[SotW] Song of the Week - WEEK 125 Voting/WEEK 126 Nominating

Here's my new nomination.

* Album Title: DIGITAL DEVIL SAGA ~Avatar Tuner~ 1 & 2 Original Sound Track: Integral
* Artist: Shoji Meguro
* Track Title: Egg of the Universe
* Source: Game Music Revolution
* File Location: http://208.53.158.138/soundtracks/di...e-universe.mp3
* Disc Number: 3 (of 4)
* Track Number: 24
* Catalogue Number: VGCD-0021
* Year: 2005

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3 points: Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3 Original Soundtracks - Phantom of Blue
I was actually planning to nominate this track myself. It's packed with energy like a pinnacle track should be, and the robot voice is icing on the cake. This track (like the rest of the album) is not music designed to listen to at your desk or whatever. It's driving music. It's "blast this shit while going 80 up the 101 along the coast north of Ventura" music. If you don't have that, you lose a lot of impact. I had that, so maybe I'm biased. Either way, I'm giving this three points.

2 points: History Repeats Itself Abandoner Lostchild coupling soundtrack - Abandoner - Abandoner Main Title
I loved this album upon first hearing it. I can't remember if I even nominated from it, or planned to, but it's mos def SotW worthy. I love this atmosphere, and the melody is great too.

1 point: Within a Deep Forest (Game Rip) - Scales of Zordium
I haven't really listened to the music outside of the game, but there are some tight tracks. I don't remember if I've heard this one, but it's very chillax. There's a part in here that reminds me of Secret of Mana. Nice.

Everything else this week was good. Pleasing.

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

CAL ~ The Eternal Beautiful Girls - The Continent of Time

Definitely in the vein of the classic Japanese VGM style, this track is actually good with its driving beat and hooking melodies. The, hmm... guitar(?) solo gave me an earache as it's just too high-pitched/piercing. As a whole, I was entertained, but not astonished.

Doki Doki Majo Shinpan! ORIGINAL SOUND TRACK - Forget not Tomorrow (Akuji Nishimura's Theme)

Well assembled lively rock song, but suffers from a relatively poor sound production (too tiny for something coming from a recent album). Getting over this, the composition is quite amusing, yet probably not something that I'll remember one year from now.

History Repeats Itself Abandoner Lostchild coupling soundtrack - Abandoner - Abandoner Main Title

Definitely share similarities with the melodic side of Silent Hill (down to the vinyl playback noise!), which in my book is a good thing. Smooth and laid-back melancholic atmosphere that does well of not falling into complete darkness. Good sound as well. Although emotional, I haven't been completely carried away, yet this might be related to how it is still new to me and that it might not have reached so deep inside yet, down to my internal abyss where not so much music had the character and the power to access. I'll keep this track and see how it grows on me with time.

R-Type Leo (Game Rip) - PARADISE PLANET (AREA1)

Let's go indeed! I recognize the shmup style, but reckon it's not the best theme I've heard from this category. However, as a soft atmospheric one, it's not bad at all, but lacks a strong melody to get me real excited.

Synaesthete OST - Tryptonaut

While eating a succulent beet, a man listening to The Beatles in his car (a Beetle!) once told me, "Nothing beats the beat." Well, here the beat could be beaten without too many difficulties since it's not extraordinary. Still, it's good enough and works well with the rest of the piece, which is a decent joyful electro number. Also, props for a really obscure nomination.

Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3 Original Soundtracks - Phantom of Blue

ALERT! All my senses have gone wild, my heart stopped for a second only to start beating again like never before, and sweat is pouring out to try cooling down the intense heat my body is producing. This is the kind of trance I absolutely adore. I know it's repetitive, cliché, and lacks a definite melody, but for whatever reason, it makes me feel alive. I'd have to say that "Phantom of Blue" is however not my favorite tune from the Wangan Midnight series (would most probably be "Maximum Acceleration"), but out of this week's selection, it's the song I prefer.

