ReMix: Q*Bert 'A!Bol hardcore'
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- Game: Q*Bert (Hasbro Interactive, 1992, GB)
- ReMixer(s): JAXX
- Composer(s): George Alistair Sanger, Jake Kaufman
- Song(s): 'A!Bol'
- Posted: 2001-03-17, evaluated by djpretzel
You remember Q!bert, right? NOT LIKE THIS you don't. Y'all are in for a special treat tonight because JAXX has created his best ReMix yet, an awesome techno-industrial ReMix of a track off of the Q!bert for gameboy color that would make both Trent Reznor and it's original composer proud. And who is its original composer, you ask? None other than virt, also known as Jacob Kaufman, who has actually managed to break into the game composing industry and write some tracks for gameboy color games! A ReMixer ReMixing another ReMixer's actual game track - whooooaaahhh . . . enough background - what's the track about? Well, at first it sounds like above average techno, and you're groovin' along, and everything's great, but then everything goes from great to kick-ass in a split-second with the introduction of some absolutely flooring thrash guitar chords that'll make you run for your mother, father, or parental guardian. We're talking hardcore. That's all the space I have, so let me conclude by saying: YOU WILL DOWNLOAD THIS REMIX. Thanks Jaxx AND virt.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the No doubt the guitar thrashing gives Coily a run (hop?) for his
money, the drums serving as fierce punctuation; the oboe is a
snake-hypnotizing presence; and the cross-panning contest at
1:40-1:51 is an intimate arousal. But for my money, THE defining
part of the mix is the first half minute. The sound field is just
quiet enough to add a fluttering creepiness to every sound in play,
building suspense. It makes me feel like I'm staring into the black
abyss beyond the blocky pyramid while the synths measure its
impossible depths. Quite a paralyzing hook.
- Polo on October 1, 2009
- Polo on October 1, 2009
This sounds so much like Karnivool's first album (despite preceding
it by 4 years, loll?), which means one thing. I love this.
The instrumentation and melody suggests a Middle-Eastern/desert style flavour, which I dig, and the guitar work just suggests pure awesomeness. Actually, I'm pretty sure they do a little more than suggest it.
I'm actually becoming less and less surprised to find so much quality from OCR's earlier years and from artists who have since moved on with their lives and careers. The more I listen, the more I'm impressed. Mixes like this prove that the products of the past can be as relevant as those of the present and the future, despite a culture and an industry that disagrees. And in a way, that's what OCR is about.
A stylistically superb track that checks every box in creating effective, dynamic and just plain classy videogame remixes.
- Marmiduke on June 8, 2009
The instrumentation and melody suggests a Middle-Eastern/desert style flavour, which I dig, and the guitar work just suggests pure awesomeness. Actually, I'm pretty sure they do a little more than suggest it.
I'm actually becoming less and less surprised to find so much quality from OCR's earlier years and from artists who have since moved on with their lives and careers. The more I listen, the more I'm impressed. Mixes like this prove that the products of the past can be as relevant as those of the present and the future, despite a culture and an industry that disagrees. And in a way, that's what OCR is about.
A stylistically superb track that checks every box in creating effective, dynamic and just plain classy videogame remixes.
- Marmiduke on June 8, 2009
On first listen, I thought it started out a bit meh, but once the
guitars came in, it was a definite WOAH moment. It made a lot more
sense and I appreciated it more on repeat listens. I'm not sure how
many guitar tracks are being doubled, but it is a great sound. Very
crunchy, and it blends well with the synths used. The drum fills
are also pretty intense, and get me PUMPED UP, however that might
also just be all the coffee I just drank. >_>
Nice drums overall, actually, including a split second filtered drum break that catches your attention right before the guitars come crashing down again.
If the mix had a weakness, it'd be the GM-level oboe synth. The part is decently sequenced, but the sample used is weak as hell, and compared to the beefyness that is the rest of it, seems out of place.
I also thing it calls for a solo, with that kind of rocking coming around, who wouldn't want to hear it taken to the next level? I think the answer is no one. That's who.
Check it out, this one is great. :-)
- OA on March 3, 2008
Nice drums overall, actually, including a split second filtered drum break that catches your attention right before the guitars come crashing down again.
