Or because he's not a trained musician.  It's sad, but a lot of these old timers rely on orchestrators and arrangers to get their music up to the "live" quality that people expect these days it seems.  I still think the composition itself is solid.

With Uematsu, I even doubt this. Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey are easily two of his worst works and neither of them had a single track to interest me, while there were some ear-bleedingly bad tracks ("Eternity", "Seal is Broken", "BAD BUT BAT", "Howl of the Departed" and the list goes on).

One question for another SC88 pro user: Hyakutaro Tsukumo - Did Yuzo Koshiro really ask you for the instruction on distortion guitar?

Nobuo Uematsu needs better equipment and a stronger orchestrator, but I've found all his recent output enjoyable. Blue Dragon is a delightful whimsical score lacking a bit in the melodic department, Lost Odyssey is full of the intensity of his emotionally charged earlier works, and Anata o Yurusanai was a refreshing stylistic contrast. I can see why people would find them completely uninspiring, but I personally like them. And "Eternity" is awesome!

Question to Sakuraba: Have you considered contacting the Guinness World Records to get yourself credited as the most prolific composer of all time? I think you'd be eligible. If Mr. T can get in there, you certainly can.

I love that Sakuraba question, Chris!

Here's one for Mitsuda: With the passing of Eri Kawai, will you be actively searching for a vocalist that can bring the same ethereal beauty heard in pieces such as "Ring" and in the Kirite album for future works?

I know. I'm extremely sad. Although he did use Koko Komine in Sailing to the World, and as backing vocals in "Ring" so he might try using her. It won't be the same, but it's worth a shot.

One of my absolute favorite Uematsu tracks EVER, so poo poo on you. 

That's a shame - Blue Dragon was the first original thing he's done in eight years that caused me to actually pay attention instead of skipping past his tracks to get to the other composers'.