Within a Deep Forest (Game Rip) - Scales of Zordium

A good mellow ambient track with a charming simplicity, which is however becoming a low point when it comes to not being very elaborate, but I've heard much worse on that elsewhere. I also felt some Mana vibes.

Wizardry ~Dimguil~ Original Sound Track - Theme of Wizardry

Wizardry! How have I missed you last week.
Quite good, yet maybe a little too orchestral/classcial for my tastes. Reminded me of "Vamo' Alla Flamenco" from FFIX with the Spanish elements, although at a slower tempo and less catchy and memorable.

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(3 points) Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3 Original Soundtracks - Phantom of Blue
(2 points) History Repeats Itself Abandoner Lostchild coupling soundtrack - Abandoner - Abandoner Main Title
(1 point) Synaesthete OST - Tryptonaut

-------------------

Also, here's my next nomination:

Composer: Tommy Tallarico
Album/Game Title: Treasures of the Deep (PSX Game Rip)
Track Title: Wreck of the Concepcion / Credits
Year: 1997

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

I actually thought this was a fairly good week, no terrible tracks.


Voted Tracks

3 pts to History Repeats Itself Abandoner Lostchild coupling soundtrack - Abandoner - Abandoner Main Title
I may be biased having nominated this track, but I just love the enveloping mood & atmosphere that literally wraps around oneself. The song progresses slowly and uses repetition to emphasize the laid-back feel of the groove, but seems to to change up before things gets unbearably repetitive. And while the strings are no killer melody that you'd find yourself humming, I think they appropriately add variation and sorrow to what's obviously supposed to be a somber piece (after all, it's called "Abandoner").

2 pts to Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3 Original Soundtracks - Phantom of Blue
At first listen, I didn't think it had much value. But, like most trance, this one grew on me as I listened to it more. The mechanically-filtered vocals, which I often find cheesy, actually sound quite fitting and give this piece a strong melody. From a vast saturated soundscape, to the energy delivered by the constant fade-then-blastback of the song's drive, to the way that elements are always progressing in some way, to nicely satisfying my dynamics bias, this song hits me where it counts. Oddly, I find 4:50 - 6:10 (part of the beginning re-looped) slightly grating, as its repetitiveness seems to become more evident the second time it's used. But then the energetic vocal section of the song comes to the rescue, arresting that slight nuisance.

1 pts to Wizardry ~Dimguil~ Original Sound Track - Theme of Wizardry
Finding this track in amongst this week's electronic melodies is a pleasant surprise. Ethnic styles have always plucked my musical heart, and this seems to be a well-executed weave between that and a more traditional orchestral style. I could almost see it in a movie soundtrack.


Non-Voted Tracks

Within a Deep Forest (Game Rip) - Scales of Zordium
This would easily get a high vote from me if only it were longer and progressed a little more, and didn't have that abrupt cut-out at the end. As it is, it's a neat, chill little piece with an encompassing atmosphere.

CAL ~ The Eternal Beautiful Girls - The Continent of Time
Wow. Sweet and bubbly to the max. But it's instruments don't sound quite so polished. Could use some more sonic glitter.

Synaesthete OST - Tryptonaut
A nice little electronic trance groove. Not a whole lot of variance or progression, but it's charming enough to bop your head to.

Doki Doki Majo Shinpan! ORIGINAL SOUND TRACK - Forget not Tomorrow (Akuji Nishimura's Theme)
This so nearly got a vote from me. It's a pleasant, energetic rock ballad, possessing an interestingly varied drumline and a memorable melody. It reminds me of OA's This Feeling, which is definitely a good thing.

R-Type Leo (Game Rip) - PARADISE PLANET (AREA1)
Cheesy voice right from the get-go is a bad sign. Surprisingly, it seems rather well-composed with a solid drive, if a little repetitive. With better instrument patches (obviously a limitation of the game system) I think it would fare much better. I know as a game music aficionado it seems odd to say that, but I consider the actual sound and texture of a song nearly as important as the musical content.

