If you’ve played Marvel Vs. Capcom 2, you’ll have already have had a head start on what kind of music there is to be heard in this game. I think that’s the easiest example of how Auto Modellista’s soundtrack rubs off on the listener are the reactions to a great deal of the audience who played and heard the strangely implemented light lounge-jazz music in the frantic crossover fighter. Rejoice sound designer Tetsuya Shibata, also known as “Cyber-T”, whose veteran status at Capcom ranges from many Capcom arcade game extraordinaires such as the "Street Fighter ZERO" series, and the acclaimed Dreamcast "Power Stone". Shibata’s strange choice for high-pitched MIDI trumpets and pianos galore on Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 is, in my opinion, one of the oddest, but possibly brilliant, albeit unconventional moves ever done as it blends with that laid-back announcer and that whole relaxing vibe that game expelled, to most, aurally. I think Shibata’s status at Capcom made him, in my book, one of the boldest sound designers for putting music that probably didn't belong in an off-the-wall fighter like Marvel Vs. Capcom 2. I suppose sometimes you have to do something that makes audiences cringe in order to achieve something of your own mark (or infamy) in the business… that’s the only conclusion I can make after I heard Shibata contributed almost the same for Auto Modellista. I should probably disclose I succumbed to my latent love of Marvel Vs. Capcom 2’s quirky audio after years of abhorring it – which probably has an effect on my thoughts regarding some of Auto Modellista.

The first disc begins with a bevy of shockin’ rockin’ techno tracks… a slew of them actually that submerge Disc 1 into a frenzy of loudness and lack of direction. In my opinion, these tracks are horrible and do not reflect the dominant second disc’s highlights as well as it being the other half of the soundtrack. Just so you know, fellow sound designer Isao Abe did a few tracks on the album, but I think you’ll be able to tell which ones are truly Shibata’s work. “Cruisin” starts off Shibata’s throwback to Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 with an absolutely wild jazz-funk tune… trumpets, percussion, and pianos set on high, looped and rambling on for six plus minutes. It’s an incredible piece, inspired by the likes of the world’s finest reaction after downing an excess of grounded coffee beans. “Opaque Air” is his next shining star, slower than the style before it, with some terrific piano work here and there. “In The Light” tends tostray from jazz, it’s more funky, borrowing from thelikes of Racing Lagoon or maybe Ridge Racer Type 4 with plenty more funk loungey dance with plenty of hints of that midnight vibe the game conveys.

Disc 2 is something entirely different. Aside from the first four tracks, which bleed over from disc 1, Shibata throws all his exciting “garage life” tracks. These are probably most of the gems on the disc that allows it to make it’s distinctive status; especially in the [sound] racing genre. Referring to Racing Lagoon again, Shibata’s style on most of these tracks are undeniably rooted, brimming in that style of acid jazz, peppered with his Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 sound in that there’s plenty of those trademark screaming trumpets but also those lounge keyboards heard in the above driving games. “Main Menu” starts off with a steady and cool rich trumpet and funky guitar all set
to a nice steady laid-back tune his relative style. The pulsating techno of “Change Cars” sounds like something typically out of an R4 or Racing Lagoon with it’s “midnight” sound, and then the extraordinary “Garage Tuning” with it’s haphazard and staccato percussion and keyboarding – an amazingly alternative/traditional piece of jazz which helps define the alien nature of Auto Modellista. “Race” sounds like an extra from Marvel Vs. Capon 2, again, while “Status” provides that funky-techno cool down vibe before the next track “Automodellista” enters more traditional jazz and elegant percussion, screaming organs that reeks of loungey coolness.

I don’t really know why I adore this album. Seeing that half the tracks on the disc are pretty godawful (namely the techno and rock tracks – which still have not become palatable after a year plus) and definitely do not call for loops (lasting six or seven minutes, most of these tunes might call for you to hit mute after two or three) thus inviting what seems to be a let’s-fill-the-disc-as-much-as-we-can deal with too many loops and even rubbish like “replicant” which has nothing to do with artists Abe or Shibata. I find whenever I need something snappy, energetic, and jazzy, I turn to a select bunch of tracks on Auto Modellista - and it probably skews the rest of my perspective about the album. There’s also no doubt this album could’ve been better, in my estimate, I’d like to hear more of Shibata’s funky-lounge jazz – which I’m admittedly in the minority of those who started off hating the Marvel Vs. Capcom 2’s music before realizing it’s intuitive. And then, there’s always that “it’s-so-bad-it’s-good” factor. I could be a victim…