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mandolinAs some people know, I've been a sporadic visitor to Overclocked Remix for a few years now. And I do mean sporadic; I'd check it out once or twice a year if I remembered. Sure, it's packed with free video game music remixes (and some really good ones), but for the longest time the only way you could sample a track was to download it. The reviews and descriptions didn't always tell me enough, and I felt like I was wasting the site's bandwidth.
Last month, they added YouTube previews of every single track. I've been visiting the site a lot more frequently, and I've found some pretty good stuff. Of course, that took a bit of digging, but I had to share. Links are grouped by how much I like the tracks in question.
EDIT: No, seriously. If you're skeptical, just check out this track and this track for some really nice jazz pieces. Even if you don't give a damn about video game music, you've got to admit they're good.
The really fantastic tracks that I play again and again
SuperBuckJazz, by Estradasphere (SMB2: "Overworld BGM")
I so love this track. It's a professional, live swing jazz rendition of the Super Mario Bros. 2 overworld theme - and a sweet one at that. The source material really lends itself to the arrangement, and I just can't stay in a bad mood after listening to this. I was only poking around the site idly when I found this track and afterwards started searching in earnest - if there was stuff this good on the site, maybe I should be taking a harder look.
The Shinra Shuffle, by the Runaway Five (FFVII: "Fanfare," "Fight On!")
HOT DAMN. This is a fantastic live jazz performance with a full ensemble, a great beat, and a mean baritone sax. And while you wouldn't think the source could ever be re-interpreted as a jazz arrangement, it really, really WORKS. The fanfare ending caught me by surprise, but in a good way. I'd have loved to see these guys live and might be looking into picking up an album by the Runaway Five - especially if the rest is half as good as this track.
Kefka Goes Carnival, by NoppZ (FFIV: "Kefka")
A great dance remix done carnival-style with a lot of latin piano riffs and a hell of a beat. It's catchy as anything, and the hybrid Latin/techno sound keeps it from being too repetitive. If you're familiar with the source, it'll take you a minute to find it in there, but it's such a fun catchy tune I don't think that matters. If I could dance to this one, I would. :)
El Lagarto, by Evil Horde (The Adventures of Bayou Billy: various)
Yes, you read that one right. I stumbled onto this one by total accident and could not believe this was a rearrangement of an 8-bit theme; the production value is really professional, and the result is a "70´s latin-esque-funk/disco" (to quote the remixer) theme that blew me away. It's like an even better version of the catchiest TV cop themes out there (for some reason I keep thinking of Magnum, PI). For the heck of it, I went and looked for the original themes on YouTube, and was shocked that the original melody was still obviously present.
Mario's Tropical Paradise, by Dr. Fruitcake (too many Super Mario tracks to list)
This is a really colorful and lively remix with some damn impressive sequencing and a great tropical vibe. I know I'm a sucker for steel drums, but this is a slick, well-done tropical medley of some great Mario music. I keep going back to this one; it's got a little bit of everything and is anything BUT repetitive.
Vampire Spanker, by Danneman & Silverknekt (Castlevania: "Vampire Killer")
Don't let the title fool you! It says nothing about the actual remix. The remixers blame it on a "lack of imagination" - because apparently they used it all up for the actual track, a nifty acoustic guitar rendition of the theme with a bit of a Spanish flair. It's a mellow, deceptively simple track with some great guitar work.
Darkworld Jazz, by Gux (Zelda 3: "Dark World")
The "Dark World" theme is in itself a great game theme and easy to remix - I think I've got another remix of it somewhere - and this smooth coffee-house rendition is nice. The theme doesn't lose anything in the smooth jazz arrangement, and I adore the trumpet solo. I'm amazed that this one is from way back in 2000.
Tracks that are still awesome but I don't flail AS much over them
The Italian Plumber, by M.S. Mehawich (SMB: various)
A live orchestral take on the Super Mario Bros. themes that I initially missed and was shocked that I'd skipped it. It's a slightly sinister, slightly sad piece that sounds like something from the score of one of the "Godfather" films.
Test of Island Courage, by Fairlight (StarTropics: ?)
One of the first remixes I ever downloaded, and still the best StarTropics remix on the site. The sound quality is a little MIDI-ish, but it doesn't detract much. Again, I am a sucker for steel drums.
Battle Rocks, by AmIEvil (SMB3: "Enemy Battle")
Another Mario jazz arrangement. But the source track really works for it, and this track is just plain fun.
Gypsy Jazz, by Adrian Holovaty (SMB2: "Overworld BGM")
No, you're not hearing double, this is another remix of the SMB2 main theme, a solo gypsy jazz guitar rendition. It's not as awesome as the Estradasphere track, but it's got a sweet simplicity and frankly, the judges are right: you could pass it off as something from the Sweet and Lowdown soundtrack if you didn't let it slip it was a video game rendition.