Additional Spam:

Originally Posted by Rimo

History Repeats Itself Abandoner Lostchild coupling soundtrack - Abandoner - Abandoner Main Title

Definitely share similarities with the melodic side of Silent Hill (down to the vinyl playback noise!), which in my book is a good thing. Smooth and laid-back melancholic atmosphere that does well of not falling into complete darkness. Good sound as well. Although emotional, I haven't been completely carried away, yet this might be related to how it is still new to me and that it might not have reached so deep inside yet, down to my internal abyss where not so much music had the character and the power to access. I'll keep this track and see how it grows on me with time.

If you like it, I would recommend acquiring the entire album. Most of the tracks on History Repeats Itself have the same atmospheric quality, and all of them seem best experienced as part of the cohesive work.

Also, here's my next...


Nomination

Album Title: The Dig Soundtrack
Artists: Michael Land, Emily Bezar
Track Title: A River Canyon
Track Number: 6 of 11
Catalog Number: CDQ-724355556721
Year: 1996
Source: Again, the CD itself. VGMdb Link

I was speaking idiomatically.

3 points: History Repeats Itself Abandoner Lostchild coupling soundtrack - Abandoner - Abandoner Main Title
2 points: Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3 Original Soundtracks - Phantom of Blue
1 point: Within a Deep Forest (Game Rip) - Scales of Zordium
Close: R-Type Leo (Game Rip) - PARADISE PLANET (AREA1)

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Gonna have to award the minimalists this week...

(3 points) R-Type Leo (Game Rip) - PARADISE PLANET (AREA1) - Compared to the rest of my experiences listening to this week's entries, this one was fun to listen to. I'm not a particular fan of anything with a "pro-electronic" sound like Phantom of Blue or Tryptonaut, specifically because I prefer entries that are a bit harder hitting or near-ambient. Somewhere in-between generally doesn't win me over. So here's a track sort of straddling that personal standard in a week that isn't necessarily my thing.

(2 points) History Repeats Itself Abandoner Lostchild coupling soundtrack - Abandoner - Abandoner Main Title - Reminds me of Moonlight Sonata in a way with the piano work. Consistent without too many bells and whistles.

(1 point) Within a Deep Forest (Game Rip) - Scales of Zordium - I wish the middle of the song didn't take such an upswing in mood, I think being subdued works better in the case of tracks like these.

Any heads up on my nomination? I want to know whether or not The Glacial Fortress is acceptable at this time, preferably before nominations close for this week.

Edit: Never mind, I just just looked a the nominations queue.

FELIPE NO

This is a great week. I didn't quite expect to have such a hard time voting. There were many tracks I would have liked to assign points to, while there were others I wish I could have given even more points.

(2 points) History Repeats Itself Abandoner Lostchild coupling soundtrack - Abandoner - Abandoner Main Title

(2 points) Within a Deep Forest (Game Rip) - Scales of Zordium

(1 point) Doki Doki Majo Shinpan! ORIGINAL SOUND TRACK - Forget not Tomorrow (Akuji Nishimura's Theme)

(1 point) Synaesthete OST - Tryptonaut

"PARADISE PLANET" was very, very, very close to getting a point.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

(3 Points) Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3 Original Soundtracks - Phantom of Blue
(2 Points) CAL ~ The Eternal Beautiful Girls - The Continent of Time
(1 Point) Within a Deep Forest (Game Rip) - Scales of Zordium

Jam it back in, in the dark.

(2 points) History Repeats Itself Abandoner Lostchild coupling soundtrack - Abandoner - Abandoner Main Title
(2 points) Within a Deep Forest (Game Rip) - Scales of Zordium
(1 point) CAL ~ The Eternal Beautiful Girls - The Continent of Time
(1 point) Wizardry ~Dimguil~ Original Sound Track - Theme of Wizardry

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Artists: Boktai DS Sound Unit
Game Title: Lunar Knights (NDS Game Rip)
Track Title: New Culiacan
Year: 2007
Source: Manly site is manly
Additional Information: MP3 encode of mini2sf

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

<3 Points> - CAL ~ The Eternal Beautiful Girls - The Continent of Time
It's a jumpy anime-ish song. Usually I despise these, but I dunno, I liked it. Some parts reminded my Castlevania oddly enough.

