I just got my copy last weak.  Horribly disappointed.  This is potentially Kikuta's blandest work.  Aside from a handful of "good" tracks, the album feels like it's full of a bunch of overly simplistic rejects.  This is compared to the following: SD2, SD3, Soukaigi, Koudelka, Lost Files, Alphabet Planet, and Concerto Gate.  I have not heard any of Kikuta's visual novel stuff or...whatever...  Shining Hearts definitely goes the way of Koudelka's ambient music and a large chunk of Lost Files for me: rarely ever going to be touching it again.

Revised: I was trying to give it more of a chance in my car to and from work... but just today my copy of The Last Ranker OST arrived.  I'm only on track 5 of disc 1 and I can already tell you I am VERY enthusiastic to switch out Shining Hearts for this tomorrow morning!!

I enjoyed Shining Hearts.  I honestly think it's his best work since SD3.  I haven't liked any of that visual novel or solo album garbage he's put out.  It's a very simple album, no doubt, but I definitely enjoyed it.  It reminds me of a simpler Dark Cloud soundtrack, which I loved.  *shrug*.

Oh no way!  For me Soukaigi is incredible, many tracks on Alphabet Planet are quite good, and then Concerto Gate is very pretty/enjoyable.

And I love Dark Cloud's soundtrack...a lot.  I can't really see the comparison.

After listening to some *ahem* samples from Shining Hearts, I've got to agree.  I was super excited about the album and now probably won't be picking it up at all.  Really, really disappointed.  Also quoted the part about Last Ranker because it's freaking amazing.  Was worried that Shimomura was waning as I feel Mitsuda and Uematsu have (in my opinion, of course) after the weaker Heroes of Mana a couple years back, but Bowser's Inside Story and Last Ranker have been freaking amazing.

(and too bad on Kikuta - Soukaigi is one of my favorite OSTs ever!)

I'm not afraid to admit I downloaded the full album and I'm glad I did, because I'd feel an idiot for spending money on this.

I deleted it immediately.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen...

Except, you know, for Shimomura, because the Last Ranker is all kinds of awesome.

Based on the reception, maybe I should try Shining Hearts, since I don't like pretty much everything composed by Kikuta (Of Square's golden age composers, he's my least favorite, seconded by Shimomura). On the other hand, I still can't make up my mind as to a new Cave album by Virt this month, especially after Espgaluda II BL or Ketsui/DOJ Extra set that high standard.

Been listening to this lately.  It's not amazing like his Samurai Champloo and No More Heroes 1 stuff, but it's pretty darn good.

Dangan Ronpa kicks so much ass, it was full worth the +$40 I paid to get it.

I liked the Persona 3 & 4 soundtracks a lot, Dangan Ronpa's music is also very much in the same vein, and I like it even better.

Still, it has cold, dark tones to it, so I'm saving it for next Winter.