[SotW] Song of the Week - WEEK 127 Voting/WEEK 128 Nominating

Song of the Week. 125 Weeks and counting.
Week 127 Voting is closed.
Week 128 Nominating is restricted

Results
1). [21] Little Busters! Arrange Album "Rockstar Busters!" - Heroic Battle
2). [16] Emperor: Battle for Dune (Game Rip) - Victory Is Inevitable
3). [14] Heavy Metal: F.A.K.K.² (Game Rip) - Eden Normal
4). [13/9.5] Tokimeki Memorial piano collection - Planetarium
5). [13/8] Lunar Knights (Game Rip) - New Culiacan
6). [11] .hack// GAME MUSIC Perfect Collection - rtown2 (Λ Server Cultural City Carmina Gadelica)
7). [9] Battle Squadron: The Destruction of the Barrax Empire (Amiga Game Rip) - In-Game Music
8). [5] Perfect Prince Original Soundtrack - Love

Tracks
Get the Flash Player to play this audio file: Battle Squadron - The Destruction of the Barrax Empire (Amiga Game Rip) - In-Game Music
Get the Flash Player to play this audio file: dot hack GAME MUSIC Perfect Collection - rtown2 (Lambda Server Cultural City Carmina Gadelica)
Get the Flash Player to play this audio file: Emperor - Battle for Dune (Game Rip) - Victory Is Inevitable
Get the Flash Player to play this audio file: Heavy Metal - F.A.K.K.2 (Game Rip) - Eden Normal
Get the Flash Player to play this audio file: Little Busters! Arrange Album 'Rockstar Busters!' - Heroic Battle
Get the Flash Player to play this audio file: Lunar Knights (Game Rip) - New Culiacan
Get the Flash Player to play this audio file: Perfect Prince Original Soundtrack - Love
Get the Flash Player to play this audio file: Tokimeki Memorial piano collection - Planetarium

Notes:
If you are a member at more than one of the forums in which this event is being held, please nominate and vote in only ONE of the forums. You may, however, comment in the threads at any of the other forums.

Week 128 Nominating
The Nominations Queue can be found here.
The rules for nominating can be found here.

Here is the link to the corresponding thread in the other forum:
- Soundtrack Central

How ya doing, buddy?

Let's start with a nomination:

Artist: Sega
Album/Game: Golden Axe Trilogy / Golden Axe III
Disc 3, track 12
Title: Bloody Streets
C. number: WM-0595~0597

I will upload it to the server now

There's nowhere I can't reach.

(3 points) Lunar Knights (Game Rip) - New Culiacan
(2 points) Little Busters! Arrange Album 'Rockstar Busters!' - Heroic Battle
(1 point) Battle Squadron - The Destruction of the Barrax Empire (Amiga Game Rip) - In-Game Music

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

Some of these tracks are pretty weak, but there's a few really good ones. It evens out to a pretty solid week.

First two points go to my own nomination, and I guess that means I should give it three points, but... I can't, since I have to give other tracks points, ha! I do really love Lambda Server though--great atmosphere and really nice bassline. Unlike most other tracks from .hack//, this one has an interesting progression and even a melody (most of the other tracks rely on interactive music elements, but this is a town theme so it has nothing of the sort). I don't particularly care for how they handled the interactive music on the OST, but this track remains solid.

Heroic Battle is another really great track, the guitar melody is a bit... messy I guess? But it works out, and the whole track has a great drive. The breakdown is my favorite bit with the synthbell/lead, excellent.

New Culiacan is a surprise hit with me. Everyone I know* complained about the somewhat shady music from Lunar, but I honestly can't find anything wrong with this track. It's interesting, original, and catchy. Really great stuff, I'll have to listen to the game rip for myself, I had no idea Norihiko Hibino was capable of stuff like this (though I admit to not knowing his work so well).

Finally, there's Planetarium, a really relaxing piano piece. Almost simple to the point of fault (but not quite). I like simple piano stuff like this.

2 points - dot hack GAME MUSIC Perfect Collection - rtown2 (Lambda Server Cultural City Carmina Gadelica)
2 points - Lunar Knights (Game Rip) - New Culiacan
1 point - Little Busters! Arrange Album 'Rockstar Busters!' - Heroic Battle
1 point - Tokimeki Memorial piano collection - Planetarium

* Okay it was one guy. But still.

