Finally, it's time I get to reviewing the Touhou albums. I've talked about the albums before, and my opinions on them hasn't really changed. I think the albums gave ZUN the opportunity to experiment with longer and more varied original tracks, improve on his older tracks through remixes, and use far crisper and clearer instruments. A lot of the time, I'd even argue the albums are better than the game soundtracks, just to show how good they usually are. Since the albums are short and I don't have any characters to talk about, I'll be cramming three albums into each post, starting with the first three.
Dolls In Psuedo Paradise: Dolls In Psuedo Paradise is a weird album considering it's the only one to not have the Hifuu Club, instead boasting a story about the horrors of Gensokyo from the perspective of your average human. The music similarly has a more eerie and haunting vibe to it, taking the dark-sounding EoSD soundfont but making it crisper and more affecting than ever. Despite being the first of ZUN's CDs, it feels like the end of an era for that awkward period before the Touhou series really became a hit, employing Seihou and PC-98 remixes aplenty. It's for that reason that DiPP comes together to being one of my personal favorite CDs of the bunch.
Legend Of Hourai
Right from the get-go, you immediately get the sense that there's something different about the albums. The tracks are longer, the instruments are crisper, and ZUN can really go all out with the compositions. Legend Of Hourai is a beautiful and downright magical tune that feels like the perfect introduction to the world of Gensokyo, from its lovely acoustic intro, to that traditional-sounding flute chorus, to the piano solo. Legend Of Hourai is Touhou.
5/5 Stars
Dichromatic Lotus Butterfly - Red And White
Ancients is good and all, but Red And White was always my preferred version of this theme. It's more energetic and fast-paced, and the harsh synths and energetic background instruments give this track way more of an edge to it. Personally, I think the ULiL version is even better, but still, great Reimu track.
5/5 Stars
Lovely Mound Of Cherry Blossoms
One of my favorite Seihou tracks gets an absolutely stunning recreation with far better instrumentations, a more traditional sound, and those absolutely eargasmic piano solos. Phenomenal remix.
5/5 Stars
Shanghai Alice Of Meiji 17
The original Shanghai Alice was one of my favorite tracks of EoSD and this version isn't quite as good. It's less energetic and lacks the chorus, though that main melody is as elegant as always and I love the dramatic intro. Instrument-wise, it feels like a Seihou version of the original theme which is definitely novel even if I don't think it's as strong.
4/5 Stars
Strange Oriental Discourse
Oh, ZUN nailed this one. Between the intense intro, the booming percussion, the more naturalistic instruments, the faster tempo, the loud synths, and dramatic chorus, this version of Strange Oriental Discourse took an already amazing track and made it even more of a banger.
5/5 Stars
Enigmatic Doll
I've already raved enough about Enigmatic Doll in my Seihou review. It was great in the original, and it's even better here thanks to the clearer instruments. Unlike most of the other remixes here, not much really changed since the WAV version, but it didn't need to. Enigmatic Doll was already perfect.
5/5 Stars
Circus Reverie
Definitely the most unique remix in the album. The original version of Circus Reverie was decently energetic, but this remix is incredibly calm and melancholic, and it works pretty damn well. Once again, the new intro is magical, but the heavy usage of piano, tense background instruments, and many of the new bits in the second half are pretty great.
5/5 Stars
Forest Of Dolls
One of the few entirely original tracks, and it's pretty solid. The main beat is super atmospheric, the melody is incredibly catchy, and I love the organ-sounding instrument in the background. The track feels both playful and exciting at the same time. No complaints here.
5/5 Stars
Witch Of Love Potion
Now this is a weird remix, it's not from Touhou or Seihou. Instead, Witch Of Love Potion is from a small game ZUN also composed for called Torte Le Magic. It's a good track but probably one of the weaker ones on the album. It's a pretty lengthy and complex track composed of a lot of different melodies, between an energetic intro melody, a slow and melodic chorus (?) followed up by a super dramatic melody, and a laid-back piano bit near the end. Not all of it meshes together incredibly seamlessly, but there's still a lot of strong moments.
4/5 Stars
Reincarnation
I loved Reincarnation already, but this version completely blows the original out of the water, with a beautifully dramatic new intro, an operatic main riff, and a truly mind-blowing chorus. It's not quite as tense as the original track, but this version of Reincarnation is far more grandiose and climactic.
5/5 Stars
UN Owen Was Her
I already brought this up in my EoSD review, but I think the crisper instruments do this track a lot more justice. Not much really changed here, but it just sounds less crusty, which makes UN Owen Was Her's fantastic and unique melodies really shine through.
5/5 Stars
Eternal Shrine Maiden
Similarly to Circus Reverie, this is a more melancholic and slow-paced remix of the original track, which I think works a bit better since Eternal Shrine Maiden was already kinda depressing. It makes so many changes to the original melody that work surprisingly well, like its incredibly powerful intro with its own original melodies, the moody rain and thunder sound effects, and how it makes the original's chorus the verse and vice-versa. It really makes for an impactful track because of how it builds up to that iconic melody we all know and love. Considering that PCB would be the point where Windows Touhou really solidifies itself, this truly feels like a farewell to the PC-98 days. And what a farewell it was...
