[SotW] Song of the Week - WEEK 187 Voting/WEEK 188 Nominating

For an experiment, this was not an auspicious start.

3 Points: Osaisentoka no Karaoke - Alice→Dere (Karaoke Ver)

And that's where my ability to make a decision ends this week. The rest of the tracks, not a single one had an effect on me other than to shrug and move along to the next. Just being honest with you guys.

But in order for Alice-Dere to receive credit for the points it deserves, I've gotta pad the voting for two or three other pieces I don't feel strongly about. I feel a bit hypocritical since, if it were up to me, there'd only be one placing track this week. I just don't feel as if any of the rest are sincerely worthy of enshrinement as the so-called "Best in VGM." They're okay - none are hideous or anything - but they're also quite pedestrian, not examples of outstanding or unique composition.

This is why I think I prefer eight tracks; the chances of finding and choosing three quality tracks is improved with eight, whereas with six we find ourselves in the situation at hand where we're voting in one good track, then debating the best of the worst. I don't feel good about the implication that this week's runners-up are of the same caliber as the runners-up from any other given week.

But I truly like Alice-Dere, and want it to win hands-down, so here's the rest of my points in no special order:

1 Point: Okami (Game Rip) - Wep'Keer
1 Point: Alphabet Planet - T
1 Point: ixion - End of a dream, false memories -others-

Please forgive me for being negative this week.

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I'm okay with the gaining since I agree that the songs should be presented on an even sonic level. I've only ever complained that a song was too faint but a few times, and I think that in those cases the song was originally recorded at a low volume and the gaining probably raised it a bit, in fact.

As CHz said, songs recorded at an initially high volume will subconsciously attract more attention, and that's not always a fair psychological edge.

I mean, here we are at Week 187 and we've come this far, gaining all the while. Is it seriously that critical that we need to change it now? It's been a relative non-issue for what, four years now?

How's this: if a nominator has concerns that mp3gaining will diminish the listening experience, when making the nomination, explicitly request that it not be gained. It can be a preferential option for the nominator; otherwise gaining will remain the default.

Does that sound like a fair resolution?

There's nowhere I can't reach.