Song of the Week - WEEK 91 Voting/WEEK 92 Nominating

This week's theme: Understatement. Most all of these pieces, if not decidedly scaled back for their entire length, have good chunks of restraint about them. Not a wholly bombastic, shake-the-heavens-and-earth track in the bunch, no catchy baselines or lengthy developing electronica. But nothing crosses the threshold into easy listening slop either. It is a pretty interesting week. All of the darkhorse favorites are wrestling with each other, no attention grabber to steal the spotlight.

Atelier Iris ETERNAL MANA 2 Original Soundtrack - Gentle Breeze and the Earth

The thing about this piece, it's pleasing on the ears plenty, but most of it feels like it should be accompanying something more substantial. Nice and airy. Far too airy to stick.

Boomshine (Game Rip) - Excremental Intermission (Boomshine Mix)

A different sound coming off a piano piece than what I'm used to. It's playful but not without some undertones of weight. The brief experience of this track is rewarding enough that no issue needs to be taken about not being crafted in a more standard sense into a full track.

Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun Soundtrack - Pharotek

Egyptian meets beatz. A gimmick, but an effective one to my ears. Makes me think of a more refined Inscription on a Tombstone from Valkyrie Profile. Not used so brilliantly to make me love it, but it's definitely engaging for the bulk of it. A contender for points.

Fortune Quest Roll the Dice - Dash de GO!!

Endearing from the off kilter first second, and a cool blend of plenty of styles, but not over seasoned with a single one. Melody's farily solid too, if repetitive.

Genso Suikoden Music Collection ~Celtic Collection 2~ - Emotional Theme ~Genso Suikoden~

Okay, so there is one showboat in the bunch, but that celtic burst of sound, the obvious showstealing section of the week is only half the story. I think I appreciate the carefully paced every other section of the song a pinch more than what it leads up to, although the entire package impresses.

Ragnarok Online 2 The Gate of the World (Game Rip) - Intro Theme

Boardering on sublime, but not quite there, not quite as ethereal as Intro Theme would like to pass itself off as. Instrumentals are just a bit sparse, but are sharp where they're at. A pretty piece but I could pass on it.

Trigger Heart EXELICA OriginalSoundtrack - SOUND ANCHOR - STAGE 1 ~Exelica, Dancing at Dawn~

Mega Man X-esque. A decent synthy departure from the rest of the offerings in the week, and pretty slick in its own way. It brings in piano for back up which honestly made me given it more attention than I would have otherwise. It really doesn't stand out like a track of this genre demands to to be in the running.

Way of the Samurai 2 Original Sound Track - Souls Bonded and Split

I don't know what that flute like instrument is called, but there's a hell of a lot of emotion behind it's performance. The strings too. There are a ton of nice little touches to the backing of this piece as well. If I would of heard this outside of SotW, I would of nominated it myself. A lovely, lovely selection.

Point Spread:

2 points - Way of the Samurai 2 Original Sound Track - Souls Bonded and Split
2 points - Fortune Quest Roll the Dice - Dash de GO!!
1 point - Genso Suikoden Music Collection ~Celtic Collection 2~ - Emotional Theme ~Genso Suikoden~
1 point - Boomshine (Game Rip) - Excremental Intermission (Boomshine Mix)

Sorry I just ran out of points - Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun Soundtrack - Pharotek

How ya doing, buddy?