Fleeting Ecstasy, by chthonic (SMB: "Invincible BGM," SM64: "Powerful Mario")
This one grew on me. It starts out sounding like a MIDI remix and then surprises you with its quirks. There's a lot of little bits and pieces I like about this remix that I wouldn't have thought would work: the saxophone and piano integrated with the chiptune and trance elements, and the "Yeah!" sound effect (although that one only comes up twice).
Riptide, by Disco Dan(DKC: "Aquatic Ambiance")
A nice electronica remix of the underwater theme from Donkey Kong Country. Makes for a lovely bit of trance that reminds me a lot of Robert Miles (that's a good thing).
Curse Curse Revolution, by NoppZ (Super Castlevania 64: Various)
Castlevania gone DDR. No, really. I'm just amused by how well he pulled that off.
Super Mario's Sleigh Ride by the OneUps (Super Mario World: half the game soundtrack, really)
At first I thought somebody had accidentally uploaded the original "Sleigh Ride." But then I recognized the counterpoint music, and realized just how amazingly well it was integrated into the piece. And yeah, this is another live instrumental piece. :)
Honorable mentions (AKA I like these but am getting lazy with descriptions)
Temple Trance, by bLiNd(Zelda II: "Temple") - Solid, atmospheric trance remix.
GenosWoods, by Orkybash (SMRPG: "Beware the Forest's Mushrooms") - Short and doesn't go far from the source, but I like the original and it's a nice enhancement. The forest sound effects at the beginning and end work.
StringMachine(CorelPrisonMix), by FFmusic DJ (FFVII: "Desert Wasteland") - Nice trance track that makes me think of Darude for some reason.
Booster Tarantino, by djpretzel (SMRPG: "And My Name's Booster") - Surf-rock rendition of the Booster Tower theme, which I always liked.
LatinSphere, by McVaffe (Sonic the Hedgehog 3: "Special Stage") - A mellow, breezy track that tells you I was on a tropical kick when I found it.
Monstrous Turtles, by zircon (Super Mario World) - It reminds me of "Night on Bald Mountain" if the former were electro-orchestral.
I have a lot more somewhere, but this is getting long enough.
This has been brought to you by my urge to post a long and totally random link list on my blog. :)
Last month, they added YouTube previews of every single track. I've been visiting the site a lot more frequently, and I've found some pretty good stuff. Of course, that took a bit of digging, but I had to share. Links are grouped by how much I like the tracks in question.
EDIT: No, seriously. If you're skeptical, just check out this track and this track for some really nice jazz pieces. Even if you don't give a damn about video game music, you've got to admit they're good.
The really fantastic tracks that I play again and again
SuperBuckJazz, by Estradasphere (SMB2: "Overworld BGM")
I so love this track. It's a professional, live swing jazz rendition of the Super Mario Bros. 2 overworld theme - and a sweet one at that. The source material really lends itself to the arrangement, and I just can't stay in a bad mood after listening to this. I was only poking around the site idly when I found this track and afterwards started searching in earnest - if there was stuff this good on the site, maybe I should be taking a harder look.
The Shinra Shuffle, by the Runaway Five (FFVII: "Fanfare," "Fight On!")
HOT DAMN. This is a fantastic live jazz performance with a full ensemble, a great beat, and a mean baritone sax. And while you wouldn't think the source could ever be re-interpreted as a jazz arrangement, it really, really WORKS. The fanfare ending caught me by surprise, but in a good way. I'd have loved to see these guys live and might be looking into picking up an album by the Runaway Five - especially if the rest is half as good as this track.
Kefka Goes Carnival, by NoppZ (FFIV: "Kefka")
A great dance remix done carnival-style with a lot of latin piano riffs and a hell of a beat. It's catchy as anything, and the hybrid Latin/techno sound keeps it from being too repetitive. If you're familiar with the source, it'll take you a minute to find it in there, but it's such a fun catchy tune I don't think that matters. If I could dance to this one, I would. :)
El Lagarto, by Evil Horde (The Adventures of Bayou Billy: various)
Yes, you read that one right. I stumbled onto this one by total accident and could not believe this was a rearrangement of an 8-bit theme; the production value is really professional, and the result is a "70´s latin-esque-funk/disco" (to quote the remixer) theme that blew me away. It's like an even better version of the catchiest TV cop themes out there (for some reason I keep thinking of Magnum, PI). For the heck of it, I went and looked for the original themes on YouTube, and was shocked that the original melody was still obviously present.
