Song of the Week - WEEK 70 Voting/WEEK 71 Nominating

I think this is the best week SotW has seen in quite some time. Even the weakest track is comparable to winners from other weeks. I get the feeling that nearly everyone brought out their big guns this week. That's how it should be every week, in my opinion.

Ballad of Hope - This is really sweet, very dreamlike. I can deeply appreciate the warm, cheery atmosphere it provides. Win or lose, I'll be holding onto Ballad of Hope.

Mysterious Island of the Island of Lost Souls Part 4 - This is another excellent nomination. The lighthearted piano is well-contrasted by the throbbing bass and syncopated percussion. The oboe/clarinet halfway through was a nice surprise. This track manages to be upbeat and interesting without being syrupy.

Main Theme - I love Solstice. In 1990, it was the top request on my Christmas list (I got it too). I nominated the Title Theme for "Follin Week" because I love the game so much. Follin is a pioneer whose body of work can be imitated but never duplicated. Yet, despite all these ticks in the "pros" slot, 'Main Theme' has always felt a tad sparse to me. In the game, it provides for some fantastic ambience. Out of the game, it's a mildly interesting listen, but it does get repetitive. Still, how many chiptunes can successfully pull off such ambience? It's a nice chiptune but it is unfortunately overshadowed by some very, very strong competition this week.

Satan - One thing I've noticed about some symphonic recordings is the deliberate use of echo to create the illusion of a grand playhouse. It's not something I care for personally. Aside from that complaint, 'Satan' is appropriately heavy-handed and aggressive. There's really no moment of peace during the track, only varying degrees of tension. Although the overall mood isn't of my preference, this is still a very successful track. Fans of moodier composition will thoroughly enjoy 'Satan'.

Outside Brandon's Home - Another soft, relaxed track. The panflute and piano synths are very enjoyable. The melody is somewhat subdued, compared to other tracks, but still prominent enough to matter. I didnt find myself as enthralled with Brandon's Home as others but you'll never find me saying it's a boring, undeserving track. There are days where this kind of music is precisely what I need.

Batland Castle - You know, I always wanted to play this game but never got my hands on a copy. I wonder if it's any good. The muddled nature of the SNES's soundchip is in full swing, as usual, but it's totally neutralized by a great combination of rhythm and melody. I was expecting something darker in mood, but this was a pleasant surprise. Now I've really gotta play Spike McFang.

Fly! - My nomination. Another feel-good track for this week too. I love the deep, involved progression used to lead into the main melody. The synths are airy and expressive. The melody is well-composed and memorable. There's a ton of variation, with numerous layers of sound that envelop the listener. And it's fun. Can't ask for much more than that. And yes, the tom-toms kick incredible ass.

Oriental Dark Flight - This track walks the fine line between being upbeat and dark. Yet it doesn't feel like it's of two minds. The progression is very natural, as the hastened tempo pushes the transitional elements through without causing them to feel disruptive. There's even a few moments of some rather emotional guitarwork, which felt refreshing after seven guitarless tracks. I think I like this one.


I seriously wish I had like eight or nine points to give out.

3 Points: ToBi D+VINE Complete Sound Track - Fly!
1 Point: Lost Files - Mysterious Story of the Island of Souls Part 4
1 Point: Anno 1602 (Game Rip) - Ballad of Hope
1 Point: WindAge - Oriental Dark Flight




I do believe this makes me eligible to nominate another track also.

Album: Snatcher>>Policenauts: Music Compilation of Hideo Kojima - Black Disc
Track: "Policenauts" End Title
Track Number: 18
Composer: Hideo Kijima, Kukeiha Club
Year:1998
Catalog Number: KICA-7888
Source: Chudah's Corner

This is probably the darkest nomination I've made so far. I felt like a momentary change of pace.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Kaleb.G

My next nomination:

=== Kaleb.G ===
* Album Title: Kirby Air Ride (Game Rip)
* Artist: Hirokazu Ando, Shogo Sakai, Tadashi Ikegami, Jun Ishikawa
* Track Title: SKY SANDS
* Source: Game rip; verified with game by Kaleb.
* File Location: http://host.kg13.com/music/Kirby%20A...KY%20SANDS.mp3
* Track Number: 06
* Year: 2003

Several weeks ago, a Kirby's Dreamland 2 nomination was refused, because, well, Kirby's pretty popular.

Wouldn't Kirby's Air Ride fall into this area too?

There's nowhere I can't reach.