If the mix had a weakness, it'd be the GM-level oboe synth. The part is decently sequenced, but the sample used is weak as hell, and compared to the beefyness that is the rest of it, seems out of place.
I also thing it calls for a solo, with that kind of rocking coming around, who wouldn't want to hear it taken to the next level? I think the answer is no one. That's who.
Check it out, this one is great. :-)
- OA on March 3, 2008
Thanks to the amazing guitar work, this song has always been one of
my favourite metal-mixes on OCR. The syths also add to a lot to the
atmosphere, the intro being a wonderful example.
Dunno, but this really reminds me of the old Command & Conquer games. Good work.
- Martin Penwald on January 22, 2007
Dunno, but this really reminds me of the old Command & Conquer games. Good work.
- Martin Penwald on January 22, 2007
So, what happened to JAXX? He did good stuff. I like his 'thin'
guitar trademark in his remixes, it makes for good background music
as well as closer listening. A bit low fi, but the aim was clearly
in that direction.
- watkinzez on December 17, 2006
- watkinzez on December 17, 2006
Great energy - one of the first songs I stumbled across after
finding my way through the OCR door.
Lot's of fun. Makes me want to drive fast. :)
- big giant circles on December 16, 2006
Lot's of fun. Makes me want to drive fast. :)
- big giant circles on December 16, 2006
Back in the day...
Man, back in the day...
I sure miss JAXX. His arrangement of virt's original Q*Bert music always got us so pumped. I love this arrangement so much that I learned how to play it, just like Necronomicon said.
Guitar arrangements are a dime a dozen these days, so this one really has a lot of nostalgia for me. Overall, it's a good chip-ish sounding rock tune. I wish JAXX was still remixing, but at least we have stuff like this to remember him by.
- Mustin on December 16, 2006
Man, back in the day...
I sure miss JAXX. His arrangement of virt's original Q*Bert music always got us so pumped. I love this arrangement so much that I learned how to play it, just like Necronomicon said.
Guitar arrangements are a dime a dozen these days, so this one really has a lot of nostalgia for me. Overall, it's a good chip-ish sounding rock tune. I wish JAXX was still remixing, but at least we have stuff like this to remember him by.
- Mustin on December 16, 2006
Xelebes wrote: Hmmm... the toms sound soooooo sequenced. I've met really good drummers, but there ain't any way to do such. However the synths and the guitars and the synths go together well. If this was in the WIP section, I would have asked harsher hits on those toms... but it isn't. Aw well. Good nonetheless.
Yes. The WIP forum serves to improve the works. Harsher hits are a good suggestion. This would give more force to work. But that is pleasant thus.
- Txai on January 5, 2005
LOL I like the title Weird sound choices, but I never played this
game, so for all I know these could be straight from the '80s! I/m
likin this mix, GW dude!! :)
- Vash the Stampede on May 8, 2004
- Vash the Stampede on May 8, 2004
Hmmm... the toms sound soooooo sequenced. I've met really good
drummers, but there ain't any way to do such. However the synths
and the guitars and the synths go together well. If this was in the
WIP section, I would have asked harsher hits on those toms... but
it isn't. Aw well. Good nonetheless.
