First up, as an example and also as a album I have recently bought.
Name: Gunslinger Girl Soundtrack
Artist: Toshihiko Sahashi
Genre: Anime Soundtrack
No. tracks: 39
This is the music used in the recent anime series of Gunslinger Girl. The album irself is very distinctive, a matt black cover with the Gunslinger Girl Logo and title in Gloss black.
Most of the album is orchestral in origin giving it an almost classical sound. Choral vocals on some tracks, TEMA I for example, give it a force of gravitas that you find in the anime. A lot of tracks are also done with a traditional Italian folk sound to them. This isn't surprising as the series is set in Italy. Don't be put off by the fact that it is full of strings and brass. Some of the tracks are bouncy and lively, others light and brezzy, but remember that the anime itself has a tragic theme to it, so some of the tracks will reflect this.
As it is a soundtrack album you will find that certain tunes will repeat themselves, but in a slighlty different form. One moment it could be a orchestra playing it, the next a piano solo.
Dispite being heavily orchestral there are some contempory sounding music on the album, most noticably the opening song, which is also the main theme to the anime, called "The Light Before We Land" by The Delgados. A lovely song that can really play on your mood, especially if you have seen the anime.
The album plays at just over a hour long and most of the tracks average about 1min 30. A good album to have as background music if you want to feel relaxed. Be warned this music can really play on your emotions if you have seen the anime, as you will associate with events from the series.
Overall I would say not for all music fans, especially if you are very much a rock or pop type of person, but if you like the occassional music not full of synths and drums then I would recommend this.
I'd give it 8 out of 10 and a thumbs up