Song of the Week - WEEK 51 Voting/WEEK 52 Nominations

I have a question about the elegibility of the next track I'm thinking of nominating. It's a track from the "Casiopea vs The Square" live concert and the track in question was composed by Issei Noro who hasn't composed original music for a video game but he did arrange some tracks from one of the S.S.T. Band G.S.M. albums. I know we decide things on a case-by-case basis so allow me to state my case for Casiopea. They have been quite influental on a number of vgm artists including Hiroyuki Iwatsuki, Ayako Saso, S.S.T. Band, Kukeiha Club, Woodsoft and probably many others. Issei Noro is the founder of the band and has composed most of their material. The keyboard player (Minoru Mukaiya) has infact composed music for the Sangokushi and Sengoku Musou series. The drummer (Akira Jimbo) played in the Rockman X arrange album. Although Issei Noro hasn't composed original music for a video game, him and his band have made contributions to vgm and for this reason I would like you to consider making one of his tracks eligible. One of the tracks I'm considering has Casiopea playing on stage with T-Square so even Masahiro Andoh would be involved. If it is allowed, I'll also make a dvd rip of the track available. If not, I'll just nominate an inferior Casiopea track composed by Mukaiya and zip up my favourite tracks from the band as I've been doing my last few times up. Though I'd much prefer to showcase my preferred track this time.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by CHz

Same thing that killed Sunnyside Cruise (which I still think is bloody fantastic, by the way).

Well, Sunnyside Cruise got killed because the original composer (Mitsuro Sutoh) had no involvement in vgm. Issei Noro on the other hand is the face of Casiopea and has at least arranged tracks on an official vgm album. It would be kinda like if Ryo Yonemitsu was the leader of his own band and asking if one of his original compositions would be eligible. Yonemitsu has primarily arranged tracks and never really composed any vgm originals (save for that one little track he composed for Ys III but let's pretend that never happened). I would think in such a case, the answer would be yes considering his past contributions to the world of vgm.

Originally Posted by CHz

However, if the group has as much influence and as many connections as you say it does

I can provide links to pages that prove the influences I've mentioned if need be.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I hate derailing a voting thread with my petty little nomination so let's do this week's nominators some justice with some votes and comments since the thread at slightlydark is pretty much dead. Hopefully next week when we're down to two forums, we can split the voting and nomination threads again unless people don't mind discussion of nominations amidst a voting thread.

Overall, this was a slightly above average week. Funny how the first four tracks were rock-jazzin' while the latter half were orchestratin'. Guess which side I took?

(2 points) Clockwork Knight ~ Pepperouchau's Adventure - Never Say Die!
A solid piece of improv jazz with a good melody although I also didn't like that part between 0:41-:52 which gets repeated a couple more times before the track ends. The solos were the highlight of this piece with my favourite section being the trumpet solo from 2:15-2:43.

(2 points) Jak X - Combat Racing (Game Rip) - Track 5
This one has a strong buildup and the guitar melody that ensues is pretty good although a bit repetitive. I can't help but feel this track could have been so much better if it was developed further. Nice drum samples though. A keeper nonetheless.

(1 point) MERI+DIA ~Maria Diana~ Original Sound Track - All charges
This track doesn't waste any time getting right into the sweet melody which is like going straight for my weakness. A fun, bouncy track which you can't help but tap your toe to.

(1 point) Armed Police Batrider (Game Rip) - ST5 Chasing Gang's Need Speed
Sounds like something that might come from one of the Zuntata members which isn't a bad thing. The melody is a bit quirky and the light jazzy touches were nice. I would have gone with "Chop Me Again" but this was an ok choice from a pretty good soundtrack.

The rest in order of preference:

Phantasy Star Online Original Soundtrack - After the Story Part 2
Nice instrumentation but the buildup was too long and by the time this track reaches the main melody, it's almost over. Not a bad piece but has some obvious flaws.

Orchestral Game Concert 3 - Hanjuku Hero 'Divertissement ~ The Fourth Movement'
I liked the bouncy xylophone sections but not the first two slower orchestral passages. The ending was quite good and overall, the track exceeded my expectations .

Wander and the Colossus ~Roar of the Earth~ Original Soundtrack - Revived Power ~Battle With the Colossus~
This soundtrack has got to be the most overrated soundtrack in recent memory considering how people have been raving about. It never did anything for me and I had to get rid of it as soon as I listened to it (save for two pretty decent tracks: "The Farthest Land" and "Swift Horse"). It sounds like your typical overdramatic film music with an average melody and while it may be appropriate to hear stuff like this while attempting to conquer a mountain of a beast, it's just not something I want to hear outside of the game.

Peter Jackson's King Kong - The Official Game of the Movie (Game Rip) - Ann's Theme
It's got a decent melody, I'll give it that. But the way it was executed and the overall feel of this track nearly put me to sleep. I think it was mainly due to the lack of percussions and bass but that may not have been appropriate for the scene it accompanied. Nonetheless, I need some semblance of tempo in my music and stuff like this usually doesn't stay on my hard drive. That's film music for ya so no surprises here.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.