- Xelebes on August 13, 2003
- Xelebes on August 13, 2003
has an underwater feel to it, especially when the waves pass by
around 0:10, 0:20. arrangement decisions are superb. everything's
spot on, and the timing of the thrash guitar's impressive. this is
one of those mixes that’ll have you anticipating what will happen
next
- DeryckAK on April 18, 2003
- DeryckAK on April 18, 2003
This song is undoubtedly THE defining example of a perfect video
game remix. It just blows me away. JAXX was [i]more [/i]than
successful in revamping the entire song but keeping true to the
underlying theme. Can we say "ubermix"? ;)
The timing in this remix is perfect. The synths alone are flawlessly executed, and he even throws in a beautiful oboe sound, followed by heavy thrash guitar. Normally, one would wonder how a mix could progress from haunting square synths, to an oboe and soft strings, then top it all off with mind-blowing electric guitar, but somehow JAXX has done it! The transitions are smooth and flawless. (I don't know how many times I can fit the words "perfect" and "flawless" into this review, but I mean every word! ;))
Even if you're normally not a fan of heavy metal (like me), you'll still love this song. The guitars may be mind-blowing, but only because of their sheer power. They aren't aggravating at all, but fits perfectly into the melodic sequence by accenting the awesome minor chord sequence. 8)
This truly is the ultimate remix. Gets a perfect score of 10 out of 10 from this audiophile (like nobody saw [i]that[/i] coming... ;)). I tried very hard to think of something, [i]anything[/i] wrong with this mix, but I can't think of one single thing. Even the length is optimal, although I could listen to remixes of this caliber for a long, [i]long[/i] time... :mrgreen:
I find it hard to believe there are only six reviews on such an awesome remix!!! :P This is the kind of song that leaves such an impact on me as a listener, that I'm going out of my way to dig up and download everything else this guy has done. Do yourself a favor and download this song if you haven't already! 8)
-Samus
- Samus Aran on March 16, 2003
The timing in this remix is perfect. The synths alone are flawlessly executed, and he even throws in a beautiful oboe sound, followed by heavy thrash guitar. Normally, one would wonder how a mix could progress from haunting square synths, to an oboe and soft strings, then top it all off with mind-blowing electric guitar, but somehow JAXX has done it! The transitions are smooth and flawless. (I don't know how many times I can fit the words "perfect" and "flawless" into this review, but I mean every word! ;))
Even if you're normally not a fan of heavy metal (like me), you'll still love this song. The guitars may be mind-blowing, but only because of their sheer power. They aren't aggravating at all, but fits perfectly into the melodic sequence by accenting the awesome minor chord sequence. 8)
This truly is the ultimate remix. Gets a perfect score of 10 out of 10 from this audiophile (like nobody saw [i]that[/i] coming... ;)). I tried very hard to think of something, [i]anything[/i] wrong with this mix, but I can't think of one single thing. Even the length is optimal, although I could listen to remixes of this caliber for a long, [i]long[/i] time... :mrgreen:
I find it hard to believe there are only six reviews on such an awesome remix!!! :P This is the kind of song that leaves such an impact on me as a listener, that I'm going out of my way to dig up and download everything else this guy has done. Do yourself a favor and download this song if you haven't already! 8)
-Samus
- Samus Aran on March 16, 2003
Necronomicon wrote:
The initial synth line is now a tapping bass line,
Wow . . . you must have a really good bass playah--Claypool calibur stuff to do something like this.
I'm really speechless about this mix. All I can say is:FUCK YEAH!!!
- King Dedede on January 21, 2003
This is great...
So great in fact, that I've converted it all to guitar and bass, and my band is covering it.
The initial synth line is now a tapping bass line, and all the synth solos are now guitar solos.
This is my favorite OC Remix, bar none.
- Necronomicon on October 24, 2002
So great in fact, that I've converted it all to guitar and bass, and my band is covering it.
The initial synth line is now a tapping bass line, and all the synth solos are now guitar solos.
This is my favorite OC Remix, bar none.
- Necronomicon on October 24, 2002
You want heavy metal remixes? YOU'VE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*beats random passerbyers with 2x4s while screaming*
Any fan of heavy guitar based remixes will love this. It progresses so well, using a great synth...thing before the guitars. You would think the remix would be great even by staying with the synths, but then some ripping guitars come into play that would sound great on loop while driving on the highway. I put this on a cd a long time ago. Oh the memories. A lot of the feeling has drained out of me from listening to it so many times. A good pause is a great remedy.
- AnotherOneBitesTheDust on August 14, 2002
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*beats random passerbyers with 2x4s while screaming*
Any fan of heavy guitar based remixes will love this. It progresses so well, using a great synth...thing before the guitars. You would think the remix would be great even by staying with the synths, but then some ripping guitars come into play that would sound great on loop while driving on the highway. I put this on a cd a long time ago. Oh the memories. A lot of the feeling has drained out of me from listening to it so many times. A good pause is a great remedy.
- AnotherOneBitesTheDust on August 14, 2002
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