^{Cowboy Bebop OST}(Original Soundtrack) are one of the best works out there in the anime scene. Created by the fabulous Yoko Kanno, well known for her creativity and for mixing several different styles with great results, Cowboy Bebop Ost's not only represent the anime show itself, they are a fantastic showcase of Yoko Kanno ease of creating quite unique tunes. In this case, the Jazz, Blues and Bebop are predominant references, but not the only type of music genres you'll find in Cowboy Bebop Ost...

There are several Cowboy Bebop OST's. At the moment there are eight individual works, being three of them classic original soundtracks of the series, one Ost of the Cowboy Bebop Movie (Knocking on Heavens Door), and the other works a remix of some of the themes featuring one or two songs that for one reason or another did not fit in the 3 mais Ost's.

I will focus my review on the first four Cowboy Bebop Ost, because they are, in my oppinion, the best albums and the ones worth buying. As for the others, I recommend them only to the ultimate fans, because they do not add that much to the great library of Cowboy Bebop songs.

Cowboy Bebop first original soundtrack features some of the most know songs of the anime series. It focuses on Jazz and Bebop, with several piano arrangements, but also features quite a few more experimental tunes, that work quite well overall.

Of course, top spot goes to the fabulous Tank!, featured in the opening sequence of Cowboy Bebop. It's a quite ear-catching song and makes you understand from the start that this show is a step beyond!

Some of my other favorites are Space Lion, a blues tribal-themed song that closes the first half of Cowboy Bebop Show (at episode 13). This track really gets on the listeners heart and mind, bringing a relaxed feel to us and an everything-that-happens-happens pleasing state-of-mind.

I just love Piano Black! If I remember correctly first time I heard it was on an action sequence in the episode Faye Valentine was first introduced (yes, the casino one!). It provided such an intense feeling to the scene, because this song is all about speed. It provides us with a sense of rush, and you can almost see in your mind the piano rush of the performer fingers! WoW!

Rain is of course, another of the crowd's favorite! From the mythical fifth episode Ballad of the Fallen Angel, that really starts to set up the plot of Cowboy Bebop, this vocal song is just beautiful... I know the lyrics by heart and sometimes I still sing a bit of it, particularly when I'm having some stressful day (mother use to say, if you want you'll find a way... but mother never danced through fire shower!).

For sentimental reasons (and because I'm a sucker for music box songs) I have to make a special mention to the last song of this album Memory... It's such a sad tune, that evokes so many strong feelings in me... This one is special, representing Spike's sad past and feelings towards Julia...

• Track 01: Tank! (3:30)
• Track 02: Rush (3:34)
• Track 03: Spokey Dokey (4:04)
• Track 04: Bad Dog No Biscuits (4:09)
• Track 05: Cat Blues (2:35)
• Track 06: Cosmos (1:36)
• Track 07: Space Lion (7:10)
• Track 08: Waltz for Zizi (3:29)
• Track 09: Piano Black (2:47)
• Track 10: Pot City (2:14)
• Track 11: Too Good Too Bad (2:34)
• Track 12: Car 24 (2:49)
• Track 13: The Egg and I (2:42)
• Track 14: Felt Tip Pen (2:39)
• Track 15: Rain (3:23)
• Track 16: Digging My Potato (2:34)
• Track 17: Memory (1:31)

I can say without a doubt that the second Cowboy Bebop OST is the most experimental one. It has a ridiculously miscellaneous amount of music styles and genres. You could even call it a mishmash of songs. But you know what, most of them are quite good! And that's why it's a great album!

As in the previous album, Ill start with the 'star' song. Yes, it's Green Bird, alright! Some people buy this cd for this music alone. Of course, if you are remembered, this is the tune from the church's stained glass smashing and falling of Spike, in Ballad of Fallen Angels. That sequence of Cowboy Bebop anime, where flashbacks of Spike's past are shown is of a stunning beauty!

This "No Disc" OST is completely crazy. You'll find some great country theme songs, like Don't bother None, Forever Broke or the awesome American Money (remember the Mercenary Cowboy TV show?), quieter musics sang in Frech! and English (won't name that ones, you'll find out ^_^') and even Heavy Metal sang in English (I think it's english anyway, eheh) called LIVE in Baghdad!

A great groovy experimental song, with nice lyrics is Want it all back. Listening to it will make you rock your head and sing along this easygoing and joyful track.

And last, but not least, you're gonna be mesmerized (at list I am) when you listen to Gabriela Robin interpretation of Cats on Mars. With that imaginary language and that cute childish voice you'll think yourself in a kind of dream world, waking only at the end of 2 minutes and 44 seconds. Bliss!

