I've heard Grant Kirkhope, the composer both of this music, say that he poured a lot of himself in the music he wrote for Viva Piñata, and you can hear every ounce of his care. This music is not harmonically challenging. Kirkhope's melodies are simple, often slow, and tender, but they demand to be heard. When I played Viva Piñata, I often paid more attention to the music than I did the gardening. Simple though it may be, it catches your ears in its grasp.You can hear the one inspiration the composer admits: Ralph Vaughan Williams. This album evokes the same moods you'll find in some of Vaughan Williams's music.My only complaint is that this album is not as comprehensive as I hoped. There are a couple pieces that were not included on this album, possibly due to space, time, or money limits. It has none of the piñata mating dances, those short, often vibrant tunes from the game. But the pieces included have a simple elegance, a unique grace. If you're a fan of video game scores, you should give it a listen.