Mario's Tropical Paradise, by Dr. Fruitcake (too many Super Mario tracks to list)
This is a really colorful and lively remix with some damn impressive sequencing and a great tropical vibe. I know I'm a sucker for steel drums, but this is a slick, well-done tropical medley of some great Mario music. I keep going back to this one; it's got a little bit of everything and is anything BUT repetitive.
Vampire Spanker, by Danneman & Silverknekt (Castlevania: "Vampire Killer")
Don't let the title fool you! It says nothing about the actual remix. The remixers blame it on a "lack of imagination" - because apparently they used it all up for the actual track, a nifty acoustic guitar rendition of the theme with a bit of a Spanish flair. It's a mellow, deceptively simple track with some great guitar work.
Darkworld Jazz, by Gux (Zelda 3: "Dark World")
The "Dark World" theme is in itself a great game theme and easy to remix - I think I've got another remix of it somewhere - and this smooth coffee-house rendition is nice. The theme doesn't lose anything in the smooth jazz arrangement, and I adore the trumpet solo. I'm amazed that this one is from way back in 2000.
Tracks that are still awesome but I don't flail AS much over them
The Italian Plumber, by M.S. Mehawich (SMB: various)
A live orchestral take on the Super Mario Bros. themes that I initially missed and was shocked that I'd skipped it. It's a slightly sinister, slightly sad piece that sounds like something from the score of one of the "Godfather" films.
Test of Island Courage, by Fairlight (StarTropics: ?)
One of the first remixes I ever downloaded, and still the best StarTropics remix on the site. The sound quality is a little MIDI-ish, but it doesn't detract much. Again, I am a sucker for steel drums.
Battle Rocks, by AmIEvil (SMB3: "Enemy Battle")
Another Mario jazz arrangement. But the source track really works for it, and this track is just plain fun.
Gypsy Jazz, by Adrian Holovaty (SMB2: "Overworld BGM")
No, you're not hearing double, this is another remix of the SMB2 main theme, a solo gypsy jazz guitar rendition. It's not as awesome as the Estradasphere track, but it's got a sweet simplicity and frankly, the judges are right: you could pass it off as something from the Sweet and Lowdown soundtrack if you didn't let it slip it was a video game rendition.
Fleeting Ecstasy, by chthonic (SMB: "Invincible BGM," SM64: "Powerful Mario")
This one grew on me. It starts out sounding like a MIDI remix and then surprises you with its quirks. There's a lot of little bits and pieces I like about this remix that I wouldn't have thought would work: the saxophone and piano integrated with the chiptune and trance elements, and the "Yeah!" sound effect (although that one only comes up twice).
Riptide, by Disco Dan(DKC: "Aquatic Ambiance")
A nice electronica remix of the underwater theme from Donkey Kong Country. Makes for a lovely bit of trance that reminds me a lot of Robert Miles (that's a good thing).
Curse Curse Revolution, by NoppZ (Super Castlevania 64: Various)
Castlevania gone DDR. No, really. I'm just amused by how well he pulled that off.
Super Mario's Sleigh Ride by the OneUps (Super Mario World: half the game soundtrack, really)
At first I thought somebody had accidentally uploaded the original "Sleigh Ride." But then I recognized the counterpoint music, and realized just how amazingly well it was integrated into the piece. And yeah, this is another live instrumental piece. :)
Honorable mentions (AKA I like these but am getting lazy with descriptions)
Temple Trance, by bLiNd(Zelda II: "Temple") - Solid, atmospheric trance remix.
GenosWoods, by Orkybash (SMRPG: "Beware the Forest's Mushrooms") - Short and doesn't go far from the source, but I like the original and it's a nice enhancement. The forest sound effects at the beginning and end work.
StringMachine(CorelPrisonMix), by FFmusic DJ (FFVII: "Desert Wasteland") - Nice trance track that makes me think of Darude for some reason.
Booster Tarantino, by djpretzel (SMRPG: "And My Name's Booster") - Surf-rock rendition of the Booster Tower theme, which I always liked.
LatinSphere, by McVaffe (Sonic the Hedgehog 3: "Special Stage") - A mellow, breezy track that tells you I was on a tropical kick when I found it.
Monstrous Turtles, by zircon (Super Mario World) - It reminds me of "Night on Bald Mountain" if the former were electro-orchestral.
I have a lot more somewhere, but this is getting long enough.
This has been brought to you by my urge to post a long and totally random link list on my blog. :)
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no subject
Date: 2009-10-23 04:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-23 05:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-28 03:27 am (UTC)It's probably sad that the "Mario Likes Thorazine" title particularly intrigues me.