<2 Points> - Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3 Original Soundtracks - Phantom of Blue
An average trance song that stood out in a week where nothing really impressed me.

<1 Point> - Wizardry ~Dimguil~ Original Sound Track - Theme of Wizardry
Average fantasy theme, but then again I can imagine the song being a lot better with better orchestral quality.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Voting time!

2 points - R-Type Leo (Game Rip) - PARADISE PLANET (AREA1)
1 point - History Repeats Itself Abandoner Lostchild coupling soundtrack - Abandoner - Abandoner Main Title
1 point - Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3 Original Soundtracks - Phantom of Blue
1 point - Within a Deep Forest (Game Rip) - Scales of Zordium
1 point - Wizardry ~Dimguil~ Original Sound Track - Theme of Wizardry

I was speaking idiomatically.

Please don't close this; I'll be voting shortly.

EDIT: This was a pretty unspectacular week.

Very short comments:

I really like Forget not Tomorrow; shame the mixing isn't so great.

Paradise Planet, Tryptonaut, and Phantom of Blue - None of these were notable. Is Phantom something you can move your head to? Sure. But it's still repetitive trance and thus not something deserving of points in SotW.

Scales of Zordium was somewhat interesting, with a nice chill atmosphere to it. Odd that it kind of just ends.

Forget not Tomorrow - 3 pts.
The Continent of Time - 1 pt.
Scales of Zordium - 1 pt.
Theme of Wizardry - 1 pt.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Voting is closed and nominations are restricted!

1). [26] Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3 Original Soundtracks - Phantom of Blue
2). [25] History Repeats Itself Abandoner Lostchild coupling soundtrack - Abandoner - Abandoner Main Title
3). [22] Within a Deep Forest (Game Rip) - Scales of Zordium
4). [15] CAL ~ The Eternal Beautiful Girls - The Continent of Time
5). [13] R-Type Leo (Game Rip) - PARADISE PLANET (AREA1)
6). [12] Doki Doki Majo Shinpan! ORIGINAL SOUND TRACK - Forget not Tomorrow (Akuji Nishimura's Theme)
7). [11] Wizardry ~Dimguil~ Original Sound Track - Theme of Wizardry
8). [8] Synaesthete OST - Tryptonaut

KG pulls down the perfect point spread.

FELIPE NO

I didn't really expect this to win. Then again, I had absolutely no clue what would. It was a total crapshoot the whole week.

To be honest, I rather like it when the decision is made in the final moments. The suspense is enjoyable.

Congrats to the winners.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by Crash Landon

Congrats to the winners.

Thanks! I liked all the winners, but I would have liked CAL to to place higher. Ah well.

And I have to agree that the last stages of the competition were pretty intense.

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Pretty good results, congrats to all! I'm slightly surprised at the popularity of Phantom of Blue though! Yuzo Koshiro is one of my favorite composers, so maybe I overestimated what the track would be, but still...

And the impopularity of Wizardry is a surprise to me as well, I didn't think it was that bad.

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Wow, that was a close one. Only one point between my nomination and the winner. And all those last minute votes brought it up immensely, too. I'll get you next time, you elusive 1st!

I know, this isn't a competition between nominators, but I think it's fun to see it that way. And it was amusing, too, seeing the votes practically double on the day of the deadline. Although, I suppose I'd be used to it if I had still been participating in SotW all this time. >.>;

Originally Posted by surasshu

And the impopularity of Wizardry is a surprise to me as well, I didn't think it was that bad.

I agree. Maybe people are getting tired of hearing orchestral, even if it is given an ethnic dash of spice.
If so, that doesn't bode so well for my nomination in the queue. o.o

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

Yes, I think the competitive nature of this contest is quite exhilarating. As this was the first time I participated, I was quite happy with my nomination coming in 4th place. I didn't expect it to do that well.

Well, here's hoping that next week is just as entertaining!

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?