5/5 Stars
The Strange Everyday Life Of The Flying Shrine Maiden
I was always a bit baffled as to why Eternal Shrine Maiden wasn't the final track, but I think I kinda get it now. Where Eternal Shrine Maiden says goodbye to the PC-98, this track welcomes Windows, with a heavy usage of ZUNpets and bits that feels almost straight out of PCB. It's still probably the most forgettable of DiPP's tracks, but with a powerful main melody and fun piano solo near the end, this is still a pretty solid track.
3/5 Stars
Ghostly Field Club: Despite being Maribel and Renko's first album, Ghostly Field Club always kinda suffered in my eyes from being sandwiched between two of my favorite albums. I've warmed up to it a lot as of late though, and it has a whole bunch of what would become some of my favorite original tracks out of the CDs. GFC is one of the most atmospheric Touhou albums, and does a great job at creating a fittingly eerie tone.
Dying In The Dendera Fields In The Night
Something I always found interesting about ZUN's albums was how the first track so often feels like it could be a title theme, and how the last track often feels like a staff roll theme. That being said, Dendera Fields is very much reminiscent of a title theme, exciting, intriguing, and does a great job at getting you in the spooky spirit for this spooky album. The piano bits also help a lot.
4/5 Stars
Girls' Sealing Club
This has always been the RenMari theme for me, it fits them so well. The playful piano, intense guitars, and slightly intriguing melody really captures off that sense of innocent exploration that epitomizes the duo. The verse is definitely the highlight here with its fun melody, echoey lead piano, and those amazing guitars, but the whole track is absolutely fantastic. It really is those guitars that elevate it for me, another pretty solid rock track from ZUN.
5/5 Stars
Mystic Oriental Dream - Ancient Temple
This is just the Phantasmagoria version. My full thoughts are on the PoFV review, but to put it simply, it's not as good since it's slightly lower pitched but it's still an amazing theme.
5/5 Stars
Ancient Temple In The Netherworld
Given the name, this definitely feels like a PCB track. It has that same ethereal vibe and sense of atmosphere, with a super powerful and rhythmic main melody. It does have a bit too much of a build-up, but once it gets going, this is a pretty strong and atmospheric track.
4/5 Stars
Illusionary Night - Ghostly Eyes
Now this is interesting, Ghostly Field Club came out before Imperishable Night. Was it an album track first or a game track first? Who knows? Either way, it's a pretty solid first stage theme even if this version doesn't really seem to have any differences from the final version.
4/5 Stars
Mary, The Magician
I adore how shamelessly creepy Mary The Magician is, from that haunting piano riff, to the eerie synths in the background, to that crushingly dark melody, to the wailing ZUNpets in the chorus. There's still enough of a melody to prevent it from feeling like aimless ambience, but the grim atmosphere really sticks with you. Right from the her first appearance, ZUN was already making Maribel one of the most intriguing characters in the entire franchise.
5/5 Stars
Strange Bird Of The Moon, Illusion Of Mysterious Cat
One of the more underrated tracks from these albums. It's so frantic and chaotic, with a fast-paced main riff, tense piano verse, the creepy synths carrying over from the last track, and one hell of a chorus employing the same repeating melodies that Ancient Temple In The Netherworld used. It took a while for me to really warm up to Strange Bird but now I'd call it one of my favorite original album themes.
5/5 Stars
Fairy Of Flower
Yet another interesting entry, an unused track from Perfect Cherry Blossom, likely meant for Lily White. Honestly, this one's pretty unremarkable. The chorus is fun and breezy, but the ZUNpet intro don't quite sound the best. It's a fine track, but definitely not on par with one of the series' best soundtracks.
3/5 Stars
Magical Girl Crusade
Another Seihou remix! Magical Girl Crusade was always one of the better tracks from that series, but man, what a glowup. Once again, we get an awesome intro, but it really is the better instruments that shine here. That echoey organ, the fun piano for the pre-chorus, the energetic synths, it all elevates Magical Girl Crusade even more.
5/5 Stars
A Maiden's Illusionary Funeral - Necro-Fantasy
If you recall in my PCB review, I said I prefer Necro-Fantasy more than Necrofantasia. As far as the album remixes are considered, however, that doesn't quite apply. Necro-Fantasy's remix is mostly the same outside of a new intro which I don't feel meshes with the track too well, but the powerful chorus and dramatic second half are still as amazing as always. The Necrofantasia remix, however... well, we'll get there in a few albums.
5/5 Stars
Illusionary Eternal Festival
Now this is a final album track. Illusionary Eternal Festival doesn't just feel like a staff roll theme, it feels like the best fucking staff roll theme you've ever heard. It's dramatic, melancholic, uplifting, and just flat-out really well composed throughout. It's got powerful synths, a tense piano solo, heavy electric guitars, and a very catchy main melody. One of my favorite original album tracks, hands down.