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

Lol, surasshu, Lunar Knights is a Boktai sequel. It has nothing to do with Lunar. :P

I was speaking idiomatically.

There is a 10/10 chance I will regret nominating this later. I will upload it soon.

Album: Beyond the Dead Future
Artist: Slake (Takehiko Fujii)
Track number: 2
Track Title: Oriental Mechanist
Catalog #: BMS 001
Year: 2006
Source: Slake - Beyond The Dead Future
Notes: Takehiko Fujii has made songs for several Bemani games and done work on miscellaneous songs in a few IIDX games (title, credits, menu music, etc.). This is his only solo CD, which contains original works and released through Bemanistyle, a Bemani fan site. His music seems to be really polarizing, this CD especially, since did more experimenting in it than normal. It should be a blast to see what people think.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Epsilon

Lol, surasshu, Lunar Knights is a Boktai sequel. It has nothing to do with Lunar. :P

Er, yeahhh... I was gonna write "Lunar Knights" there, honest. Otherwise it wouldn't make much sense that it was composed by Norihiko Hibino, doesn't Noriyuki Iwadare do the music for Lunar?

Besides, I heard the music for Lunar Dragon Song, and it sounds nothing like this.

EDIT: Had a bit of trouble coming up with a good nomination, but this one should be okay and obscure enough even though Puyo Puyo is the best game ever made. I just love the music for Puyo Puyo, and Puyo Puyo Sun is especially nice, with the whole Caribbean summer vibe. It's very hard to pick a favorite among all the tracks in the game, so it's sort of a random choice. This one has a funny title, so that was part of the reason.

EDIT2: Revoking my nomination. Might be back later.

How ya doing, buddy?

What a horrible night to have a... erm, what a tough week to have a nom.

2 points: Battle Squadron: The Destruction of the Barrax Empire (Amiga Game Rip) - In-Game Music
1 point: Emperor - Battle for Dune (Game Rip) - Victory Is Inevitable
1 point: Little Busters! Arrange Album 'Rockstar Busters!' - Heroic Battle
1 point: Lunar Knights (Game Rip) - New Culiacan
1 point: Tokimeki Memorial piano collection - Planetarium

I could regret not giving Battle Squadron a full 3 points (it is more than worthy,) but allyourbaseare provides a touching story.


And here's something random out of my (not so huge) list-o'-noms:

• Album Title: PSYVARIAR2 ORIGINAL Sound track PLUS
• Artist: Misako ADJUMY Sekiguchi, WASi303 (Testuro Sato)
• Track Title: Eta
• Source: KDSD-00032: PSYVARIAR2 ORIGINAL Sound track PLUS - VGMdb, Chudah's Corner - Psyvariar Original Soundtrack plus
• Disc Number: 1 (of 1)
• Track Number: 11
• Catalogue Number: KDSD-00032
• Year: 2004

[1 Point] Emperor - Battle for Dune (Game Rip) - Victory Is Inevitable
[1 Point] Heavy Metal - F.A.K.K.2 (Game Rip) - Eden Normal
[2 Pints] Little Busters! Arrange Album 'Rockstar Busters!' - Heroic Battle
[2 Pints] Knights (Game Rip) - New Culiacan

Very touching story from allyourbase, but I guess I should be objective (as far as it's possible when voting). Though concerning Tokimeki Memorial Piano Collection, I have a little rather unremarkable story as well, but I hope it shows my appreciation for that album.
It's one of the first piano albums I got in 2003/2004 I think. It went with the craze I had for Final Fantasy Piano Collections, people recommended it. Then I had a HDD crash and it went lost, but I never downloaded it again. I only remember that it was a very melancholic album. The album had certain memorable melodies, but above all the atmosphere is meant to be conveyed, so I think Planetarium works better within album context in a straight listen. I was thinking the other day, whether I should redl this album for all the strong points that it had.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

A very strong week. Didn't find one track distasteful.

(2 points) Tokimeki Memorial piano collection - Planetarium
(2 points) Emperor - Battle for Dune (Game Rip) - Victory Is Inevitable
(1 point) Perfect Prince Original Soundtrack - Love
(1 point) Little Busters! Arrange Album 'Rockstar Busters!' - Heroic Battle

With apologies to: dot hack GAME MUSIC Perfect Collection - rtown2 (Lambda Server Cultural City Carmina Gadelica)

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Time for a new nomination!

