[SotW] Song of the Week: WEEK 119 Voting/WEEK 120 Nominating

I think I did good, but I've still got a bunch of comments saved in a text file for Weeks 21-32 from last time we tried to update the comments, so that's a good chunk of them good and done.

Spoiler:

21 ESPGALUDA Original Sound Track <N.T> - Fortress City
It comes together in the end of the track and it takes more than one listen for it to really catch on. Certain aspects of it seem uninspired and routine but is generally engaging, energetic without being to bubbly.
-Dr. Uzuki

22 Gitarooman Original Soundtrack <COIL> - The Legendary Theme (Album Version)
The guitar in this piece just totally owns me. It sounds more like a montage in a movie or something of that nature rather than something out of a video game. The reason I like this piece the best is because it had so much.....feeling behind it.
-Cyan_Ide

23 The Sims 2 (PC Game Rip) <Maxis> - Pop Station - Track 4
I had no idea music from The Sims could be this good. This is one very, very catchy song thanks to its well implemented pop-like elements (wihch makes sense, considering the track title). And it sounds vaguely like something from The Corrs. Defitniely deserving of points.
-Elorin

24 ZUNTATA LIVE 1998 güten Talk from the earth ~AUDIO FILE~ <Zuntata, Shuichiro "Shu" Nakazawa> - S.L.M.J.
From the best live vgm concert ever, we have an excellent on-stage performance by one of the best (and arguably THE best) vgm band ever. While not my favourite track from the show (I admit it took a few listens before it grew on me after hearing other great tracks like "Daddy Mulk", "Live at the Moon" and "Grid Seeker"), it certainly is an excellent track like no other you'll hear. That's the great thing about Zuntata, they're so unique it's almost like they're a sub-genre of vgm unto their own. Unlike others that try to be different, Zuntata manages to be great at the same time.

Onto the track itself. The weird sound effects and the female voice really fit in well with this piece. A groovy tune being played by Furukawa on the shoulder keyboard for the first 2:30 followed by a seamless change into the slower portion of the track. For those who won't bother seeing the video, there's a slip-up by the percussionist (Shu) at 3:58 where he accidentally tossess away his baton in the middle of his solo. He has to scamper off stage to retreive it as the crowd cheers. The drummer does a good job of keeping the beat going while waiting for Shu to return and complete his solo. After that bit of comic releif, Takahashi picks up with a decent 20 second guitar solo before Furukawa and Yack take turns playing out the rest of the track on keyboard. Overall, nice variation with high-energy and slower parts mixed in with cool percussions and an above-average melody. While I see many people not giving it a chance because of it's sound effects, don't dismiss this band because of it. They grew on me and if you give them a chance, they'll grow on you too. Have a listen to the other tracks I mentioned from this show which you'll probably like better.
-_DH_

25 Tales of Phantasia (SNES Game Rip) <Motoi Sakuraba, Shinji Tamura, Ryota Furuya> - Freeze
What really stands out, to me, about this track is the tone used. Unlike other icy themed tracks, which stray toward a more cheerful, almost Christmas-like theme, this takes the opposite approach. The track starts with a chilly piano, and clarinet introduction, which is accompanied by sleigh bells. The bridge is really neat, with a synth clarinet solo that furthers the dark theme by like something out of a solemn march.

This leads into the main event: a wonderful flute melody that is perfectly accompanied by synth horns and strings. The sequencing in this section is rather complicated, yet the various instruments flow almost perfectly together to create a dynamic, fluid composition that represents some of Sakuraba's finest works.
-Excrono

26 Batman Returns (Sega CD Red Book Audio) <Spencer Nilsen> - City Limits
The first time I discovered this track, I was expecting a synthesizer-oriented piece. What a nice surprise that was the guitar (which I love the sound of)! This track can be soothing (chorus effect, some guitar parts), but also engaging at the same time with the backbeat and the faster melodies. Also, the fact the guitar isn't "static" gives it a passionate aspect.
-Rimo

27 Deimos Rising (Game Rip) <Ben Spees> - Deimos Game 1
I knew about the poor samples when I nominated this song, but I've always thought that this one has some great composition. The track kicks into high gear immediately with a tense string loop and increasingly forceful brass fragments, followed by three repetitions of a phrase, culminating in a large organ climax. Next, you get let down by a smaller, more melodic techno section with a wandering synth leading the way. The orchestra returns with a slightly more subdued tone, introducing the final section, heralded by a variation of the string loop that began the song. Once again, a sequence of three instances of a phrase are played with more intensity each time, ending in a triumphant woodwind burst silenced by a stroke of the strings.