5/5 Stars
Changeability Of Strange Dream: Changeability Of Strange Dream is my favorite album and probably my favorite collection of Touhou music in general. Every track is a banger, the dark tone is so cohesive and permeates the entire soundtrack, and it all adds up for a CD that I find genuinely heavy and exhausting to listen to, in a good way. Every time I listen to CoSD, I'm left breathless both from how grim it gets and how freaking good the music is. Personally, this album might be ZUN's magnum opus, at least alongside one other album we'll get to.
Kid's Festival - Innocent Treasures
Ah, ZUN's theme. It's a hell of a good one too. The melody is super catchy and fun, there's a dramatic organ intro, an eerie piano solo near the end, Kid's Festival works well as a great intro track, as an introduction to this album's heavier tone, and an encapsulation of ZUN and Touhou as a whole. Not much more I can say about this one, even fans who aren't familiar with the albums like this track.
5/5 Stars
Dream Of Arcadia
It's interesting how the main melody sounds like a sadder version Lovely Mound Of Cherry Blossoms, given the name, it feels like it's meant to be a Yuuka theme. Aside from those similarities, Dream Of Arcadia still feels entirely unique, with a haunting main piano melody, sorrowful acoustic riff, and a generally ethereal tone. The fact that this is still one of the weaker tracks is a testament to how good this album is.
4/5 Stars
Shanghai Treehouse - Chinese Tea
While not as iconic as the original, this is still a super fun and unique take on one of EoSD's best themes, with a more fast-paced and playful tone to it. The instruments are so good here, from the lovely flute playing the chorus, to those booming ZUNpets, to the entirely new piano solo, to those cool synths that are used for the pre-chorus. This version of Shanghai Treehouse just feels so triumphant and happy.
5/5 Stars
Voyage 1969
Voyage 1969 is one of my favorite themes in the entire series, and this remix is almost as great, employing more intense percussion and what sounds like a faint choir in the background. This remix feels more fast-paced and energetic, which does sound really good, though I do slightly prefer the more sparse and spacey-sounding original. Still a godly theme though.
5/5 Stars
Boys And Girls Of Science Era
One of the more lighthearted themes of the album, and even it sounds eerie and tense. I keep forgetting how good Boys And Girls Of Science Era is because of how playful its melody and riff is, but the piano is ethereal, the flute is beautiful, and the chorus is absolutely beautiful.
5/5 Stars
Retribution For The Eternal Night - Imperishable Night
Unlike Voyage 1969's remix, I'd say this remix not only stands toe to toe with the superlative original but quite possibly surpasses it. Like with Voyage 1969, this remix is more intense which works perfectly for one of the most frantic tracks in the series, and that entirely new slow-paced bridge section is absolutely godly. ZUN took an already perfect track and made it perfecter.
5/5 Stars
Night Falls - Evening Star
While everyone loves Necrofantasia, Yukari's other theme Night Falls is pretty damn underrated, especially this original version that was also used in 7.5. It's so eerie and oppressive, really bringing Yukari's more manipulative side to the forefront. The tense riff and the dramatic chorus make for one of the bleakest tracks in the series, and yet it's not even the heaviest track in this very album.
5/5 Stars
Doll Judgement
This just feels like a touched up version of Doll Judgement with punchier synths and a more powerful chorus. I already liked the original, and this is even better.
4/5 Stars
Border Between Dream And Reality
Where do I even start with this song? Right from that repetitious piano riff that kicks off the track, Border Between Dream And Reality grips you and doesn't let go. Add in the ethereal synths and rhythmic percussion and you get a build-up that's so hypnotic you barely notice it's a build-up. Then, ZUN throws in one of the craziest piano solos he's ever made, which all leads to a haunting yet heavenly version of the Child Of Are chorus. This is hardly the most melodic or catchy track in the series, but the sense of atmosphere it creates is unmatched. This is easily one of my favorite original album tracks, it's so captivating and ethereal.
5/5 Stars
Phantasm Machine - Phantom Factory
And then we get to this. Doll's Phantom was already amazing, but ZUN decided to go full electronica with his remix to amazing effect. This is to Touhou what Factory Investigation was to Kirby, a track that's so bleak, mechanical, and intense that it feels almost unfitting to this series. Of course, that's part of what makes Phantasm Machine so amazing. There's no other song in Touhou like this, just like the song before it, the dark atmospheric it generates is so compelling.
5/5 Stars
Mystic Maple - Eternal Night
Ending this amazing album on a high note, we get a remix of IN's staff roll theme that fixes my biggest issue with it. I love Maple Dream and I was so glad to see it come back in Imperishable Night, but the that version's chorus didn't really sound the best, especially compared to this remix. CoSD's version has a much larger build-up, clearer instruments, a more pleasing flute instrument replacing the slightly grating, and a more impactful chorus. It all adds up to what is the definitive version of Touhou's best credits theme.
5/5 Stars
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