Artist: Ryo Watanabe
Album: Nanosweep.2
Track Title: Dazzling Rays
Track Number: 2
Year: 2005
Catalog Number: NS-002
Source: Chudah's Corner

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The Nanosweep albums are albums of original pieces. I have not been thorough in this search, but as far as I know, Watanabe has two game credits: one track in Ridge Racer 7 and one track in Beautiful Katamari. I'll see if I can find more credits if I can find the time (been hellaciously busy), but as it stands, I don't think the track should be eligible.

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

Battle Squadron - The Destruction of the Barrax Empire (Amiga Game Rip) - In-Game Music I've never been able to really get into original Amiga or C64 tunes; I missed out on that whole scene. There's nothing about this piece that I haven't heard a dozen times in the BCC, and neither the melody nor the rhythm is strong enough to merit much notice.

dot hack GAME MUSIC Perfect Collection - rtown2 (Lambda Server Cultural City Carmina Gadelica) I've been meaning to check out some .hack stuff, but the sheer volume of material is daunting. If it's like this, though, I may have to take the plunge. Very nice Mitsuda-esque ambiance, with a terrific acoustic guitar part and fine melody.

Emperor - Battle for Dune (Game Rip) - Victory Is Inevitable Never really been into Dunegame music (though I love Toto's score for the movie). This track is a nice change from what I've heard before, though--a pretty decent combination of techno effects, rock instruments, and a large ensemble. It actually sounds rather like the Toto score, which is always a good thing. A tad long though.

Heavy Metal - F.A.K.K.2 (Game Rip) - Eden Normal A terrific ambient-style track with ethereal female vocals backed by some fine techno beats. Probably not for everyone, but it dovetails nicely with what I love most about such tracks. I highly recommend seeking out a rip, as there's a wide diversity of styles in the game (and yes, there is some actual heavy metal).

Little Busters! Arrange Album 'Rockstar Busters!' - Heroic Battle It definitely has its moments of good, and its moments of ear rape. I've heard better from the genre.

Lunar Knights (Game Rip) - New Culiacan Some strong rhythm here; if only the rest of the song were able to take full advantage of this.

Perfect Prince Original Soundtrack - Love A pleasant track, very soothing and warm. It could have had a better melody or hook, or course, which would have propelled it from good to great, but it's fine as is.

Tokimeki Memorial piano collection - Planetarium I was moved by allyourbase's story regarding this song, but I tried to listen to it as neutrally as I could, out of fairness. I quite enjoyed the piece; I've had a craving for piano tracks of late, and this sort of thing hits the spot perfectly with a lovely melody and fine performance. I have no idea what Tokimeki Memorial is, but this would be a fine memorial piece, no doubt.

A strong week (figures, right?). Luckily, point allocation is a breeze.

The Point Spread
Eden Normal - 3 pts.
rtown2 - 1 pt.
Love - 1 pt.
Planetarium - 1 pt.

I was speaking idiomatically.

2 points: Emperor - Battle for Dune (Game Rip) - Victory Is Inevitable
3 points: Little Busters! Arrange Album 'Rockstar Busters!' - Heroic Battle
1 point: Tokimeki Memorial piano collection - Planetarium

What can I say, I had to give Planetarium 1 point because it sounds like Planetarian. I'm serious.

and it's pretty

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Nomination:

Album: Venus and Braves
Track: Swords of the Guardians
Nr: 15
Artists: Namco Sound Team
Year: 2003

FELIPE NO

Just presenting my "New Nomination", I will edit in votes later.

Album: The Last Blade (Bakumatsu Roman Gekka no Kenshi) Arrange Sound Trax
Track: Vicissitudes
Artist: Neo Geo Music Performance Group
Year: Jan 21, 1998

Source: VGM World

Uploading to the SotW FTP.

Edit:

The results:

3 points - dot hack GAME MUSIC Perfect Collection - rtown2 (Lambda Server Cultural City Carmina Gadelica)

2 Points - Emperor - Battle for Dune (Gamerip) - Victory is inevitable

1 point - Little Busters! Arrange Album 'Rockstar Busters!' - Heroic Battle

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It's really hard to alocate points between these, so I'll give them more or less the same points:

1 point ~ Little Busters! Arrange Album 'Rockstar Busters!' - Heroic Battle
1 point ~ dot hack GAME MUSIC Perfect Collection - rtown2 (Lambda Server Cultural City Carmina Gadelica)
2 points ~ Emperor - Battle for Dune (Game Rip) - Victory Is Inevitable
2 points ~ Heavy Metal - F.A.K.K.2 (Game Rip) - Eden Normal

Oh, and I'm in favor of the nanosweep nomination. I don't personally know about any music he has made, but he must be there for a reason. We already know that Namco's composers are usually a mystery. Besides, I was planning on nominating a track from the first album (Okubo's one) ^^U.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Wasn't an easy vote this week.