Some might call it clichéd, but in my mind, it keeps everything interesting perfectly throughout.
-CHz

28 Game Music Graffiti <Mario Freaks Orchestra, Nintendo Sound Staff> - Famicom Detective Club ~Ushiro ni Tatsu Shoujo~
This is a kooky little piece that practically oozes 1980's Miami Vice vibes. It's got claves, a sultry sax, and the synth effects we all remember from those days of yore. It even has a hair metal riff in there for good measure. I could do without said riff, but this track captures that 1980's SoCal/Florida atmosphere perfectly.
-orion_mk3

29 Ganbare Goemon ~Deroderodochu Obake Tenkomori~ Original Game Soundtrack <Goemon Production Team> - Underground Paradise (Underworld Castle)
REWRITE!
While I own this game, I never got so far as to actually hear this music in context due to a lack of controller pack. I'm a great fan of the MNST (the prequel) soundtrack and when that USF set was released so was this one. This soundtrack is very much comparable to its predecessor, so I advise all of you who did enjoy MNSG to check out the rest of this soundtrack.

Anyway, the track. Neat intro, followed by a great, albeit short melody that doesn't get too old despite its length and speed. Full set of instruments really helps this. Nice closure which works with the songs fast pace.
-TCK

30 Wolf Fang ~ Tumble Pop <Gamadelic> - Rohga (Wolf Fang)
This is exactly the kind of cheezy 80's synth rock you should have come to expect from me by now. While the melody is just ok, it's the solos that really make this one fly. The first half is decent but the track really takes off at 2:39 when the intro is repeated before moving into an excellent guitar solo. The final solo is one of the best I've heard in vgm - the synth and guitar go back and forth before fading off as they play in unison. I don't see how it can be seen as droning - especially the synth portion at 4:54-5:17 which is just plain catchy. Hiroaki Yoshida sure knows his solos as evidence from the Skull Fang tracks and the arrangement of Ken's stage from the Street Fighter II Tribute album. This track as well as others from the "Delicious Selection Gamadelic" album solidifies his spot as one of the best soloists to be heard in vgm.
-_DH_

31 Atelier Iris ETERNAL MANA 2 Original Soundtrack <Ken Nakagawa, Daisuke Achiwa> - Blazing Earth
It sounds really nice and has some unusual synth. It also picks up quite in the end, which is always good, though some of the motives have been repeated just a little bit too overtly. It's rather a minor complain though.
-Djinova

32 Seal of Evil (Game Rip) <Brahma Studios> - Dream
I appreciated the light, airiness of this track. At first it didn't seem like much but I quickly grew to enjoy the moments between each note as well as the notes themselves. I'm not always fond of ambience, but this works for me. I am given images of both feudal Japan and the tribes of South America; it really is a soothing mixture. I love native rhythms and this so reminds me of the strong, celebrational songs our ancestors used to play. I'll be listening to this plenty from now on.
-Crash Landon

May nominate later.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Here's your nomination:

Composer: Matt Gray
Title: The Mansion
Game: Last Ninja 2 (C64 Rip)
Track: 12
Year: 1988
It's now in the Nominations folder.

And I agree about bringing SotW back to GFF exclusively. It's a different time now.

How ya doing, buddy?

We asked before when the idea of spreading SotW to other forums came about and the answer was no then. Their rules on copyrighted material essentially forbids Song of the Week from operating there.

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

Also, there is at least one nomination not yet honoured since the crash (because I couldn't be arsed to repost it, naturally).

How ya doing, buddy?