Overview

It seems somewhere along the way, Sonic games suddenly adopted an American rock feel to its music and the spinoff Shadow the Hedgehog is no exception. Lost and Found: Shadow the Hedgehog Vocal Trax is a seven song assault of vocal rock tracks from the game.

Body

"I Am... All of Me" brings Crush 40's return from Sonic Heroes to give us more rock treats. Their music is catchy, polished, but edgy enough to keep one listening. The chorus is excellent but the rapping inbetween isn't the best combination I could think of. I prefer their Sonic Heroes songs to this one. It's very kid rock. Powerman 5000's "Almost Dead" continues to set the darker world of Shadow the Hedgehog with darker, gruffer voices and screaming vocals. This song works a lot better and sounds like a dead ringer of Marilyn Manson to the extent where he could almost file a law suit! However, the shouts "We're almost dead to the world" seem something of a turn-off for what used to be a children-targeted game.

"Waking Up" by Julien-K sounds like a 1990s Depeche Mode song crossed with someone like Fischerspooner. It's quite a unique and very catchy song with its completely digital approach! E.G.G.M.A.N. DOC. ROBEATNIX MIX" by Remix Factory is a rock-dance hybrid that pounds through at high speed like an American take on an Ayumi Hamasaki song. It's another great listen.

"The Chosen One" by A2 returns to the darker rock tones of before. It is another good tune, although not as immediately strong as the others around it. It has just as much staying power since it is pretty well-crafted. "All Hail Shadow" is very much a typical rock n roll song. It features some excellent guitar riffs, a typical straining male vocal, and a satisfying guitar solo to round things off. Crush 40 then returns for "All Fall Down". This features a piano intro by Yutaka Minobe before Jun Senoue and Johnny Gioeli rock out in their usual style. The hard rock returns for one of the best songs of the entire collection.

Summary

This vocal collection will definitely suit those who like their rock and guitars more than those that prefer pop or orchestrated music. While just composed of seven pieces, each song is catchy and well-conceived. I would definitely recommend giving it a listen before you judge it. A high quality package.