• Track 01: American Money (1:07)
• Track 02: Fantaisie Sign (5:19)
• Track 03: Don't bother none (3:39)
• Track 04: Vitamin A (0:10)
• Track 05: LIVE in Baghdad (3:22)
• Track 06: Cats on Mars (2:44)
• Track 07: Want it all back (4:01)
• Track 08: Bindy (2:18)
• Track 09: You make me cool (3:11)
• Track 10: Vitamin B (0:08)
• Track 11: Green Bird (1:53)
• Track 12: ELM (5:04)
• Track 13: Vitamin C (0:06)
• Track 14: Gateway (2:58)
• Track 15: The Singing Sea (4:39)
• Track 16: The EGG and YOU (3:42)
• Track 17: Forever Broke (3:14)
• Track 18: Tank! Power of Kung-FOOD Remix (5:28)

BLUE, the third Cowboy Bebop OST is my favorite one. I like it more than the other because I enjoy quieter and more melodic tunes. I also am a sucker for jazz and blues and this is the album that features most of this music genre. I think of the 3 serie soundtracks this one is the most balanced of them all in terms of song selection. I'm sure you'll like it as well :)

This album starts with a heavy-hitter! Blue, the song that ends this fantastic anime, an otherworldly melody that seems to be sung by angels, has made quite a few people I know shed tears (myself included). Yes, it's that beautiful! You're gonna carry that weight!

After this one, you'll not land on your feet, because Words that We Couldn't Say starts playing and that voice, those lyrics, that guitar play!!! Damn, it goes straight from your ears to your heart and makes you think of some moments of your past. A fantastic song!

Damn, what can I say, this cd has quite some sad songs. Blue really is the best name for it. From Adieu (goodbye, so long, Adieu... how many times have I sung this?!?), to another music box rose that's Stella By Moor and not forgetting the Blues / Jazz hits of Road to the West and Farewell Blues, this is an album not recommended to hear if you are on a depressed mood.

But not only of sad songs BLUE lives by. Another of my favorites is the classical epic Ave Maria (sang at the opera in the anime, remember?) and Gabriela Robin presents us with another jingle, this time the huper-duper fantasbulastic We Qui Non Coin!

And, proving what I said early, this album ends as it started. With a great song! Hidden and saved to the last, here comes... The Real Folks Blues, the full song, another one featured in last outstanding episode of Cowboy Bebop anime! Hell ya, this album rocks!

• Track 01: Blue (5:05)
• Track 02:Words That We Couldn't Say (3:29)
• Track 03: Autumn in Ganymede (3:55)
• Track 04: Mushroom Hunting (3:19
• Track 05: Go Go Cactus (2:38)
• Track 06: Chicken Bone (4:56)
• Track 07: The Real Man (4:01)
• Track 08: New York Rush (5:05)
• Track 09: Adieu (5:40)
• Track 10: Call Me Call Me (4:43)*
• Track 11: Ave Maria (5:49)
• Track 12: Stella By Moor (1:09)
• Track 13: Flying Teapot (3:33)
• Track 14: We Qui Non Coin (3:44)
• Track 15: Road to the West (2:56)
• Track 16: Farewell Blues (5:31)
• Track 17 (Hidden): The Real Folk Blues (No 3-4 -See You Space Cowboy-) (5:56)

Future Blues is the Cowboy Bebop Knockin on Heavens Door Movie original soundtrack. As in the tradition of Cowboy Bebop's albums, this one has multiple genres for you to enjoy, with a wide variety of different sounds that will appease several audiences. The difference is you'll find a different spice in this recipe: arabic influences, which goes along quite well with the movie.

After you put the CD in your player and press that play button, you can get a little shock. In 24hours Open debut you'll find a mix of innocence and horror that will make you want to revisit the movie and all it's little innuendos ^_^'

Following that one, here comes a pure rock song, full of power. Yep, this one is pushing the sky! It's so good I even used it as background music for a AMV I created several years ago.

Maybe my favorite song of the album, What planet is this?? is a groovy song, with a catchy melody that makes you wanna dance in your share. It's also related to one of the most funny scenes in the movie, the special "bombing" in those old, old planes! And that always brings a smile to my face!

Then there's 7 minutes, a song that starts at with a slow and eerie rhythm but after it it picks up the pace quite well and delivers a blow to your head... A good blow, I mean, eheh!

There's much, much more nice songs for you to discover. I'll just name two more, for my reputation's sake (O.o) where you'll find what I mean when I speak of the arabic influences in Future Blues - Musawe and No Money. Enjoy!

• Track 01: 24hours OPEN
• Track 02: Pushing the sky
• Track 03: Time to know? - Be waltz
• Track 04: Clutch
• Track 05: MUSAWE
• Track 06: Yo pumpkin head
• Track 07: Diggin'
• Track 08: 3.14
• Track 09: What planet is this??
• Track 10: 7minutes
• Track 11: Fingers
• Track 12: Powder
• Track 13: Butterfly
• Track 14: No reply
• Track 15: Dijurido
• Track 16: Gotta knock a little harder
• Track 17: No money
• Track 18: Rain (demo version)