The second soundtrack album for a television show is expected to include the less popular tracks. These are tracks that were used in side scenes, not related to the primary plot line, or tracks that were shortened when used in the show; or tracks that — let’s be honest — weren’t great to begin with. One or two super tracks might be intentionally included to force fans to buy all the albums, but usually, the first soundtrack album is all that is needed for a fan to get her “fix.” The second Ah! My Goddess television show soundtrack bucks this trend rather nicely, though I can’t exactly say why.

I’m as surprised by this as anybody. I’ve tried to figure this out for quite a while, but I still can’t put my finger on the exact reason why I like this album the best, out of all the Ah! My Goddess television soundtracks. The second album was the first album from the series that I was able to import, so maybe the fact that my initial impression came from this album comes into play. Maybe I just like the track selection more on this album, or maybe it’s just happenstance. Maybe a more detailed description of the album will help shed some light on this phenomenon.

As befits a show like Ah! My Goddess, most of the tracks are pretty mellow. Some are happy, some are introspective, and some are odd collections of synthesizer sounds, but in general, it’s pretty gentle stuff. The opening track fits nicely into this theme, though its heavy use of synth makes it sound like the mellowest techno track ever. Things really pick up on track 3, odaiyaka na ichinichi, which brings in the strings and woodwinds, and makes good use of them in a slow, happy piece that is used in the show to reflect the simple, everyday joy that Belldandy and Keiichi have. I happen to like it quite a bit. This style continues through track five.

Track six changes things up by becoming more dramatic. The heavy organ up front makes it seem dark, but then it turns into music that you could probably dance the tango to. Track seven is the obligatory dramatic chase/fight music, and not worthy of further reflection.

Then, the album returns to the slow, happy music. The pattern repeats itself a couple times, things get a bit more dramatic, then it slows down again, and the second closing theme ends the album. Let me be honest with you, here: if you have heard the first soundtrack album, this is more of the same. If you liked the music in the TV show, you will like the music on this album, just like with the first album, and just like the third album. They are all similar. That said, there are a few stand-out instrumental pieces that I very much enjoy off this album. These include the tracks sidecar ni notte, yukai na itazura, koisuru futari, and ashita ni mukatte.

I think, in the end, that the reason I like this album slightly better than the first is the fact that the arrangement of tracks on the album is slightly better. The lack of any seriously-scary tracks means that you can listen to the thing without getting knocked out of your zone. Even the dramatic music isn’t very intense; it just has a bit more urgency to it. But, really, it is more of the same. It’s an Ah! My Goddess album. You likely already know if it’s your kind of thing, or not.