 Pop'n Music 13 Carnival AC CS Pop'n Music 11 Soundtrack Review
If you could use one word to sum up the library of Pop’n Music songs, you might opt for “awesome” or “disappointing” or even “unique.” By the time a gaming series exceeds its tenth installment, chances are good that you have figured out whether or not you like the type(s) of music they play. When Pop’n Music 12 Iroha entered the arcade scene, gamers were blessed with the finest release in years. An incredible variety of genres allowed for some of the most diverse songs in the history of the series. The game had such an incredible list of quality songs that when Pop’n Music 13 Carnival debuted in the late summer of 2005, many feared that anything released after the incredible Iroha would lose some of its luster. Incredibly enough, Carnival demolished these expectations with a colorful and phenomenal soundtrack and when it was released in the first quarter of 2006, fans of the series could enjoy the sounds (in their original soundtrack quality) whenever they wanted.
Pop’n Music soundtracks have established a tradition of packaging the songs from the most recent console release with the songs from the current arcade iteration. For example, the soundtrack for Pop’n Music 7 additionally featured the newly made songs on the home version of Pop’n Music 5, the soundtrack for Pop’n Music 8 had the new songs from the home version of Pop’n Music 6, and so forth. Carnival’s soundtrack spread itself out over two discs of musical goodness and left a third disc for those songs from the home version of Pop’n Music 11.
Most Bemani soundtracks often add in two or three “bonus” versions (longer renditions) of already existing songs on the CDs and Carnival is no exception. Three bonus tracks conclude the first disc, three more end the second, and a final duo of bonus songs finish the third and final disc in the set. With an already diverse library of songs from the arcade and home, consumers are also treated to eight songs that showcase some of the finest songwriting in Bemani history.
31 songs ranging from colorful pop music to energy-fuelled rock to softer ballads comprise the first disc and very few songs will leave you with a bad impression on the soundtrack. Chin-Don Jazz has been tweaked from its arcade counterpart into a bit more of a “bouncy” rendition and Hard Pf seems to have subdued the guitar parts in favor of the more manic and dominant piano. Both songs still retain their quality and, in fact, rank high among the esteemed hits of this opening CD. Those songs from the Bemani Expo (J-House Pop, Asian Mixture, and Pianotronica) are also present and bring no faults with them. Bonus tracks include a slightly longer Glide, an almost ambient and twice-as-long Happy J Vogue, and Elegothic Sabbat which improves on an already incredible song with an extended opening and an additional verse.
Disc two has the licensed songs and opens with the one license that players enjoyed playing more than any other: Electric Parade. Whether it conjures up images of Disneyland or your favorite arcade, this song represents Carnival’s energy and fun. The remaining arcade songs, including the hidden ones, round out the CD and the selection of styles is nothing short of amazing. Opera, video game medleys, and symphonic rock are just a sliver of the genres on this disc. Racing greatly benefits from the CD treatment as every screech, honk, and other sound effects are crisp and clear in their delivery. The bonus tracks here are an extended SF Pop, an elegant and emotional R-Play Battle, and a medley of Carnival’s themes that is so catchy, you can almost see the smile on Tomosuke’s face as he was composing it.
If the soundtrack has a low point, it would be disc three. This is not to say that the songs from the home version of Pop’n Music 11 were horrible. It is just that a few of the 16 regular songs do not hit as hard as others. French Merchen and Cowboy deliver a great sound while Classic 11 and Umibe Duet miss their mark. The real highlight of this CD, however, is the last two tracks. Time Travel and Contemporary Nation 2 wowed gamers’ ears when they were first heard in the summer of 2005. The bonus track version of Time Travel gives us 4:42 of haunting melodies and sorrowful tones that all add up to make one of the finest Bemani songs ever recorded. Contemporary Nation 2’s bonus track seems to be the game version looped but digresses into a guitar dominated movement around three minutes in before arriving at an energetic conclusion that wraps up a profoundly catchy song.
With only a few slight hiccups on the final disc, the Pop’n Music 13 Carnival AC CS Pop'n Music 11 Soundtrack is easily one of the finest soundtracks made. From the blues and reds of the liner notes (complete with lyrics) to the clown faces stamped onto each disc and to the songs themselves, this is one CD set that will stay with you long after you have put it back on the shelf. 9.5/10. | 
