolling, but would most likely have a better home in the closing portion of the disc. The energy is there, but in more of a harmonious manner than suggested by the title. A fun little song.

03. Oretachi Ungler

>>This song is so greatly done that it's creepy! It's a mixture of music that made the 80s so unique. A broken, yet solid beat with a whole lot of crazy singing. This song is believably evil, but at the same time it isn't dark at all! Nice! The breakdown at the end is great.

04. Lady Action Kimetara Oshare

>>To begin, the music of this song is incredible. I'm not much of a dancing fool, but I found my leg twitching profusely when I first heard the oh-too-catchy beat to this fantastic song. The singing is definitely on par with the great music, making this one of the top songs on the entire album!

05. Shot Bomber Zenryoku Shuchu

>>A goofy song for their big gun. The song has a catchy beat, but is a tad repetative. Kageyama does a great job doing his singing, though at times he is interupted by the unmatched backing vocals.

06. Action Fantasy

>>This song is reltively mellow, but it's a good mid-disc cool down. It is probably one of the most recent disco songs i've heard. Seeing as this song was released in 1987, this had to be during the tailend of the disco revolution. A fine song indeed, as the lyrics mention toys that you should've purchased at the time (kidding). This song has plenty of funk and flow.

07. Ohra ni Kagayake! Great Five

>>A great song. A mix of band and symphony to carry out the task of the Maskman Giant Robo theme. Kageyama does a great job as always laying down the vocals. The song might not be full of energy, but it is majestic enough to carry the Robot theme.

08. Telepathise Shite kure

>>A very sad song. This song is fantastic from start to end. The vocals may not be the greatest, but where the voice fails, the music is there to make it all better. A nice solid song that I find myself listening to over and over again.

09. Dashitemiyou ze! Ohra Power

>>A darker rock song. It has a great and distinguishly 80s feel to it. Kageyama throws in alot of energy that you don't quite feel from his recent works. The song does have it's happier moments, but stays relatively more flat with it's continuity.

10. Ten Eyes~Gonin no Hitomi~

>>Another great energy song from Kageyama. Once this song starts rolling, it doesn't quite let up. Though the song is still relatively darker in it's style, it does have a feel of heroism. At one point the song lets up into a confusing mix of different sets of vocals doing echos of what the other set just sung. It's fun, and sounds cool. This is a very nice song. Right to the end.

11. Ai no Soldier

>>This is the series ending song. A fantastic song at that. The song has some great energy when it needs it, but the music provides an overcast mood the Kageyama's sunny singing. If you haven't had the priveledge of hearing this song, I suggest listening to it. You will not be disappointed! The horns are excellent, the guitars are supurb, the singing is above abd beyond. This song couldn't be better!

12. Hikari Sentai Maskman (Karaoke)

13. Oretachi Ungler (Karaoke)

14. Lady Action Kimetara Oshare (Karaoke)

15. Shot Bomber Zenryoku Shuchu (Karaoke)

16. Ohra ni Kagayake! Great Five (Karaoke)

17. Dashitemiyou ze! Ohra Power (Karaoke)

18. Ten Eyes~Gonin no Hitomi~ (Karaoke)

19. Ai no Soldier (Karaoke)

20. Shot Bomber Zenryoku Shuchu (Type B)

>> This is an alternate version of track 05. The only difference in the song is a lyric. Instead of "Fire!...Shot Bomber!" it has been changed to "Fire!...Jet Cannon!". Not much of a difference.

Kage

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1987, 1997, 2004 Nippon Columbia

COCC-13977, COCX-32501