Martial Law - Final Fantasy VIII (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjTw1Wcjzf8) by Nobuo Uematsu
I remember this song Fondly, because it had THE City/Metropolitan Sound. It didn't feel to evoke much of a Martial Law Enforcement, but it does evoke the kind of feel that big cities have, the oppressive and criminalistic smell on the streets. But compositionally speaking this song is fucking amazing. It reminds me a little to the Theme Songs of the Law & Order series and Seinfeld LOL. I quite love the Bass and the Interlude is something to hold in mind, because it's that small yet clever silence that carries you then into a great and suprising Urban Wind to your ears. In Contrast to Under Her Control (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKI8RFr0Ec8), that evokes a Chicago Pub Nights feel that the Movies show you. Martial Law, brings the day to day life of a Citizen that carries his life with Tall Builidings Observing him as he walks on the streets.
It did brought something new to the FF Series this song and I applaud to that.
Coming from me, people wouldn't be surprised if I bring these 2 on table.
Sometimes I think people excede in overcriticizing FFXII. Story(The Classic SW Rip-Off Argument), Characters(The Classic Non-Developed yada yada), Gameplay(kinda obvious to be a hater because it brought changes y' know), Music(Wash your ears and pay more attention if you think that the music is dull or boring, it's complex and does not borrow Rock or Pop elements to make it an easy listen, it's just that.), you name it. I would Metion the Whole FFXII soundtrack as kind of Underrated(Not as much as XI though, Naoshi Mizuta kinda blew it up by trying to carry the flag of the PE franchise back in 2000, so he isn't quite respected as he should be. In the end Square must be the real guilty though.). But considering it's a game set in another world, related to other games that were not Incorporated on the Main series, it's understandable the Mixed and Repulsive feel among the Haters and FF Veterans.
After ranting a little, let's go with the selected songs.
A Land of Memories - Final Fantasy XII (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb0W0M0Pc-M) by Hayato Matsuo
This song in particular NOT Composed by Hitoshi Sakimoto, actually brought by Matsuo. Has the Peculiarity to continue with the trend of the style of the whole soundtrack and it incorporates the firm of a composer that made his name more doing Music for Anime rather than video games.
At start the song tries to convince you that it will be a happy tune, but just a few seconds and you can feel the contrast between the Light hearted intro against a Diminished melody that represents the sad and the grim, with this combination it results in a Nostalgic Ambrosia that carries you through a beautiful Intelude that tells you that it is indeed a song about Memories.
And the Misty Landscape of the Nebreus Deadlands fits.
The Salikawood (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhUYPy7GVn4) - Final Fantasy XII by Hitoshi Sakimoto
Selecting a Sakimoto song from all those tracks was not an easy thing.
But considering that the general critic is that this soundtrack receives is the unfounded belief that it Lack of any Melodies. Here's a track that says it actually has plenty of melodies.
Salikawood starts with a Playful melody that's accompanied with some beautiful and spiritualistic choirs that shift into flutes and Harps.
This Melody continues to Evolve and it Carries you away to a beautiful and Pronunced hit of Orchestra that feels like flying over a fey and magical landscape, graceful for a Fantasy setting.
The works form the Brass is superb at putting feets to a song without soil and hard ground.
Kudos Arthur for bringing The Lunarians. I seize this oportunity to mention another great song.
Within the Giant - Final Fantasy IV (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq3Xo84PxsA)
The Amazing thing about FFIV Soundtrack is the use of Drums as base to Carry the listener with a good rhythm throughout the whole soundtrack on a Medieval and Celtic Flavoured Tunes.