First off, for those that don't know, SonMay is a company from Taiwan that makes bootlegs of anime and some j-pop CDs.  I don't want to engage in a debate about SonMay with anyone, because my reasons for buying them have little to do with the fact that they are cheaper.  The CDs are identical to their Japanese counterparts with the exception of copyright info being removed and replaced with SonMay information.
Anyway, all that aside, this CD and the show it's from have some of the best anime music ever.  The first track, "Ureshi Namida" is the opening theme, and is sung by the ever-popular, ever-cool Sakai Noriko, who has sung such greats as "Aoi Usagi".  That alone is enough to make someone want to listen to it.  It's a very happy song (duh, look at the name).  The melody is infectious, and I think most girls can relate to the lyrics.  "Ano Hi Ni...", the next song, is undisputedly the best anime ending ever.  Every time I hear it, tears well up in my eyes.  The song is mostly bass guitar, and then there are woodwinds in the background, so it sounds windy.  There is a bit of percussion as well.  What makes it so great, besides the fact that the music is so well mixed, is the lyrics and how beautiful they are.  And then the song has great harmonies, and Kimura Maki has this way of singing that makes it seem like she's feeling what she's singing.  After the melancholia of this track, "Ashita wa Ashita" is a perky surprise.  It's sung by VGAi's mangaka, Katsura Masakazu.  He's pretty talented (and he writes the lyrics to most, if not all, of the VGAi songs, which makes him like, the coolest guy in the world).  Anyway, what else describes this song besides optimistic and happy?  Nothing.  I don't know what instruments are used.  Then we go back to depressing with "Message".  This song was used throughout the first episode.  It makes use of guitars and keyboards.  The way Nav Katze sings gives the song a very empty and forlorn feel.  The song almost gives you goosebumps.  And then it skips to the next track, and you are greeted with... a ukelele?  ::screams:: But actually, this song, "Glass Moon" is pretty good.  It's used in episode 3, when Yota is going down the stairs looking for Ai.  Anyway, the ukelele is one of the reasons this song is good.  Sudo Mayumi, who also sings "Kimi no Niji", used in the same episode, has a very nice voice.  The next track is instrumental.  It's "Theme of Takashi", and unless you're really into bass or jazz-type music, it's not that great.  "Kanashimi no..." features an accordian, and sounds like godfather music.  I find it quite disturbing.  "Master of Gokuraku" is actually pretty decent.  It's mostly piano, and it's quite barren and pretty.  "Searching for Ai" is the music that was played when Yota is in the Care Bears in Wonderland-esque pink landscape.  It's weird, but in a good way.  It sounds like very early Star Trek TNG music.  "Suki Nandesu" is the song played during the finale of VGAi.  It's sung by Kimura Maki, so the singing is good.  The real problem with this track is that it uses practically every single instrument known to man.  Not at the same time, but it gets kind of busy and complicated sounding.  This CD isn't perfect, but the good tracks on it are so good it's worth it. 

Back to Miki-Robin's Anime CD Reviews