(2 points) Heavy Metal - F.A.K.K.2 (Game Rip) - Eden Normal
I have a weakness for tracks like this. "Eden Normal" is strangely uplifting and rather beautiful. Props to the vocals.

(2 points) Perfect Prince Original Soundtrack - Love
Peaceful and soothing, with an almost storybook charm to it. The melody is paticularly beautiful. Nice use of vocals, too. I do wonder what kind of game this is, though.

(1 point) Emperor - Battle for Dune (Game Rip) - Victory Is Inevitable
Well, I really liked the game and, for the most-part, the in-game music. Nice orchestral rock there, especially the melody. Was almost surprised that it's Arkenstone who composed this piece. I thought he was more well known for his New Age material.

(1 point) Tokimeki Memorial piano collection - Planetarium
"Planetarium" is a beautiful piece in itself and has a playing time that's just right. Outside of voting, I was certainly moved by allyourbaseare's touching story.

All the other tracks this week were really good and it's a pity they can't be all given points.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by ikkei

Oh, and I'm in favor of the nanosweep nomination. I don't personally know about any music he has made, but he must be there for a reason.

I realized I hadn't even checked MobyGames for credits (said I wasn't thorough!), so I gave that a scan. He apparently composed for Parappa 1 and 2, but he's not credited on either of the soundtrack albums, so I have no idea how much he actually did for those games. There are several other people listed who aren't on the albums as well. The only other credits there are for sound and voice effects on Ace Combat Zero.

I don't really think "he must be there for a reason" is a good excuse if that reason isn't really obvious.

Originally Posted by ikkei

Besides, I was planning on nominating a track from the first album (Okubo's one) ^^U.

I think Okubo has enough game credits to qualify his original work by any definition.

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

Battle Squadron - The Destruction of the Barrax Empire (Amiga Game Rip) - In-Game Music: I'm always down for some quality SIDtunage. I've never heard of either composer here (I could be sheltered) but I like what they've done. Nice atmospheric effects throughout, there's definitely a deep-space feel. Good find.

dot hack GAME MUSIC Perfect Collection - rtown2 (Lambda Server Cultural City Carmina Gadelica): I initially liked this track. The introduction was a very soothing set-up for what should've been a commanding lead melody. But nothing arrived. That disappointed me.

Emperor - Battle for Dune (Game Rip) - Victory Is Inevitable: I've never been a fan of militaristic themes throughout VGM, mostly because I had this sense that nobody was doing it right. Then I heard Arkenstone's work and was blown away by the deeply layered majesty of this track. He's maintained the droning, oppressive force that a war theme needs, but he's covered it in meaty guitars, exotic synth hooks and some truly gorgeous brass fanfares. It's the perfect balance between dark and light, and it's mysteriously energizing. It actually makes me want to go fight something. There's a word for that: inspirational.

Heavy Metal - F.A.K.K.2 (Game Rip) - Eden Normal: I understand why the nominator chose this track, though I don't think I'm nearly as enamored with it. The progression is very drawn out, and though this is clearly intentional, as a stand-alone listening experience, it's dull. I was twiddling my thumbs until 3:13, which is far too long for anything interesting to take place. There were elements within the song that were pleasant to hear but they didn't make the piece stronger overall. It's just so-so, in my opinion.

Little Busters! Arrange Album 'Rockstar Busters!' - Heroic Battle: I'm gonna sound like orion_mk3 for a brief moment and say that I found the amount of noodling in this track to be rather excessive. The production quality was excellent, and all other things being standard, this is a good track, but it was so far over the top in places that I sort of phased out. And I like rockin' compositions! When I think of "generic" guitar tracks, this is what comes up for me. A simple, memorable melody will always be superior to frantic finger work.

Lunar Knights (Game Rip) - New Culiacan: For GBA music, I've heard infinitely worse. I won't say this track grips me the way other songs do but I don't dislike anything here either. It lands on the positive side of neutral for me, which is to say that I'd willingly listen to it again but it's not gonna land on my ipod anytime soon.

Perfect Prince Original Soundtrack - Love: Quaint. That's about the best word that I can think to describe this. It's a syrupy sort of track, and parts of it remind me of "People Imprisoned by Destiny" from the Chrono Cross OST, only "Love" isn't even one-fourth as moving and resonant. This feels like a "home" theme to me, definitely, one in which the main character smiles and tends to his flowerbed, blissfully unaware of all the horrible bugbears and goblins, three screens over, that wish to devour him. It's a nice, yet sort of disposable track to me.

Tokimeki Memorial piano collection - Planetarium: All touching testimonials aside, this is still a very warm, enduring composition. It pours emotion from between the notes. With ever a slight hint of bittersweet, "Planetarium" hits home for saying so much by saying so little.

Rack 'em up!

Three Points: Emperor - Battle for Dune (Game Rip) - Victory Is Inevitable
One Point: Battle Squadron - The Destruction of the Barrax Empire (Amiga Game Rip) In-Game Music
One Point: Tokimeki Memorial piano collection - Planetarium
One Point: Little Busters! Arrange Album 'Rockstar Busters!' - Heroic Battle

Originally Posted by CHz

The Nanosweep albums are albums of original pieces. I have not been thorough in this search, but as far as I know, Watanabe has two game credits: one track in Ridge Racer 7 and one track in Beautiful Katamari. I'll see if I can find more credits if I can find the time (been hellaciously busy), but as it stands, I don't think the track should be eligible.

I'm willing to wait this out for investigation, as I'd like to be able to nominate "Dazzling Rays" if there's any possibility at all.

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

My ears did not pick any exceptional auditive phenomenon this week, yet most of the air vibrations they processed turned out being pleasant.

(2 points) Battle Squadron - The Destruction of the Barrax Empire (Amiga Game Rip) - In-Game Music
(2 points) Emperor - Battle for Dune (Game Rip) - Victory Is Inevitable
(1 point) Heavy Metal - F.A.K.K.2 (Game Rip) - Eden Normal
(1 point) Little Busters! Arrange Album 'Rockstar Busters!' - Heroic Battle

I was speaking idiomatically.

3 points: Lunar Knights (Game Rip) - New Culiacan
2 points: Heavy Metal - F.A.K.K.2 (Game Rip) - Eden Normal
1 point: dot hack GAME MUSIC Perfect Collection - rtown2 (Lambda Server Cultural City Carmina Gadelica)
Close: Tokimeki Memorial piano collection - Planetarium

I once used the .hack track as background music to open up an episode of my VG Frequency radio show: VG Frequency » Blog Archive » VG Frequency #059 Playlist

Anyone got "Eden Normal" in higher quality?

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

2 points - Little Busters! Arrange Album 'Rockstar Busters!' - Heroic Battle
2 points - Tokimeki Memorial piano collection - Planetarium
1 point - Battle Squadron - The Destruction of the Barrax Empire (Amiga Game Rip) - In-Game Music
1 point - Lunar Knights (Game Rip) - New Culiacan

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Liontamer

Anyone got "Eden Normal" in higher quality?

Sadly, the song was taken directly from the game files, and there was no OST. I've thought about contacting the composer directly, but I doubt that would have any result.

EDIT: Guh? Wow, talk about unexpected results. I thought "Planatarium" was sure to place and "Eden" was a shoo-in for 8th!

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

Voting is closed and nominations are restricted!

1). [21] Little Busters! Arrange Album "Rockstar Busters!" - Heroic Battle
2). [16] Emperor: Battle for Dune (Game Rip) - Victory Is Inevitable
3). [14] Heavy Metal: F.A.K.K.² (Game Rip) - Eden Normal
4). [13/9.5] Tokimeki Memorial piano collection - Planetarium
5). [13/8] Lunar Knights (Game Rip) - New Culiacan
6). [11] .hack// GAME MUSIC Perfect Collection - rtown2 (Λ Server Cultural City Carmina Gadelica)
7). [9] Battle Squadron: The Destruction of the Barrax Empire (Amiga Game Rip) - In-Game Music
8). [5] Perfect Prince Original Soundtrack - Love

How ya doing, buddy?